Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 4)

Ky didn’t know what she’d done wrong this time, but the energy felt different so she’d done something. “I hope the same goes for you as well.”

She hoped she’d be able to be good enough the Loquiturs didn’t come to regret their decision. She was already slipping up on being good, though. She was starting to get comfortable enough she was teasing people again; it was only a matter of time before she became obnoxious and tiresome. She needed to check herself. To be a better daughter. Like they deserved.

(Ky: oh no I have taken a single breath in my life and shown a small measure of joy; they clearly hate me now)

(Gaius: This kid is kinda funny sometimes but also I don't know how to talk to the youth and she's obviously terrified of me)

"You've still got lots of room to grow," Sara pointed out. "You're going to change no matter what, but I'm positive it will be for the better. You're on your way to becoming a clever, kind young woman, Ky."

(Awww this is so wholesome!)
(Also it could be kind of interesting if Ash was there whenever Ky sees Zander for the first time. Up to you, of course! But it’s going to be the first and perhaps only time she’s going to let her filter completely and totally break for a few moments and people can see what she’s actually like when she’s not trying so hard to be likeable haha)

“I appreciate that.” Ky gave a genuine smile, cheeks going a bit warm at the compliment. She decided not to add the ‘I hope you’re right, ma’am’ her gut thought about adding. She needed to stop undermining compliment. Needed to learn how to accept them and not make people argue with her whenever they tried to praise her. “I look forward to seeing what the future holds.”

(Oh certainly!)

"Hopefully all good things." Sara glanced at the door. "I think if a baby's birth is the start to your time with us, you've got good fortune ahead."
"I'm sure the Seers could tell," Harold mused. "I've got a very good one at the palace."

Ky cocked her head to the side curiously. She’d heard of them, but Aleth said they were superstitious crackpots and didn’t have her learn anything about them. “How do they work?”

"Well, they all have different ways of Seeing," Harold began. "Some have dreams of the past and future, or only the future. Others see signs in nature, and others commune with the sleeping gods. A rare few can even tell if you're lying, though I've yet to meet such a Seer."

It sounded like Aleth was right. That did sound like superstitious nonsense. Talk to sleeping gods? She was skeptical. But she tried to not let it show. The king seemed to believe it was true, so she’d force herself to think so, too.

“That sounds really interesting,” Ky said. Which it was as a purely intellectual game. “How does the one you have back at the palace do it?”

"He dreams," Harold replied. "It's an inconsistent thing, and he sometimes takes supplements to ensure he connects to the ether. The things he tells me do come true, though, and he knows things about the past that I'd never have guessed. It's fascinating!"

It seemed like such a reach. Did he give specific things that then came true, or was it just vague things that would obviously happen anyway but they seemed to be connected because he said them? Or was this actually something that was really real and she needed to stop being so cynical about it?

“That is pretty neat,” Ky said. “Can he choose what he wants to dream about or are his visions at random?”

"They're at random, though we've tried to influence it before with little luck. He interprets most of the dreams in multiple ways for us to think about, so that does help to a certain extent."

“That makes sense.” Ky nodded, glancing at Ash to see what he thought of it all. He seemed to be cynical of most things himself. “I’m sure that must be helpful to have around.”

Gaius caught her eye, raising an eyebrow. "I've met Seers," he said slowly. "I'll be meeting one shortly after my return home, if all has gone as planned.
"Oh?" Harold asked, but Gaius gave no more detail.

Ky dipped her head. Alright. So they were real… at least Ash seemed to think so. She’d be asking Tomhas before she was fully sold. But perhaps this was one of the things her simple mind couldn’t comprehend. Mountain cats existed and so did Seers, even if she didn’t understand either of them. “Hopefully they’ll be helpful to you.”

"We'll see," Gaius replied. "The future is never set in the stone, and the past can't change. So it's never a sure thing to trust a Seer."
"But sometimes you can figure out how to get the future you want," Harold pointed out. "With some guidance."

Ah, so there it was. They weren’t infallible after all. So they were just guessing and got lucky sometimes.

“So you can change the future they saw?”

In that case, what was the point in a seer at all?

(Ky is calling bullshit xD)