He just nodded, stroking the boy's hair. "A first kill is... difficult. Mine was not easy either. Though... this happened long after my first kill. Just a few moons ago." He nuzzled a little closer, his voice growing more quiet, hoarse.
"Her name was Rinna. She was a fellow Crow, like me. She and I were sent with a comrade to kill a very difficult mark. The man we were sent to kill was very powerful, and had many spies. One day, the head of our guild told us that Rinna had betrayed us. By that time, I had fallen in love with her. Rinna was funny and clever, and she had the most lovely smile." He shook his head. "I confronted her while my comrade approached her from behind. I told her I knew she had betrayed us. I told her that I had been lying, that I never loved her. My comrade slit her throat and I spat on her as she died, in the name of the Crows. I later found out my guildmaster had lied, on purpose. To prove that she and I meant nothing." He shrugged. "I was arrogant then. She was my punishment."