Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 4)

"I'm very glad to hear that," he chuckled. "Though, if you'd seen a picture of me, would you have known? I'm guessing you've never seen my face." A clutter of chickens strutted across the road up ahead, and Harold slowed his horse to let them pass.

@alliyah

(hahaha yes hello alliyah)

“Perhaps,” Ky agreed. “But I’m assuming most people haven’t? I wouldn’t know, though. I am still quite new to the region.”

(Also I sent you pics of my characters on discord ^-^)

(Nice!! I'll take a look once I'm back on my computer)

"Probably not, if they're peasants or lower-class artisans. Nobles usually have a portrait lying around somewhere, or a sketch. Sometimes others will see me if there's a parade or something important happens in their village or something like that, but for the most part I'm cooped up in Rein and my name is like a particularly friendly ghost to the people of the Northern Realm." He shrugged. "I would like to get out more, but all this traveling is such a hassle, especially with my entourage. And I'm fully responsible for my sons and daughter; I can't just leave them with a nursemaid every time I want to go somewhere."

That was so interesting. Ky had always assumed nobles and royalty and such had others parenting their kids and they only interacted when they wished to. It was fascinating to see that she was wrong, and they were parents as well as important people. “That makes sense. I imagine that would make things rather complicated.”

He nodded. "I try to be there for them, since Madeline died. I hope I'm doing well." His gaze grew distant, and one of the chickens squawked as his horse stepped over it.

“I’m sure you are, sir. You seem very caring.”

"I thank you for that." He offered a small smile. "I'm trying. It's a difficult thing, being a father and a king all at once. Some can only be one or the other, it seems. My father was very much a king."

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Ky said with a cringe that got even deeper as she wasn’t sure whether it was the right thing to say or not. “Having a good father is a gift one never forgets.”

Harold dipped his head. "You've been blessed with that at least once, I'm pleased to see. You've got a good model for parenting."

“Blessed twice, in fact,” she said with a smile. “I’m very fortunate.”

"Twice! Wonderful!" Harold nodded approvingly. "That's wonderful. I expect you'll be a great parent, then."

“I hope so.” Ky blushed. “I’d very much like to have children and hope I still have the capacity to care for them as much as they deserve.”

If she was ever emotionally stable enough to trust herself not to fall to pieces at the drop of a hat. Tadaaki made a mental note to bring this up again once they were in private. He didn’t feel like he had the capacity to be the papa Tasha deserved to have; but he didn’t doubt that Ky would be an excellent mother. She was so gentle and caring and looking out for everyone else before herself.

"I've no doubt you do." He looked to Tadaaki. "And do you have children, Tadaaki?"

"Yes, sir!" Tadaaki answered with a smile. "A little girl -- Tasia. She's four."

"Ah, she's close to my son's age! That's a wild age, though. From two to five children are absolutely mad."