Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 7)

Zander nodded in agreement. He almost felt guilty allowing Ada to gang up with him against Ky. But if that’s what it took for her to start being honest…

“Existence,” she said dryly. “I’m anxious from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to sleep. And sometimes even then.”

Zander cringed.

"But is there anything specific today?" She lowered her voice.

“I’m not going to keep answering questions until you call me a liar.” Ky sighed.

“Have you considered, I don’t know, not lying?” Zander suggested dryly.

“Have you considered I’m a real life human entitled to the privacy of her own thoughts?” Ky just sounded tired at this point. But even more anxious energy was emanating from her now. She didn’t want to talk about the barracks. It was hard enough to convince herself to return. She didn’t need to add shame to the docket.

"I can go to the barracks by myself," Ada suggested. "You obviously don't want to go."

“Fine,” Ky snapped. “If you want rid of me so badly, I can leave.”

Ada stared at her, confused and irritated by this sudden change in Ky. "You just seem upset. That's all. Did something happen in the barracks?"

Ky didn’t know whether ‘no’ was truthful or not. She was terrified of Kazhra. And of the barracks in general. And Xander was nice, but intimidating. And. Well. “Not in these ones.”

Zander looked at her uneasily. What else had Aleth put her through?

Ada hesitated. "Then you don't have to go back in. I'll go myself. Alright?"

Ky sighed softly. She wanted to. Everything in her wanted to leave. To avoid the barracks like she avoided all of her problems. At least tried to. And yet exposure was what was going to help with her anxiety regarding the barracks. She didn’t need to be nervous about the barracks in addition to being nervous about a new teacher.

“I need to get used to being there if I’m going to take lessons,” Ky said stiffly.

That was true. And Ada had basically told her to toughen up before. She nodded. "If you say so."

“I do.” She pulled open the door to the barracks and held it.

Ada stepped through, still frowning.

Zander also frowned as he stepped through, concerned, but decided not to push it. He didn’t want to be overbearing and smother her. Even though he also didn’t want to let Ky come to the barracks when she was clearly this anxious about it. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps she should face her fears. And at least now he could be here for her. Even though she was inconsistent in whether she wanted to cling to him for dear life or snarl at him in an attempt to push him away.

Emery was silent, glancing between the three warily. There was such a fascinating dynamic that kept unfolding here, and Ky seemed to be at the center of it all. She was so antsy, quick to switch moods so that he couldn't quite keep up.

“She was in the training room the last time I saw her,” Ky murmured, pushing to the front of the pack. “It’s this way.”

Zander eyed her, but followed close behind, glancing back at Emery. “I believe we’re looking for one Miss Kazhra in the training room.”

(I cannot remember if it was upstairs or downstairs tbh so feel free to take directions if you’d like lol)