Hey Everyone!! 😊
I hope you are all gearing up for the holidays, and that it will be a happy time for you. But since we'll all likely be spending with people who don't necessarily share our point of view, I thought it was a good time to remember that perspective and context can greatly influence a person's moral code. It's something I try to keep in mind when I'm forced to deal with people whose ethics, or seeming lack thereof, make me want to pull my hair out. And, if nothing else, I hope this excerpt will offer you a little entertainment to start off your weekend. Either way, enjoy! 😉
Excerpt from Intrigue in the Summer Court:
Cassie gave her Anamchara an arch look. "Do you think you scared her enough?" she softened the implied rebuke with a smile.
The Erlking grimaced. "I hope so."
Taking his hand and looking up at him seriously, Cassie said, "Do you really think Angelica will try to harm Jillian?"
Cadeyrn sighed and pulled her against his body. "I'm not certain. She's quite old, and Fae that old often have a hard time not trying to turn any situation to their own advantage...regardless of what the consequences to others might be. I know you've researched our history, so you know that Fairie used to be quite different from the way it is now. It's not uncommon for Fae who came into existence during that time to have trouble adjusting their mindset to better fit our current social structure. Jillian is wise, and she's old enough to have lost most of her naivety, but she doesn't have the perspective that hundreds of millennia will lend one. Also, her magic doesn't come close to comparing with the power wielded by that Pixie. I wanted to make sure Angelica realized the consequences should Jillian come to harm as a result of her actions, or her failure to take action."
"You make Fae who are old sound as though they are all selfish and opportunistic. You're not like that, and I've met others who are old who don't seem to only be concerned about themselves."
He smiled and leaned down to kiss her. "Thank you, but the goddess created me to be an instrument to aid in creating the changes she wanted for Fairie. The others you've met have adjusted well to the changes. Some people are more flexible than others. If you asked one of the Fae I'm speaking of, they wouldn't consider themselves to be selfish or opportunistic, only survivors. When the world is a harsh place, a certain amount of toughness and self-interest are needed to survive. What might seem callous in the context of a more forgiving environment, becomes an admirable, strong-willed determination to protect oneself from harm."
"You mean when times are hard, kindness becomes a luxury you can't afford? I don't think I buy that argument. I think it's possible to still be a good person, even when life is difficult."
"Ah, but isn't 'good person' a moral judgment? By what standard of morality would you judge them?"
"The standard agreed upon by society."
Laughing, he hugged her tighter. "Has any society ever truly agreed on a standard of morality? Doesn't the location of the line often depend on who you ask, and what mood they happen to be in at that moment? And doesn't it tend to move with alarming regularity?" He winked at her. "Besides, by the standards of the 'society' that existed when they were created, these Fae are 'good people.' They're good at surviving and taking care of themselves."
Cassie pushed away from her mate, glared up at him, and put her hands on her hips. "But isn't part of being a 'good survivor' being able to adapt to your environment? If society has changed, shouldn't they change also?"
"Again, it depends on your perspective. If you are an individual who is only concerned with your own survival in a society of individuals who are concerned about collective survival, you have a competitive advantage, don't you?"
"Yeah, until the rest of them get together and kick you out."
Want to learn more about the Fae and their culture? Grab your copy at the link below. Happy reading! 😊
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