Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 3)

Pratik kept glaring up at the wall where the man had been standing, but turned his head slightly towards Rickard. "I don't know."

He assumed it probably had something to do with Ash and Loquitur, now that they weren't warring anymore. But did Rickard know that? Did he even know about the war in the first place? It seemed simplest to keep his mouth shut -- especially given the fact that he truly did not know where Ash was.

"Pratik, eh?" Ada said, amused. "I liked you better as an Aren."

Pratik snorted, but smirked, turning towards her with a wry look in his eyes. "Eh, names are what you make of them. It doesn't much matter to me what you call me."

"I'm going to call you Aren, then." She looked up at the walls. "Never thought I'd actually go in here."

"They'll likely frisk you when we go in," Pratik muttered. "So I guess you should mentally prepare yourself for that."

He imagined it'd be even worse for her than it was for him. And even he didn't like how handsy frisking always was. He understood why it was necessary -- even though he always managed to sneak in a tiny, finger-length blade strapped near his crotch, regardless -- but it didn't make it pleasant.

"Because he's paranoid?" Ada was instantly on alert. "I don't want to be frisked."
"I'm sure it'll be quick," Rickard said reassuringly. Ada had been extremely tense around both men the first few days of the journey, but she had gravitated a little more toward Rickard as the trip went on. He seemed so completely set on being as inoffensive and nonconfrontational as possible, and his aura was more soothing than she wanted to admit. They'd gotten along well enough after those initial days, though Ada still snapped at Pratik occasionally.

"Maybe they won't," Pratik shrugged. "I know damn well I'm getting frisked, even though I'll hand over my weapons willingly. I don't know about the two of you. But, yes, he's paranoid, so I wouldn't be surprised... I'll try to translate, if they'll give me time to do so, so you at least know what's going on."

Ada nodded reluctantly, and at that moment the gates began to open. Rickard tensed, hands tightening around the reins of his horse.

Pratik clucked to his horse, taking the lead as they walked through the gate. As before, there was a group of soldiers in a ring, waiting for them, weapons drawn. "They won't hurt us," he called over his shoulder in Akarataran, hoping the two of them wouldn't lose their shit over it.

Rickard came forward first, keeping his eyes down and his posture passive. Ada rode in behind him, chin lifted high, though her face betrayed her fear.

Sera came down the steps of the Keep wrapped in a warm fur cloak. "Welcome back, Master Chrenko," she called. "I apologize on behalf of Lord Ash; he'll be away for awhile. I trust you had a safe trip?" Her eyes flickered to Rickard in confusion, then fixed back on Pratik.

"Yes, ma'am!" Pratik called back with a nod. He glanced at the soldiers around him, then looked back at Sera. "Shall I dismount?"

"Please do. And introduce me to your companions while you're at it." She waved the soldiers off. "He's not here for me, gentlemen; you can relax."
"At least surrender visible weapons," Captain Bay protested from where he stood. "We have rules, madam."

Pratik dismounted, surprised. Sera certainly seemed preferable to the paranoid old bastard.

"This is Ada," Pratik said, gesturing -- very slowly and carefully -- towards her. "She's the Seer. She also doesn't speak Upper Tongue, and I'd like the chance to translate for her before anything happens to us." He gestured towards Rickard, equally as careful. "This is Rickard. He escaped with us."

"Ada and Rickard." Sera dipped her head to them. "Welcome to Serpent Keep. My name is Sera Miller; I'm the apothecary here."
Rickard dismounted clumsily; he'd never quite gotten the hang of riding. He bowed low to her but said nothing.

Pratik eyed Captain Bay, who was still watching him suspiciously. He decided it'd be better to hand over his weapons without having to be asked a second time. He, ironically, would feel safer once he surrendered them -- so that Bay would call off his goons. He had no interest in a fight. And, he hoped, Ash was prepared to keep his side of the bargain and was not, in fact, planning to shank him upon his arrival to get out of having to pay him. But, then, nothing was certain in matters like this.

Still, he wasn't going to start a fight if he didn't need to. And certainly not while Rickard and Ada's necks were on the line as well. They had nothing in his agreement with Ash.

Pratik reached down, slowly, and unbuckled his swordbelt. He tossed it down in the snow about a meter ahead of him. He pitched the dagger down next to it, their blades making a clang as they struck one another. He also tossed down the extra pair of daggers he'd stolen from the second town they stopped in.

Then he took a step back from them, holding his hands out slightly from himself, looking at Bay to see if he was satisfied.