Shady

“Yes sir!” Ky nodded vigorously. Did he think-? “I-we-no chance.” She shook her head. “We want nothing to do with him, sir. Nothing at all.” “Unnecessary,” Tadaaki grumbled under his ...

Ky glanced down the hall again. Why were they having this conversation? She should go back to her room. Prove Lyra right. “I don’t know.”

Ky sighed. “I don’t know what people want from me; I’m trying my best… and still falling short, apparently.”

“… that’s true,” Ky agreed hesitantly. “Aside from…” she cringed and looked at him sheepishly. “Lord Tarr. We… didn’t hide our identities from him. Sir.”

“We don’t know, sir,” Ky decided to offer, since she knew the mechanics. “He is very, very, very thorough. In everything. Ever. But he intentionally made sure I don’t know ...

“Mm.” So they’d managed to brainwash Lyra into believing that bullshit. About them being too young. Children.

“I… am really from Totallisa, sir,” he said quietly, gaze on the floor. “… but I have a family… but I can’t go back to them. I’ll be hunted until ...

“…no sir,” she said quietly, dropping her gaze.

“…I… felt like this is what Tomhas wanted…” Ky glanced away. “I’d consented with the assumption it would remain my choice. I didn’t realize coming here meant sacrificing my autonomy.�

(Cool thanks) “…loosely,” Ky admitted. “I’m from Austraka, but in a township not remote… which is now in considerable danger.” She sent a sideward glance at Tadaaki. He cringed and ...

“Mm.” Ky sighed. “… I wish I wouldn’t have agreed to come here… I know that’s terribly ungrateful of me… but it’s true.”

(How would the allies fall in this war? Like, who is backing House Ash in this war?) Ky looked at him for a moment longer, then dropped her gaze, brow ...

She huffed, looking away again. “I can do as I please.”

Ky glanced at Tadaaki. And they had exactly the same thought at the exact same moment. Lead blocks dropped in their guts in an instant. Ky felt queasy as she ...

“I eat more than he does,” she scoffed.