Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 7)

It didn’t seem like a particularly remarkable hallway, though Ky still glanced around and took it all in, silently memorizing the detail. As if Aleth would appear at the end of the hall and quiz her on what she’d seen. Because sometimes he would. And it was never good.

One of the doors opened as they were walking by, and Zander strode out. He grinned broadly when he saw them. “Ky!”

Ky grinned and walked into his open arms for a hug.

“Where are you girls off to?” He asked, arms still wrapped around her.

“The kitchen,” she murmured into his chest, then pulled away. “We’re cold and want tea.”

“Reasonable,” Zander said with a nod. He glanced at Ada and switched to Akarataran. “How are you today, miss?”

Emery followed a few paces behind, keeping a respectful distance behind but remaining within earshot. He gave Ky a little wave.

Ada nodded to him. "I'm well. And you?"

“Doing well!” Zander smiled, looking between them. “I take it you’ve been outside?”

Ky had taken a step closer to Emery. “Hey Emery, how’s it going?”

"Hi!" Emery nodded to her, grinning. "I'm doing great. And you?"

"Out in the grove," Ada replied. "Have you been?"

“Doing well!” Ky returned the grin.

“We went a bit earlier,” Zander said, stepping back a bit so that they made more of a ring as he nodded towards Emery. “I’m afraid I’ve been feeling a bit restless and have dragged poor Emery all around this morning.”

He was careful in his pacing, though. Actively thinking about what would give him information, and then choosing not to do that. He probably would only stay another day or two and take his leave on his own rather than forcing Gaius to toss him out — but he wanted an open… well not a closed… completely closed invitation to return to see Ky. So he needed to make sure he didn’t do anything suspicious at all. So just innocuous wandering, doing his best to content himself with pacing within parlors and such that seemed safe before inevitably getting bored and moving on. He never could sit still for very long at a time.

"I'm glad to hear it. What have you been up to? Exploring? Reading?"

"There's not much to do here," Ada pointed out. "I get restless, too." She was still a bit wary of Zander, but she figured she ought to be at least a little polite to Ky's other uncle, even if he wasn't a noble.

“We just went out to the grove,” Ky said. She didn’t want to relive the hell in the barracks. How was Gaius doing? Would it be polite to go check on him? Or did he want her to fuck off? She didn’t mind to do that. He didn’t mention her meltdown… meltdowns… and she didn’t need to mention his. To anyone. Ever. And he’d probably balk if she asked him how he felt. So she probably shouldn’t. But would he think she didn’t give a damn if she didn’t? “I’d never been. It was nice to see.”


Zander inclined his head. He contemplated pointing out the library, but he wasn’t sure if she could read, and didn’t want to be a dick if she couldn’t. “Well, I’ve been enjoying the architecture. It’s fascinating to me to see structures this old… but I could see how that would get tiresome if it’s not an interest of yours.”

"I love to grove too! It's so full of life. It's especially pretty when the ice freezes over the pine needles. It all looks like glass!"

"It's pretty," she said indifferently. "But it's cramped. I prefer tents and open sky; I was telling Ky how walls keep memories trapped. Places remember."

Ky smiled a bit. Full of life wasn’t how she’d describe it. It was dark and heavy and seemed like the dying embers of life desperately trying to cling to this world. “It is nice.” And, well, screw it if Ada knew she was lying, because she couldn’t understand what she’d just said. “Do you have any other recommendations of places to wander?”


Zander nodded. That was a more mystical explanation than he believed. But the sentiment was the same. “Especially if you were involved in the formation of said memories.” He still vividly remembered every place he’d been every time he almost didn’t block a sword in time.

"Hmm." Emery thought for a moment. "The library, for one. And if you're feeling brave, the graveyard. It's a good place to meditate, but ideally in the back, near Venr. The halls themselves are nice to wander through, and you might find areas of the Keep you didn't know existed."

Ada glanced irritably at Ky; whatever she'd said had been false but she couldn't call her out on it. She fixed her attention back on Zander. "I don't know why the family doesn't just pick up and find themselves another Keep. This is such a gloomy place."

Ky nodded. “The library is… incredible. I can’t get over it.”


“I couldn’t tell you.” Zander shook his head. “Not my Keep, not my memories… but I would imagine there are bits of nostalgia that are valuable to them enough to keep in these halls.”

"It's superb, isn't it? Have you read any more today?"

"I guess." Ada glanced around. "I don't suppose he likes talking about memories, though. I know I wouldn't."

“No s—“ Ky shook her head. “Been up to other stuff. Might go back in a bit, though. We’ll see.”


Zander nodded. “I can’t say I would, either. But, again, not my place to decide what may or may not be valuable to him. We’re all different. There was probably some good mixed in with all the bad.”

"Well, do enjoy. Got any other plans for the day?"

"Just like everywhere else." She nodded.

“Not really.” Ky glanced back at Zander. “Might join the two of you, if that’s okay?” She glanced back at Emery. There was no universe in which Zander said no. But she didn’t want to irritate Emery.