Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree

(That would be terrifying)

"I'm sorry," Tomhas said softly. He wished there was some way he could take away this pain, to make her stop hurting. He knew what it was to lose a parent, even if she hadn't been the best mother. He couldn't imagine what Ky was feeling now.
"None of that is your fault," he added after a moment. "You were stuck. Nobody can blame you for being afraid."

(haha d r a m a but also could be interesting dynamics now that Loquitur is ready to flip the bird to Aleth lol)

"I just wish I were braver," she sighed. "Or, stronger. I... wish I could have had the courage to try to get away. Maybe then he wouldn't have..."

"Ky." Tomhas held up a hand. "Wishing isn't going to change anything. What happened is done, and you're not at fault. You're not. But wishing won't bring anyone back. Believe me, I know."

"Yes, sir," she murmured. He was right. But she still felt guilt. Maybe if she'd fought harder, she could have kept from getting taken. Or maybe if she'd tried harder to escape, she could have run away. But she was so small.

"What the hell is going on out here?"

Ky sprang to her feet the instant she heard his voice, sheer panic stabbing through her. But she was still so lightheaded, despite the loaf she'd eaten, and the change in position sent her stumbling into the wall on the opposite side of the hall. Fully exposing her little picnic with Loquitur.

"Sir! I-- I was-- Lord Loquitur--" She was panting, the trembling redoubled. She'd been so stupid to let herself even consider the possibility of getting away from Aleth. No one ever got away from Aleth. Maybe this was a test -- and one she'd definitely failed. "I was going to bring the rest to you! Right now!"

"Were you?" Aleth snarled, storming towards her, gaze flicking across her face. Her eyes were red and puffy. "Looks to me like you're out here blubbering."

She was too scared to answer. She was sure her trembling was probably apparent, but she couldn't make it stop. Her entire body was tense, throat constricted. She cowered, ducking her head and staring straight at the floor as Aleth approached.

"Apologies for the indiscretion." He grabbed the scruff of her neck and gave her a shove down the hall. "I assure you, it won't happen again."

(You did it you absolute madperson)

"Just a fucking moment." Tomhas shot to his feet. "You presume to yank away a person I was speaking to? I, your employer? Get the fuck back here, you sorry sack of shit. I was busy with her."

(xD Also omg Loquitur's reaction <33 I love him so much lol)

Aleth's grasp tightened, digging his fingernails into the back of her neck, but he whirled back around to face Loquitur. She didn't have the courage to look up. Her breathing was so shallow and rapid, tears stinging her eyes again. She was dead. This beating would be the worst of her entire life.

Aleth had woken to what he thought were whispers in the hall, but was instantly angry when he saw Ky out here with Loquitur, like two old friends. Who knew what she was saying to him? She seemed far too comfortable. And now his rage redoubled as he turned an angry glare on Loquitur.

"He" he said pointedly. "Has nothing to do with you. You're employing me, not Ky, and he's got nothing to say to you." His fingers tightened a bit more. At least, she had better not have said anything to him.

"You're quite right, she didn't. She's very good at keeping quiet." Tomhas stalked forward. "I was discussing business. She was concerned about being separated from you. That's all. You're being paranoid, Aleth." He gestured at the food. "This was for you for tomorrow, but I think I'll take it back now." He approached again until he was nearly chest to chest with the taller man. "Don't presume to come between me and anyone again, no matter their affiliation with you. You're the little man here, do you understand?"

Ky couldn't breathe. She was far too close to either of them for her liking. Aleth's fingernails dug even deeper into her neck, holding her just out to his right. Loquitur was so close to both of them. And she felt trapped in the middle, several inches shorter -- and clearly weaker -- than either. She tried to take a breath but her chest was so tight.

So, she'd went and blabbed about being a girl, had she? Aleth glanced down at her and saw she wasn't wearing her binder. She was so stupid sometimes. But then he glowered at Loquitur. All of his usual charm was stripped away, the indignation at being challenged too great.

"No, I'm an asset," Aleth spat. He gave Ky a swift shove, sending her to the ground heavily, out of the way in case Loquitur decided to be unwise. "I'm not your slave, and you don't get to interrogate mine. He's my property, not yours."

"And that leads us to what we were discussing." Tomhas poked Aleth in the chest. "I don't trust you not to blab to Gaius about your mission and turn it your way. So I'm hanging on to both your servants until you return. This is non-negotiable." If Aleth didn't like it, he could leave. Either way, Ky and Tadaaki would not be going with him.

Ky scuttled to the side, pressing her back against the wall as she gaped up at both of them, mouth hanging open. Was this really happening? Surely, she was having some sort of dream. Maybe the lack of food was making her hallucinate. No one challenged Aleth. No one.

"Absolutely not," Aleth snapped. How dare Loquitur think he got to act that way. "I thought I've made it abundantly clear that Ky goes where I go. He's the reason I'm so effective. You have no right to my servants. That wasn't part of the deal."

"It wasn't not part of the deal, either, and I believe I'm the one who makes decisions regarding this side of the war. In case you didn't hear the first time, this is a non-negotiable condition to your departure. If you're willing to lose 70,000 clappers you're welcome to disagree with me and simply quit. I can hire other mercenaries easily. It all depends on whether or not all the rumors about how effective you are were lies and you can't function without a teenager and your personal muscle man by your side."

Icy rage surged through Aleth. The audacity of his man. He'd already gone through so much -- beatings from Constance and Tarr in the name of "sparring" and all but starving himself for the past few weeks. And, he was being paid fairly well... but was it well enough to do without Ky? Tadaaki?

"You really expect me to just leave my slaves with you?" Aleth scoffed. "What kind of a fool do you think I am? We both know you'll just try to wring secrets out of Ky." Aleth looked past his shoulder, at the food in the hall, then glanced over at Ky, who was still gaping at them. "And it looks like all it'll take is getting him a bit hungry then pretending to be his friend and giving him some secret food. What did he tell you?"

"Ky told me she didn't want to be left here because she was afraid of what might happen," Tomhas said. It was a half-truth, which ought to suffice. "This isn't about her, though. And I couldn't care less about you, Aleth. Whatever information you're afraid of her divulging, I don't give a shit. I have my own problems to worry about. This is about our business relationship now. What's your decision? Take it or leave it?"

Aleth set his jaw. He was beginning to really dislike Loquitur. He'd thought maybe Loquitur wasn't so bad -- certainly not as infuriating as Tarr -- but apparently unwise if he thought this was a good idea. It hadn't even crossed his mind that he might try to strip Ky away from him. This was a kink in the plan, and one he'd need to think on. After he figured out what Ky had actually told Loquitur.

"I'll think about it," he snapped, turning away from Loquitur so he was looking at Ky. "Get up." Ky scrambled to her feet in an instant, snapping her mouth shut. "We're gonna go have a chat about all this."

She felt the bottom drop out of her stomach, but she nodded vigorously and stepped towards them again, eyes fixed on the floor. This was it. Aleth would rather kill her than leave her with Loquitur. She wished she would have just turned and run back into her room, and avoided all this with Loquitur. Things were going to get so much worse now. "Yes, sir."

"Aleth." Loquitur stood still. "I need your decision now. Right now, or I'll fire you myself instead of leaving you the dignity of deciding for yourself."