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'What was it?' Peridan thought not for the first time as he made his way along the cold city cobbles to the Watch. Life had taken even more of an unusual turn for him lately, and he was unsure of his path.
The vampire Katria had proven to be a valuable asset in the war against Hadavi and Colibrus, and yet he still questioned himself on a daily, nay hourly, basis. She had shown the way to her grimoire, which contained a spell to practically destroy the valley itself. She had identified and translated a ritual able to kill the undead and devils themselves. She had sworn an oath not to drink human blood, and thus far desite Peridan's efforts at finding her false, had proven true.
But was it the right thing? Everything in Peridan's bones, chilled thoroughly on the cold lonely walk through the Military District to the Watch House, told him that vampires are made a certain way. Evil to the core, without remorse, without pity for any beings lesser than themselves. And yet he had sensed none of that from Katria. Arrogance certainly. Pride, perhaps. Maybe even a disregard for the true value of life. But these things were not intrinsically evil in her case. She was born a vampire, taught nothing different in her entire long life.
What was the right thing to do? Kill her? Imprison her? While options, something inside Peridan turned away from hurting a being that had shown that while ignorant, did not seem to be evil in the sense that other beings of her kind had. Of course, he realized that this could just be a ploy. Stop Hadavi, and replace her in the heiarchy of the Wyntir Estate. But again, his instincts told him that allowing anyone to be experimented upon by the Hands, tortured and mistreated when they offer no visible threat, was wrong.
He turned a corner, stopping a moment to warm himself by the lamp on the street. In the end, he didn't know if what he was doing was right or not. Maybe he was being set up. Maybe Katria would prove to be a stalking horse that killed them all. But he chose to be kind, to grant mercy. It was not the wrong choice, in his opinion, especially when it coincided with stopping Hadavi. Already there had been multiple assassination attempts against Katria for the help she's been giving, and it would only get worse as time went on.
He didn't know what the right thing was. He could only do what his instincts told him, as they hadn't failed him yet on his long patrols through the Mossdale and Sundren City. Rastellia's comments and Brimlor's accusations ran through his mind, and he knew that maybe he was wrong.
But by the gods, he hoped not.
The vampire Katria had proven to be a valuable asset in the war against Hadavi and Colibrus, and yet he still questioned himself on a daily, nay hourly, basis. She had shown the way to her grimoire, which contained a spell to practically destroy the valley itself. She had identified and translated a ritual able to kill the undead and devils themselves. She had sworn an oath not to drink human blood, and thus far desite Peridan's efforts at finding her false, had proven true.
But was it the right thing? Everything in Peridan's bones, chilled thoroughly on the cold lonely walk through the Military District to the Watch House, told him that vampires are made a certain way. Evil to the core, without remorse, without pity for any beings lesser than themselves. And yet he had sensed none of that from Katria. Arrogance certainly. Pride, perhaps. Maybe even a disregard for the true value of life. But these things were not intrinsically evil in her case. She was born a vampire, taught nothing different in her entire long life.
What was the right thing to do? Kill her? Imprison her? While options, something inside Peridan turned away from hurting a being that had shown that while ignorant, did not seem to be evil in the sense that other beings of her kind had. Of course, he realized that this could just be a ploy. Stop Hadavi, and replace her in the heiarchy of the Wyntir Estate. But again, his instincts told him that allowing anyone to be experimented upon by the Hands, tortured and mistreated when they offer no visible threat, was wrong.
He turned a corner, stopping a moment to warm himself by the lamp on the street. In the end, he didn't know if what he was doing was right or not. Maybe he was being set up. Maybe Katria would prove to be a stalking horse that killed them all. But he chose to be kind, to grant mercy. It was not the wrong choice, in his opinion, especially when it coincided with stopping Hadavi. Already there had been multiple assassination attempts against Katria for the help she's been giving, and it would only get worse as time went on.
He didn't know what the right thing was. He could only do what his instincts told him, as they hadn't failed him yet on his long patrols through the Mossdale and Sundren City. Rastellia's comments and Brimlor's accusations ran through his mind, and he knew that maybe he was wrong.
But by the gods, he hoped not.