Status Updates From The Crow (The Books of Pell...

“I think you were right not to kill him,” he said soberly. “There is too much death, everywhere.” “Aye, Hem,” said Saliman gently. “Far too much. And what is the use of fighting the Dark, if we forget the Balance and sink to its level? What then are we defending?”

“A man cannot eat more than three meals a day, or live in more than one house at a time. If you have what you need, and more than you need, what is the use of adding to it?”

The forces in the camp were much more toxic than the mindless, vicious pettiness of damaged children: the violence was controlled, focused and deadly. It was intelligent. It made him deeply afraid. But underneath Hem’s fear lay a horrified pity. Murderer or murdered, every snout was a victim.

“It is not given to us to know what difference we can make, and perhaps we can make no difference at all. But that is no reason not to make the attempt,” said Saliman quietly.