The Burning White (Lightbringer #5)

by Brent Weeks

You are that kid from Rekton, Kip.” “‘Aren’t,’ you mean,” he said. “Sorry, not important. You just misspoke. Go on.” She shook her head. “I didn’t misspeak.” Yes, you did. He flashed a quick smile. It really didn’t matter. She rolled her eyes skyward. “Did you really have to give him a loud silent yes, too?!” “You know,” Kip said, “I usually feel smarter than this. And I don’t usually feel all that smart.” She took his hands, and she was the comfort of a lantern in darkness. “You are that wounded, fearful child stuck in the closet with the rats.” Her voice cracked momentarily, and lightning of her righteous wrath at what had been done to him flashed in the distance, but she went on. “And you are this man. And I have seen you…” Her eyes filled with tears, but she ignored them. “Kip, when you bring that little boy’s heart and his compassion for brokenness into your rule, I have never seen anyone so powerful.” She wet dry lips, mastering herself. “I think you owe that child abandoned in a locked closet with rats something, Kip. That boy? That boy you’ve poured scorn on, who you called a fat fuck? He survived because he fought. I think you owe him more than your contempt.”