Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 9)

She was trembling at this point, scared into her Kyber persona. He quaked like a leaf, but didn't cry. There was no patience for crying. Even though her throat felt so tight she thought she was going to choke on her own tongue.

What could she even say in her defense?

She had no defense.

He seemed to get angry at her for apologizing. He was going to see red when she admitted what she'd done, so no point in fueling that. Her papa always said that apologies without changed behavior was manipulation. She couldn't very well apologize while holding the incriminating evidence. That didn't make her seem very sorry, now did it?

I'll make you sorry. Aleth surely did. Was Gaius going to, too?

(Lemme know if there are any others that might warrant spoilers more than others. I did two, I think)

Gaius waited. Whatever she was reading had to be pretty bad, then.

(Sure! I'll do a quick skim through in a sec)

Ky looked at him for another moment, then looked down, trembling even worse. He was going to force her to out herself. Fine. He didn't know what he was asking her to do. Yet. But...

She squeezed her eyes shut tightly for a moment and bit her lip, bracing herself for whatever was to come. She hoped it would just be a beating, but she highly doubted that was the case. He'd probably make it much, much worse than that. He knew exactly how to get to her. He was going to hit her where it hurt the worst -- and that wasn't anywhere he could reach physically. But she deserved every single thing he was going to do and say -- and more.

There was no point in dragging this out.

There was no explanation. No apology. Nothing at all that she could say or do to defend herself.

She took a deep breath and opened her eyes, then shut the book and set it on the chair beside her, picking up the journal in the same motion. She held it out to him. He'd know it the instant he laid eyes on it; she was absolutely certain. May as well hand it over now and take her fate head on.

Gaius didn't take it, gazing down at his brother's diary in complete silence. His face contorted for a moment and he let out a small breath.
"And why," he said after a long few moments of trying to get his throat to relax, "did you deign to read that particular journal?" He was shaving trouble processing what was around him; he could feel anger rising in him, cold and hot all at once. He would see to it these books were burned and Ky would be banned from the library...how long he wasn't sure but gods. Gods...

No apologies.

No apologies.

She set the journal down on the arm of the chair when he didn't take it.

"I..." No apologies. No excuses. They were well past that. "Have no defense."

"But why?" His knuckles were turning white from gripping his cane so tightly. What was a proper punishment for this? Surely not just grounding her from the library. He kept his eyes fixed on her, focusing on breathing.

Ky glanced at his hand. Was he going to club her with it? She almost hoped he would. Then she could just be in survival mode, trying to keep her head protected. Rather than this dreadful anticipation. "I... want to understand... I thought this way would... be the least painful way for me to learn, so no one has to relive anything... had." She supposed he was now, wasn't he?

Gaius tilted his chin up slightly and exhaled through his nose. "And do you understand? Was it worth it?"

They'd see if it was worth it. She didn't know how bad the consequences were going to be. What was he going to do to her? He wasn't going to torture her or lock her up... she was fairly sure. But what would he consider a proper punishment for an offense this flagrant. This personal.

"I... understand better now, yes," she said, deciding to leave the other question unanswered.

"How far did you get and how many did you read?" He needed to consult Sera and Sara about this. They would know what to do. She was banned from the library for certain but they would be able to talk to her and figure out how long she had to stay out.

"Just part of this one... and I skimmed the last one. I didn't read anything else."

Gaius nodded slowly, working to keep himself still. "Go to your room and wait," he said finally. "Leave the book." He'd toss it in the fire and then go talk to Sera and Sara. And then he'd go curl up somewhere out of the way and stop being a person for awhile. Or maybe he'd go riding until he found a troll. Maybe he'd curse the gods and hope they smote him.

Ky stood up obediently and moved towards the door. Gods. This was going to be so much worse. Punishments were always much worse when they were considered rather than heat of the moment rage. Not to mention the agony of making her wait for her sentencing and imagine all the things that may happen to her.

(No honey not with this family)

Gaius watched her go, then snatched up the book and limped in a different direction. He stopped almost immediately and leaned against a bookshelf, covering his mouth quickly to stifle a sound he couldn't quite name. It was half an angry growl, half a sob. Gods, just holding the damn thing was driving him mad. He knew this book. He knew the years. Some of the worst ones were in here. How far had she gotten? What did she know?
He sat down unsteadily, gasping as his leg jolted. He wasn't going to make it to either Sara or Sera right now. He couldn't do it.

(We are both skeptical)

Had she ever fucked up this bad before? She wasn't so sure.

All she knew was she was terrified.

And ashamed.

And regretful.

And...

She walked down the hall quickly, jaw set to keep herself from falling apart, but she was still visibly trembling.