Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 6)

(I keep almost forgetting it myself)

Gaius returned the nod and the smile. "Get yourselves settled; no rush at all. Dinner will be in a few hours, on the first floor. Feel free to join us when I give Ky the tour; it's easy to get lost here."

(I'm getting so paranoid about these stupid alts haha p sure the leaderboard resets in like half an hour and I ~ c a n n o t ~ wait xD )

"Please," Tadaaki said, nodding as he followed Aashi into the room. "We'd all appreciate that."

"Is Ua staying with us?" Tasia asked, looking between her parents and Gaius.

(Why paranoid?)

"Ua has her own room with Imali," Gaius replied. "They're just down the hall though, so you can visit with her if you like." He looked over to where Ua was still in Ada's arms. "Tasia wants to know if she can visit you in your room sometimes," he told her in Natai. Ua paused, then nodded.

(because I promised Mailice I'd stop at exactly 8,500 and I'm going to be the world's biggest asshole if I accidentally go a post over and win rather than tie this month lol so I keep triple-checking I'm in the right account even though I know fully well I am haha)

Tasia considered for a moment then grinned and nodded. "Great!"

(Ohhh)

Gaius produced a key from his pocket and handed it to Tadaaki. "There's only one; don't lose it," he warned. He was putting a lot of trust in this family--more than he ever did with new people. Virtual strangers were generally locked in for at least three weeks, if their stay extended that long. He prayed he wouldn't regret it.

(yeah haha)

"Yes, sir," Tadaaki murmured, taking the key and nodding to him, feeling a great weight settling over his shoulders. He should not, in fact, be entrusted with something this important. Hell, he shouldn't be given this honor at all. Zander was actually Ky's family; if he wasn't allowed out of his room, they probably shouldn't be allowed, either.

"See you at the tour." He dipped his head and moved on. Ua waved to Tasia with a small smile.

Tasia returned the wave, grinning.

Ky stepped out of the way, suddenly feeling very, very vulnerable. She didn't have Zander or Tomhas or even Tadaaki anymore. It was just her, an assassin, and two mind-readers who thought she was stupid. And a child, but that hardly mattered. She hated this. A lot.

"Your room is one of the larger ones," Gaius told Ky as he walked. "Hopefully you'll find it accommodating to your needs. It faces west so the sun doesn't wake you up in the morning."

Oh, so there was a window. That was nice! Ky smiled a bit at that, forcing herself to focus on that and on Gaius, and not on the knowledge that Pratik and Ada were walking behind her. "I'm sure I'll love it."

"No pressure to do so; rooms can be changed around if need be." They reached the room and Gaius took out the small iron key, offering it to Ky.
"What are they saying?" Ada asked Pratik. She'd been trying to follow what everybody was talking about without much luck.

Ky took the key, feeling the same gravity settle over her that had Tadaaki when he'd taken command of his own key a few moments before. The weight of responsibility was heavy. Hopefully, it'd ease once she was comfortable here.

"This is my room," Ky offered, turning back towards Ada. There was no point in talking in Upper and excluding Ada when all four could speak Akarataran more or less fluently. "We're all going to get settled and then get a tour in a bit and then take dinner... or dinner then tour?" Ky hesitated, glancing at Gaius as she realized she didn't actually know what the timeline was.

"Tour, then dinner," he told her. "I have to speak with Ada and Pratik...and Sera and the new fellow, then I'll give you the tour. The talk shouldn't take more than an hour. But I'm not walking back up all these stairs to get you. A servant will come get you and I'll meet you on the first floor."

"Of course," Ky agreed with a nod. The ascent had sucked for her and her legs were fine; she couldn't even imagine how excruciating this must have been for Gaius. Probably like walking up the stairs on her hands with the current state of her arm. Or worse.

"And the item will be carried up here as well, along with your luggage," he told her. "Feel free to explore while I'm gone, I suppose; I'll give you context for whatever you see later."