He was getting tired of apologies. "Don't be." He reached the study and opened the door with slight difficulty, heading for his chair so he could sit down. He was exhausted from the effort of using the crutches and he needed desperately to have a rest.
"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 followed him in and gently shut the door behind them, lingering for a moment before she found the courage to walk the rest of the way in. It was starting to irritate her how anxious this room still made her. It was just a normal fucking room. Why did it intimate her this much?
She shuffled in after him and forced herself to sit down in the chair opposite his desk.
"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 sank into his own chair and let out a breath, waving a hand toward his desk and several letters sitting neatly on one corner. "I need a moment. You can sort through and find the one from Luvic Prian if you like; that's the one you'll be interested in."
"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
“Oh… o…kay.” Ky very hesitantly slid to the front of her seat to pick up the stack of letters and begin sorting through them. This felt like even more of a crime than simply being in the office did. A capital offense. She willed her brain not to remember any of the other names as she looked for the one from Luvic even though she knew she probably would despite herself.
"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 closed his eyes and rested his head against the high-backed chair. He was in desperate need of that new leg; this crutch wasn't painful but it was more of a workout than he'd ever anticipated.
"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 found it and pulled it from the stack carefully. She was about to stack them back up when she saw the next one in the stack was in Zander’s handwriting. She was sure of it… Pretty sure of it… It was addressed simply ‘Ash’ but had a teeny tiny ‘ZR’ written just under it. Her heart lurched with excitement and she pulled it from the stack as well eagerly.
"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 opened his eyes as he heard the flip of paper. "Did you find it?"
"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
“Yeah, and this one!” She urgently pushed both across the desk. “ZR! Can you check? Please?”
"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 took the letter and studied it, then pinched it in his right and and took a letter opener in his right. He broke the seal neatly and opened the letter. "It seems your uncle has indeed written," he mused, scanning it.
"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
Hope everything's going well there! I assume Luvic's letter arrived with this one, and if not, it should do so shortly. But I thought it prudent to write you myself as well to be sure everything I want to be said gets said, as well as provide you with a location that you can reach me at with your return letter.
Also, I didn't want to address a letter to Ky lest it broadcast the knowledge that she's with you, but I did want to write her directly, so the second page of this letter is for her, and I'd appreciate it if you could pass that along to her.
"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 did so without a glance at the next page. "He's got a letter for you in here as well," he said, reading on.
"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
How are you doing, kiddo? Staying inside the Keep walls I hope? Rönn showed up a few days after I left and said you asked him to keep an eye over me. Sort of defeats the purpose of having him there to protect you, no? Either way, he was adamant that you were adamant, so I figured I'd assure you that both he and I are doing well. He's just going to see me to the border and then head back up towards you, so I assume you'll have your friend again in a few weeks.
Anyhow, how is everything there? Did you finally settle on a trainer for your lessons? How are those going? Find anything interesting in the library? Or in the Keep or grounds at large? I'm sure you've been exploring lots! Tell me everything : )
Things have been a bit slow with all the snow and elements to deal with -- you settled on a bloody cold new home! -- but I expect I'll be able to make better time once I make it through the pass. I don't have much to report on other than that, I'm afraid. It's just been a lot of cold and snow and trekking onward despite it all. Hopefully, I'll have something more interesting to report in my next letter! And hopefully, you'll have a ton to tell me!
Please include your letter with whatever Gaius sends to me. It's less risky to send one letter instead of two, and it's best if your handwriting isn't visible for others to see.
I love you SO much baby girl <3 I know you're angry with me -- though I hope that's starting to fade -- but even if it's not, then please know I love you more than words could ever begin to describe.
~ Your Doting Uncle
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
I made it okay. There were more nights with attacks than not, to the point that I am genuinely impressed by how many wolverines and spiders you have contained in a single fiefdom (I'm not telling Ky this part, please don't) but things got easier once Rönn came along to help out. It's unsettling to know he's following me, but a net positive all the same.
Afraid I don't have much news beyond that. I'm sure Luvic will tell you what information he had to tell me so I won't belabor that point. He had a suggestion for a contact in Clawholm about two and a half from here. I assume you have your guesses who that is; please send your response there.
How are things there? And how is Ky? I suspect she's going to say whatever she thinks I want to hear, and I'd like to know the truth about how she's ACTUALLY doing, even if that doesn't line up with what she has to say. Especially so, actually. She's into dancing. I don't know if she's shared that, and I don't know if you have any musicians who know Lytiasian songs, but that'll probably lift her spirits if she's still upset about my absence. Do with that what you wish.
I'll send another report once I get there.
Best, ZR
"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 finished the letter and opened Luvic's next, studying the contents.
"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’s smile faded as Zander got into asking her what she’d been up to as the weight of what she was going to have to admit settled on her. Well. That wasn’t true. She wasn’t going to admit it. And maybe she’d complain at Gaius until he agreed not to squeal either like he had to Tomhas. Still. The last paragraph warmed her heart and she read it again and again… and again.
"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 set the letter down. "Well, it seems your uncle is safe and well for the moment. He'll be back north in a few weeks to speak to another contact. In Clawholm."
"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
