Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 6)

(She moves progressively closer every night
But in all honesty he's a petty bitch. He'd only engage with her if she tries to talk to him first)

"I used to, before the war." Lyra accepted some food on her plate, expression disappearing from her face. "We all came here often."

"You both certainly know more than I do," Rickard offered. "You shouldn't feel stupid just because you don't know other things. Not everybody can know everything, like you said, so why overexert yourself?"

(No problem... Aashi can not, in fact, ever shut up xD)

"Ah." Pratik had poked a sore spot, then. "Well, I'm glad you're able to be here now. I'm sure the Ashes are delighted to have you here with them."


"Perhaps I'll learn contentment once I'm older." Ky shrugged, offering a smile. She didn't like mentioning her age. Didn't like that everyone else kept throwing it in her face. But she couldn't very well tell two adults who were significantly smarter than her that they were wrong. And yet she also couldn't agree with them without lying. "For now, I feel very, very behind on what I know versus what I should know."

"We are," Gaius said, glancing at Pratik and Lyra. He wondered if Pratik knew Lyra had been married to Tarr not so long ago--still was, legally. If not, he wasn't going to be the one to tell him that.

"We all feel that way at some point in our lives, I think," Sera mused. "I've had my share of frustrating moments when it came to knowledge."
"I as well," Rickard added.

(Oop, I forgot that he’d know that haha what with Tarr throwing a tantrum and all)

Pratik smiled and dipped his head. “I hope it’s restful for you.”

He finally put the pieces together, way, way, way later than they should have. This must be the daughter Tarr had been absolutely rabid about. But… how? This was a child. What kind of motherfucker would marry a child off to a brute like Tarr? At this point, he should have just lost the war. Then, at least, he could be Gaius’s little bitch, rather than turning his own daughter into Tarr’s. It wasn’t right.


“Oh?” Ky asked curiously.

"It'll certainly be quieter." She cut into her mutton. "What does my uncle have you doing?"

"I'm an apothecary," Sera said with a sigh. "I'm learning something new every day, and I've not been without mistakes." It hadn't been her fault when Gaius's leg healed wrong and his hand was damaged permanently--that was the old man's fault. He was drunk most of the time and grossly incompetent because of it. But she felt that if she'd had the knowledge back then, she could have done something to help.

He needed to find something age-appropriate. “Ah, I’m helping gather information.”


“I’m sure.” Ky nodded sympathetically. “I would simply perish from the stress if I had your job.”

(Pratik: this is a literal child
Pratik five years from now, meeting Ky’s twin: dat ass tho
Lol… slightly kidding because Rana is ace and they never actually fuck. But still lol)

(How the turn tables)

"You're a spy?"

Sera chuckled. "I would hope not, dear. And I figured some important thing out eventually. It just takes time, practice, and research."

(Haha… good thing they don’t meet until she’s like 20 lol)

“‘Spy’ is a strong word,” Pratik said carefully, taking a bite of the beans on his plate as he contemplated how he was supposed to answer that. He didn’t have the first idea how much Gaius wanted him to tell his niece. It wouldn’t do to basically lie to her if Gaius wanted her to know the truth; but he couldn’t tell her what he did, obviously. “But… I help out where I can, yes.”


“No doubt,” she agreed. “And patience.”

(Yupp)

"With the war, you mean." She looked toward her uncle. Gaius met her eyes but kept silent. If she wanted to pursue this line of questioning, he wouldn't stop her.

"Patience above all." Sera nodded. "That's important in every profession."

Pratik also glanced at Gaius. He was right here. If he wanted to step in, he could at any moment. And he damn sure better not blame Pratik for saying too much if he didn’t stop it. “I do.”


Ky nodded again, not quite sure whether she could be classified as a patient person or not. On one hand, she could wait a very, very, very long time and externally appear extremely patient. However her heart was impatient if she had to wait more than a few moments to get something she wanted. She offered a self-depreciating smile. “Working on that one, too.”

"Well, I hope you get good information, then." She gave him a small nod.

"The only person I know who has patience down to an art is Gaius," Sera replied. "The rest of us bumble along as best we can."

Thank gods she was giving it up. He returned the nod. "As do I. I'll give it my best, if nothing else. Are you looking forward to doing anything while you're here?"


What an interesting thought, Gaius being patient. She supposed he was, overall. But she got a distinct feeling that both she and Aashi annoyed him and tested said patience, frequently. He'd certainly been fed up with her when they argued in the camp.

But, then, she supposed she couldn't blame him. She'd been equally as mad at him in that moment. She tried not to call the kettle black.

Ky nodded. "Yet another learned skill, no doubt. First, astronomy. Second, swordsmanship. Third, patience -- if I've made it through the first two." She offered a playful smile.

"I'm excited to be in the library again," she said after a thoughtful pause. "And to see familiar faces. And I'm looking forward to revisiting the artifact room."

"You've got plenty of time for all that." Sera grinned. "You're young yet."

"Ooh, interesting!" Pratik smiled. "I'm sure that must be fascinating to see. I've not been there."

He sent a glance at Gaius. He got a distinct feeling that Gaius had wanted to be rid of him and Zander earlier, rather than actually caring if they cared about the tour. Which meant he wasn't going to get anywhere near the artifact room. Even though he wanted to.


"Yes, ma'am." Ky returned the grin, dipping her head. "I think I'm going to try to learn another language while I'm here, too." She glanced down the table at the other freed slaves. "Do they all speak Upper?"

"It's quite something. I'm sure my uncle would let you see it under escort." She looked to Gaius for confirmation.
"Perhaps," Gaius allowed. Everybody had been served by now, and he sat with his food untouched as usual. "I'll give it some thought."

"None of them," Sera replied. "The big Morthern fellow only speaks Nortung, and the two women beside him speak Moon Speech and Rhaebaki, respectively. Ua speaks Natai. We've been relying on Gaius and Rickard to translate for the most part, but it can be a bit of a struggle since May is so quiet and Ivar is protective of her."
At the sounds of their names, Ivar and May looked up. They'd kept to themselves up til this point, exchanging no words even with each other. Ivar's eyes settled on Ky, and his heavy brow furrowed.