"How did he take you two?" he asked as they started up the stairs.
"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… was another lie,” she admitted sheepishly, glancing away. “I actually got taken by Makata — the ruler down in Lytias. He took all the kids eleven to fifteen for his harem and military. I, um… made friends with one of the soldiers that came to snatch us, and he helped me get squared away as a stable boy rather than… one of Makata’s girls… but then Aleth…” her face was burning red-hot now. “Prefers little boys to little girls, if that, um, makes sense? And so he, uh, figured it out. And, um… he just outsmarted me in a lot of ways in not very much time. Asked to buy me from Makata since I’m ‘interesting’ and Makata… just gave me as a gift.”
"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 glanced at her incredulously. He'd have to get Aleth locked away fast, if that was true. He wasn't taking any risks leaving that man free around his children. "...I see."
"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 lying!” She tensed as she caught the sideward glance. “He-that’s what made him notice me. He mistook me. But, then — my township doesn’t use last names but my father had one from his time in the city and I just pretended like I had the right to use it. And Aleth somehow knew that? Knew that I didn’t actually have a claim to that surname. So he thought I was hiding something. And then he trapped me into discovering I can read — I lied about that, too, sorry — I’m literate. And he… figured out my secret when he went to…yknow.”
"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]
"If that's the case," he said slowly, "we're moving him sooner. I have children." He felt a chill run down his spine. He'd known people like that, punished them for their actions. He was the most brutal to them. Made sure they were harmless but left them wishing they were dead and far away from their victims. Far from anyone they could harm. He'd have to stick this bastard deep down, maybe with Carthe and the others.
"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 shivered a little, feeling guilty that she was getting him in trouble. Serious, serious trouble.
“I… don’t think he’d try anything here, sir. He’ll stay in character. But, well…” she ducked her head. Her voice was very quiet when she insisted, “I’m telling the truth.”
"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 believe you. We'll deal with him properly after we get a little information out of him."
"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 cringed and nodded. Gods. She was just as bad as he was — throwing him to the wolves to be tortured. She knew what she was doing… so why was she doing it? Gods. She was horrible… gods.
"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 thank you for telling me," he sighed. "That's...important information. I'm glad I'm not finding out later."
"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
“Yessir.” Ky ducked her head. It probably was best for her to be spilling her guts like this early on. He’d be angrier if it took her a long time to fess up. What might he have done to her if he discovered she was a spy after she’d spied on him, rather than before, like now?
Still.
It… this… this felt so wrong.
Aleth was going to get free and come flay her.
And she’d deserve every single cut.
"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]
"This Makata," Gaius went on. "I have no real power in the South, but I'd like to know more about him. What are his connections? His ranking?"
"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 do not know what is feasible in your lore lol he’s king in canon. Obviously not that. But as high as can go while still being realistic in him kidnapping children for his harem and military lol)
"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
“He’s a Governor, sir,” she murmured very quietly. “He-I-“ she shook her head. He was untouchable.
"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
The thing about plummeting downhill at fifty miles an hour on a snack platter - if you realize it's a bad idea when you're halfway down, it's too late. — Rick Riordan, The Son of Neptune
