Two Crows Watch from the Gallows Tree (part 18)

Ky shrank and nodded, embarrassed -- both by the compliment and the call-out.

"Hey! We could spar!" Jerica said eagerly, grinning.

Ky looked at her in utter terror for a moment before she could hide it. Sparring with the Governor's Assassin? Gods.

Jerica's smile faded, feelings hurt when she saw the fear. Saw the 'Governor's Assassin' flood across Ky's eyes, even if it didn't make it out her mouth. Here she thought she was gaining ground as 'Jerica' in her sister's eyes, but it was clear she was still seen, at some level or another, as just another monster to be feared. Still. Forever.

"Or not," Jerica muttered, squeezing her legs around Ranofer's belly to make him speed up. "Probably wouldn't be fun--different training--regional differences--" She muttered until her voice faded.

Ky grimaced. She hadn't meant to do that. Gods. She just kept fucking up over and over again with her new sister. She looked at Bay helplessly to see if he knew how to salvage that.

(I think I got a new name for Gaius)

"I think that would be an excellent idea," Bay mused. "Regular practice, and with your sister, to boot."

(Oh? What is it?)

Ky hesitated a long moment, everything within her longing to argue, and yet she didn’t have the courage to disagree. So she inclined her head hesitantly. “We… are… at very different skill levels…”

(Eimir Stovinsson, also known as Eimir Twighand)

(Ei is pronounced "ey")

"Lieutenant Ainsley, I'm sure you'd go easy on her." He glanced at Jerica. "You've trained others before, right?"

(Eyy I dig it! Nice!)

“Obviously,” Jerica scoffed, glancing over her shoulder back at them. “I wasn’t suggesting I just thrash you. I’m not that cruel.”

“I… I wasn’t trying to imply… sorry.” Ky blushed and dropped her gaze.

Kieran glanced between them. “… she’s a really good teacher,” he ventured.

Jerica didn’t quite smile, but she did relax a bit at the compliment.

“Right, I’m sure.” Ky nodded quickly. “Um… then… sure, yeah. It’d be… fun?” It was definitely going to suck.

(Thanks!)

Bay dipped his head, satisfied. "And good for you, as well. You'll need to practice on the way home as well."

“Are we going soon?” She asked eagerly. Had be heard something?

(Bruh I’m sick af rn and just made my fever break and am not sure life is better now lol so sweaty I got excessive counteracting my chills)

(Oh man that sucks! You'er sick again???)

He shrugged. "I've no idea. Your father will want to be going, I expect. He's been very quiet lately."

(Yeah >.> sicker than I’ve been in a long time tbh. I tested negative for COVID and flu but I was around someone who has COVID so I’m not so sure I’m actually safe given my immune system lol I‘be avoided it almost three years now and then one of my friends friends showed up Friday sick and got 4 of the 5 of us sick af. Like me and my friend had to call off work. And my friends parents are at his house and can’t go home because they’re too sick to make the drive. It’s terrible)
(I was violently shivering so I put on a hoodie and a huge blanket and turned my heat up to 85 and it took almost an hour and a half for my fever to break even with all that)

“…yeah,” Ky agreed with a hesitant nod. “He’s… definitely not been acting like himself. It’s worrying.”

(Oh Manne
Sounds like what happened to me a month or so ago. I tested negative as well but I was also around someone with covid)

"I'm sure he'll get back to himself once he's home," Bay said. "He's taking longer than usual, but he's resilient."

(Ughhh that’s awful)

“True.” Ky nodded, all the more determined to get home now. For both of their sakes. “…but… ‘than usual’ — this has happened before? What helps? Can I do anything?”

"If he's upset or ashamed, he'll retreat into himself most of the time," Bay told her. "Usually he's back to himself between a day or a week." He thought for a moment, itching his mustache. "Helping depends on what's the matter. You might be able to in this case, but Gaius would know better than anyone."

“That makes sense.” She nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll… ask… again.”

He dipped his head and said nothing else.

“…do you think he’d like if we brought him something back? Maybe food or something?”