On 1/5/06, Davdi Silverrock <davdisil at gmail.com> wrote: > Yes. That is, she implied that it was a possible outcome that > Morrolan might kill him (as far as she knew). I'm 99.95% sure that > Morrolan was told "The Easterner may provoke you. Do not kill him, no > matter how rude he becomes." Or words to that effect (possibly even > simpler: "We need his cooperation."). Hmmm. >"Standard rates for the job you did," I explained, glancing at the body. "You do good work." >At which point the tray went flying as Sethra Lavode struck it. She stood and her hand went >to the hilt of her weapon. Morrolan also stood, and I swear he growled. So was she acting here, or at least deliberately not reining in her temper? (She wouldn't have actually killed him with Iceflame, any more than I would actually throttle a bratty seven-year-old. But neither the kid nor Vlad has to know that.) > > It did succeed in making Vlad feel better, although he wasn't sure why. > > As far as he knew at that time, she meant it, and was capable of > carrying it out. > > Agree. Vlad really has a soft spot for people, doesn't he? > > He has a soft spot for people who are loyal to him. Not so much with > the everyone else. True, but I guess it's no wonder he didn't make it in the Jhereg, long-term. The bosses--who are presumably the "archetypical" Jhereg--are not very much like him. Far more cold-blooded, less touchy about personal honor, willing as Sethra said to discuss a business deal no matter how they were brought into it. I wonder what Dolivar was like. Max Wilson P.S. Two interesting observations: Kierra calls them "brandies," not "wines" like most Dragaerans. Also, Anne Rice has a recent book named /Taltos/ too. -- Be pretty if you are, Be witty if you can, But be cheerful if it kills you.