Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 7)

Ky glanced at Emery, then looked back at Bay, afraid that she’d clued Emery in when she hadn’t meant to. “So, uh, what do you have planned for the rest of the day?”

The instant she said it, she regretted it. Was he going back to torture? She’d forgotten. And she didn't want to know if the answer was yes.

"I have some duties to finish up," Bay replied. "Rounds to make and such. And I have to discuss matters of war with General Xander."

Ky nodded, glad that he wasn't specific. She chose not to fill in her own guesses. Even though her gut knew. "That makes sense. I'm sure this is a very stressful time for you both."

"It's work." Bay shrugged. "It's more work than I've had in a long time."

“I’m sure,” Ky said with a nod. “I can’t imagine it’s easy to have back to back wars.”

"The first was very short. Adjusting strategy will be difficult and mobilizing troops in a different direction takes a lot of attention, but I believe General Xander is a very competent man."

“Of course.” Ky nodded quickly. “I have no doubt you’re all managing this wonderfully.”

In between literal torture.

"He dipped his head.

There was a brief pause.

He still hadn’t grown emotions.

Ky glanced at Zander, who met her gaze then looked at Bay. He tagged in. “I guess I didn’t ask you the same question I asked Kazhra. What’s your training style?”

"As I told Ky, she would be my first student." He shifted position. "I believe patience is something that's important early in the game, working up a sense of respect and trust between teacher and student before leaping into proper combat."

Zander nodded. “Also a good approach.”

Ky eyed him. He couldn’t think both patience and beating her to a pulp were equally good options. They were basically polar opposite choices. And he was approving of both?

Bay dipped his head. "Different techniques work for different people. I'm afraid I don't know as many weapons as Kazhra, though."

“Ah, well, I imagine it’ll take some time for her to want to work up to additional weapons.” Zander turned towards Ky with a raised eyebrow.

She nodded, expression neutral, but she didn’t make eye contact with Bay.

"Understandably." He nodded.

Zander nodded, too, contemplating asking him if he actually wanted to train Ky or if he was just doing it out of a sense of obligation or, worse yet, if he’d been volun-told. But there wasn’t really a way for Bay to be honest with that question if the answer wasn’t yes.

There was a long pause. Even Zander was starting to feel awkward about it; Ky was all but literally sweating — she was metaphorically dumping buckets of sweat.

“It looks like you’ve got a solid security set up here,” Zander said. “Pratik praised the impenetrability of this Keep.”