Shady

“Yessir-“ she decided to just let that one lay and not apologize for it. “… he’s spooked. Apparently Lord Ash threatened me with bodily harm, although I was entirely unaware ...

Ky looked at him with wide eyes for a moment, blushing, then ducked her head. Gods. That’d be stressful. She couldn’t decide if being exposed made it easier or harder. ...

Ky looked at him for a moment, blushing, and glanced away. How was she supposed to answer that? “On the trip up here,” she said. “Maybe a week or so ...

Ky glanced at him then dipped her head. Not a damn chance in hell she was going to say anything about Ash’s family. Not. A. Chance.

Ky considered it for a moment then nodded. “That makes sense.” If she had money, she’d use it to help other slaves. No doubt about it.

“It… will probably be a while,” she murmured. “But… if you’re around… and he’s around… and you want to…” she nodded. “He’s gonna go ask Builder to lift the curse ...

“No sir-sorry-“ she shook her head. The sir habit was always hardest to break. “Well… I know some of it. But. The picture doesn’t seem complete… and it seems like ...

“He’s going with Zander,” she said. Finally. A safe topic. “To make sure he gets to the South safe. He wanted to go the whole way with him but he ...

“… I’ve never met a rich man who… cares.” She glanced at him and then away again. “Even the ones who don’t want slaves for themselves… won’t spend money to ...

Oh. Good. She nodded sheepishly.

Ky nodded. “It’s… very kind of him. Very confusing. But very kind.”

Ky glanced at him, instantly anxious. Gods. She’d taken it too far. She blushed. “Sorry! I… I didn’t mean to seem disrespectful… sorry.”

She nodded in agreement. “He… almost seems worse than Aleth… and… I don’t understand how that’s possible… perhaps since he grew up privileged…?” Ky shrugged uncomfortably, looking aw

“No one knows,” Ky said, slightly terse. “But… we can hope.”

Gods. That was… that was even worse. It must have happened to him so, so many times. Gods. She blushed a bit more and glanced away again. What did you ...