Wick dipped his head and tapped Ka'Nor's arm. "Get some rest," Ka'Nor advised. "It will all be alright, Ky."
"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]
Both men departed, and Gaius watched them go. He expected this was exactly the opposite place that Ky wanted to be right now, but both Wick and Ka'Nor seemed to think she needed to be here. He elected to remain silent, watching the beginnings of a snowfall outside the window. His head was still a bit fuzzy from the pain medication, but his leg didn't hurt anymore.
"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
Well, well, well, if it wasn’t the consequences of her own actions. Aleth always said she needed to be babysat because he couldn’t trust her to be left to her own devices. And here she was. Getting babysat by Lord Ash himself.
"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]
Gaius had no intention of babysitting his niece at all; she was a teenager, not a child. A deeply troubled teenager, of course, but she didn't look like she was going anywhere. He remained settled on the bed and let his mind wander.
"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 at him resentfully, then looked back at her own knees. Why wasn’t he lecturing her? Demanding she explain herself for why she got literally carried into the infirmary in the wee hours of the morning? It was almost like the silence was more suspicious than an interrogation would have been — even though she really didn’t feel like talking to him. To anyone.
"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]
He wondered whether Pratik had returned yet, and if he'd made it back safely. Had the Seer girl come with him? Gaius was very interested to meet her; Seers were people he didn't often associate with but in the current political climate it was best to take foresight where it came.
"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 was exhausted. But stayed tense and suspicious, waiting for Ash to turn a critical eye on her. What was he waiting for?
"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]
Eventually his drowsy mind recalled that Tomhas had asked if Ky could go to Serpent Keep, and he had enough presence of mind to wonder if she'd requested it herself. Had Tomhas mentioned that? "I hear Tomhas wants to send you and the other children to Serpent Keep with my family," he said finally, turning his head slowly to look at her.
"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 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 glanced at him again and looked at him in silent for a long moment. “I shouldn’t be around a single one of those kids.” She looked down. “Or any of you. Bringing me there will put you all in danger.”
"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 disagree." Gaius let out a heavy sigh; he was still exhausted. "Tomhas is right; my Keep is more of a stronghold than this one ever was. It has more guards; more locks; thicker, higher walls. I don't believe his younger children are in any danger, but I understand he's attempting not to play favorites, not to mention he's concerned for everybody's safety right now."
"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 nodded silently. Was that what this was? Tomhas wanted to send her away and was shipping the rest of the children along with her? God. She’d ruined everything.
"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]
"But, as I said, Serpent Keep is perhaps the safest Keep in the Realm. More secure even than the King's palace. I'd be perfectly willing to have you all stay there while I send out some feelers to get a sense of who else might be after you. With my forces and Tomhas's combined it shouldn't take more than two months."
"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
A person is more than their experiences, stacked up like stones... Our best moments are the foundations we use to reach for the sky. — Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson
