Maximilian Wilson wrote on 01/04/2006 10:06:08 PM: > On 1/4/06, Jon Lincicum <lincicum at comcast.net> wrote: > > At the same time, I'm not sure I can conceive of Sethra being in any way > > shape or form interested in secretly being Paarfi... Not that there's > > anything not to like about Paarfi, understand, he just doesn't strike me > > as the type of person that Sethra would be willing to put with. > > This begs the question [wicked look]: what aspects of being Kiera does > Sethra most enjoy? Having friendships, breaking the law, the challenge > of high-tech (magic) theft, not killing people? > > Max I could only say it's for the reasons she gives at the end of Orca, in response to Vlad's question of "Why Kiera? Or rather, Sethra, why Kiera?" I somehow doubt it's the lawbreaking aspect. She's had plenty of opportunities to do that as Sethra. Having friendships certainly isn't a problem for Sethra, either (see Morrolan, Aliera, StY (pre-Yendi), Tazendra, and most notably Tukko). I think challenge is the key. When you've lived 200,000+ years and are a neigh-unto invincible sorceress and general who can defeat any army on the battlefield, and contemptuously annihilate the greatest Dzur Heroes who come charging up your mountain, you probably are looking for ways to relieve your ennui. Being Kiera, and limiting herself to that persona, gives her challenges in ways she probably hasn't experienced as Sethra for the better part of the life of the Empire. (I'm still dying to know what Sethra was like in the really early days of the Empire. Was she always this badass? Or did she start out as a naieve little sister to some important Dragonlord who helped found the Empire?) BTW: Did Sethra say that Kiera never killed people at all? Or just that she wouldn't kill people in order to keep her true identity a secret? I forget the exact phrasing she used... (Which could be important, considering the first time Vlad met her (in /Taltos/) she was participating in an assassination...) Majikjon