Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 7)

“Maybe.” Ky blushed a little and offered a small smile. That seemed like pressure.

(My Spotify just brought on the song ‘Rich White Straight Men’ by Ke$ha which seems applicable given who are talking right now haha I’d never heard it before but it’s a vibe)

(That's utterly fantastic, I'm gonna go listen to it now)
(Loving the faux harpsichord)

They were nearing the end of the grove. Ada rubbed her hands together, blowing into her gloves.

Ky glanced at her. Was her tribe even still together? Things were probably going to be radically different when she went back. Did she realize that? It didn’t seem like it. But she supposed she didn’t need to be the one to spit in her happiness. “… I wonder if Gaius has any potters here? Maybe I could watch.”

"Rich men have every artisan," Ada snorted. "But I don't know if there are many potters up here. Most every bowl or pot I've seen has been wood or stone, or metal."

Ky nodded. It was such an odd experience to be with someone who loathed rich men as much as she used to. When said rich men were now her family. Her brain couldn’t reconcile her gut impulse to think the worst of rich men with the reality that two were being really, truly wonderful to her.

But, she supposed, she still couldn’t quite grasp the expanse of their wealth. She supposed Gaius could have anything he could possibly desire. But. Well… she didn’t know.

“Tadaaki is a carpenter,” Ky said, deciding to go with that rather than talk about the people Gaius had here. “Tasia is very proud of his bowls.” She smirked a little. “Informed the king himself that he was an inferior bowl-maker. He thought it was funny but Tadaaki about died from embarrassment.”

Ada's eyebrows shot up. "That kid's a bold one. Does she not know authority or is she just gutsy?" She was pretty sure Tasia or her parents might be executed by most other rulers if she said something like that to their face.

“She doesn’t understand.” Ky shook her head, sobering a bit. “Just a dumb kid.”

"You might want to talk to her parents about being more...discreet."

“Oh, they lectured her sternly and apologized all over themselves,” Ky said, realizing that Ada didn’t think this was funny. “This is just the first time she left her township, so she’s learning a lot about what thoughts you can say and which you keep to yourself.”

"Maybe that's good for her, then." She grimaced. "I know a few people who regret having a quick wit."

Ky cringed. “It can come back to bite you quick when paired with the inability to shut up.”

This the reason everyone was better off with her not talking. You couldn’t— well it was much less likely — get in trouble when you didn’t speak.

"I guess I've got to be careful of that," Ada mused, frowning.

Ky considered for a moment, but slowly nodded. “Gaius prefers directness. Gets angry when he thinks you’re flattering him. But… yeah… probably best to be polite, I would guess.”

"I planned on that. I respect him more than I do most nobles, but I'd like the same respect in return."

Cocky. “And has he been giving it?”