Of Crows and Songbirds

Ky and Tadaaki exchanged a quick glance. That’d be so odd. It’d been two years now together. Rooms side by side when they were home; usually roomed together when traveling. Never apart. But. Well. It’d be fine. They’d both be an anxious mess having to face whatever was about to come alone. Ky was used to Tadaaki being there to physically protect her from anyone but Aleth or a friend of Aleth he gave permission to beat her; Tadaaki was used to Ky being there to speak for him to keep him safe politically. They didn’t like that that was being lost. But that was hardly their biggest trouble just then.

“Yes’m.” They quickly looked back at the woman and dipped their heads.

At least that meant Aleth was going to be further away, too, which was nice. Hopefully he wouldn’t be in the floor in between them. It’d be better if one of them was in the middle to be the buffer — the easier target to make it less likely he’d go after the other. Ky hoped it would be her; Tadaaki hoped it wouldn't. He’d gladly take Aleth’s wrath instead of her.

Sera dipped her head and waited a bit longer. "Hold him down again," she said to the assistants, and readied her clipper as they grasped Aleth.

“No!” Aleth thrashed, trying to get away even though he felt weak and sluggish. That had not been five minutes. And it didn’t matter if it’d been five weeks. He didn’t consent to losing any more digits.

"Hold still," Sera said gravely. The assistants were doing a good job of holding him. "Listen to me. You will die if you don't let me cut these off, understand. So lie still, please."

Aleth let out a pained whimper. Tadaaki and Ky looked over at him, horrified. Then back at Ms. Miller timidly. This woman was formidable indeed to draw that noise out of Aleth. What if she came after them next? They didn’t want to lose any toes. And she was just… just clipping them off. Snip snip.

Ky involuntarily curled her toes again. It still hurt badly, but she was distracted enough she didn’t cry out. Instead she let out an almost silent shudder and uncurled them again. She needed to not draw attention to herself. Ever. But certainly not until the shears were put away. Was she being polite enough? Should she have admitted her toes hurt? She… she needed to disappear until the woman was out of the mood for cutting off toes.

She snipped Aleth's next toe and gave him a moment while she dressed it, then cut off the final one and dressed that as well.

By the last one Aleth had run out of fight and was instead collapsed fully against the bed, body limp and heavy. A tremor ran through his body again and again and again and his entire body was coated in a cold sweat.

Tadaaki and Ky were very, very, very silent and were staring at their own knees, barely breathing. Not them next. Please. Gods. Not them.

Sera sat back and wiped sweat from her brow, then rose and washed her hands. "You did alright," she said to Aleth. "You ought to be fine now, though walking might be difficult with only six toes. I'll see about finding you a cane for when you're well enough to walk."
The door opened and a servant entered carrying a tray of soup. Sera thanked him and set it down on the counter. "I'll give your stomachs a moment to settle," she decided. "Unless you'd like to eat now?"

Aleth nodded weakly, too exhausted to answer.

Tadaaki and Ky exchanged a quick glance. She was saying they didn’t have to yet… right? They both looked at her and dipped their heads. They’d consume whatever she said, whenever she said. But neither were particularly interested.

"How many yeses, how many nos?" she asked.

Tadaaki and Ky exchanged another glance.

Right. This was her job. Tadaaki had protected them; now she kept them safe. Ky cleared her throat and looked at Ms. Miller. “We’re… happy to eat whenever you say, ma’am.”

"It's entirely up to you. I can keep the soup warm on the coals if need be."

Ky didn’t like decisions. But. Well. Tadaaki had literally carried her here. She needed to bite this bullet. She hesitated then dropped her gaze. “…I don’t think we’re very hungry.”

Tadaaki nodded in agreement, thankful she’d said that so he didn’t have to.

Aleth was on the verge of unconsciousness, fading in and out.

She dipped her head. "We'll wait, then." She set the bowls in the dying fire and covered them with a few lids.

Ky let out a silent breath of relief. Good. This was fine. She relaxed ever so slightly. She didn’t have to eat. The woman had put away her shears. And she was staying here, so Aleth wouldn’t try anything. She just… she needed to focus on breathing. The interrogation would probably come sooner rather than later. She needed to save her strength for it.

(So you were saying it’d be a Tarr v Gaius war with Tomhas not involved at all? Not sure what their actual mission is here for what she needs to keep to herself haha)