Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 14)

Tomhas stared at him for a moment. Wait. That meant....
He looked toward Gaius, shaking his head. Gaius nodded grimly.
"This will break her heart," Tomhas said quietly. "Petrir was....oh, gods."

Derik grimaced and nodded as well. “We… had planned on telling her once she was an adult. In a more controlled environment. But… well… it seems fate has brought us all together now.”

"No." He shook his head. "No, we can't ever tell her. This could kill her."

That seemed dramatic. “…Zander will be back in two weeks. From what I understand they’re fairly close? That should help.”

He shook his head. "Maybe but...no. No, we can't tell her. She's had too many changes. This is too much too soon."

Derik nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t pretend to know the best path forward. Zander should be here before any decisions are made one way or another. But… well… I figured it would be courteous to give you a heads up before he gets here so you aren’t caught blindsided by it all.”

(I definitely think Ky needs to run into one of them because now that I’m thinking about it I can’t think of a reason why they should tell her lol Tomhas is kinda right here)

(Excellent idea)

"I appreciate." He dipped his head. "Are you, um...are you staying here in the Keep?"

“No.” Derik shook his head. “We’ve been in the barracks most of the afternoon, but Lord Ash—“ he inclined his head towards Gaius. “Is going to give us quarters in the village. We don’t want to risk gossip, given I share an unfortunate resemblance to Zander and my son does as well.”

"Good idea." He paused. "You have a son?"

“I do.” Derik nodded. “His name is Rek. He’s sixteen.”

"Wow." He glanced at Gaius. "Gaius said you...came with others, too. Your kids as well?"

“Ah, yes, uh—“ Derik grimaced. “About that. I also have my niece. Who I raised. Who… also isn’t aware…”

Tomhas sighed. "Your niece who is also Zander's daughter or is there some mysterious other sibling who isn't Ky's parent?"

“Also Zander’s—? What?” Derik blinked at him. Did he think he was saying Zander was Ky’s father? How absurd. Zander was fantastic but he wasn’t fit to be anyone’s parent.

"Ky doesn't have any siblings. So this has to be Zander's kid, right?" He wrung his hands.