She followed his usual refrain with her own: "But it could be!"

Just because he was not in charge did not mean he had no sway—she knew little enough of the world, but she knew enough to understand that power was not so cut and dry as folk made it out to be. Besides, he was the one here for her to appeal to, not to whomever he thought it was up to.

"I know when t' keep my mouth shut," the girl added in a stellar example of doing the exact opposite, "and keep out of trouble."