Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 7)

"I think you'll pick it up fast," Gaius said with a shrug. "It's simpler than Upper Tongue, in my opinion. Easier rules and grammar, easier pronunciation. Plus you'll have a native speaker and two others who are fluent to speak it with."

“That’s true.” Ky agreed. “I’m mostly worried about pronunciation. It feels heavy in my mouth.”

"It does," Gaius mused. "I suppose I'd advise trying to let the weight roll. Like a stone in your mouth."

Ky nodded, not quite sure what that meant, yet. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

They reached the first floor, and Gaius limped toward the interior entrance to the barracks. "I don't think I gave you a tour in here. My apologies; it's mostly dormitory rooms, cafeterias, and training rooms. And prison cells, on the lowest level."

Where the man had been for thirty years? She glanced at Gaius, then back ahead, yet again not fathoming how someone could sleep with a person in their prison for a week much less thirty years. But that wasn’t her business. She nodded. “I don’t expect I’ll be spending much time here anyhow.”

She certainly had no desire to. She tried to remember that she was a Lord’s daughter now. That no one would have the audacity to hurt her now. At least no one in her family’s employ. And yet the very concept of soldiers made her uneasy after Borrond’s kidnapping of her.

"I suppose not. Though it would be easier for lessons to take place inside in the practice room rather than outside in the cold and snow." He glanced at her. "You're intimidated."

She furrowed her brow at him before she could stop it, but quickly returned her face to a neutral expression. It wasn’t a question. “I’m fine with the practice room.”

"What's bothering you?" he asked curiously. "The prison? Or something else?" He paused, trying to think of areas in the Keep proper that could serve as a good fighting room. Perhaps the dining room, if they moved the chairs? He'd think about it some more.

Well, yes, the prison was upsetting, but she was all but guaranteed not to have to go into it. It was the barracks that were upsetting.

“Soldiers are the ones who ruined my life,” she said, not quite looking at him. “Lieutenant Borrond Mickelson.” The name that haunted her at night. “And another stabbed Papa.” She was quiet for a moment. “I guess I’ve had a bit of a grudge since then.” Yet another understatement of the century.

Gaius blinked. Sometimes he forgot that soldiers could be a peasant's worst nightmare, especially a girl's. He'd have to watch his men and women carefully, see which ones looked the wrong way at her and have them transported elsewhere.

Ky shrugged, flushing a little bit when he didn’t respond. Here she was, trauma-dumping again. “I’m sure these soldiers are much better and won’t try to hurt me. It just…” She shrugged again. “I’ll get over it, eventually. It’s fine.”

"I'll keep an eye out for any who may wish you harm, and I can assure you they won't work at this Keep anymore," he said firmly. "You'll tell me if anyone makes you uncomfortable, won't you?"

Ky hesitated, not wanting to lie to him, and yet not sure if she would rat anyone out. Especially if they didn’t succeed in hurting her. She didn’t want to ruin their lives, just because a soldier thousands of miles away ruined hers. She flushed even more, not sure how to respond. She decided to push her luck. “… will you hurt them if I do?”

"Not unless they harm you in some way," Gaius replied. "I'll simply move them to another post if they've not tried to threaten you or lay hands on you."