Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 9)

(Whatever works for you!! I'd love to see their dynamic at some point.)

"You look less enthusiastic but that's fine," he went on. "Understandable. But that's--that's unheard of. It's been ages since anyone's seen a troll--they were myths before now." He took a deep breath. "I have to read up on them now, and see what I can find. Something's stirring, or else they wouldn't be up and about. Maybe a book will clue me in..." He limped toward the door.

(Yeah that'd be fun! Honestly, I've thought about the dynamics and such and I think Jerica is going to decide she dislikes Tomhas before she even meets him and is going to be a bitch but he will probably eventually win her over haha so it'd be cute to have her being soft with Kieran -- although the only way she'd show that is if someone caught her when she wasn't expecting it)(which I would totally be down for haha)

Ky closed the curtains, feeling as though she may throw up or collapse or both. She still didn't have any capacity to speak. But it was clear she still needed to function, and she could. She just had to focus on obedience rather than what she'd seen. She started after him.

(That's freaking superb. Tomhas is gonna be so upset by it and confused.)

"I wonder--that must have been a stone troll. And Rönn said it was male and more aggressive. Was it looking for a mate?" He waited for her to step out and then shut the door and locked it. "Why now? What do the trolls know that we don't?" He glanced at Ky. "How much longer will Rönn be in the area? I need to talk to him."

(Aww buddy <3 it'll be fun haha she defaults to assuming nobles are awful humans and to assuming everyone hates her, too -- and she's gonna know that Tomhas 'sold' his 14-year-old daughter and will have no nuance in her opinion whatsoever until she realizes he's actually really likable and authentic and just did a really dumb thing haha)

Ky opened her mouth to reply, but only a shaky breath came out. She still didn't remember any words whatsoever.

(She's gonna hate Gaius too I bet. I hope she gets along with the kiddos at least!)

He glanced at her. "Ky, how long will he be here? I need to know. Is he down there now? If so I need him to come in here so we can--" No, that wouldn't work. He'd forgotten Rönn was forbidden from hospitality. "I need to talk to him," he finished. "Somehow. I don't think I can get down there tonight, but..."

(Oh the two of them are gonna be a disaster, I've thought of that too haha I think the first time she sees Ky fold to Gaius, Jerica will be like 'why tho? ur a noble too, he can't do shit to you -- don't let a crotchety rich asshole control you' -- no idea if the two of them are ever gonna reconcile haha like if they're eventually gonna be like 'ah, we're both bitches for the same reason' or just hate each other fervently forever xD)(but I will say Jerica and Ky are both going to be absolutely furious with Zander and Jerica's gonna get softer with Ky and they're gonna bond -- so she may let her hardened persona slip a bit with the kids, too. We shall see. Dunno if she'll be particularly fond of them but she won't blame the kids on either side for their fathers)

"He's leaving once it does," she managed. And he'd be absolutely furious with her if he did happen to be around and got a whiff of her being outside if she tried to help Gaius down to see him.

(I'm so ready for the family drama)

"I need to see him," Gaius repeated. "As soon as possible. Can you or Emery go? Tell him to stay, please. Just until I can talk to him. It can be tomorrow morning if necessary."

(Me too! I know we have quite a bit of ground to cover before we get there, but I'm thinking it'll be good to have some Jer and Co dynamics with the Loquiturs before Ky and Zander show up. I feel like the truth will come out almost immediately when they meet since Ky looks exactly like Zander and other uncle Derik and cousin Rek who will be accompanying Jer haha)

"He's gonna be mad if I go out there," she said quietly, anguished. Gaius was going to be angry if she didn't. Who did she fear more?

The troll.

The troll was who she feared most.

No chance in hell she was going out of the Wall again. Ever. And certainly not tonight.

(What's so good about our worlds is that we have a wealth of lore so we have plenty of fresh things to bring in on both sides.)

"Then send Emery, or ask a guard, or...someone. I have to get to the library in the meantime. I'm sure someone will be up to tell me about this soon."

(Yeah! And our worlds mesh so well. It's fun watching this develop ^-^ )

Couldn't he just send whoever came to tell him?

No, he couldn't. And what was he thinking, asking a guard? Rönn was supposed to be a secret. Well. She supposed trolls were also supposed to be a secret. But, well, Rönn wasn't going to come out just for any old human who called his name. It had to be someone he'd met -- or at least saw. So her or Emery.

"... where is Emery?"

"Asleep, I expect. His room is on the fourth floor." He stopped at the stairs. He wasn't sure he could make it to the third floor; his leg was still in incredible pain even in his excitement.

"Where?" she repeated. An entire floor didn't really narrow things down for her. She wrapped her arm around Gaius, grasp a little tighter and harsher than she meant, but she was so tense she didn't notice. She was still trembling but she started down the stairs.

He flinched away instinctively, then relaxed and let some of his weight shift to her. "The fourth door on the third hallway. On the right."

"Okay." Ky nodded, committing that to memory. "I'll get him."

"Good. Thank you. If anyone asks where I am, I'm in the library. Got that?"