Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 6)

"Ah, well you've got the best of the best on your side. Ashes are thorough to a fault, and Tomhas has a heart of gold. They'll see to it you're safe, I'm sure of it." Emery gave her a reassuring smile.

Rickard hesitated, then followed Pratik and Ada out into the hall. Ada shut the door behind them.
"You look terrible," she said to Rickard, guiding him down the hall. Rickard was still shaking.
"That's him," he murmured. "Lord Ash? Is he letting me stay?"

Ky smiled a bit. He really was disarming. And seemed to be far, far less judgmental than she'd expected. It was like he'd forgotten her meltdown entirely. And was just interacting with her like a normal, generally respectable human. "I'm sure, too... how have you been these past few weeks?"


Pratik stayed close, in case Rickard should need physical support. "I don't know if even he knows, yet," he murmured. "But I honestly can't imagine he won't. He's no reason to toss you out."

There'd been entirely too much interest in Gaius's question. Pratik was far more concerned, now, that Gaius was going to take advantage of Rickard than he was afraid of him turning him out in the cold.

"Very well, thank you! It's been a bit chaotic, what with getting Gol Nasa's poor prisoners cared for and sent home or to the village. There are four still here, you know, poor things. One can't talk and another won't, and the other two don't speak a lick of Upper Tongue. Gaius speaks to them just fine, but I'd have loved to be able to converse with the big Northern fellow. He looks like he's got stories to tell."

"But I'm of no use to him," Rickard fretted. "I'm no help to anyone."
"Utter nonsense," Ada scoffed. "You've proven yourself to be amazing with Ua; Imali loves how you are with her, I can tell. And you speak more languages than I ever imagined existed. Lord Ash seemed impressed with that."
Rickard stole a glance at her, reaching up to rub at the scars under his kerchief. "He wasn't lying for any of that?"
"Not at all," Ada confirmed. "Complete truth. And Sera's taken a shine to you; she'll defend you even if he does have second thoughts." Rickard gave a small nod, then sighed.
"I'm sorry I'm such a bother." He leaned against the wall. "It's been two weeks. I ought to be used to all this now but I'm just as much of a wreck as I was before."

"I'm sure," Ky said with a smile, shivering a bit at the memory of Nasa's head on the pole. She brushed the thought away. "I'm very glad he was able to help them. It's terrible."


"Rickard," Pratik said gently, forcing himself not to scoff. "You've had two weeks out of the hundreds you've been alive to adjust to life as a free man. It takes time. No one could fault you for anything whatsoever."

Emery nodded in agreement, sobering. "The little kid wouldn't say a word for a week afterward. She just stuck by the old woman."

"I just thought it would be quicker." Rickard raised his head. "It's easier when I just stay in the infirmary, out of everyone's way. Sera likes me, like you said, Ada. She lets me stay."

Ky cringed at the thought of that, yet she wasn't surprised. Slave owners were horrible, horrible things -- they were the real monsters, not Ruh -- and she had no doubt that they treated Ua terribly. "It's safer to shut up."


"You'll adjust in your own time," Pratik said encouragingly. "It's not a race. You've got all the time in the world to figure out what you think and what you feel. It's okay not to know yet."

"Indeed it is. Much safer." He smiled ruefully. "I never was good at that part."

Rickard nodded slowly. "Yes. I know. It's just frustrating. There are so many choices to make; every day feels like I'm just getting more and more decisions to make and I don't know what do do with myself."

Ky grinned at him. No, he didn't seem like he would be. He had entirely too much pep in him to be cowed and threatened into silence. "It's a practiced skill, no doubt."

Zander bristled. Listening to Ky joke about being a slave. There was nothing funny about this. Nothing funny whatsoever.

Ky felt his energy change, and looked at him, then back at Emery, realizing she needed to change the subject, and fast. "You know what else is a learned skill?" She didn't have any idea whatsoever where she was heading with this one.


"It's understandable," Pratik answered with a nod. "It's a process. But bit by bit, each new decision will, slowly, get easier. You'll get used to making choices. And once the anxiety wears off, it will feel incredible. Getting to be your own man is a gift like no other."

(I feel like Ky and Rickard should start a club xD she'll make the friendship bracelets hahaha)

(Ha Ky if only you knew Emery)

"Tell me." Emery leaned forward, resting his chin on one hand.

"So I hear." Rickard was silent for a moment, seeming to fight himself on something. "Is it so terrible that I...." He rubbed at his face, sighing again. "Is it bad that I almost wish I wasn't free? Life was simpler before..."
Ada stiffened as she said this. She knew exactly what she thought about that. Of course it was bad! He ought to be reveling in his freedom! But she kept silent. He was in a fragile space right now; best not upset him further.

(Gaius is 100% arranging seating so they're across from or next to each other at dinner.)

(haha nice)

Ky had half-hoped that Emery would make a suggestion of his own to run with, but he didn't, so now she needed to think of something.

