Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 4)

"Indeed it does. And if they don't like it, that's your fault." Gaius frowned. "Cecily never liked her name very much."

And, things were uncomfortable.

"I suppose they could choose their own names when they get older, couldn't they?" Ky asked. The trans people she knew all had, although that was admittedly few. But if they could, why couldn't a cis person?

"There's no law for or against that," Harold mused. "Not sure why there would need to be, really."
"Because some people are contested when they wish to change their name," Gaius replied, and tapped his cane on the ground. "Because there are other laws that they may have broken." Harold stared at him blankly.

(Hhh when your ruler is smart but has no brain cells)

(hahah)

"Wait, it's a crime to go by a fake name?" she asked, eyes wide. Well, it was probably good she hadn't told the king about the whole Kyber thing, wasn't it?

"No, but under the current laws it's a crime to go by a different gender than the one you were born with, which often leads to rather frustrating disputes about the validity of people's name changes." Gaius's eyes never left Harold as he said this.
"It's not a crime," Harold said, flustered. "Lord Ash, we've been over this. It's just against the law, to discourage deviancy."
"Deviancy," Gaius repeated. His niece would have a jolly time living here, if she ever managed to get away from her parents. And it might be best to let Wick know that the King was here sooner rather than later.

Things were even more uncomfortable now, and Ky's face was burning. Why could she never leave well-enough alone? She looked between them, then dropped her gaze. No chance was she going to have an opinion on this.

She happened to agree with Ash this time, so it was probably fine that he could read her mind. But she wasn't about to risk the king having the same ability.

Harold sighed and shook his head. "Look. Politics can come later. Can we celebrate the fact that your sister in-law is healthy and just gave birth to your niece?"
"Certainly, my liege. Be my guest." Gaius sat back, giving Ky a pointed look. He could tell she admired Harold. Probably because of his station and his all-around kingly appearance. But she ought to know he was a fool and a pushover, and a hypocrite besides. Too kind to the wrong people, too passive on the issues that mattered most. Surely she could see that, as someone trained to observe?

(lmao poor Ky getting caught in the middle of all this)

If Ky was a balloon, she might have popped at the look Ash gave her. It almost felt worse to be on his side than it did to be against him. At least it did, now that he was taking the opposite side of the king.

She couldn't criticize a king. He was... well... king!

How did Ash have the balls to stand up to a king? She didn't even have the guts to stand up to him, much less his superior.

Still.

This wasn't a fantastic look. Talking about the "economics" of the slave trade to two recently freed slaves -- had he even noticed? -- and now being transphobic. It wasn't great.

She wished Ash was someone she could breathe around, so she could ask about this later. But he wasn't and she couldn't so she decided to just keep her mouth shut and her ears open and see if she could form an opinion for herself... and form one that wouldn't get her in trouble, with the mind-reading and such.

(Thanksgivings would be a hoot with this family I swear)

"So," Ana said, very aware of her social status and Gaius's deep loathing of the man across from him. "My, er, your Majesty. Did you have a safe journey here? It's a long way to Rein."
"I did, madam," Harold said with a nod. "You must be Lady Anneke's aunt; it's a delight to meet you at last! I've heard tales of your baking from Lady Anneke, which miss Ky has backed up--and I heard you have an assistant." He looked back at Gaius, who gave a sharp nod as he felt the urge to abscond.
"Lord Ash does have quite a lot of skill," Ana agreed, flushing a bit red. "Your Majesty. We'll both be baking for the ceremony tomorrow. We spent the morning making the pie crust."
"How wonderful!" Harold clapped his hands. "I'd never have guessed I had a skilled baker on my council." He was being perfectly genuine, and it made Gaius hate him all the more for it.
"I'm sure you could do it just as well," Gaius said with sickly patience, and let Sara loop her arm through his comfortingly. She laced her fingers through the ones on his damaged hand, and he rested his head against hers with a barely audible sigh. He hoped Harold would leave directly after the ceremony. Perhaps he could cash in a few favors and stage an emergency that called the King back to Rein early.

(hahah oh god)
(lmao Gaius you're a toddler xD)

She should not have told the king that. Ash was doing a pretty good job of masking, but Ky noticed. She always noticed. He didn't want the king to know that, and now he knew that she was the one who told the king. She hoped he also knew that she didn't know he didn't want the king to know. She genuinely thought she was complimenting him.

"I'm certainly looking forward to it!" Ky said quickly, deciding she needed to derail this conversation before it went from tense to properly nasty. "How do you suppose tomorrow will go? I only have a vague idea of what will happen."

(There are very few things that make him actually in danger of losing his temper in a visible way, and Harold Tara is one of those things)

"Oh, I'm sure it will go very well!" Harold said, turning back to her. "It's a simple enough ceremony, as I recall. Not too much for you to remember; the Skald does all the heavy lifting."
"I seem to recall a tree being involved," Sara mused, gently rubbing Gaius's knuckle with her thumb in a soothing motion. "And there are words to be said, something to be signed, right? What else is there?"
"The giving of gifts, afterward," Gaius replied absently.
"Oh, that's right! I hope you're ready to be showered with those, Ky," Sara said with a chuckle. "Don't feel obligated to like any of them, though. I'm there'll be some that might not strike a chord."

(Haha *tension intensifies*)

“They’re unnecessary, but I appreciate it nonetheless,” Ky replied with a smile. “The adoption is more than enough of a gift to last a lifetime.”

"I'm very sure," Sara agreed. "I'm so happy you're joining us here, Ky. I know people keep saying that to you but it keeps being true. You're a lovely person." Gaius nodded.

“Thank you, I appreciate that.” Ky flushed a bit, but it was in a good way and she smiled. Even though Ash was still perplexing. Did he hate her or not? It was hard to get a read on him. And she wasn’t about to let her guard down around him until she figured it out. “You’re all so lovely, too. I can’t think of a better family to be welcomed into.”

Ash's shoulders jerked in the motion of a laugh, though he made no sound and his face made no change. He could easily think of a hundred better families.
"We're very flattered you feel that way," Sara said honestly, nudging her husband subtly. "Hopefully your perception of us doesn't change too much over the years."