Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 14)

Gaius and Sara exchanged a glance. She was more than capable of defending the both of them, he knew, and they both kept a small dagger on their person. If his weapons were taken then it should be fine.
"That will be acceptable," Gaius said finally. "But we have laws of hospitality up here, as I'm sure you know. To refuse mead is to dishonor your host."

Derik sighed softly, taking off his sword belt and handing it over to the nearest guard along with his dagger. He put his hands out to the sides for the other guard to check him again if he wanted to do so, glancing back at Ash. “…Very well… thank you.” He’d just nurse it, then. This wasn’t the hill he was willing to die on.

The guard checked him over and, satisfied, Gaius dismissed both. They stepped out, shutting the doors behind them.
Sara poured them all a glass of mead and took a sip of her own. Gaius let his breathe, inhaling the sharp, sweet scent for a moment. "It's not hard liquor, don't worry," he assured Derik. "A bit higher than your southern wines, but not by much."

“I’m sure it’s wonderful, thank you.” Derik took the glass nearest himself, not trusting that even a little bit. He wasn’t stupid. He sat down on the edge of his seat, having to actively choose to force himself to relax back into the chair. He glanced around once to be sure they were alone, then looked back at Ash. “…I presume by now you’ve gathered that my family is… a bit more complicated than we let on?”

"Without a doubt," he said dryly, finally taking a small sip of mead and letting it sit on his tongue for a moment.
"We'd appreciate some enlightenment," Sara added. "Seeing as we've become a part of your niece's life in recent months."

“Yes.” Derik nodded, glancing towards her. “The child — Kylia? — isn’t aware I exist. I haven’t seen her since she was hours old and I was never once mentioned to her in her life. It…is unfortunate that I bear such a strong resemblance to my brother. I assume it’ll be upsetting when she notices the likeness… but I’ve not thought of a way around that. I’m open to suggestions on how to break it to her since she actually knows you.”

Gaius and Sara had discussed that as well and were having trouble coming to a conclusion. They knew Ky was in a fragile state, and she'd only just gotten Zander back. All these new people might distress her.
"That ought to be Zander's responsibility, but seeing as he's not here I think we'll have to break it to her gently." Gaius sipped his mead again. "She's had a rough time of it; she hasn't had very much stability at all, even after Tomhas adopted her. Another change this soon might prove detrimental."

“I agree.” Derik nodded with a grimace. “If I’d known she was here I would have avoided this place like the plague. It’s an unfortunate coincidence. This wasn’t supposed to happen until she was adult. And not until Zander could be here to buffer.” Derik sighed. “But he’s not, yet. I imagine he’ll hear about my arrival here soon and come charging back. But that doesn’t help us in the immediate.”

"Why wasn't she made aware of her uncles to begin with?" Gaius asked. "Governor Ainsley would have offered protection, I would think."

“He would not,” Derik scoffed, shaking his head. “That bastard would turn his own mother over for half a pence. Much less…” Derik took a deep breath, taking a moment to think. “…I’m not an Ainsley. A few spells and a lot of gaslighting and I’ve gotten by enough to hide Jerica, but we couldn’t risk keeping them together. So-Kylia and Jerica have both been in grave danger since the moment they were born. Secrets are the only effective way to protect either of them.”

Gaius took a moment to absorb this. There was an unspoken confession in there, one that concerned him deeply if it meant what he thought it meant.
"Ky is the governor's daughter," he said slowly. "That's why she was hidden?" That would tear the poor girl to pieces--they most definitely couldn't tell her now.

“What?” Derik blinked at him. It took a moment for him to make that mental connection. “Oh, gods, no. None of us are Ainsleys… or… Roarkes?” It was in that moment he realized he didn’t know he to pronounce the name. He’d never heard it. “We… don’t belong on this continent. That’s about as specific as I can safely get. Levin doesn’t know about the girls at all. He’s an idiot, and a malicious one at that. I can count on one hand the number of people who know the truth. I myself only know part of it. It’s safer that way.”

That was a relief. Gaius relaxed slightly. "What would you have us do, then? Tell Ky her father wasn't really her father and then not explain beyond that?"

“I don’t know,” Derik admitted. “I can’t imagine it’d do anything good to explain she’s in far more danger than Klev. Your walls can’t keep out who’d come for her if this secret got out… which don’t mean as an insult. My military is excellent and the entirety of my forces combined with the entirety of yours would fall. Please trust that I know that for a fact.”

(Did Gaius mention Aleth to Derik at all?)