Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 15)

“So…” Jerica agreed. “…What have you been up to these days?”


Ky cringed sympathetically. “That’s sad. She should swing down that way on her way home.” Ky brightened at the thought. It’d be terrifying, but, “Maybe Tomhas will let me go home if we travel with her!”

He shrugged, rubbing at his neck. "I haven't done much of anything since coming here...I go to the market with Sera sometimes. And I'm learning to read. And there's a Northman here who wants to learn Upper Tongue and Moon Speech, so I've been coaching him on that."

Sara smiled hesitantly. "Maybe."

(So funnily enough in canon Aashi is Jerica’s language tutor lol maybe we can pretend it’s Rickard here since he’s a language wizard? In canon she’s fluent in two and proficient in one)

“That’s nice!” Jerica smiled. “You’re a great teacher.”


Ky nodded. She could handle D’Ara’s disfavor for two weeks if it got her home. This would be perfect.

(For sure!)

Rickard smiled sheepishly. "I try my best."

"Maybe we can talk to Tomhas about it," Sara suggested.

Jerica nodded. “Very patient.”


“Yeah.” Ky nodded. “That’ll convince him. Hopefully.”

"I had to be," he said, pacing a little forward and then back.

"Hopefully," she agreed.

“Right.” She grimaced. “Sorry.”


Ky started pacing again at the idea of having to interact with D’Ara. How soon was dinner? How much life did she have left to live?

He winced. "You don't need to apologize, miss. You didn't know. And I'd had practice."

Sara stood to the side, letting her work it out.

Jerica nodded then forced a little smile, “I’d have been a better pupil if I’d known.” They both knew that wasn’t true. Her adhd ass couldn’t focus on this she was actually interested, much less learning languages she didn’t want to be learning. Still.

Ky let out a quiet sigh. “How long until dinner?”

He shrugged at that. "I promise there have been worse pupils, miss."

"Another hour," Sara replied.

Jerica nodded. “Yeah… I got it eventually.”


Ky nodded. Then sighed again.

"You did," he agreed.

"So what have the ghosts been up to?" Sara asked after a pause.

“…I’m glad you’re free now. You didn’t deserve that.”


Ky sighed again. “…I don’t know…but… I don’t know.”

He shrugged again, looking down at the ground in embarrassment. "I don't know what to do with myself now that I am," he admitted. "It's frightening."

Her brow furrowed. "Have they been unkind?:

Jerica nodded. Then hesitated. “…are they being good to you here? Treating you well?”

“No… well… no. But… I don’t know. It’s getting unsettling, you know?”