Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 4)

"It's alright." Gaius patted her back. "We'll talk more about this later, but normally, as a rule, don't tell the King what I think of him, ever." Marcella nodded, still blushing furiously. Gaius sighed and leaned back, relaxing his shoulders. Hopefully not too much harm had been done.
"Thank you for telling me, Ky," he said. "That is something I needed to know."

"Yes, si--" She nodded, tension relaxing from her shoulders at his thanks. So she hadn't angered him. That was good. "I'm glad I could help."

Gaius dipped his head. "I sometimes forget that toddlers can be...less than discreet. I should have collected her and the boys before they could come in here."

"If it's any consolation, he didn't seem offended by it." Ky lifted a shoulder in a half-shrug and offered a small smile. "I know that sometimes things like this can be a bit of a slow burn... but he's got kids, so hopefully he knows not to take it too personally... hopefully."

"I expect he was offended," Gaius replied. "He knows how I feel about him; it's Marcella's insistence that I complain of him frequently that concerns me."

"I understand." Ky inclined her head.

She supposed that did make it worse. It wasn't fantastic for a king to learn that one of his magistrates hated him enough that even his small child had a negative opinion of him. It probably didn't make Ash look great, either, that he talked about politics in front of his children. Especially since his children clearly weren't old enough to know to keep their mouths shut. She supposed there was no point in trying to sugarcoat this. Ash knew it was bad; it'd just look foolish and/or pandering for her to try to spin it in a positive light.

"Either way, I'll have to smooth this over with him somehow. I've wiggled my way put of tighter spaces." Gaius thumped his cane. "But there will be plenty of time for politics later. I've just met my fifth niece and I'm delighted."

Ky smiled at that. "She's wonderful, isn't she?"

"The spitting image of both her parents," Sara agreed with a wide grin. "And already you can see she's so smart!"
"An excellent thing to be," Gaius agreed. "And curious as anything. She looked everywhere."

"Has a lot to take in," Ky said with a smile. She felt somewhat similarly. It'd taken her brain a moment to register Ash's words. Fifth niece. Because she was the fourth. It felt nice. "The whole world at her fingertips."

"Being an infant must be fascinating," Gaius mused. "I wish I could go back, reexperience what it was like to see for the first time, to feel and smell, and to breathe. What a magical thing." Sometimes he wished he could go even further back, to be curled safely in the womb where nothing could touch him, where the only door was locked securely until he chose to leave, where food went directly into his stomach and he didn't dread its entry. It was only at the worst moments that he wished this, though. The sensation of fabric on his skin and the light of the sun on snow would be difficult to leave behind.

"I imagine it's got to be a bit overwhelming," Ky mused. "Everything being brand new."

She supposed babies were too young to comprehend hostility and were, in general, treated with a fair bit of patience and understanding. But she still remembered well how utterly confusing and overwhelming life had become the instant she got snatched; and she had to imagine it was a similar level of bewilderment. She at least knew how to be a person, even if learning how to be a slave was brand new. Little Raina didn't even know that much.

"She'll learn her way around soon," Gaius mused. "And Loquiturs are quick to learn to walk, as I recall. She'll be a menace in less than a year, I'm sure of that." He looked to Anneliese. "You, Ky, and Lyra are going to have to be helpful to your parents. I don't need to give you this speech, I'm sure--you've helped with Peter as well, and you've done very well at it. Even so."
Anneliese saluted. "I'm the number one nanny-sister, Uncle. You can count on me!"

Ky grinned at her and added playfully, "Careful, I might compete for that title soon."

"You'll never win!" Anneliese chuckled. "I used to be the second oldest, so I've handled Peter AND Oscar, plus I've helped out with Matt and Marcella and Regulus as well."
"Don't call me Matt!" Mattathias piped up. "I'm Mattathias, not Matt."