24. Chop
My present lifestyle affords me the benefit of not having my life decisions scrutinised and subsequently questioned by my peers in the field. Were they still able to, I am sure they would constantly catechize me over the fact that I have a Blue Child (or ‘Blooch’ as they are usually known) in my employ.
It is not altruism.
I seek to determine whether the violent disposition and paranoid temperament is endemic to her entire species or whether it’s simply that so many are like that because they are societal outcasts and treated so badly.
Thus far, my results have been inconclusive.
Jingles Whetstone is an experienced, resolute and incredibly dangerous warrior. She has plainly been forged by adversity. She has survived by being ruthless. By chopping things down and breaking through them before they could betray her. She has been fighting her whole life. Which may actually be longer than my own. She does not discuss her age.
Her violent disposition may yet just be part of her entire race, but it could simply be that she, and all Blooches don’t know how to relax, trust or do anything but fight.
With that said, the brusque but protective bond that she has formed with my adopted daughter, Emmaline (one of the the original reasons I employed her) is actually quite encouraging.
Her tendency to bury an axe in anything she doesn’t like the look of has saved us all a lot of trouble in our time together.
*********
L.B. Harmless
