"Ah, so you are Ky." Harry grinned at her. "Well, I've met you far sooner than expected but it's great to meet you! I am here for you, though not in the sense that you seem to think--I'm still not quite sure what sense that is. If you are who you say you are, I suppose there's no need to hide who I am." He flipped back his hood and shook out his hair. "Harold Tara, King of the Northern Realm and First Lord of the Five Territories, at your service!"
"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
Somehow that was even worse. She squeaked, gaping at him for a long moment, utterly horrified, before she caught herself. She was being being rude as fuck to the king.
“I’m so sorry!” she blurted out, dropping her gaze. “Apologies, sir. I-I didn’t know. I’m so sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to be so rude. I’m so sorry, sir.”
"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]
"Oh, no!" Harold shook his head. "Oh, don't be sorry. I was wary of you two when you came up behind me as well; I think anybody would be in this day in age. And I know I talk too much for a Northern. No need to be sorry, my dear. Not at all."
"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
Why was her heart racing faster now than it was when she thought he was an assassin?
“Yessir!” She nodded, casting a fearful gaze at Tadaaki.
He was just as scared as she was. Maybe more so. She was at least used to talking to important people — if not as important as the king — Taadaki belonged in a stable, not here.
She could keep him out of it. He gave her a dirty look, expression saying as much.
She swallowed hard. Should she try to say something? Silence was usually safest.
"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]
They rode in silence for a little bit, then Harold said, "Am I the last to arrive? I didn't mean to get here so late, but there was a small incident with some spiders on my way through Ivorholm."
"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-I think so? Sir. Lady Anneke’s brother and aunt are here; and so is Lord Ash and his family. And Tadaaki and his family. I-I don’t know if anyone else is coming. I…” should she admit she hadn’t been expecting him to show up? She flushed a bit more, the red start against the white that surrounded them.
"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]
"Ah, well. It'll be good to see everyone getting along again." He frowned and looked ahead of him. "Though I have much to discuss with Lords Loquitur and Ash. I understand you were the cause of the peace between them?"
"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… think that’s rather generous, sir,” Ky answered carefully, finally looking up from her saddle. She swallowed hard. “But I did cause an, um, bit of… a problem at a meeting between them, which, ah… was a sort of catalyst, I suppose.”
"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]
"Well, whatever the cause, I'm glad that bit's over. The matter with Lord Tarr is another thing entirely, but..." He sighed heavily. "That boy's willful, to be sure. But we're here for merriment for the moment! How did you find the village?"
"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
“Wonderful, sir!” She felt so unsettled by it all. Why had she ran her mouth? Accusing him of being an assassin? Gods. She was so stupid. And why was he being so conversational? She didn’t know how to deal with that. It’d be rude to be curt with him; but how was one supposed to have a chat with a king? “It’s all quite new to both of us. We had a good time. I quite liked the purple sash one of the vendors was selling. And I think Tadaaki liked some of the mugs that we found.”
Why does she keep dragging me into this? I swear to god… But he inclined his head.
"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]
"Tadaaki! Ah, I'm so sorry; I should have asked your name." Harold nodded to him. "Pleasure to meet you, sir. Have either of you been to the village before? I think I know the sash you were talking about..."
"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
“And you, sir.” Tadaaki gave an anxious smile, but fell silent.
This was Ky’s problem.
“No sir,” Ky answered, knowing fully well Tadaaki wasn’t about to. “He just got in yesterday, and I’ve been… staying close to the Keep.”
"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]
"Ah, understandable. I can imagine some of the people who haven't gotten wind of the end of the war will be on the lookout for ransom opportunities. A Lord under pressure is a Lord willing to give away money, or so I'm told."
"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 still working on getting this all figured out,” Ky said. “It’s… very different than what I’m used to.”
"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]
"I've only got vague details from Lord Loquitur's letter," Harold mused. "Where do you come from, Ky? And you, Tadaaki?"
"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
