Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 4)

(Rickard turned out well, I think; Ada will be much easier since she's actually a young person)

"Who were the witnesses?" Harold asked after a moment, thinking through what he might be able to do. Depending on how long it had been since this incident, he should be able to gather intelligence, which he was sure Loquitur was already doing. A bodyguard ought to be in place as well, which he'd thought Tadaaki was until Ky introduced him as a friend.

(Nice! I'd love to see them, once you're ready to share ^-^)

"Um, Lord Loquitur and Lord Ash and Lady Cecily and Generals Wai, Kai, and Xander -- and Captain Bay and Sera and, um, Emery?" She felt like she was forgetting someone but she wasn't sure; that entire meeting was a stressful blur in her memory. "And some soldiers on both sides. I'm afraid I don't know their names, sir."

(I'll finish up Ada and then PM them to you!)

"And do you know if any of them would have the means or intention to inform this person what happened?" Harold asked. "It could be that nobody's said anything."

"It could be," Ky agreed with a nod, not wanting to contradict him. "I'm sure none of the people who were present would have contact with any of the people who would be a threat, but, um... well... Aleth always said that soldiers talk. So if they told other people what happened, and the rumors spread... the people Aleth hired are very good at listening to whispers. And it's not exactly a secret at this point that I'm here. So it wouldn't be terribly difficult to connect the dots, I would think... but I don't know that for sure, sir. I may very well be overreacting."

"Mm, were they both Ash and Loquitur soldiers? Because Ash soldiers aren't going to talk."

"Yes, sir," Ky murmured, flushing a bit more. She'd basically just said Tomhas's own soldiers were going to be her end. Great.

Spoiler

Rickard Eman screenshot.png (195.76 KiB) Viewed 81 times

Ada Yan Kala screenshot.png (209.03 KiB) Viewed 81 times

(Resizing sucks)

"If it was one of Lord Loquitur's soldiers, then, we won't have too much luck finding who it was or even if he or she did it one purpose. No offense, dear, but your new father has a bit of work to do on his organization system."

(I like them!!)

Ky flushed a bit, not sure how to respond to that. She certainly wasn’t going to agree. But she also wasn’t going to contradict him. It left few other options. “I’m sure it wouldn’t have been malicious, if it did happen, sir. I know no one here wishes me ill. I’m sure they didn’t know what they were doing, if they did talk.”

(Thanks! I wish I had our conversations where you showed me the piccrews of your characters; I lost em all )

"I'll see what I can do for you when I get to the Keep," he sighed. "I'm sorry you went through all that, young miss. Men can be very cruel."

(I think they’re all in our discord server!)

“Yes, sir,” Ky agreed, but dipped her head. “Thank you. I appreciate your kindness. And the Loquiturs’ kindness. It’s all much more than we — I — deserve.”

She caught herself, but she didn’t need to. Tadaaki thought Ky deserved it far, far more than he did. She didn’t need to correct the we.

(Ohhh yeah I forgot about that thing!)

Harold nodded slightly. "Tomhas Loquitur is a very good man; it surprises me sometimes, how well he turned out. I knew his eldest brother, and his father before him. Distasteful men."

(Haha yeah! I can’t remember if I’ve made one of Zander (I know I have one of Zander’s brother but not sure if I made one for him) but if not I should get started on that aha)

“Yes, sir.” Ky nodded, feeling like she was in dangerous territory once again. She wasn’t going to voice an unfavorable opinion about anyone ever, no matter what Ash said. “He is a very good man.”

(I'd love to see it when you're done!)

"Can't have gotten it from the late Lord Loquitur, either." Harold shook his head. "I was quite young when Lord Loquitur was born, but I remember how furious my father was about it all. He wasn't as...kind as I hope I am, but he still pitied Lady Ash."

(Cool! I’ll let you know when I do it ^-^)

Dangerous, dangerous territory.

“Yes, sir.” She dipped her head. Should she add more? She didn’t.

Harold glanced at her, then let them all ride in silence for awhile. Best not to dredge up family history there; if she didn't know it then she'd learn soon enough. If she didn't know already Harold would be shocked--you couldn't walk two steps in Caracal or Serpent Keep without stumbling over something you shouldn't.