Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 9)

(Good way to be honestly)

"Who is R--Ron? Roan?" Ada stumbled over the strange letter.

(Sometimes xD my coworker this week was like 'man you're so witty I wish I was quick on my feet like you are' and I was like ma'am you have no idea how much trouble my mouth has gotten me into xD)

Ky glanced up at Gaius, still really hesitant. She'd already messed up once, which is why Pratik and Zander and Emery knew about him in the first place. She wasn't going to mess up again. Was he really, really sure?

(Writers gotta be witty sometimes)

"Rönn is what is known here as the Marrow Man," Gaius informed Ada. "He is essentially a cannibalistic goat-man who is half a millennium old." Ada gave him a look between skeptical and amused. "If you don't believe me, I plan to meet with him tomorrow morning and you can come along."

"He's nice...ish," Ky added. "A little gruff, but a good friend."

Pratik snorted and grinned. Ky would think so.

She gave a tiny, sheepish smile.

"So there are two magical monsters running around out there?" Ada asked. "Does this have something to do with my dream?"
"I expect so."

They were to the third-floor landing now, giving Ky a chance to devote more attention to their conversation than simply focusing on not toppling down the stairs with Gaius on top of her. "How did you know what the other animals were?"

"Those are the symbols of the Northern gods," Gaius replied after a pause, easing off of Ky and leaning against the wall to rest. "Sixteen stones, sixteen gods." He studied Ada. "Note that nothing I've said to you lately has been a lie."
"I noticed," she said warily. "But aren't your gods sleeping?"
"They certainly ought to be."

Ky relaxed a bit as he stepped away, no longer prepared for the extra weight. But then alarm bells went off in her head. What? What? "They're waking up?" Ky looked at Gaius. "Are they going to hurt Rönn more?"

Pratik's gaze softened a little. They were similar in age -- only a few years apart -- so he usually viewed her at a similar level of maturity, especially given how thoughtful and disciplined she was. But in that moment she seemed so young. Pure. That the first matter of concern on her brain was protecting her friend, rather than the massively huge consequences that would actually directly affect her. Affect all of them.

(Poor Rönn)

Gaius shrugged. "I don't know their minds, Ky. I expect Fjori has forgotten Rönn at this point, but we don't know for sure. I don't even know if they're waking up. Ada's dream seems to suggest that. It seems to confirm it, honestly."
"Is that good or bad?" Ada asked.
"I would guess it's bad," Gaius said slowly. "But good or bad, it brings major change."

Ky shivered, pulling her coat closer. She was grateful that she was still dressed for being outside with Rönn, and therefore wildly overdressed for inside. It made her feel more secure. "You think more of the stories are true, then?"

"I just saw a troll that could crush my walls with one slap," Gaius scoffed. "As far as I'm concerned, they're all true. But more worrying, the gods might become more influential if they wake up. I'll have to find myself a skald, quickly."

"Taro?" Ky suggested, voice a bit weak.

"She's all the way at Caracal Keep. There are others nearby, I'm sure." He glanced at her. "We'll be alright. Who knows how long until they're fully awake, anyway?"

"Well it's only taken two weeks for there to be Rönn and a troll," she pointed out. "And stone mother."

They were all toast. She wished she was the one at Caracal Keep.

"Stone Mother isn't around here," Gaius pointed out. "And you stumbled on Rönn yourself. He stays out of the way as part of his curse. Trolls have no such restriction and yet apparently they've been careful only to be active during the long night. The trolls are the ones acting up, the way I understand it."