Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 7)

“Thank you,” Zander murmured, dipping his head and then striding towards the hall. Both to get out of the way and to look for Ky. He glanced back at Ada. “Ten minutes.”

She was still fretting in the hall, but hadn’t run away.

Ada nodded and followed after them. She could wait ten minutes, and hopefully wherever they were going had a fire.

Xander pushed the door open and strode into the hall. Ky heard the door opening and stopped pacing before they came into view, instead adopting a neutral expression and body language, even though anxiety was still creeping through the mask.

“What are you doing?” Zander asked gently in Akarataran.

“Waiting?” Ky shrugged casually.

“You didn’t need to leave.”

“We were in the way.”

“One or multiple of us could have left,” Zander pointed out. “You’re a noble now. You don’t need to be the one to cave.”

She furrowed her brow at him. “I’m a noble now — I can do as I please.”

He sighed.

Ada grinned at that. She was getting the hang of being a privileged brat, it seemed. A good defense.
"Right this way," Emery said, gesturing down the hall.

Ky nodded and stepped forward next to him. “I take it the tea was a success?”

"Indeed it was!" Emery grinned. "Coming up in ten minutes, courtesy of the kitchen."

“Glad to hear it.” Ky smiled. “What kind?”

"Well, I got peppermint--that's my favorite--and Zander and Ada both got black tea, I believe. And Zander asked for fruit tea for you."

Ky smiled and nodded. “Sounds great.”

Zander smiled, too, although he was walking behind them, pleased that he was able to do something that she’d like.

(I have no ideas for subjects they can talk about tbh)

(Me either. Wanna skip through the tea drinking to somewhere?)

(Sure! Did you wanna do the barracks? We could jump to them finishing tea and heading there?)

(We could do that; I felt like I didn't give Kazhra the best first introduction, but at the same time I wanna be able to have Ky actually interact with people)

(Haha fair — should be interesting xD)

The tea felt nice in Ky’s stomach, warming her to the core. She had settled back next to Zander on one of the couches.

He gave a contented sigh. “That was nice.”

"It was," Emery agreed with a happy sigh. "Pity there were no scones, but I guess that's on us for catching them off guard."
Ada set down her teacup. It had been great, especially with a dash of honey, but she missed coffee.

Ky nodded in agreement. “Lunch can’t be too much further out now, yeah?”