Taala sat upon her bed thumbing through the pages of Hardoleth’s journal. She had read her father’s journal many times over, feeling blessed to have it, for it had taught her so much about the man. He had written his innermost thoughts there; surely the truth would have been recorded in those pages?
In one particular entry, Hardoleth wrote that he had been asked by some lady as to whether or not he would kill her. That led him to ponder the question further, “was there anyone he would not kill?” The only name he admitted to was Hyrien. In fact he named her as the only person he truly trusted. What sort of man was he that he would only name one person whose life he would spare?
Taala lay back on her bed and crossed her arms over her chest hugging the leathery journal to her boosom looking upwards as if addressing her father.
“Father…how easily you seem to have answered this question, I wonder, if you were alive, and asked this today, if you would have the heart to kill me, or any of your other children for that matter?” "Might you have grown to love us?"
Ridding herself of the sentiment, she rolled onto her side, “Is there anyone, that I would not kill?” she asked herself out aloud.
Taala searched within her heart, and the first name that came to mind was her son Tagen, kinslayers, were cursed by the Gods. Only one other name came straight to mind, Foxwin Bramble. She could never hurt Foxwin, nor her half brother Branston.
There must be others surely?
Taala smiled, “Basaran, I do not believe I could kill, Basaran”.
She furrowed her brow, and considered the matter further; such a question should not be posed as simply. The aforementioned, were folk that she would not kill under any circumstances, even if her life depended upon it, not even if she was ordered to. The taking of a life was not as easy for Taala, as some might think, save for Yrch, whom she had slain without remorse.
“Father, your journal has provoked the most troubling of thoughts!”
Giving the matter deeper thought, she mused that there were a great many, whom she would not harm without good reason. She shook her head as if reassuring herself, that a heart beat within there somewhere...
“Who are you talking to Taala?” Her eye's flicked towards the doorway leading to the other room.
“Eroforth…is there anyone you would not kill?”
Eroforth appeared in the doorway, rubbing his eyes shaking his head somewhat amused “Crazy Redhead”...
“Wrong answer”... she thought to herself, as she slipped off the bed and placed Hardoleth's journal back in the drawer.
