“The first one, we’ll name Blue.”

“We’ll go.” Her voice is surprisingly deep and forceful. Set in her sunken, shipwreck face, her eyes burn like two smoldering coals. “We’ll fight.”

“His secret name, which belongs to me, and to him, and to no one else.”

“But that wasn't why the boy, whose name was Will but who also answered to "Useless" and "Hopeless" and "Snot-Face" and "Sniveler" (at least when the alchemist was the one calling to him), felt sorry for himself.”

“Alex loved books. He was the one who first introduced me to poetry. That's another reason I can't read anymore.”

“It’s the way he saysmy name: like music.”

“Names don't mean a thing anymore. The past is dead.”