Ky hesitated, turning back towards her with a deep breath. “Is… is it possible… to know when they’re telling me 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]
"When the spirits are telling the truth?" Her brow furrowed. "You want a potion or trinket that casts away lies? Is that 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
“I…I don’t know. Maybe? Would that make them angry?”
"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]
"Depends on the sort you're looking for," she mused. "Subtle's expensive."
"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.” She didn’t know how to respond to that. She didn’t want to sound cheap or like she was trying to pull a quick one on Myna. But she also didn’t want to go into the she-troll’s debt. Especially given the fact she didn’t accept money. What else might she want from Ky? She didn’t think she was willing to give it. “…Okay.”
"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]
"One of them is lying to you, eh?" she asked. "May I ask what about?"
"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 mean… that’s the problem, I don’t know,” she answered sheepishly, glancing around. “I just… based on what Sera just said… I don’t think he’s who he says he is… but… but there’s probably… I’m probably missing something. I just… don’t know what.”
"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's he done to make you suspicious?" Myna asked. "Could be you don't need any trinkets to figure out what's wrong."
"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… he’s…” she hesitated. “I… I don’t think I can tell you everything. It’d upset Gaius and Tomhas very much if they knew… I just…I don’t know. He claimed he knew Sera. But based on what Sera just said he couldn’t be who he’s claiming to be.”
"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]
"Say what you can and we'll see what he's about," Myna suggested, leaning against the cart. "Did he say when he died?"
"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.” She shook her head. “But he’s fairly young… but I don’t think they age after the die. Like. They don’t look older.”
"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]
"How far back does he go? Is he an old Ash or a newer Ash?"
"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, that’s the problem. He’s claiming to be…” Ky hesitated, glancing around to be sure Tomhas and Sera weren’t around. She was silent for a long moment. She really shouldn’t be trusting this woman. But who could she ask, if not her? She clearly wasn’t getting honesty from the dead Ashes. And she couldn’t ask her living relatives without upsetting them greatly. What did that leave? Not much. “…I suppose you have to tell my father whatever I tell you? Or at least Gaius?” What with him being the leader of this country.
"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]
She shook her head. "I serve nobody but myself and this silly lump of a mare." She patted the horse. "What you say stays with me if you wish 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
“…please.” Ky inclined her head. She didn’t have much choice but to trust someone at this point. And apparently she couldn’t trust Narfi. What did you know? Papa was right yet again. Never trust a man asking you to keep secrets. “…he said he’s Septimus’s brother. And said his name is Narfi. But Sera just said Septimus didn’t have a brother named Narfi… so… I… don’t know what that means.”
"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]
Surround yourself with people who are serious about being writers, and who will tell you, ‘Hey—you can do better than this.’ Who will be critical of your work, but also supportive. And who will not be competitive in a negative way. — Isabel Quintero
