Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 15)

(Yeahhh lol)

“Jerica,” Derik said firmly. “Stop talking.”

“He—“

“Stop,” he interrupted, giving her a stern look. “I promise we will talk about this later, but for now you will stop talking and go back to the barracks immediately.”

“But—“

“That’s an order,” Derik said sharply. “Not another word until I come to get you. Go.”

Jerica drew a deep breath, everything within her wanting to argue. But then she got a glimpse of Ash watching and knew better than to disobey a direct order. She huffed loudly and turned on her heel and stormed off.

"So," Gaius said slowly once Jerica had gone, "I take it you know Rickard."

Derik let out a little sigh as he turned back to Gaius and Tomhas. How embarrassing. “I’m.. sorry about… that.” He gestured towards the stairs vaguely. He supposed they got a little preview of how badly Jerica handled bad news.

"She was understandably upset," Gaius said with a shrug. "He was enslaved by Governor Levin, I take it?"

“…Yes.” Derik inclined his head. Even more embarrassing. “He was Jerica’s nanny through most of her formative years.”

(Got a bigass gandalf statuette today
It was my graduation gift to myself last year and my last idiot teen purchase [ha fat chance] and it's finally here)

"Ah." He dipped his head. "They were close, then?"

(That’s so exiting! Pics?)

Derik hummed for a moment. “Jerica believed them to be, yes… I think Rickard was understandably wary.”

Gaius nodded. "He's been recently freed; he's still adjusting. I understand how seeing you two here might be shocking."
"Poor guy," Tomhas said with a small frown.

(That’s so cool!!!)

Derik grimaced and nodded. “I’m sure… for what it’s worth, I didn’t — and don’t — approve of any of it. If I were Governor instead of Levin slavery would have been outlawed the moment I took power… but… I know that does absolutely nothing to ease his distress or erase his pain. I’m sorry to have upset him.”

"Sera will talk to him," Gaius said. "They've gotten close; she ought to be able to give him some comfort. But you ought to speak to your niece and see her to the dormitory; Ky is back now so we need to be cautious."

“Yeah,” Derik said with a nod. “I’ll be sure to keep her in the barracks the rest of the night. I apologize again for the…” drama. “Outburst.” He began to turn down the hall.

Gaius and Tomhas glanced at each other.
"I have other things I need to tell you," Tomhas said quietly. "About Ky. Can we talk in your office?"
Gaius dipped his head and they retreated inside.

Derik walked quickly to the barracks to be sure he didn’t run into Ky, but then slowed, trying to collect his thoughts. This day kept getting more and more complicated.

"We ran into the lady everyone says is half troll," Tomhas said once the door was closed.
"Myna?" Gaius raised an eyebrow. "Is she?"
"Yes." He nodded. "Which was kind of crazy, but she gave us something to protect Ky. A rune bone."
That was interesting. Those hadn't been seen out of a Skald's hands in decades. "Will that make her stop seeing them?" Gaius asked.
"No, but it will keep them from harming her."