Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 10)

(Bruh I had to wake up at 3:40 this morning and I am straight up not having a good time)

“Oh, right, right, yes, sorry,” Aashi said quickly, nodding. She reached down and took Tasia’s hand. “Come on.”

Tasia pulled her hand away and jutted her lip out. “I’m staying with my friends!”

Aashi lifted an eyebrow and looked at her sternly. “You need to obey. It’s not okay to stop listening to Mama and Papa.”

“But, but…” Tasia pouted.

“But nothing. This is not negotiable.” She reached out her hand again. Tasia didn’t take it. “We are all going to the dining hall. But if you keep disobeying then you will sit with me and not with your friends. Bad girls don’t get to play.”

Tasia reluctantly took her hand with a heavy sigh, looking dejected rather than defiant now. “I just want to be with my friends.”

(God that sounds like a horrible time)
(And just past the witching hour too)

"We'll walk with you!" Marcella volunteered, following after her. Mattathias and Ua went with her.

(We have already hit two field sites what even is today)

Aashi smiled a little. “If you run off, you’re in trouble,” she warned, then let Tasia’s hand go.

Tasia perked up instantly and locked her arm through Marcella’s.

(Wow damn)

Marcella grinned at her.
"Nothing wrong with a little camraderie," Sara said either a smile. "You've raised a charming girl, you two."

Aashi puffed up a little at the compliment, grinning. “Thank you! You as well. I don’t have to worry about them playing together like some of the kids back home — yours are positively delightful! I don’t know how you do three, though. My hands are full with one.”

Well, that and she didn’t have a husband. Perhaps they’d get Tasia a sibling.

"I'm very fortunate to have an excellent and vigilant husband." Sara looped her arm through Gaius's. "And a wealth of servants, and a fantastic apothecary. But twins is no picnic, to be sure. And Regulus has a stomach big enough to hold this entire Keep and an appetite to match!"

Aashi laughed lightly. “Well you are both fantastic parents — they’re lucky to have you.”

"That's very kind of you to say. The same goes for you." She grinned. "It's a pity you'll be going home in a few months...perhaps Tasia can write to us?"

“Maybe!” She hesitated, smile faltering a bit. “… depending on how her lessons go. I’m afraid she’s not got much help once we leave here.”

"We should have her reading in seven months' time," Sara assured her. "Are there any schools near your village?"

“Seven?” Aashi’s eyebrows shot up. She didn’t know how long she’d been expecting, but it surely wasn’t that.

"That's the expectation, since the sun will sink in a few months and Zander probably won't be back for several more months yet," Gaius replied.

“Ah.” Aashi cringed.

"It'll be alright," Sara assured her. "I'm sorry about this; I know it must be hard to be away from home when you've only just gotten Tadaaki back."

“Oh, no! No, it’s okay! I’ve got my entire family here — I’m happy anywhere as long as I have the two of them… I just feel bad for poor Ky. She had parents, what, thirty seconds? Before all this happened. And then she got stabbed and now has to be away from her brand new parents on top of it all. I’d be doing much worse if Tadaaki had to be here when I was back home; I’m sure Ky must feel similarly… or maybe not. I don’t know. She won’t admit anything to me. Just steps in to grab Aaki for a bit if she needs to.”