Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 3)

Tomhas returned a few minutes later with Anneke, Lyra, and Peter in tow.
"Oscar and Anneliese will be along shortly," he said as Gaius and Sara rose to embrace the in-laws. "They're still in lessons."

Ky stood as well, nodding to the additional Loquiturs but staying out of the way of the greetings. She watched the interactions closely, wondering what the correct way was for her to interact with Ash was, as a Loquitur daughter.

Sara wrapped her arms tightly around Anneke immediately, and they held the embrace for a long time.
"I missed you so much!" Anneke said when they finally broke away, wiping happy tears from her eyes. "How are you?"
"I'm well! And look at you, about to pop any day now!"
"Gods willing." Anneke rested her hand on her stomach with a chuckle. "It's taking its sweet time."

Gaius and Lyra stood staring at each other for an awkward moment before they offered stiff hugs, then stepped away.
"I'm sorry," was all Gaius said, and Lyra gave a grave nod. Peter had toddled over to where Regulus was sitting and produced a small wooden bear.
"Bear!" he told him. Regulus grabbed the bear and stuffed it in his mouth. Gaius whirled on instinct and plucked the bear away from his son, returning it to Peter. "Best keep that to yourself, my friend," he said to his nephew, who cradled the bear and gave Regulus a scandalized look.

Well, Lyra’s interaction with Ash seemed as awkward as hers was. She wasn’t sure if that made her feel better or worse. She glanced back at the women. It was clear to see where the warmth was in this room.

(I can’t remember. Are Sara and Anneke sisters?)

(No but they might as well be. They've been best friends since they were kids)

Anneliese and Oscar bounded in soon after, and Oscar threw himself into a tight embrace with Mattathias and Marcella. Anneliese grinned and hugged first Sara, then Gaius, looking far more comfortable than her older sister.
"It's so good to see you all again!" she exclaimed. "I can't believe we haven't seen each other for three months." She hurried over to Regulus and plopped down beside him. "Over your chewing phase yet, little fellow?" Regulus responded by slapping her knee with a chubby hand and saying "Bah!" again.

Ky noted that as well. So it was acceptable to be warm around him. Interesting. She almost smiled at the thought of hugging him; he’d hate her even worse than he already did. And then she realized she didn’t want it any more than he did. She’d simply perish if she was in his arms.

Aleth had forced her to learn to dance with him. And, as much as she liked dancing, it wasn’t worth it to be in the grasp of a man who frightened her.

“How often do you usually visit each other?” Ky whispered to Lyra, still trying to memorize family dynamics.

"Usually we spend the summer at one of the Keeps, all of us," she whispered back. "During winter it's touch and go but Father always writes to Uncle Gaius and Mother always writes to Aunt Sara. Two months really isn't that long; there's work to be done in the territories after all. Anneliese is being a bit dramatic."

“That tracks,” Ky said with a small smile, nodding. It was like Anneliese to exaggerate things a bit. Though she couldn’t blame her. Ky did the same, even now. Maybe not aloud, but to herself.

She imagined a whole summer with the Ashes. That seemed like a long, long time to endure this tenseness. But perhaps she could disappear into the library at the Ashes’; she had already found little hideaways here to disappear into. She was good at making herself invisible.

"Everybody sit, sit!" Tomhas guided his wife over to the sofa opposite the Ashes. Peter and Oscar scrambled up to sit beside Regulus, followed by the twins. Anneliese sat down beside her parents, leaving a loveseat and a pair of chairs left. Sara led Gaius over to the loveseat and sat down.
"So." Tomhas leaned forward, looking over at Ky. "The reason we're all here. How are you feeling, being on the spot like this? I'm sorry about it."

“Not at all!” she said, flashing a smile; but it was nervous. She cast an anxious look at Ash, then looked back to Tomhas, dipping her head. “I appreciate the time you’ve all taken to spend on me.”

Tomhas grinned.
"It was the least we could do," Gaius assured her, then gave Tomhas a look. "Don't torment the poor girl, Tomhas. She's got enough to think about as it is without your small talk to deal with."
"Fair enough. My apologies." Tomhas dipped his head to Ky. "What do you want to talk about then, Gaius?"
"I'm assuming King Harold will be coming?" If so, Gaius wanted to get a chance to speak about the war and the possibility of another. It wasn't the cheeriest topic for a familial rites celebration, but it was important.
"I haven't actually gotten a letter confirming that," Tomhas mused. "He said he would sign the contract when it came to him, so I'm guessing he won't."

(Aha this is perfect I was hoping it would be a complete surprise haha)

Ky’s stomach lurched a little at the mention of King Harold, but it settled as Loquitur said he wouldn’t. Of course he wouldn’t, she reminded herself. Why in the world would he concern himself with something as inconsequential as her? At this point, she was fairly convinced he was only signing it to humor Tomhas… did kings humor people?

It didn’t matter either way. She wasn’t going to meet him. Ever.

(Ohohohoho!)

"That's a pity." Gaius leaned back. "I'll need to discuss some more serious matters alone with you, then, later in our stay."
"Naturally." Tomhas threw up his hands. "But let's focus on something good for once, shall we? We've got a cake in the oven for dessert. Sara and the children like that, right?"
"Yes!" Mattathias and Marcella chorused at once, and Mattathias leaped to his feet on the sofa.

Ky smiled at them, then glanced at Ash before she could help herself, but she quickly dropped her gaze. Tomhas hadn’t included Ash in that statement. Ash had refused to eat at the meeting. He was skinny and gaunt. She’d started putting together the pieces after an embarrassingly long time. She really was so dense sometimes.

"What flavor is it?" Marcella asked.
"Berry and vanilla, with buttercream icing." Tomhas sounded giddy. "My favorite."
"My favorite too!" Oscar volunteered.