Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 10)

"A dream...." She shifted in his arms, wincing. "My head hurts..."

"Good."

"I'm sorry," he said, already to the stairs. "Stay awake, though. It's important to stay alert. What was your dream?"


(honestly, I have no ideas for where the others are going... do you have somewhere specific in mind? Lowkey curious to see the Ashes, but also no pressure lol I'm down for anything)

(Not sure what the others are doing; I can give you the Ashes!)

She took a deep, shuddering breath. "Voices. Loud voices in a language I didn't understand."

Sara smiled the children stood beside Gaius as he issued orders to General Xander, who had already sent eight scouts to pack.
"I want doubled patrols along the walls keeping an eye out for trolls," he was saying. "And see to it Ada's soldiers are ready to depart tomorrow. We need to get her out of here. Start choosing men and women to go with me to the Fallen Lands as well, immediately. This all needs to be done today."
"How soon are you leaving?" Xander asked.
"As soon as this is off and Sera has cleared me." Gaius tapped his leg, and Sara turned to stare at him.
"What? Are you sure?" she asked. "Why?"

"What else?" Pratik took the stairs somehow even faster than on his way up.


"Where do we go?" Ky asked Imali as they walked down the stairs. "... should we check on the Ashes? Or... uh... or... someone else?"

If she said yes, Ky was going to get proof of life, then sprint. But. Well. She did want the proof.

She shook her head, grimacing. "I can't think, Pratik, God...my whole head feels like it's going to explode!"

Imali thought about it, then nodded.

"Strithr isn't going to invest in a cripple," Gaius said firmly. "This is the pragmatic way to go."
"How do we know he'd invest in us at all?" Sara protested. "Tarr is more his sort, isn't he? What if your wound gets infected afterward, Gaius?"
"We can discuss this later," Gaius said stiffly. "Right now I need to make preparations."

"Okay, just take it easy," Pratik said soothingly. "We're almost to the third floor now. We'll get you something for it... do you know anything that helps?"


Ky nodded as well and continued down the stairs. Where would the Ashes be right now? She decided to take a guess and led the way.

(aka me not being sure lol)

(Barracks)

"Ice. Something cold. Hot tea." She wiped at her eyes and nose.

"Then make them." She glanced down at her children. "But we are talking this over with Sera before anything."
"Of course." Gaius nodded. "But I'm going, leg or no leg. There's too much at risk for me to sit here idly. Tarr with Strithr backing him would be nearly unstoppable."
"With all due respect, sir," Xander said slowly, "Froenig might be a better fit for us. She isn't the goddess of war, but she works on the side of justice. If her shrine is closer, you might consider going there instead."

"We'll get it for you." Pratik got to them to the infirmary and awkwardly reached forward with the hand hooked under her legs to swing the door open.



She started doubting herself and looked at Imali. "Where... would they be? You've been here longer." And hadn't spent the past week sulking in her room.

Sera had a servant in the infirmary already, she was treating a nasty gash on his head. She looked up as they came in and her eyebrows shot up. "Good gods, what happened here?!"

Imali shrugged, but she moved ahead and started down the stairs.

"Froenig might see Tarr's argument as more justifiable," Gaius pointed out.
"She's less of a risk than Strithr," Xander countered. "Either of them might smite you where you stand, but Froenig at least has something in common with you. She values knowledge. Let that be something you can pray on."

"A dream." Pratik gently set Ada down on an empty cot and looked for a rag to start cleaning the blood.



Ky ducked her head and followed, grateful that Imali seemed content to let Ky follow her around like the lost puppy that she was. The grandmother protecting both of her little girls.

"Gods." She looked back at the servant. "Patrick, hold the gauze there for a moment."

Gaius looked at him for a long moment, then sighed. "Maybe. But we need to find where that shrine is first. I'll have to consult my books."
"That's fine. When you do, I'll start plotting a route for you."

(ik it was a typo but it highkey cracks me up that she called him Patrick because that's what his name started out as when he was a lil bitty bb character and I decided I didn't like it and it needed ~ f l a i r~ and also realized he's middle eastern and 'Patrick' felt out of place on a brown boi lol)

Pratik anxiously stayed by Ada's side.


Ky focused on getting herself put together as they walked. Wherever Sara and the kids were, Gaius would probably also be.

Which was fine.

It was fine.

She was barred from the library, not his presence.

It was reasonable she'd want to check on her aunt and cousins. Good, even.

And she could update about everyone else, if they wanted to know the state of the rest of the fifth floor.

So this was fine. She just needed to figure out the balance between her anxiety about Gaius and fear of the situation with her compulsive need to check on the others. And her attempt to calm her energy so she wouldn't upset Ua or Imali. She needed to be the strong one. The calm one. The one who was there for everyone else. She was always there.

(No no she was talking to the servant XD)

"Good." Gaius turned to his family. "Let's get down to the first floor and stay there, then."

Sera set about checking over Ada. "Where are you hurting? Your head?" Ada nodded. "Alright. Pratik. Fetch me an icicle from the window, please."

(why would you name the servant that xD *quietly edits* he'll obey instantly this time, then hahaha)

Pratik quickly strode to the window and forced it open, bracing himself for the cold half a moment before it hit him. He broke off the largest one that he could with his bare hands. Then thought better of it and broke off a small one. Then realized these were two extremes, neither of which may be good. So he broke off yet a third one that was more moderate in size. Then he shut the window and turned back towards the cot.

(I'm so sorry it's the first thing I thought of)

"Wrap it in a rag and give it here." She got up and set about dipping another rag in warm water, which she then used to clean the blood from Ada's face. "They did a number on you, didn't they, dear?" she murmured. Ada have a weak nod, grimacing.