“On a long journey to Glen-StoneIsailed into its shadethere before me she proudly shonemy decision was already made.A lass who bore the light of the townher fur of ivory threadhow she danced is stuck in my crownand back to this glen my boat led.Twenty some seasons have since passedsince her eyes and mine both metthrough lands unnamed and wildly vastmy blade slaying every threatWolf, hawk, fox, and snakecan't stand in my waymy body is weak and it may break,but not today.Living in blackness wrought with frightmy steel shattered facing the foesdusks and dawns darker than nightmy fallen companions in rowsLife spilled past me staining the groundmylimbs growing ever so coldabove villians let out a cackiling soundtelling me i'd never grow oldOne dance and one mouse played in my mindcalling me back from the doomthe courage to carry on i did findto raise me out of my tombWolf, hawk, fox, and snakecan't stand in my waymy body is weak and it may breakthough not todayBattered and bruised i stood to my pawsraised what little i ownedpredators growled caring not for my causeof the mouse that shone light off Glen-stoneWolf, hawk, fox, and snakecan't tand in my waymy body is weak and it may breakthough not today. -The Ballad Of The Ivory Lass”

“I was stuck back on “you can’t have two maids of honor” and therefore fighting back hyperventilation at the same time flashing pictures filled my head of a commando-style wedding; Hawk in black cargos, me in a white flak jacket festooned with lace. The picture of me carrying a bouquet of flowers and Hawk carrying an automatic weapon. The picture of me admiring Hawk’s huge-ass hunting knife. The picture of Hawk carrying me out of the reception in a fireman’s hold while bullets flew and flames caused by Molotov cocktails danced on the dance floor.”

“They may torture my body, break my bones, even kill me. Then they will have my dead body, but not my obedience.”

“Here I am not the one to throw out. No one steals my warmth and shoes because I am small. No one handles my backside. No one whinnies like sheep or goat because I drop in fear and weakness. No one screams at the sight of me. No one watches my body for how it is unseemly. With you my body is pleasure is safe is belonging. I can never not have you have me.”

“My body is a cage that keeps me from dancing with the one I love, but my mind holds the key.”

“And everyone saw me. Tobias saw me.I hear footsteps. Tobias marches toward me and wrenches me to my feet."What the hell was that, Stiff?""I..." My breath comes in a hiccup. "I didn't-""Get yourself together! This is pathetic."Something within me snaps. My tears stop. Heat races through my body, driving the weakness out of me, and I smack him so hard my knuckles burn with the impact. He stares at me, one side of his face bright with blush-blood, and I stare back."Shut up," I say. I yank my arm from his grasp and walk out of the room.”