Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (cont'd)

“Understandable,” Aleth said sympathetically. His guard was as high as it could get, and he wasn’t going to push too hard, but he had to at least try. That was what he was literally here for. And she was clearly emotional: which either meant she’d be likelier to slip information. Or that she’d feel threatened and fly off the handle. It was a delicate matter. “I’m sure you’ve had a lot on your plate, ma’am. I don’t envy your position.”

"Everybody's on edge." Sara smoothed down her skirts, trying to keep her tone level. "My husband most of all." He'd send Al away if she gave the word, of course. He trusted her instincts. He listened. But, as they had discussed, this man could prove to be a spy after all and to observe him would be the wisest course of finding that out. So Sara had resolved to keep a very close eye on Al and pray that she was worried about nothing.

“I hope the situation resolves quickly.” Aleth hesitated. It’d already been a week. That wasn’t particularly quick, by any stretch of the imagination. But, then, some things were a slow burn. And the war certainly wasn’t anywhere close to a resolution. “Well, as quickly as it can. I’m sure you’ll all rest better once she returns.”

Provided she would, in fact, end up returning. And that she wouldn’t be terrible to Adrian once she did.

"I'm sure we will." Sara personally wasn't optimistic. Cecily wasn't a clear-headed woman. Even if she'd been alive a week ago, the signs of a struggle Gaius had found didn't bode well for her. She only hoped it had been quick. The poor woman didn't deserve to suffer.

Aleth hesitated, wetting his lips. He felt like he was trapped between a razor blade and a stone block, and was trying to figure out how to make forward progress without triggering a pitfall that would end with his head in a basket. “Has there been any word, ma’am?”

"None. We've been searching every book and cranny in the territory." Sara turned away. "I must go; I have business to tend to. Mind what I said about Adrian."

“Yes, ma’am.” Aleth dipped his head again, hesitating. It seemed awkward to walk with her. He obviously couldn’t go back in the kitchen. And he feared it would be suspicious if he walked in the opposite direction. Still, he couldn’t very well stay frozen in place without giving the impression that he planned to go back into the kitchen. So he turned down the hall away from Sara.

Sara departed from him, releasing the breath she'd been holding. Her niece had seemed perfectly at ease with Al. He hadn't harmed her, nor had he harmed any of her own children. She had no reason to feel so unsettled, and yet the moment she had set eyes on him she was nervous. She kept telling herself it was nothing.
Perhaps she might talk to Gaius after all.

Aleth glanced over his shoulder to be sure she was also going, then turned back down the hall and wandered down it. He tried to file away what he’d just learned. Asshole father. Potentially trans child. Overprotective aunt.

He wasn’t sure if any of the info was particularly helpful by itself. But it did provide a framework he could begin filling in. He just needed to be careful. Very, very careful.

(Heads up, I’m gonna go to sleep soon. I’ll keep replying til I pass out but I’m not sure how soon that’ll be lol)

(Same here, this is my last post!)

Sara headed up the stairs to Gaius's study. He'd been in there for hours, and she had no doint he still was. Gaius was a creature of habit; if he was stressed, he shut down or he worked himself to the bone. He'd already had a shutdown period, so now began the labor.

(Night!)

Aleth ascended the stairs again, retracing his steps to where he’d first discovered Adrian. But he didn’t know what he’d do once he got there. All he knew was that he was unsettled.

And he wasn’t sure why.

It wasn’t like he’d actually gotten his hand swatted. But he still had an uneasy feeling that he was playing with hotter fire than he wished to. And he wasn’t sure whether he should keep digging or to cut his losses and keep to innocuous activities, in case a tail was sent after him.

Sara reached Gaius's study and knocked softly. Hearing nothing, she entered.

Gaius had fallen asleep at his desk, face pressed onto his letter to Roland. He stirred as he felt soft hands massaging his shoulders, and he sat up with a long yawn.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "How long was I out?"
"No idea." Sara kissed the top of his head. "You've got letters all over your face, darling." Gaius brought his good hand to his cheek and wiped at it. The fingers came away black with ink.
"A problem for later," he decided with a sigh. "What can I do for you, my love?" Despite her banter he could feel something eating at her. Sara perched herself atop the arm of his chair, leaning her head against his.
"The former slave, Al," she began. "When I met him, there was something...something felt off about him. It still feels off."
"In what way?" Gaius considered himself a perceptive man, very careful and quick to spot deceptions. He had the usual suspicion of Al, but nothing else.
"He feels dangerous. Wendell just came and told me he was talking to Adrian. When I saw them in the kitchen the pit of my stomach just dropped, and it felt so wrong." Gaius listened to this quietly. His wife had historically gotten ill feelings when something was amiss. She'd not been wrong before.
"Did he hurt her?"
"No." Sara shook her head. "She seemed content. I just...you understand my worry, Gaius?" Gaius nodded, reaching up and taking his wife's hand. It was warm and firm, and he ran his thumb over her many farmer's callouses thoughtfully.
"I'll have him watched carefully," he promised her. "Have someone stay with the children all hours of the day. That is what you're worried about, isn't it?" At Sara's nod he looked up at her. "I don't have your instincts," he said, "but I trust yours. You're a mother; it's your job to worry. I'll see to it they're made safe, Sara. I promise you."

Aleth decided on wandering around the Keep, but not entering any rooms. With any luck he might run into a servant or someone more willing to talk than the damnable Ash parents and their lackey Sera. And at worst it would give him exercise and a chance to study possible escape routes, were something to go amiss.

"Thank you for that." Sara gave his hand a squeeze. Gaius smiled wanly.
"My children are a priority, as is my niece. You know that."
"Family always comes first," Sara agreed. She stayed on the chair, head still resting against her husband. "Tomhas wouldn't hire a person like that, though. So it's either one or the other."
"One can hope," Gaius said grimly, raising a hand to rub at the ink stains on his face again.

Aleth glanced around himself. A tail hadn’t come. Yet.

He had the distinct feeling that there would be one coming, and soon. He changed his mind on letting things die down before he went back to spying. With the massive stick Ash had up his ass, he couldn’t risk not getting another opportunity to himself.

He tried the door to his left. It was locked. He moved down the hall to towards the next one.