The Witch's Daughter (The Witch's Daughter, #1)

by Paula Brackston

There is comfort to be had in the company of wild things and delight to be found in their trust.

“Is it so wrong to want to do something different?” Her eyes glowed with the idea of it. “To change something? To go beyond what is set down?”

there is no courage in being fearless. Do you not know that? A person who knows fear and yet can still think of others, well, he be a brave man.”

Bess felt to voice her fears would give them more weight, would somehow bring them into being.

And secrets are dangerous. They start small but grow with every evasive answer or outright lie that protects them.

To learn, you must be humble. You must be prepared to admit your ignorance. You must allow yourselves to be filled with the vital information presented to you via the skills and dedication of those who have gone before you down the long path to enlightenment.”

Was that what it meant to be a true soldier, I wondered. Not only to be able to fight on the battlefield, but to be able to conquer one’s own personal demons, again and again, over and over, in any way that was asked of them?