Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 13)

“That’s so sad!” Tasia said, frowning.

He shrugged. "It's okay. I like the snow! And I'm gonna be Lord one day so I can go wherever I want."

“No you’re too little,” she argued. “Only your papa and Ky’s papa are the only Lords.”

"But when Papa wants to stop being Lord then I get to be Lord!" He grinned.

“Oh…” she thought about that for a moment. “Well when is that?”

"When I die or retire," Gaius replied. Mattathias looked over at him with wide eyes, then back at Tasia.
"When he retires," he clarified.

(Aww)

“Retires,” Tasia agreed with a nod. She didn’t know what that was. But she didn’t like the idea of Mattathias’s papa dying. She glanced over at Ky. “Hey Ky are you gonna be Lord when your papa retires?”

Ky coughed past her sip or juice, taking a moment to compose herself before she shook her head. “No.” That was… gods. No. What an uncomfortable topic. Should she try to change it?

Before she could decide, Tasia looked at Tomhas and demanded, “Why not? Why don’t you want Ky to be Lord?”

Tomhas held up his hands in alarm. "I never said that. That's a discussion we'll need to have another time. Lyra's my oldest offspring by blood, so technically she's in line for Ladyship."
"I don't want it," Lyra replied with a shrug. "Ky can have if if she wants."

“I don’t.” Ky shook her head, anxiety smothering her once again. “It’s your birth right, not mine. I’m technically legally not even a Loquitur by name.”

"Then Anneliese can have it." She sipped her water. "Politics isn't my cup of tea."
"There are precious few nobles for whom it is," Gaius mused. "You wouldn't be alone in that feeling."
"Even so."

Ky nodded quietly. She felt like Lyra would be a good Lady. Anneliese was a bit impulsive to have that much power. But. Well. She’d grow into it. Especially if she knew she was the one who was going to get the title. Any of her siblings would be fair Lords or Ladies. And they’d all take care of all their siblings. She didn’t think any of them were going to get banished. They’d stick together.

"I gotta say," Tomhas said, "I didn't think I was cut out for politics either. But I think I'm doing halfway okay."

“I’d say better than that!” Aashi said encouragingly. “You’re an excellent Lord. Both of you. Your subjects are lucky to have you.”

Tomhas smiled modestly. "Oh, I dunno about excellent. Gaius, though, definitely."
Gaius merely shrugged.

“I don’t know how either of you do it.” She shook her head slightly, smiling. “I never stop fretting and I’ve only got three- four- people to worry about. I’d go mad.”