Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 7)

Zander nodded in agreement. "I think we all wish that."

Not that it particularly affected him much. Ky was in danger from Aleth's fucking assassins, not Tarr's nonsense. So she'd be in the same situation, war or not. But he couldn't imagine being at the mercy of a brute like Tarr. Especially being so young, and female on top of it all. He wouldn't wish that on his worst enemy, let alone a half-grown child.

"It's good she's come here," Bay continued, still expressionless. "It's safer here than Caracal Keep."
"Caracal Keep was built more with aesthetic in mind," Kazhra scoffed. "Those silly gates and the thin walls; we could have torn through those in seconds if the war with Tomhas had continued."

Ky bristled, angry that she was insulting her father -- and yet lacking the guts to say anything. Where was Kazhra's Keep? That's right. She didn't have one. So she had no right to insult Tomhas's.

Maybe if Gaius hadn't decided to declare war on his own baby brother, then none of this ever would have happened. There would have been no war between the two of them, so Tomhas never would have married Lyra to Tarr, and it would have saved two wars.

Hell, if there hadn't been the first war, Aleth never would have come up here. So she'd still be his slave, and there wouldn't be any assassins coming for her. So violence on literally all fronts would have been saved for Tomhas if Gaius hadn't thrown a tantrum.

Bay noticed this, and Kazhra saw it do. She chuckled good-humoredly. "I'm not wrong, little one. It's not Tomhas's doing at all; some ancestor of his somewhere had that Keep commissioned and designed. Tomhas just happens to be related to that ancestor--not even legitimately--and was saddled with that monstrosity. I don't envy him if Tarr comes knocking."
"I expect Lord Ash will have some of us stationed there if that's the case," Bay said grimly. "As fortifications."

Ky was embarrassed that they’d both noticed — and Zander, too — but was placated by the further explanation. She could tolerate this compromise, as long as they weren’t insulting Tomhas directly. And, well, she supposed that Tomhas himself agreed with that assessment. That’s why she was here after all. She nodded and added quietly, “… that’s probably good. He seems the type to punch first think later… maybe.”

Was she allowed to say that? She was still so anxious at the thought of insulting a noble. But if Kazhra could insult Tomhas, then Ky could insult Tarr… right?

Gods, she shouldn’t have said that. They were going to tell Gaius. And he was going to get mad at her for speaking out of turn. And then everyone was going to think her an arrogant idiot, just like she was accusing Tarr of being. She, also, hadn’t thought about what she was saying before it came out of her mouth.

“Or maybe not,” Ky murmured quickly, shrinking. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. I don’t know what I’m talking about. I’m sorry.”

"He is," Kazhra assured her. "A brute first and foremost."
"But well versed in textbook military strategy," Bay added. "Something can be said for his improvisation in simulated battle from what I hear, but this is only his first war."

Ky nodded, still blushing a bit, resolving not to talk anymore. She always made things worse when she talked. 100% of the time.

"I think we have a good chance of winning, though." Kazhra tilted her chin up. "He's young and has one large army, not two. And the Bledroes and Barrasters are war-weary even after three months, I'm sure. The Adrees don't associate with slavers and the Crown expressly denied Tarr's push for war, so he's completely alone unless he pulls some miracle out of his ass. I'd calculate we have this war won within the year, maybe within six months or even less."

Ky nodded in agreement. And then immediately aww wanted wood to knock on. She tended to jinx things when she got too confident. And she didn’t want that. She didn’t want that at all. She discretely knocked on her leg, hoping her superstition would be satisfied with that. Gods, she hoped Kazhra was right. And she hoped Zander would assure Tomhas things were safe in the same amount of time. And she hoped that meant she could go home.

Bay was silent; his face was still unreadable.
"Anything else you want to ask us?" Kazhra asked, directing her question somewhere between Zander and Ky.

Ky shook her head, still resolved not to talk.

Zander considered for a moment, then also shook his head. “Nope, I think my curiosity has been satisfied. Thank you both for taking the time to speak with us.”

At least, his curiosity regarding the two of them. He was absolutely dying with curiosity to see who Ky was going to pick as her trainer. She’d grouchily told him she wasn’t going to decide while he was still here, but he hoped she would relent and make her decision, to satisfy his curiosity.

Bay and Kazhra had such wildly different energies. Would Ky prefer Kazhra’s direct but animated personality? Or Bay’s calm but unreadable mask? He didn’t know. But he wanted to.

Bay dipped his head. "If you have need of me, I'll be here in the barracks for the remainder of the day, and likely the remainder of the week."
"I'll probably be the same, unless I'm in patrol or visiting the village," Kazhra added.

“Sounds good.” Zander nodded to them. “Thank you.”

“Thank you,” Ky murmured quietly, then took a step backward, glad the conversation was over.

Bay dipped his head and returned to his seat.
"It was good to meet you," Kazhra said to Zander, then turned to Ada. "We can talk more later, if you're free; I'd be glad to spar with you a little."
Ada grinned at her. "I'd love that!"

“You as well.” Zander smiled a bit at Ada’s enthusiasm. He looked at Emery. “Shall we?”