One of my favorite things about writing Inquisitor Cord Hunter and Princess Verityn is that they can look at the same situation and walk away with completely different conclusions.
Neither of them is unintelligent. Neither of them is blind to what's happening around them. In fact, both are observant, curious, and determined to uncover the truth.
So why do they disagree so often?
Because what we see is shaped by what we expect to see.
Verityn grew up inside the royal family. She was raised among people who generally believe the kingdom's systems exist for a reason. When she encounters a mystery, her first instinct is often to ask, "What am I missing?"
Cord approaches the world from the opposite direction. As an inquisitor, he's spent years investigating strange events, uncovering secrets, and discovering that official explanations are often incomplete. His first instinct is usually, "What are they hiding?"
Neither perspective is entirely right. Neither is entirely wrong.
Verityn's willingness to trust allows her to see the good in people that Cord sometimes overlooks. Cord's skepticism helps him notice dangers that Verityn might miss.
Together, they challenge each other's assumptions.
And that's where things get interesting.
It's easy to assume that people who disagree with us are ignoring the facts. But often they're looking at the same facts through a different lens—one shaped by their experiences, fears, hopes, and expectations.
That's certainly true for Cord and Verityn.
The more they learn about each other, the more they discover that understanding someone else's perspective doesn't always mean agreeing with them.
Sometimes it simply means recognizing that there may be more than one way to see the world.
Have you ever changed your mind about someone after finally understanding why they saw a situation differently than you did?