"I'm afraid I don't know your term, but Lamorre does not leave its witches untrained," the slight tilt of her lip connoting no warmth and no pleasure in what she says, "it burns them with their books."
At which point it may be apparent why a soft thing like this witch in particular speaks of having been kept under such guard, of her magic as last line of defense -
there was much to defend against.
(And if it was her husband's fucking fault that she was in that position at all, well, there are matters Petra is not yet ready to address with herself, much less anyone else.)
Nevertheless, it's important to remain calm in the face of such outbursts. To keep one's chin level but not allow it to rise too high; to speak steadily, and where possible to deflect anger. Not to flinch, never to step backwards. Be conciliatory but not, if possible, too obviously so, and so when he gives her something else to talk about, she is glad to do it, though it occurs to her with a sinking feeling a moment later her answer may be far from satisfactory.
"As for the library, I am - unfortunately I am not so lucky as some here, my grasp of local language has not extended naturally to their lettering. But I am an educated woman and it is only a matter of time before I gain proficiency, I have made a small collection of books on all local subjects, magic included. I've an arrangement with a young maid who reads aloud to me what I have not yet mastered for myself." Petra does her share of the mending, and she reads the words aloud, and everyone gets what they want. "It is a different practise of magic than my own, but not without similarity."
no subject
At which point it may be apparent why a soft thing like this witch in particular speaks of having been kept under such guard, of her magic as last line of defense -
there was much to defend against.
(And if it was her husband's fucking fault that she was in that position at all, well, there are matters Petra is not yet ready to address with herself, much less anyone else.)
Nevertheless, it's important to remain calm in the face of such outbursts. To keep one's chin level but not allow it to rise too high; to speak steadily, and where possible to deflect anger. Not to flinch, never to step backwards. Be conciliatory but not, if possible, too obviously so, and so when he gives her something else to talk about, she is glad to do it, though it occurs to her with a sinking feeling a moment later her answer may be far from satisfactory.
"As for the library, I am - unfortunately I am not so lucky as some here, my grasp of local language has not extended naturally to their lettering. But I am an educated woman and it is only a matter of time before I gain proficiency, I have made a small collection of books on all local subjects, magic included. I've an arrangement with a young maid who reads aloud to me what I have not yet mastered for myself." Petra does her share of the mending, and she reads the words aloud, and everyone gets what they want. "It is a different practise of magic than my own, but not without similarity."