Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 11)

"I'm glad. There were no complications?"
"None." Gaius shook his head. "Once the stitches are out, I only have to wait until the prosthetic is made."
"Oo, who's making it?"
"Violet Ermen," he replied. "She's from the East and quite skilled, apparently. The best in the business."

Ky wondered how that was going to work. Did she already have prosthetics that she tailored? Or was each and every one customly fitted? And was she coming here?

"Only the best for my big brother." Tomhas grinned. "I'm glad you're in good spirits!"
"You did catch me in a good mood," he said reluctantly, glancing at Ky. "But I will have words with you, make no mistake. You've taken a ridiculous risk coming here. We could have just sent Ky home to you without you deciding to come galavanting over here."

Ah. Oop. This is why she shouldn't have stayed.

It seemed the two of them had a very limited amount of time they could be together before the jokes turned solemn and uncomfortable. Such as now. She folded her hands in front of her and gave no reaction whatsoever.

Tomhas stiffened, then straightened. "Look, I don't want to talk about this right now. I just got home. Can you scold me later?"
"I've got you here," he pointed out. "You had all of us worried sick; you think this is what Ky wanted?"

Huh. Strange he called here 'home'.

But Ky continued to very carefully stay out of this.

Tomhas turned to Ky, wincing. "I...know this isn't ideal. But I lost five men out there. I didn't want to lose Ky."
"I think she would have preferred it if you didn't risk your own life," Gaius retorted. "The poor girl has lost enough loved ones without you doing something so bull-headed. And what about the rest of your family? Your territory?"

That made her feel ill.

The fact that Tomhas was willing to toss away the lives of five soldiers over her own.

And also the fact that she was, somehow, in the middle of this. Even though she didn't say anything. Not now, anyway. But she'd already told Tomhas how she felt. She wasn't going to bludgeon him again.

Tomhas was silent.
"You still don't think," Gaius said quietly. "You keep feeling, Tomhas, and it keeps getting you into trouble. What do you suppose you're doing to Anneke right now?"
"Just stop," Tomhas muttered.
"I'm just saying you need to slow down. Listen to the people close to you, listen to your head and ignore your heart for once."
"The last time I did that I married my fourteen year old off to a sociopath," Tomhas snapped. "How can I not feel?"

Ohhhh shit.

She definitely shouldn’t be here.

"Ky, close the door," Gaius said after a pause. Tomhas glared at him.

Ky did not have to be told twice. She immediately grabbed the handle and began pulling it shut.

Gaius reached for a pair of crutches leaning against the bed and got up. He was wearing a cinched robe over his pajamas, and Tomhas winced as he saw the nothing jutting out from the right side. He limped toward Tomhas and stopped when they were eye to eye. "This is not what a Lord would have done," Gaius said. "That wasn't what a Lord would have done, either. You need to find a middle ground between heart and mind. Get yourself together, Tomhas." He gestured toward the door. "She was devastated when you wouldn't let her come home. Devastated. And she's precarious at best in general. This nearly pushed her over."

( o o f )

Ky hesitated for a moment, then realized it would seem like she was eavesdropping. Not to mention she wanted to be far, far away from this cat fight. She hurried to her room.

Tomhas didn't respond.
"Your daughter is not your only daughter," Gaius continued. "You have others, including a newborn child who could could very well have ended up fatherless because of your poor judgement. And Anneke. You've betrayed her before."
Tomhas jerked his head up at that, glaring at his brother. "That was one time," he retorted. "That's done. It's over."
"It was more than once," Gaius insisted. "How many times with Emery overall? And that other one, Fiona?"
"Fiona was one time! One!" Tomhas had tears in his eyes. "This isn't about them."
"This is about your judgement and your feelings getting in the way." Gaius paced away. "Listen to me. Anneke doesn't know about Fiona, does she? But you and I know. And we all know about Emery. We know she was beyond furious with you about what you did to Lyra. And now this? You love Ky, I understand, but you damaged your relationship with your entire family, her included, to come here. The lives of five men are on your hands."