Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 12)

"No, but it's his father's. He's of bad blood. Tainted."
"Damian, enough." Elise squeezed his arm gently. "You ought to leave, dear, before somebody sees you talking to thin air."

Ky glanced between them, brow furrowed. “He’s a good man.”

"I'm sure he is." Elise ushered Damian forward. "Come along, Brea. I apologize for my husband, child."

Ky let out a little huff and nodded. “…bye, I guess.” She didn’t like this batch of ghosts at all.

Brea gave a little wave and followed her parents.

Ky waved back, then turned back towards Gaius’s office. She needed… help.

(Oh hell)

Gaius was penning a letter to the King. He'd write one to Zander and then to Luvic after that, but this took priority. After those two came the Counts.

Ky knocked and started opening the door, looking over her shoulder, thoroughly spooked. It was one thing to talk to a kind elderly couple who helped you find your father. It was an entire different matter to have a ghost insult your father then threaten you with the gods.

Gaius looked up. "Hello again. What can I do for you?"

“If someone is ‘close to the gods’—?” She glanced over her shoulder again to be sure a god wasn’t following her in before she shut the door. “Is there a way to, uh… make them… stop?”

"How do you mean?" He set down his pen. "Close to the gods in what way?"

“If the… atmosphere is thicker?” She was starting to realize it was a bad idea to come here.

Gaius's brow furrowed. "I don't understand; these aren't terms I'm familiar with."

“Right… sorry…” she put her hand back on the handle. “I don’t know. Sorry.”

He sat back. "What is this about? Why all these questions?"