"Why wouldn't we?" Ana asked. "We came to Serpent Keep when Lyra was born, and we came here when Anneliese, Oscar, and Peter were born. We'll come here again when the new little one's born. You're a member of this family in two days, and we want to be here when you're sworn in as a Loquitur."
"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
Ky smiled, feeling a strange sense of pride at the inclusion. "I'm very much looking forward to it."
"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]
"Just know that with this family you'll be hopping between Keeps all the time, now that the war's over," Wick added. "Never seen a family close enough that they travel two weeks to get to each other. You two should have built your keeps closer together!" "Ah, but who would run the territory?" Tomhas pointed out.
"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
“I’ve never been to Serpent Keep,” Ky commented. “I’m excited to see it!”
"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]
"It's truly a marvel of architecture," Tomhas said. "Towering spires, gates that are older than our great-great grandfathers." "And an enormous courtyard," Ana recalled. "Plenty of room for everything there." "It's also the oldest Keep in the Realm," Sara said, leaning forward. "You can tell in lots of places, like where the stone's worn down on the first floor."
"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
“What’s your favorite part of the Keep?” She wasn’t even sure who she was asking at this point. She was vaguely looking at Ana but would be happy with anyones answer.
"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 library," Tomhas said immediately just as Ana and Wick both said, "the kitchen." They all chuckled.
"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
"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 library is beautiful," Wick mused. "I went up there a few times, but Auntie Ana and I can't really appreciate the insides of the books, so..." He shrugged. "Haven't got that high-quality education that Venholm offers." "I've spoken to the Barrasters about that at length," Gaius said. "They've improved on what Lady Constance's father neglected, but there's certainly a ways to go."
"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
“Most of my friends couldn’t read when I was growing up,” Ky offered. “It’s not really a bad thing. People are just good at different things.”
"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]
"That's the truth," Gaius agreed. "But there is a difference between being unable to read and not being given the resources to learn."
"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
“That’s true,” Ky said thoughtfully, considering his comment. “The only reason I could learn is cause Papa used to live in the City before he came to my township and already knew how and taught me. We didn’t have a school or anything.”
"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]
"It's deeply frustrating to see what nobility has allowed education to become." Gaius leaned forward. "Just so nobody questions them. It's appalling." Ana gave a small nod.
"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
Ky glanced between them, and kept her mouth shut. That was something she didn’t have any business having an opinion on. So she was going to make sure she didn’t think about it at all. Since Ash could listen to her thoughts.
"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]
(If Ash was a telepathic this would be the craziest world to live in)
Gaius sat back. He had more to say but he didn't want to say more. This wasn't the place or time for politics, he reminded himself. This was a place of happiness, one of the two places he had. He'd almost lost it once, and he wasn't going to poison the pleasant time with his agendas.
"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
