"Yes, sir." Rickard took tight hold of him. The gates were fully open now, and Ada trotted forward. "Let's go!" she called.
"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
“Shh!” Pratik chastised, but he urged his horse to go faster, catching up by the time they got to the gates — chest tight with anxiety.
"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 moment they were past the gates Ada broke into a gallop, and then the gates began to shut. Rickard looked behind him, breath catching in his throat. "I can't believe it," he said in awe, voice low. "I can't believe it!"
"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
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Pratik said gruffly. “Don’t celebrate until we are. Now hold on.”
Pratik broke into a gallop as well. The foolish girl didn’t even know where they were headed.
"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]
Rickard clung tighter to Pratik as they picked up speed, screwing his eyes shut. "Are you going back for your daughter?" he managed, gritting his teeth to stop them from chattering.
"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
Right. Because every single thing either of them knew about him were lies. “I’m saving our skins is what I’m doing.”
"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
“Because your blood won’t be on my hands,” Pratik muttered. “And I wasn’t going to leave you there to rot.”
"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]
Rickard was silent after that, focusing on keeping himself on the horse and staying warm. He hadn't packed for the ride and was wearing only the ragged furs he'd been given upon arrival.
"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 felt Rickard shivering against him, but he didn’t trust him not to fall off off if he tried to hold on to a blanket as well.
… he supposed he could hold on to a blanket, and let Rickard take his coat.
Godsdamn this man. And godsdamn his conscience.
“Ada!” He called to her. “Slow down a minute.”
"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]
Ada slowed reluctantly, glancing over her shoulder. "What's the matter? Is he already dead weight?" "Aren't you charming," Rickard muttered in Akarataran, trembling violently. "I don't know what I've done to you, miss."
"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 blinked. He’d forgotten Rickard spoke Akarataran. That would make things simpler. “Take my coat,” he muttered so that everyone would be able to understand. “You didn’t know to pack ahead. I’ll use this blanket.”
He had slowed his horse to a walk as he said all this and was squirming out of his coat to hand to Rickard. “Here.”
"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]
Rickard took the coat gratefully. "Thank you," he said as he slipped it on, sighing as it warmed his body. "You're very kind, Aren." "We should have left him," Ada lamented. "I swear I'm going to have nightmares about our future because of it."
"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’m not going to leave him any more than I’m going to leave you,” Pratik snapped, a slight edge creeping into his voice. She was awfully entitled, to have also just been rescued. He was already shivering. He pulled the blanket up around himself as much as he could — but it was a definitive downgrade. “Now hold on. We’re starting 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]
Rickard held onto him. "Don't be upset with her," he said in Upper Tongue as they started riding again. "She's probably been through a lot."
"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
When your heart gets pierced with arrows, don't rip them out and pierce those around you in retribution for your hurt. You'll only unnecessarily wound others and bleed to death yourself. — LadyMysterio
