Pratik quickly retrieved the mead and started back towards the main room. He ran into the boy that Maria had sent ahead. “Hey. Am I supposed to knock when I go into Lord Tarr’s study or not?”
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
“Thank you,” Pratik answered. He was doing his best not to end up flogged.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik took the mead back to the study and knocked on the door.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"Enter," Tarr said gruffly. He was nearly finished with the first bottle of mead, and the letter to Lord Bledroe had been sealed and placed on his desk.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik mentally cursed himself for not being able to bring himself to pawning this job off on one of the others, but took his place in the corner where Tarr had originally told him to stand.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
A few minutes later, General Utrid knocked on the door and was admitted. "I need a drinking partner," Tarr complained, taking another glass from his desk and pouring the last of the mead into both glasses. "I'm bored, Utrid."
"My Lord," Utrid said stiffly, approaching Tarr and coming to stand behind the chair opposite his desk, "I'm busy trying to fight a war. I'm afraid I have no time for drinking and pleasantries."
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik glanced between them, fascinated by the dynamic, but kept his head bowed and maintained his silence in the corner.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"You're my general, aren't you? You do what I tell you to do." Tarr pointed to the glass. "Drink with me, and we'll play some Tafl." General Utrid opened his mouth to argue, mustache twitching in irritation. Then he sighed heavily and sat down in the chair, sipping at the mead reluctantly.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik stood by wiggling the cork silently so that it’d be easy to pull out once he was barked at once again.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Tarr took out his Tafl board and laid it out, setting up the pieces on the cloth. "You'll be attacker, as usual." "Of course, my Lord." Utrid sipped the mead again, seeming pleased with its quality but still hesitant to stay.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik kept his gaze carefully on the ground in front of him, not wanting to be accused of snooping, but listened intently.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Utrid made his first move. "You've written to Lord Bledroe, I see." "Naturally." Tarr made his first move as well. "Informing him of the mole seemed a logical decision." Utrid's gaze flicked toward Pratik, then back to Tarr.
"The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that." -Karis Nemik
Pratik forced his face to stay impassive as he stared at the ground. This was bait. Or had nothing to do with him. They wouldn’t be giving him free reign of the house of the house if he was suspect.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Remember: the plot is nothing more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations. — Ray Bradbury
