Paksworld

The author pinches her nose and shakes her head.   Book III again.  Some people, if they get out of a bad spot with miraculous (if unpleasant) intervention, would just be grateful and resolve to be better men/women hereafter.    Some people.

Others read the book of cause and effect differently, and resolve to get one back at whoever did them wrong.   The not-quite-enemy of your enemy may not be even not-quite your friend…and if revenge is a dish best eaten cold, sometimes it’s best not to eat it at all…could be poisoned.

Moreover, Arvid’s current companion-in-arms may be in league with the forces of Good, even though he’s defined by his own people as Bad.    So last year, when Paks told Arvid that maybe Gird had plans for the Thieves’ Guild, was that a blessing, a promise, or a curse?

Arvid just wants his stuff back.   All of it.   He isn’t in a philosophical, let alone theological, mood.    Gratitude does not fill his heart and soften the edge of his anger…he has professional pride to uphold, and the fact that in the past year his pride has had one fall after another hasn’t loosened his grip on it.

On the other hand, his writer doesn’t like his chief (at the moment) enemies, so this will be a tricky dance over the crossed swords of causation.