Sometimes I think about the collection of skills Lariel would have before she runs away and goes out into the world. How surprised she’d be that the things her family insisted were life and death important don’t actually help her. Because she, you know, doesn’t know how to cook, nor clean, she doesn’t know how to do laundry, nor barter. Lariel really thought memorizing poetry, embroidery, formal manners, and ballroom dance were going to be much more useful in her daily life considering how strongly they emphasized them to her.