Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 6)

Pratik gave him a nod of appreciation, but didn't say anything. Words didn't exist that would help his case. If he wheedled it would irritate Gaius and make him say no; and if he tried to politely say that it was okay either way, then Gaius may take that as a lack of interest and also say no. So, a nod instead.


Ky shrank under his gaze, despite herself. He was so big. Tadaaki rested his hand on her knee under the table, drawing her attention. He gave her the slightest nod of encouragement, silently reminding her that she, also, had a large man on her side that would protect her if needed.

Ky's nod was almost imperceptible to everyone but Tadaaki, and she looked back at May with a smile, deciding she was an easier conversationalist. She couldn't say much to Ivar in the first place since she only knew a sentence or two of Nortung, but she'd acknowledge him at the very least. In a moment.

"My name is Ky Ruiarc," Ky murmured in Moon Speech. "It's nice to meet you."

May looked surprised to be addressed, and she dipped her head. "I'm May," she said softly, keeping her eyes on the table. "Good to meet you as well." Ivar's eyes flickered to her, then back to Ky, narrowing suspiciously.
"She means no harm," Rickard assured him in Nortung. "She's introducing herself." Ivar gave a grim nod.

Ky's chest went tight, and she shrank even further in her seat. She didn't know what she'd done wrong or what Rickard was saying. But she very much looked like a little girl now.

"I don't speak Nortung, sorry," she struggled in Nortung, pronouncing the words incorrectly. She'd learned this phrase in multiple languages, but it didn't make it easy to remember. She tried to look more confident, but failed, as she pointed at herself. "Ky."

Ivar listened to this with the same stone-faced expression. Then he rested a hand on his chest. "Ivar Thorbjornson," he replied in a deep, solemn voice. "You speak my words very poorly." Rickard glanced nervously at Ky to see if she understood and if so, how she would react. He didn't relish translating offensive words, though he'd had to many times.

Ky had no idea whatsoever what he'd said, so she smiled and nodded, trying to recall if she knew anything else in Nortung. "It's a-a... meet, you." She looked at Rickard, brow furrowed. "How do you say 'pleasure to'?"

Rickard pronounced the words for her. Ivar glanced between them. "She mangles these words but tries still," he observed. "Why?"
"She is trying to honor you by speaking your words as you cannot speak hers," Rickard explained. "Please forgive her; she will be quick to learn if she so chooses, I'm certain."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Ky said, words slow and awkward, brow furrowed as you could tell she was trying very, very hard to say it right, even though she was failing miserably. She smiled apologetically. "Sorry."

Gaius was watching the exchange with some amusement.
"Please make her stop," Ivar said to Rickard with a frown. "She angers my ears." Rickard winced and looked to Ky. She seemed so nervous and uncomfortable, and she was trying so hard.
"He can't say much for your pronunciation," he said delicately. "But he appreciates your effort." He gave her a deeply apologetic look. "Northmen are plain of speech and blunt of tongue," he said by way of explanation. "He means no offense..."

"I'll learn." Ky nodded, assuming Ivar had just told her to fuck off, given how uncomfortable Rickard looked as he was translating for them. Oh well. Ivar wasn't the first asshole to tell her to fuck off, and he wouldn't be the last. But she'd win him over if she learned his language. At least, she will have done everything she could in an attempt to befriend him. The worst that could happen was her understanding his words as he cussed her out -- and she'd have a new language under her belt, regardless. "That's the language I'll learn while I'm here, so I can talk to him."

"An excellent goal," Sera said approvingly. "Good thing you have two fluent speakers here; Rickard or Gaius could teach you, I'm sure." Rickard looked startled at the very notion.

Ky perked up, grinning, successfully distracted from how utterly terrified she was of Ivar.

"I'd like that, if you don't mind. I wouldn't want to be a bother... so I could probably pick up basic grammar from books so I don't have to take all your time, but if you could help me with pronunciation and nuances, so I don't..." She gestured vaguely. She knew damn well her pronunciation was horrible -- is that what had pissed Ivar off? She was trying. "Only if you don't mind, though! I don't want to be a bother." She was suddenly feeling very unsure of herself and blushed. "Sorry. I-I didn't, it's okay, sorry, never mind. You don't have to. I'm sorry. I don't want to be a bother."

She said all this fast enough Rickard couldn't have gotten a word in edgewise, even if he tried.

If Rickard had been surprised by Sera's nomination, he was even more shocked by Ky's rush of words and apologies.
"Please don't apologize," he said quickly. "Of course I'll teach you, if that's what you wish. Only if you want. I can't read or write in any language so I'm really not much use...Lord Ash is probably a better candidate."
"You're selling yourself short," Sera said, shaking her head. "

There was no universe in which she could imagine Gaius enjoying listening to her ramble brokenly in a language she couldn't pronounce. Besides, it'd be nice to get to know Rickard. He seemed nice.

"You don't have to be able to read it to be fluent." Ky shrugged, stopping just short of assuring him that she'd be able to learn to read and write it easily once she knew it. That'd just be a dick move. "... but I could, um, teach you to read, if that's something you're interested in? Help each other out? Not Nortung, obviously, since I don't know it. But, um, a different language? Only if you're interested. There's no shame in not knowing how to read. So up to you."

"I'M GONNA LEARN HOW TO READ!" Tasia shouted enthusiastically, attention torn off her drawing session with Ua.

"Shh." Aashi shushed her. "You're not part of this conversation. Draw."

Rickard's shoulders drew up and his arms clenched around himself for protection when Tasia yelled. He saw her, though, and forced himself, painfully, to relax. "Only if you want to teach me," he mumbled to Ky, cheeks flushing in embarrassment. "I don't need anything in return for teaching, though...I never needed payment before."

(Aww, buddy </3)

Tadaaki cringed sympathetically, a little pained that his daughter had triggered yet another former slave. He was starting to get used to her erratic behavior, but she still stressed him out at times, and he'd been living with her for months at this point. He'd need to remind her to be gentle when interacting with people. He'd need to remind them both -- although Aashi was, surprisingly, mostly keeping to herself at the moment.

Ky also cringed a bit, although hers was in response to Rickard's words. She'd grown accustomed to shouting from Peter and Oscar, and, hell, even Anneliese and Tomhas himself, sometimes. It was mostly when the loud noise was accompanied by a sudden movement that made her flinch now. But it hurt her heart to see how timid Rickard was. She'd make him see that they were the same, eventually. She was a slave masquerading as a noble -- she wasn't a real one.

"It's no payment," Ky said, offering a smile. She absolutely understood his discomfort with the thought of getting something he didn't feel like he deserved. It felt like he was exactly where Ky had been before she gave up on the idea of being Tomhas's slave. "Just a couple of friends helping each other out."

(Ky: wish.com version of nobility)