"I would very much like to see you work at that," he said seriously. "And, when you're old enough and if Lord Loquitur grants permission, perhaps we'll have a spot for you in Rein."
"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
She looked at him in surprise. Imagine. Her being employed by the king. Wild. She kept wondering when she was going to wake up from this dream. This couldn’t be happening for real.
“Oh! Wow, that’s so flattering sir, thank you,” she stumbled. “I-I don’t think I’m anywhere near good enough to work for you… but I’d be happy to try to help as much as I can… I know a fair bit of decoding and such, too. Sometimes that can be helpful — but only if I’m familiar with the system and such… but I can try to help with whatever you’d like. I’m at your service.”
"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]
"Give it some thought," Harold suggested. "I won't be offended if you say no, don't worry. You've got your whole adolescence to decide what you want to do with your life, and I'm sure you've got plenty of other skills. But that offer will stand unless I say otherwise; I'm only a letter and several territories away!"
"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 appreciate that, sir,” Ky said genuinely. “That’s very kind.”
(Imagine one of them having a letter that they need decoded and she’s just like *sweat* while all three of them watch her hahaha)
"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]
Harold dipped his head to her. "I'm sure I won't be the only offer, if word of that talent gets around. Interpreters are hard to find in the North--we're very stuck-up people, if you haven't noticed."
"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
"Wow, that's really something. I guess Aleth did something for me after all, huh?" She looked at Tadaaki with a smirk. They both knew that it wasn't anywhere near worth it. She looked back at the king with a more reverent smile. "That's good to hear. I guess I don't really think of it as being anything special. It's just what I did."
"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]
"Believe me my dear, that's something very special indeed. All sorts of interpreters come up here, educated in the South or in the East, but rarely do they offer their services to us. They gravitate toward the slave trade or toward mercenaries." Harold wrinkled his nose. "I ought to outlaw the slave trade, I really should."
"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
Tadaaki and Ky both flushed in an instant, neither of them having any idea at all at how to respond to that. If they agreed, would he take that as them blaming him? But they certainly weren't going to argue against a statement like that. It'd ruined both of their lives. It should be outlawed.
"It's... not fantastic," she agreed carefully, hand unconsciously moving to protectively cover her abdomen, remembering Aleth's abuse.
"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]
"Not at all. But certain territories have been thriving economically because of it for centuries, now. My grandfather signed a declaration that slavery be left up to the territories' jurisdiction and I was relieved when Lord Ash outlawed it in Venholm and Lord Loquitur in his, but the Bledroes and the Tarrs are still holding out. Perhaps I should give them an ultimatum."
"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 and Tadaaki were both very, very silent, barely breathing. Did he realize he was talking to two slaves? Or, people who had been slaves barely two months before? This was awkward.
"If you want to," Ky said, trying to have an encouraging tone as she nodded. But she sounded more scared than 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]
Harold glanced at them, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry; I shouldn't talk shop on my way to a celebration. I've got plenty of advisors back in Rein and a pair of fantastic Magistrates at my disposal at Caracal Keep.i won't bore you with the duties of a King. What do you enjoy doing, then, excluding your aforementioned skills?"
"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
"Um, I think we're both still getting that figured out," Ky said, glancing at Tadaaki for confirmation, then back at the king. "We've only been free about two months now. And before that, I usually studied twelve; fourteen hours every day, so I didn't really have time for much else." Or permission. But that was a whole other matter entirely. "But I'm finding I still like reading fiction quite a bit. And I've been taking swordsmanship lessons and enjoy that quite a bit as well."
"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, swordsmanship! Delightful!" Harold nodded approvingly. "That's an important skill for anyone to have. Definitely helps against animal attacks and brigands, that's for sure. Good thing these woods aren't as dangerous as some, eh?"
"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
"No doubt!" Ky agreed. "I'm utterly terrible at it and wouldn't be able to do much, so I'm grateful it's safer down here. Did you know mountain cats--" She cut herself off, flushing. She was such an idiot. She was the idiot that couldn't tell reality from fiction -- of course he knew. "There are plenty of scary things up here, as I hear 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]
"Ohh, mountain cats." Harold wrinkled his nose. "Gruesome brutes. It's a blessing they mostly stay in the mountains, but have you ever seen the spiders here? They can get big enough to eat a horse! Nasty business."
"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
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