[ another pause, another squeeze. at this point, eseld's fairly certain that any tighter and whatever blood's left in his system is simply going to be squeezed right out, the first victim to torth's dillydallying indecision. in private, he doesn't suppose the question to be at all that difficult. you need only to look at the party from utility and emotionality combined. fable, whose quick wit and strong, inflexible nature, and his connection with torth, would've been the obvious pick, his self preservation being something that even eseld could respect.

that the paladin is having apparently so much difficult voicing his thoughts just reinforces the fact that eseld doesn't understand what goes on in that lug of head of his. not enough where it truly matters anyway-- surface reactions that eseld can push like buttons on a machine aside, what lies beneath is a creature that eseld would never understand in a million years, and the knowledge is both annoying and a source of loathing.

finally, the paladin seems to have made up his mind-- even though it's no decision at all. unsurprisingly.

another huff, this time a tickle of cooling breath against the shell of torth's ear. ]

You needn't lie to me, love. It's just us here. [ it's a non-answer because torth doesn't have an answer. but that's only to be expected. ] Well, I suppose the three of us will simply have to make a pact behind your back, supposing that two of us will have to kill ourselves so that the choice is made for you and you'll have the wherewithal to keep someone alive.