Zander knew exactly what she was doing. He let her believe that her attempts at soothing him actually worked. That he couldn't tell that she wasn't being fully honest with him. But the description was oozing off her now, and Zander could smell the metaphorical sweat coming from her now. "Lying?" he suggested.

"No." She pointed at him, flushing, then hesitated. "Yes. But..." She looked back at Emery, mind still not finding anything smart to say. "Swordsmanship lessons. I'm utterly terrible at them, but they're so fun!"


"Mm... new things are scary," Pratik said patiently. He'd helped enough slaves to safety by now to know that this wasn't actually all that unexpected, as twisted as it seemed. "You're not alone in that feeling. But new things stop being new the more you interact with them, and they stop feeling so scary, too. And we're here to help you until you don't feel so scared anymore. However long that takes."

"Aha!" Emery clapped his hands together. "A useful skill to have! I wish I'd learned, but alas, I came to Serpent Keep a mere servant."

"You're both more than I deserve," Rickard said miserably. "You're too kind. But I thank you for it. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you." He rubbed at his neck again, glancing anxiously at the door. "They're taking awhile..."

"I understand," Ky said with a nod, hesitating. "I'm still not quite sure what happened, honestly. But it's been nice!"


"Eh, he's a man of many questions," Pratik said, waving a hand. "For all we know, he's wringing Sera for a full list of everything I've done since being back. He trusts me less than his skepticism of the two of you combined. It's plain as day that you're as authentic as they come -- I wouldn't worry too much."

That was only partly true. Pratik would be shitting himself if he was Rickard just then. He had been in similar situations before -- waiting in the hall like a schoolchild, not sure if he was about to go back in to the offer of employment or to get flayed alive. But, bit by bit, his ego overpowered his fear, and it'd left them here. The cocky mercenary boy who was fully ready to tell off a Lord, in his own Keep, if he tried to treat Rickard or Ada poorly.

(You know, writing this reminded me -- imagine if we'd stuck with our original plan xD She'd have died within 48 hours hahaha
Aleth: *is mean to Ky*
Gaius: "the fuck was that supposed to be?" *kills Aleth*
Ky: (o).(O)
Gaius: "i said. what the fuck. was that supposed to be?"
Ky: *has an aneurysm and dies*
hahaha this would have gone so incredibly poorly xD and Ky would still be the simpering fool unable to breathe around Gaius. And he probably? would have already tossed her out, too hahah)

"We're certainly all glad to have you! How are you both finding your rooms?"

"I hope he isn't being too hard on her." Rickard wrapped his arms around his thin body. "Sera's been so, so kind. She shouldn't be scolded for that."
Ada watched his face, brow furrowed. He looked more nervous for Sera than he had for himself when he was in there; he glanced repeatedly at the door as if he expected her to come bursting out in fury or in tears at any second.

(Holy cannoli if we'd stuck to the original plan if Ky had survived, Gaius might be her dad instead of Tomhas. That would be bizarre and way, way more fraught with tension than the Loquitur family. And Gaius would draw out Aleth's death so, so long if he knew the whole story of what he did to Ky. Ky would be absolutely terrified of him)

(Hahahaha omgggg Daddy Gaius hahaha pls no xD she still wouldn’t be breathing at this point haha)

Ky hesitated, not sure how to respond. Her gut reaction was to tell him how absolutely ridiculous her room was and how terrified she was of it, but she knew that would be a misstep. “Extraordinarily generous.” She looked at Zander. “It’s bigger than the entire cottage.”

Zander grinned at her awe. “Glad to hear it! It’s what you deserve.”

“It absolutely is not,” she said. She liked to think she may deserve a corner in some cottage somewhere. But she didn’t deserve a cot much less a gigantic bed that was bigger than a barn.


Pratik glanced towards the door, reveling in the absolute selflessness of this man. The empathy to fear for Sera’s health and happiness over his own. “They’re friends, Rickard. He wouldn’t be mean to Sera. He trusts her so much he left her watching over his entire Keep. He wouldn’t trust someone who was scared of him with something that important, right? He trusts her judgment. He won’t be mean to her.”

Yet another thing he wasn’t certain of. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Gaius trusted Sera, which was in itself no small miracle. And Sera had full agency to leave at any time, but she didn’t, which must mean she was contented here and felt safe. But Pratik didn’t have any idea if that was despite the occasional tongue lashing. He doubted it, tho. She didn’t seem the type to tolerate something like that.

"That's exactly how I felt when I came here," Emery chuckled. "Everything was way too big, and more expensive than anything I could possibly have afforded back then. The Ashes certainly don't lack funds!"

"She told me that before she went in," Rickard murmured. "She said they were friends and that he was kind to people like us. But I could feel his eyes on me; he doesn't trust me or anyone. I suppose I don't blame him. And I should trust that Sera knows what she's doing."