Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 17)

(Haha that’s fair! And that would still work yeah cause Tomhas is so much younger than Gaius that it could still be a “hey rescued this cute kid” but it not be quite as wildly problematic as Tomhas meeting Emery as a grown ass adult when he was a child and get growing up to do this lol)

“Then she’s awful, too,” Ky sniffed.

(Right exactly)

"Do you know her?"

“No.” She furrowed her brow. “But if she’s from the territory then she knows Tomhas is married; and if she’s not a prostitute then she didn’t have to. So she’s just evil instead.”

"Things are rarely so black and white as that," Severus mused. "Simmer for awhile and think about reasons why Emery and Violet might have done what they did."

“Because they’re sluts,” she pouted, though she didn’t mean it even as she said it. “And what’s Tomhas doing, going around putting his… in… and… he’s going to get a disease and take it back to my mother.”

"I believe that was a strong concern from Anneke," Severus mused. "Gaius as well."

“Yeah.” Ky furrowed her brow. “It’s a miracle he didn’t… if he didn’t. Sometimes it’s hard to know right away. What if that’s what made this last pregnancy so hard on her?”

He frowned. "I'm not sure."

“Of course. Because you can’t be. Which is why you’re not supposed to cheat on your partner!”

"Maybe the apothecary has an idea?"

Ky sourly put her chin on her knees. “I’m sure Anneke got checked and… it’s not my business anyway… it’s just… the principle.”

"I understand." He dipped his head.

She nodded. “Because you’re reasonable.”

"Well, I don't know about that." He smiled slightly. "I do have my faults."

“Yeah…” she sighed.