Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 14)

"The barracks will do; Ky doesn't go in there."

“Good.” He nodded. “That’ll work… do you know when they’ll return?”

(Oh goddd
That's very very bad)

"Probably close to this evening."

(Yeah it scared me a lot… relaxing more now)

“Very well.” Derik took another drink of his mead, emptying more of the cup. “Anything else?”

Gaius shook his head. "Not at the moment, no."

“Me either.” Derik emptied his cup. “I know exactly what this was.” He held his cup in the air, then leaned forward to set it on Ash’s desk. A — failed — attempt to make him lose his wits. He hadn’t done well with this meeting. But there were a lot of ways it could have gone a lot worse. “But it was good all the same, thank you.” He pushed himself up to his feet.

(How was it?!)

(Amazing! I got a picture with one of the coolest queens and my friends had a blast! They were all basically strangers to me but they didn't have a ride there, and two of them had never been to a show before.)

"Good." Gaius and Sara both got to their feet. "Your escort is waiting outside, I trust?"

(Aww that’s great!)

“…I would assume?” Derik glanced towards the door. “They’re your men — people — not mine. I don’t know.”

"Then they ought to be." He gestured for him to go. "I'll summon you when Tomhas returns."

“Sounds good.” Derik strode towards the door, then hesitated. “…I would appreciate the opportunity to explain the situation to your brother myself.” Hopefully Ash followed Zander’s wishes to be informed but not tell the chattery baby brother. The father talked.

"You'll have that opportunity when he returns," Gaius assured him. "We'll both meet with him."

“Thank you.” Derik inclined his head to him, then to Sara, then pulled the door open. They’d see if he kept his word. He had no doubt he’d prep his brother somewhat, not just throw him in a room with Zander’s little brother and hope all went well with no context. But hopefully he’d still get to control the narrative somewhat. Impress upon the younger brother how abysmally stupid the older one was being. See if he was smart enough to keep the child safe or if Zander really was going to have to relocate her.

(HA if he thinks Gaius is dumb then he's gonna lose all his braincells just listening to Tomhas)

(Still can't believe I've got to change their names for my book. Thank the gods they haven't come up yet)

Gaius watched him go, turning to Sara and saying quietly, "Sera needs to be in the room too; when she gets back I'll pull her aside and explain."
"I'm not sure that's a good idea," Sara said with a frown. "He's already wary of telling this many people...perhaps we explain to her in private instead, so he doesn't get upset."

(Sad! Have you picked new ones yet?)
(And to be fair he thinks Gaius is being stupid not is stupid. But uh. Yeah. He’s gonna… have a lot of pauses I think xD)

Derik made it back to the barracks and found the boys in mid-game. All three looked at him cautiously and he forced a smile, making it look easier than it was. “You better be learning new games to teach me later,” he said playfully.

Rek looked at him suspiciously, not buying it, but nodded. “Of course.”

“Good.” Derik offered another smile and a nod then retreated to the corner to write to Zander.

(Not yet but I'm thinking hard about it.
I have a really good name that I'm saving for someone but I don't know who)

(Wanna skip or would Jerica like to explore a little while she's able?)