The Imperial soldier listened-more aptly, he heard what was said.
After all, only attentive ears and an equally attentive mind could be considered listening. Hearing, however, any functional ears could do that. So he waited and waited as the small girl (he would say Nord if only because of the blonde hair, but no Nord would be that tiny, sheltered, and so forward with their feelings of weakness).
Even though he wasn’t listening per say, his mind did work with the few words that managed to stick with him. He crossed his arms, a thin smile stretched across his face as he considered her story. School…was she referring to the Bards College? He didn’t think they’d accept someone so young, but if she was from a rich family like her appearance suggested, then it might be possible that her family paid a pretty piece of gold to disregard age (and talent) as nothing more than trivialities.
“Ah, you want to go home, do you?” repeated the soldier, distantly, eyeing her with distaste. It was supposed to be the end of his shift, but instead he was stuck dealing with her. “If you don’t start making sense, one of those cells will be your home,” he said, callously. Because it would be so much simpler to throw her in a cell and be done with her. Only the possibility of her being a noble girl and General Tullius coming at him with an execution order for offending a potential trade partner held him at bay.
“Let’s go over this again,” he said, slamming one hand on the table and leaning forward. “You were in the middle of the streets of Solitude, a place where you ought not to be! I remember every face that passes me when I work the gate, and your face wasn’t one of them. “Now, you better—” The female Imperial soldier rested a hand on his shoulder, and he stopped. “What do you want?”
“You’re going to scare the poor girl,” said the other soldier. She had her own daughter, barely a year old, and so her maternal instincts were fresh.
“You try your luck, then,” he grumbled, taking a step back.
“Okay, let’s start over. What’s your name?” asked the soldier before continuing. “And you mentioned a school and your home? Where is your home?” It certainly wasn’t Solitude; that much she agreed on.
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