Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 3)

(I looked back awhile ago but there was nothing I could find. I'll make one up and if I missed it I'll just edit it back)

The maid left. "You're looking a little worse for wear since I last saw you," she told him with mild concern.

(Sounds good!)

“Turns out being a slave doesn’t do a man much good,” Pratik said dryly, then gave a bratty grin. “Don’t worry, though. I’ll be back to being an obnoxious mercenary in no time.”

"I'm sure Lord Ash will be delighted by that," she chuckled. "But I see you got here safely, at least."

Pratik smirked. Ash was exasperated with him, and they all knew it. But he sobered a bit and nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Thankfully. It was a bit tense, but we made it, and that’s what matters.”

"Who were the other two with you?" She fell into step beside him.

“Other slaves I freed from Tarr,” Pratik answered. “The girl is a Seer from the plains. She won’t tell me much, but I get the impression her capture was relatively recent. The man has been enslaved his whole life.”

"His whole life?" She tutted. "Poor things. Are they from the same shipment Lord Ash recently disbanded?"

“Yes. They were in the cage when I got in.”

"I'm glad they weren't here when it happened," she mused. "The ones who were had...they weren't sleeping for a few nights."

“I think she may have preferred that to what Tarr did to her,” Pratik answered, an edge creeping into his voice. But he forced it out of it again. “I’d very much like to hear how it went down, though. Was there appropriate begging?”

"From Gol Nasa and all of his guards." The maid shivered. "It wasn't quick."

Pratik grinned at the thought, then sobered when he realized she was shaken up about it. Right. Most people didn’t have to see so much gore. “I’m sure that was unpleasant to witness. I’m surprised he didn’t shoo away polite company before it happened.”

"He would have, I think, but it was a time sensitive issue. Nasa was antsy the moment he pulled into the gate."

“Ah,” Pratik said. “I’m surprised the idiot came back.”

"He was promised a pardon in Venholm. That's enough to get a slaver to come back here. Or it was until what just happened. Seems to me that's a one time trick."