Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 6)

"Books!" Tasia announced proudly. "They've got stories in them!"

"What sorts of books do you want to read?" Ada glanced at Pratik to see what he thought of the kid and her mom.

"Um...." Tasia hesitated for a long moment, confronted with the fact that she still wasn't fully sure how reading worked. "... frogs?"

Pratik had been watching the exchange with a slight smirk, deciding he liked the lot Gaius had brought along with him. He recognized Tadaaki from his interactions with Aleth, even though, now that he thought of it, he wasn't sure he'd said anything more than 'hi' to the man. But the other young woman -- Yeona, was it? -- that was always at Aleth's house wasn't around so he figured that meant Tadaaki was a genuine friend to Ky, not just a happenstance that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He still couldn't get much of a read on him, but his wife and daughter were spewing enthusiasm, and Pratik had decided he liked both of them.

It was thoughtful that Aashi had made the effort to learn how to greet Ada, even though she wasn't good at it. The thought counted. And Tasia was just a complete delight.

He met Ada's gaze and gave her a short nod of approval, lifting an eyebrow to see what Ada thought of it all.

Ada gave a small shrug and nodded as well; she liked them alright. A bit too much energy for her taste. "What's your papa like?" she asked Tasia. "Does he like frogs too?" More importantly, was he safe? Was he treating them both well? They probably wouldn't be like this if he wasn't but one could never be too sure.

Tasia basically climbed Tadaaki at that point, scrambling up higher in his arms so that she was essentially sitting on his chest rather than on his hip.

"This is my papa!" Tasia said eagerly, wrapping both arms around his neck as she looked at Ada with a grin. "Of course he likes frogs, everyone likes frogs... have you ever seen a frog? People up here say it's too cold but I think they should live here anyway because frogs are good and so everyone should have them because they're very cute and go--" she blew her cheeks out to do her best imitation of a frog.

"I'm from the South," Ada informed her. "But I come from the desert, so I've only ever seen toads. Have you ever seen a toad?"

"You can't play with toads or they make you all warty," Tasia said firmly.

"That's a myth." Ada shook her head.
Gaius sighed in relief after he relayed this; they were near the top of the fifth floor staircase now. He could show everybody to their rooms, then make the trek down. That would be a little bit easier, hopefully. And he only had to make it to the second floor.

"What's a myfth?" Tasia asked.

"It's a story people tell that's not true," Tadaaki explained.

"Oh! Like, like, um, the man Mattathias and Marcella knows?" Tasia asked, rubbing her hair out of her face. "The m...muh... mahhh... the Man! You know?"

"Marrow Man," Gaius supplied, glancing at Ky. He wondered if she'd explained that night to Tadaaki yet, or to Zander. They'd been careful to keep the pelt out of sight. Gaius had woken early more than once in the subsequent nights as well, listening for any hoof-falls outside. They never came, but he fancied he could smell the smoke of a campfire nearby in the night. It was probably his imagination, but he had no doubt that the Marrow Man had been following. He'd promised Ky he would keep her safe, after all.

Ky also glanced at Gaius. What an odd situation this was. It felt like when Zander used to keep silly secrets with her; only instead of keeping Papa from knowing she'd eaten candy before dinner, now she was concealing the fact that she'd befriended a 600-year-old monster when he refused to let her commit suicide. That secret was a bit bigger.

She had no intention whatsoever of telling Zander about Ruh. At best, he'd overreact; at worst, he wouldn't believe her. She still wasn't sure what to do about Tadaaki. She'd told him they'd talk about it after they got back to the Keep, because it was something they needed to make sure they were the only ones who heard. She was hoping he would forget, although she doubted her luck would hold out, so she'd been trying to think of what she'd say when he inevitably asked.

But, for now, Gaius and Ky were the only ones on the planet who knew about Ruh and the fur.

"Yeah!" Tasia said eagerly, looking back at Ada. "He's a goat-man that scares them but I don't know why 'cause Mama won't let them tell me... he's not real, though. Just a myfth."

"I've never heard of a goat man living up here," Ada said in interest. "We have a few myths of our own in the Isi, but nothing like that."

Ky was very silent.

"I'd be interested to hear more about it as well," Zander commented in Akarataran, nodding in agreement.

"I believe I have a book of myths in the library," Gaius said, coming to a stop at one of the doors. "Zander, this will be your room." He inserted a key into the lock and opened the door, stepping aside. It had been the room of his great-great grandaunt, Felicity Ash, before she moved away and married a blacksmith. It was neatly decorated and kept clean, so no dust was present. A tapestry of the previous owner hung over the fireplace, depicting a bright-eyed woman with black hair and classic Ash angularity.

"Looks wonderful, thank you," Zander murmured, stepping inside and taking his cloak off. He hung it neatly on the hook by the door and turned back towards the group, not quite sure what he was supposed to do now. He wanted to see Ky's room for himself, but he wasn't sure what Gaius wanted him to do. Was he supposed to continue on with them? Or wait here for this Emery fellow? Either way, he would be seeing Ky's room, eventually. And he'd rather it be now, but he wasn't going to force the matter.