The man, or vampire lying here is an ordinary being. In fact, he is so small and insignificant that even if he is missing from the world, nobody would flutter an eyelid. Tomorrow would go on as usual. But, he has been brought into our lives and now that he is gone, our tomorrow may never be the same again, knowing that he will never be there again.
I can still vividly recall his smile, always ready to be given away generously. He was a good friend and a leader to all. I remember the way he viewed life. "It doesn't matter what others feel about you," he once said to me. "What really matters is how you view yourself inside."
His amiable manner made it possible to make friends with. If there is anyone in the world who can accept friends the way they are, it would be Kurda. Of course, to many of us, he may be the world's biggest jerk. You detest him for betraying the clan and for getting your loved ones killed. But WAIT! Stop, and think about him, and your relationship with him before his betrayal. Was he always there beside you when you needed a listening ear? Did he always listen to your complaints and worries silently, then comfort and offer his best advice? Did he share his jokes and knowledge with you? For me, the answer is yes. I'm sure you all share similar sentiments with me. Plan or not, traitor or not, Kurda has always been there, especially when we needed him most.
He is also a most loyal friend. The reason why Kurda's plan had backfired was because he had risked the safety and success chances of his plan to save Darren from the consequences of failing his Trials – namely, the Hall of Death. Had he not gone out on a limb to save his friend, he may not have ended up in this state.
Even during his trials after being exposed as a traitor, he too, showed that he had courage. He proved to everyone that he was somebody who could face up to the music and accept whatever punishment graciously, instead of shirking responsibility or denying his mistake, which many would have done.
I'm sure many here are shocked and upset by his actions. You are angry, hurt that he caused the death of your comrades and are loathe speaking his name, referring to him as "the traitor". I too, feel more shocked than anybody. But if you can stop and ponder what you would be doing if placed in his shoes, in that awkward position, torn between saving your clan and destroying your blood cousins, I'm sure some of you wouldn't know what to do. Although some may choose the latter, I should think that most couldn't bear to see the vampaneze be displaced in such bloody manners, like Kurda.
I'm not approving of Kurda's actions – yes, he did wrong and he alone should atone for that mistake – but instead of treating him like the plague, thinking that he is a traitor, why not let us change our perspective and try to view his actions in a neutral way. He believed what he did was for the good of both clans, and he put his heart in it regardless of the consequences, and for that we should credit him.
My personal opinion is that there should be some other way of sentencing him, short of such a barbaric and vindictive way of sentencing him to death. For all his faults, he definitely does not credit such a shameful way of dying.
Treacherous and underhanded as he may be, he, like all others, has a good side him. It just takes that little extra effort to see it clearer. Dead he may be, but he will always live on in our hearts. To him I propose this toast.
Kurda Smahlt. Even in death, may you be triumphant!