The Raven and the Reindeer

by T. Kingfisher

It is hard to see a story when you are standing in the middle of it.

“We’re short, sturdy people. Keeps us below the level of the wind.”

dreams are the sisters of nightmares.

Feeling bad about feeling bad was not significantly better than feeling bad in the first place.

“Kudos all around. We are talking beings. Auurk.”

“I stole the very shiniest words and hoarded them all up until they made something worth having.

“Are you a he-raven or a she-raven?” “I am a raven,” said Mousebones, “and the rest is none of your business, as we’ll not be having eggs together.”

Kay deserves better than me, but I’m all there is.

“Compared to her, I’m a raven. And ravens do not bow to gods or men or giants.”

“No one wants true stories. They want stories with truth dusted over them, like sugar on a bun.”

“It isn’t,” said the storyteller. “But you’re young. Old women can be wise, but young women have to be princesses.”

“Many things are real,” said Janna. “It does not mean that all the tales told about them are.”

Parts of her that were born lonely, as all humans are born lonely, were suddenly gathered up and loved and made one with the herd.

The loss of the herd fell on her like a blow. She had not known that she needed one until it was gone.

“Get to be my age, girl, and your tongue will be as sharp as one. Then you can try cutting someone out of a skin with words alone. Until then, it’s the blade or nothing.”

Luther lived a long ways away. Jábmiidáhkká lives under my feet. And I’ve never heard that Luther had much to do with reindeer, which was clearly a failing in an otherwise upright man.”

“Knives aren’t magic, girl. All they are is sharp. Cut or don’t, but don’t dither over it. It only makes it worse for both of you.”

“Words are like fish and you catch them and you get to keep them forever.”

Humans are fine if their hearts freeze. They can keep moving for years like that.”