Oh, yeah, she was always a witch. It got worse once my little bro was born, because the title of heir was still uncertain. Sure, I was older, but I was the son of the disgraced first wife, and he was the kid of the approved-of Lady. So any chance she could get away with it, she'd make things my fault.
[He sips his tea.]
Things got more complicated for her once Holst caught on to her scheming. Everybody had him figured for the next leader of the Alliance, you know — and there he is, running around with me, the unfavored son. And if he was sticking up for me, well. She didn't have the rank to tell him otherwise.
[He shrugs.]
She tried, sometimes, to split us up. When we got in trouble together, she'd blame it all on me, and fawn all over Holst. I think she figured I'd get jealous of him and pick a fight, do something stupid, wreck the friendship. But Holst wasn't having any of it. He'd demand just as much blame as I got, and never let me take the fall alone, not for anything.
no subject
[He sips his tea.]
Things got more complicated for her once Holst caught on to her scheming. Everybody had him figured for the next leader of the Alliance, you know — and there he is, running around with me, the unfavored son. And if he was sticking up for me, well. She didn't have the rank to tell him otherwise.
[He shrugs.]
She tried, sometimes, to split us up. When we got in trouble together, she'd blame it all on me, and fawn all over Holst. I think she figured I'd get jealous of him and pick a fight, do something stupid, wreck the friendship. But Holst wasn't having any of it. He'd demand just as much blame as I got, and never let me take the fall alone, not for anything.