Shady

"It's nice to meet you," Ky murmured, watching both of their hands. "...thank you for helping me."

"Of course." Pratik nodded solemnly. He absolutely did not have authority over the library -- but, well, he was certain that he was right on this. And he was willing ...

"Yes'm." Ky nodded obediently. At least the blankets -- still heavy and restrictive -- didn't feel as terrible as they had. Warming up seemed to be going through waves -- ...

"Just..." Ky looked down at her fingers which were just as red and frozen and painful as her toes, yet undamaged. "But... they're still here... so...it's okay."

He was tempted to tell Rickard this was a prime opportunity to learn how to ask for forgiveness rather than permission. Then decided Rickard may perish just from the very ...

Ky inhaled sharply, grinding her teeth until the initial stab of pain abated enough for her to be able to speak. She swallowed hard. "It... all happened very... fast. H-he ...

Pratik nodded slowly. "Okay... then ask... use it as a practice to ask for favors, since it's not really much of a favor at all... this will be good for ...

"You're not taking them," Pratik pointed out. "You're just using them with the intent to return. These don't belong to me." He pinched his tunic with his left hand and ...

Ky silently obeyed. Aleth glanced at the screen. He'd been listening intently. Thankfully the little idiot hadn't fucked up. Yet. It was annoying she'd admitted to the whole gambit of ...

Ky wasn't sure if she was supposed to know what that was or not, so she decided to feint ignorance and very hesitantly crooked her arm and held it out ...

Pratik shrugged. “Ask if you like, but I don’t think you have to. Just don’t go losing or ripping up books and you’re golden.”

“Four years ago, ma’am,” Ky answered, voice quiet. She didn’t like thinking of herself as a slave even though they all knew she was. Well. Not everyone. She told everyone ...

“Did they say so?”

“Austraka, ma’am.” Ky was careful not to react with anything more than grimaces as the woman poked and prodded at her sore ribs.

Ky flushed and stayed very quiet. Screens didn’t stop voices. And Aleth was definitely listening.