Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 13)

(Hehe it's a fun name; it's my aunt's cat's name and the name of an Icelandic saga character)

"So I've heard." He nodded. "Adopted, right? I'm Septimus's elder brother, so I'm your..." He thought for a moment. "Well, we'd be related through Gwynna, actually. Since Septimus isn't your grandfather. But Gwynna's father is Septimus's and my uncle. So that would--" He paused and let out a hearty laugh. "I've gotten myself lost."

(Nice! I had been referring to Uhtred before you did the sneaky switch xD but this is a good name too!)

Thank gods she hadn't listed Septimus as one of the unsavory people she'd met. This was a prime example of why she needed to learn to keep her mouth shut. Lest she end up talking to someone's big brother and offending them.

Ky blinked at him. The Ash family tree got progressively more complicated with each new detail of incest and inbreeding that got worked in. "...Is that first cousin once removed, then?" She wasn't sure, even though she felt like she should know. Aleth had probably taught her this at some point.

(Oops sorry I hoped I'd caught it before you saw
I thought Narfi would be more fitting)

"Sure." He shrugged. "At the end of the day it's all the same." Wrinkling his nose, he crossed his arms. "Wish it wasn't so damn complicated; Septimus fucked up bad when he married Gwynna. It's shameful."

(haha all good ^^)
(also I looked it up and am proud of myself that I was right with first cousin once removed xD)

"...Oh?" she looked at him curiously. No chance in hell was she going to have an opinion on this; but she'd certainly collect all of the ones that were offered to her.

(Ah nice!! I was too lazy to check and so was he)

"It's inbreeding," he retorted. "It hasn't been allowed for centuries." His face was gradually flushing the more he talked, and his thick brows knit together. "The children suffered for it, too."

(haha valid. My mom is super into genealogy is the only reason I knew it. She and my dad are like third cousins twice removed or something. Far enough away that it's not actually family but I really hate when she says that xD)

Ky blinked, surprised at how quickly he'd gotten upset. She didn't know how to defuse it and damn sure didn't want to risk fueling it, so she decided to stay quiet and see if he said anything else.

(Oof yeah that's a but yikes but genealogy is super fun!!)

He began to pace, huffing to himself. "They were told not to. They were threatened. But they still did it and now look at the mess they made."

Literally nothing seemed safe to say in response to that. She inclined her head carefully.

He glanced at her with those intense eyes for a moment, then looked down, then looked back at her and heaved out a sigh. He ceased his pacing and unclenched his fists. "Sorry," he said, and his face smoothed back into a smile. "Didn't mean to get upset like that. It just rankles me, is all. The children suffered for it. Gaius, Cecily, and Michael."

"Understandable," Ky said quickly, nodding. "...Tomhas suffered, too."

"I heard through the grapevine you might be concerned about certain parties and their intentions," he went on briskly. "You're right to be concerned."

“Wait, what grapevines?” She looked at him in alarm, eyes wide. “Is he… telling people about me?” Gods.

"Who?" He frowned. "Oh, no. I was speaking with Septimus and he noted that you seemed on edge."

“That’s who I mean,” she said. “Is he telling everyone?” She looked around anxiously, half expecting Michael to be right behind her. “Does—gods.”

"Not that I know of. He just told me, as far as I'm aware. What's the rest of that sentence there?"