More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
“Call him, Daine—with your mind. His name is Numair Salmalín.” “Alanna—maybe Arram’s better.” That was Onua, sounding distant. “He’s only been Numair for eight years—he’s been Arram all his life.”
“Cloud? Do I have the light inside?” No, the mare replied. The light’s only for humans. You may look like a human, but you aren’t. You’re of the People: the folk of claw and fur, wing and scale. “Impossible,” the girl said flatly. “Look at me. I’m pink, my fur’s patchy, I walk on two legs. I’m human, human all over.” On the outside, the pony insisted. Not inside. Inside you’re People. Tahoi brought a stick, and Daine went to play with him. Cloud was joking, of course. She was human. Ma would have told her, if she weren’t.
“A time may come when being heard will get you killed. Also, your mind needs discipline. If your thinking is more direct, what you can do with your thoughts will happen more directly. Learn to focus your mind: focus creates strength. Meditation helps you reach the same end.
If you do not find a way to organize your mind, at worst you might go mad. At best, you’ll be stupid.”
Don’t run with the People again until you remember to hold on to yourself, the mare ordered. I won’t always be here to wake you up!
“Jonathan’s magic, and the magic of the crown, are tied into every grain of soil in this land,” explained the mage. “Unless an enemy has some kind of advantage that will hurt the king, or keep him from calling on his magic, it’s possible that every tree, stream, and rock would form death traps for an enemy.”
The otter’s return awoke her late that night. She had brought Daine a sea urchin shell, one that was cleaned of its original inhabitant and dried. “Thank you,” Daine whispered, touched. “I’ll treasure it.” The otter chirped her own thanks, and squirmed out through the gap in the tent wall.
“That’s not right. Lies can’t be told near a griffin. He’s surprised we didn’t know. That’s why they were captured for shields.”
Numair swore so vividly that the children looked at him in awe and delight
“You can still make your home with us,” Thayet told her. “That is, if you wish. I know my lord and I would prefer to have you in the palace.” Daine stared at her. “Me?” “You.” Thayet took her hand. “Veralidaine Sarrasri, you saved my life and the lives of my children. A home is the very least we can offer you.”
Daine looked at these unusual people who had become friends, and laughed. “It’s fair funny,” she explained. “I’ve gone from having no home to having too many!” The Lioness smiled and put a hand on her shoulder. “Welcome to Tortall,” she said.
