“Oh?” Ky asked. She supposed she never thought of powerful men wanting successors. Aleth would have felt threatened, if that was the case, and sent Bay off on a suicide mission. It was interesting that Xander was secure enough not to wish Bay harm.
"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]
"Bay has a good head on his shoulders, and I think a lot of the soldiers are reassured by his solemnity. He's also very strategically gifted, and Gaius trusts him a fair amount."
"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 good.” Ky nodded. “All admirable qualities.”
She was still torn on him. Torn on lessons at all. But it was good to hear Sara sing his praises. Even if he did torture people.
"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]
"What about the others? You were speaking to Xander and Kazhra as well, right?"
"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
“Yes.” Ky nodded. “I spoke to them first… it’s going to be a tough choice.”
And one she was going to be putting off for as long as humanly possible.
"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, what are the pros and cons of each? That's something to consider."
"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… Kazhra seems like an absolutely phenomenal warrior,” Ky said carefully. “But doesn’t strike me as particularly patient. I’m not sure how well that would mesh with my current skill — or lack there of.”
"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'm sure she knows how to work with beginners," she mused. "But it's a good point."
"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. She wasn’t so sure of that. She was certain she was far, far better than Aleth in all regards — but she feared that their training methods would be similar. That Kazhra would throw her into situations she wasn’t possibly equipped to handle and then keep literally beating her until she figured it out. She wasn’t too keen on the idea. She’d hated it then, and she’s hate it now. There was no reason to be merciless when she was a beginner — and a casual one at that. She was doing it out of curiosity, not need. With any luck she’d never use these skills at all.
"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]
"And how about the General?" Sara picked up her pace.
"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
“He seems the warmest of the three, but very busy.”
"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]
"Sounds about right." She nodded. "He has a lot going on these days. So does Gaius."
"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 sure.” Ky nodded. “It must be tough to go from one war to the next, back to back.”
That was another very good point. She couldn’t bother him mid-war for something as inconsequential as teaching her sword lessons for funsies. So, it was Bay or nothing, she supposed. Could she handle his expressionless demeanor, giving her no hints whatsoever as to what he was thinking or feeling? Would it be a good idea to be the first person he trained?
"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]
Sara nodded in agreement. "I'm still absolutely furious at both Gaius and Tomhas for all the hassle they put our family through. And the lives lost in just these few months! Nobles are all meatheads, honestly."
"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 laughed cautiously. She supposed she had more in common with Sara than most of the rest of her family, aside from Anneke and Wick. But Sara seemed the most candid of them. The one most willing to critique nonsense as she saw it. Ky admired her for 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]
