Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree

Well, that was good. It meant he didn’t have to worry about other people, besides whoever it was Ash was going to have watching him. It was an interesting pick. Pratik didn’t quite know what to make of it. From what he’d heard, the previous Lord Ash wasn’t a particularly good human. But it still felt a bit odd that he allowed people in his late father’s room.

Almost like he was projecting — trying to keep all the evil in the keep to a single room. Pratik raised his eyebrows. “I didn’t realize he allowed people to stay in that room.”

"Lord Ash isn't particularly picky about rooms and their previous occupants," she said with a shrug. "He's let people stay in the very first Lord Ash's room as well."

This man was getting progressively more interesting. “Well, I’ll consider it an honor nonetheless.”

"Don't," she said flatly, reaching a hallway at the top of the stairs and turning a corner.

Pratik wasn’t quite sure how to answer that. He could appreciate the frankness in this household. But he still wasn’t quite sure how to answer without sounding disrespectful, and he was still trying to get on the... well, he wasn’t sure if Ash actually had a good side for people to get on. But as close as he could. “Alright, then I won’t.”

"Septimus Ash was a scourge," the woman went on. "A demon sent from the gods to plague this Keep, I tell you. Completely soulless, and I don't mind saying it. Lord Gaius would say the same himself if you asked."

“That matches the reputation I’ve heard,” Pratik answered carefully. “I’m sorry to hear that it’s true. I’m sure that must have been a rough household to be a part of, all the way around.”

"Mm." The woman went up yet another flight of stairs. "Not so rough for the servants. We knew to stay out of the way. I hear it was the worst around the time Lord Tomhas was born. That was quote the scandal, I'm sure you've heard."

“I’m afraid I’ve heard a few versions of that story, so I’m not quite sure which one is most accurate.” Pratik had his suspicions and was fairly sure he was right, but he’d take any information he could get. “What actually happened?”

"Again, I'm only telling because it's a known fact among nobles," the woman said, lowering her voice. "See, Lady Gwynna Ash, Lord Septimus's wife, was at a meeting in Rein accompanying her husband. She got up in the night, not sure why, and Lord Brogan Loquitur cornered her. He was unmarried, had no children. Right proper brute from what I'm told." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "He cornered Lady Gwynna and raped her right there in the castle halls. Nobody knew til she found out she was pregnant, poor lamb. Lord Septimus refused to speak to her, wouldn't join her for the birth or anything."

Pratik felt himself twitch, jaw set. That was exactly the version he had suspected was true, and yet he still had held a modicum of hope that it was more drama than abuse. There was nothing Pratik hated more than rape or abuse, and here was a poor woman enduring both. He’d have killed them both, if he’d had the opportunity. “I’m glad I didn’t have the misfortune of meeting either of the bastards then.”

The woman nodded fervently. "I had the displeasure of working under Lord Septimus until his death. Then it was Lord Michael, and now it's Lord Gaius."

“I’ve heard Michael was quite like his father. Is that accurate?”

"You're here," she said abruptly, throwing open a thick wooden door. Inside was a large suite decked in greens and silvers. A few fur rugs decorated the floor and there was a tapestry on the wall above the fireplace, but other than that the bedroom was unadorned. The bed was covered in warm-looking blankets of fur and fabric.

“Thank you.” Pratik bowed slightly. “I appreciate the escort.”