Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 6)

Gaius wandered further forward. "Feel free to explore, ask questions."

(You can make up whatever you want to be in this room if you like; I won't be coming up with 500 something items all on my own!)

(Haha valid!)

Ky wandered around looking at various items she came to. She lingered a large platter-sized pendant that looked to be made of solid gold. It was carved with an intricate pattern of animals and vegetation. It was beautiful and she has another impulse to run her fingers across the surface. She pulled her hand out of her pocket before she could stop herself, but caught herself before she actually touched it. She bunched up a fistful of her trousers in her hand instead, examining it closely while focusing equally hard on not touching it. It was beautiful.

Gaius watched her, keeping his distance but pleased that she was enjoying this place. He quite liked taking books up here and finding the corresponding artifacts, if there were any. He expected she'd enjoy doing the same.

(Careful, Gaius, if you let her up here alone she will touch absolutely everything xD)

Ky found a blade that looked to be carved out of a jaw bone of some animal. An abstract painting. A small tapestry. She took a long, long time to wander through it, but decided to enjoy herself until Gaius got impatient with her. This room was far too exciting for her to rush herself.

(As if he hasn't done that a billion times before)

Gaius simply headed further into the room to visit a fragment of Eastern pillar, a gilded beauty of ornate golden and silver frills and coiling ermines. It had been rescued some decades ago during the war and purchased by his grandfather.

(Haha)

She committed dozens of artifacts to mind over the next few minutes, remembering their sizes and shapes and colors and imagined textures, though she managed to keep from actually touching anything. Finally, she looped back to Gaius.

"Is it to your liking?" Gaius asked, already knowing the answer. "Any questions?"

“It’s incredible!” She smiled. “What’s the canoe?”

"Ah, that comes from Caprus. It's used by the Caprans of the northern islands in the rivers for battle." He walked over to it and gestured to the crude metal affixed to the hull. "They'd ram other canoes using this."

Ky listened and watched. “… they can move fast enough for that to be effective?”

"Oh, they're quite fast in the right water. They developed seafaring canoes and fishing canoes as well--water is their primary source of food, since the islands are basically glaciers without any animals except seals and white bears. Maybe a few hares as well."

Ky nodded. “I’ve been in a canoe to fish. Never crossed my mind to ram something with it.”

"When war comes one has to use everything at one's disposal." Gaius shrugged. "They were a fascinating set of cultures, very diverse but similar all at once."

Ky nodded, still not quite able to imagine a war canoe. How did you not just go toppling out when you hit something? How did you not get stabbed if you got that close? How—? “It is interesting, for sure.”

"Would you like to see the orrery now or linger a little?" Gaius asked her.