[ Kate's words are rational. Even through Kitty's anger, she recognizes that. But she holds onto her anger a moment longer, looking at Kate. ]
Do you want to know why I lied?
[ And then, fiercely, to Billy: ]
You think he's told you the truth?
[ She wishes she could say that she gives some properly mocking smile, but she's too angry to do that. Her face is drawn sharp and fierce - yet there's still a self-possessed sort of precision to the way she speaks and moves. She might be livid, and her anger might burn hot as anything, but she's as self-controlled in her anger as she was in her fear. Only her face really reveals the depths of her anger. And she is angry. ]
Has he told you about the slaves he keeps? The way he tortures them to death if they don't obey him to the letter? I'm sure he's told you about how he forces those slaves to kill people - my people - just for raising our voices in dissent. How they're forced to watch us, and hurt us, and kill us if we step out of line. How the people are too afraid to do anything against him and the other magicians, and so they just go and die in their wars of conquest.
[ This is exhilarating, she has to admit. Whether her words have any effect or not, just saying this is marvelous. It's everything she's been aching to say for years, and she's throwing it right in Mandrake's face. More satisfying now than when he was that poncy little boy - now, she's not hurling abuse at some idiotic fop, but at a member of the Council. It's almost as good as ripping into Devereaux himself. ]
But I - I have never been afraid. You want to know why I've lied? Because I've had to lie for three years now, and hide my name and my face. Ever since I was declared a terrorist and a criminal, just for standing up for my beliefs.
[ And for stealing, and for killing. That last sentence comes out of her mouth a little bit less self-certain, just because...Well, honestly, she's not proud of what she did back then, and defending it now feels facetious. She can't really pretend that when Mandrake condemns her, he's being completely unfair.
Still. Kitty turns her gaze back to Kate. When she speaks, her voice is more measured, almost respectful; her anger is modulated. Whereas before, it had been a furious speech (an uncharitable person might call it a "rant"), this is actually addressing what she said. In spite of everything, and in spite of this fight, she has a certain amount of regard for Kate's even-handedness - and, in a way, for the simple fact that the girl put together this plan of entrapment so neatly. Kitty might be the victim of the plot, but it was so elegantly done that that deserves some regard. ]
You're all associated with him. And you lied to me to get me here, and ambushed me, to force out a truth you weren't entitled to. After that, there can't be any trust between us. [ Her echo of Bartimaeus is unconscious; her lips thin just a moment as she thinks it over, but then she shakes her head. ] I'm not angry. Not really. He was going to find out eventually. But I'm not going to talk. You can either let me go now, or you can attack. But I'm not going with you willingly, and that is all the truth you'll get from me. The truth about this man you call a friend.
[ And now she manages a smile - caustic, bitter, directed right at Mandrake. She doesn't know if they'll believe her. Probably they won't. She has lied, and lied often, to protect herself - and for what? For nothing more than the protection of this secret, this secret that has already been uncovered. But maybe all of this will be enough to make them doubt. Enough that they'll hesitate to follow his advice when it comes to her. And so this is drawled with sour satisfaction: ]
Sorry I'm not dead like I'm supposed to be, Mr Mandrake. My life seems like it must be terrible inconvenience for you right now.
hahahahahahha tl;dr i am sorry y'all
Do you want to know why I lied?
[ And then, fiercely, to Billy: ]
You think he's told you the truth?
[ She wishes she could say that she gives some properly mocking smile, but she's too angry to do that. Her face is drawn sharp and fierce - yet there's still a self-possessed sort of precision to the way she speaks and moves. She might be livid, and her anger might burn hot as anything, but she's as self-controlled in her anger as she was in her fear. Only her face really reveals the depths of her anger. And she is angry. ]
Has he told you about the slaves he keeps? The way he tortures them to death if they don't obey him to the letter? I'm sure he's told you about how he forces those slaves to kill people - my people - just for raising our voices in dissent. How they're forced to watch us, and hurt us, and kill us if we step out of line. How the people are too afraid to do anything against him and the other magicians, and so they just go and die in their wars of conquest.
[ This is exhilarating, she has to admit. Whether her words have any effect or not, just saying this is marvelous. It's everything she's been aching to say for years, and she's throwing it right in Mandrake's face. More satisfying now than when he was that poncy little boy - now, she's not hurling abuse at some idiotic fop, but at a member of the Council. It's almost as good as ripping into Devereaux himself. ]
But I - I have never been afraid. You want to know why I've lied? Because I've had to lie for three years now, and hide my name and my face. Ever since I was declared a terrorist and a criminal, just for standing up for my beliefs.
[ And for stealing, and for killing. That last sentence comes out of her mouth a little bit less self-certain, just because...Well, honestly, she's not proud of what she did back then, and defending it now feels facetious. She can't really pretend that when Mandrake condemns her, he's being completely unfair.
Still. Kitty turns her gaze back to Kate. When she speaks, her voice is more measured, almost respectful; her anger is modulated. Whereas before, it had been a furious speech (an uncharitable person might call it a "rant"), this is actually addressing what she said. In spite of everything, and in spite of this fight, she has a certain amount of regard for Kate's even-handedness - and, in a way, for the simple fact that the girl put together this plan of entrapment so neatly. Kitty might be the victim of the plot, but it was so elegantly done that that deserves some regard. ]
You're all associated with him. And you lied to me to get me here, and ambushed me, to force out a truth you weren't entitled to. After that, there can't be any trust between us. [ Her echo of Bartimaeus is unconscious; her lips thin just a moment as she thinks it over, but then she shakes her head. ] I'm not angry. Not really. He was going to find out eventually. But I'm not going to talk. You can either let me go now, or you can attack. But I'm not going with you willingly, and that is all the truth you'll get from me. The truth about this man you call a friend.
[ And now she manages a smile - caustic, bitter, directed right at Mandrake. She doesn't know if they'll believe her. Probably they won't. She has lied, and lied often, to protect herself - and for what? For nothing more than the protection of this secret, this secret that has already been uncovered. But maybe all of this will be enough to make them doubt. Enough that they'll hesitate to follow his advice when it comes to her. And so this is drawled with sour satisfaction: ]
Sorry I'm not dead like I'm supposed to be, Mr Mandrake. My life seems like it must be terrible inconvenience for you right now.