(fourth lemon cake) voice ✧ open to both courts

[steeledskin]

Fellow Shardholders. [ of either court! ]

I would speak to a man of law -- should any find himself amid our numbers. [ such a profession is unknown to her, but stiles has explained some occupations and tenets of his world and this one in particular piques her interest. sansa stark could make use of such a man who might be bound by her confidentiality. of course, she does not quite understand the ins and outs of the arrangement.

but that's why she asks today: to learn; to plan; to piece together little patches of her defence. ] Anyone who would call themselves lawyer. I would speak with you. That is the word for it, yes? [ lawyer. ] My apologies if I've gotten it wrong; I'm only a simple girl and I am unwise in these matters. I want to learn about the things that are mysteries to me.

[ like whether a lawyer's strange binding powers of argumentation would even apply in these lands. once her conversations are finished, she snaps the locket shut and can be found in the library -- where she organizes books she doesn't care to read, because the practise soothes her and distracts her mind from its darker thoughts. or else come the evening she sits in her chambers, and allies of hers are welcome to stop and knock. ]

Comments

[steeledskin]

"They fought in King's Landing as well. The small folk. They took to the streets in mobs and riots...they were so hungry."

[bullhorned]

This news did not surprise him. How easy it would have been for him to be a part of that mob. "What was done about it?"

[steeledskin]

Sansa did not answer. Not with her words. Instead, the locket saw her shake her head and hold back upon a wealth of feeling as her gaze was averted.

Her meaning was plain: you do not want to know, and I do not want to say it.

[bullhorned]

There was meaning enough to simply know that she did not simply know of the mob, but had seen it. When one was angry enough with highborns, it did not matter how innocent or pretty a lady might be - she would still be reviled. She ate while others did not.

Finally, when the silence seemed too much, he spoke up again. "Common folk seem better off here. It seemed that way, don't you think?"

[steeledskin]

"There is safety and security found in one's alliance with a court, it seems. Their Graces of either castle understand they have a duty to their people, and that loyalty does not come free."

Lessons she ought to have learned at her father's knees, but was learning now instead. Never before had she cared so much about her father's rule and habits. But now she had to embody them wholly.

"Or else you and I were spared the worst of it as we travelled."

[bullhorned]

"Might be we were," he agreed. He had no great love for their new monarchs, but he could not claim that they were cruel. But he did not expect it would last long. If this war was to carry on, then he imagined those in between courts would suffer the worst for it. How long would it be until he was called to battle and expected to burn fields instead?

"We'll be on a different road this time. If it's different, we'll soon know."