“Oh, the way that word is thrown around!” she said. “Everything is evil that humans can’t control or conquer.”

“Everything is evil that humans can't control or conquer”

“The grief hits her hard one day. the way it can't be controlled. The way that yesterday can be good and so can the day before, and so can the week and fortnight before that, but then today comes and she's back to zero. How she can't type words into her computer or even press the in-box for her mail. The effort it takes to walk. How words can't form in her mouth and how her blood feels paralyzed.”

“He knows no other way but ugliness,” Sir Topher said quietly. “He was taught no other lessons but those of force. His teachers have been scum who live by their own rules. No one has ever taught him otherwise.”“Am I to forgive?” she said, her voice shaking with anger.“No,” he said sadly. “Pity him. Or give him new rules. Or put him down like a wild animal before he becomes a monster who destroys everything he encounters.”

“He watched as Finnikin swung onto the horse, his sleeve stained with blood. Froi liked the way Finnikin reached behind him and took Evanjalin's hand, placing it around his waist. It made everything seem normal because Finnikin always wanted to touch her.”

“So why would I want someone to be my everything when one day they might not be around?”

“There were events that stuck in my mind. One, for example, was the case of the missing palace seal at the beginning of winter.’‘Oh the poor animal,’ she cried out, ‘they’re such beautiful creatures.’‘I’m speaking of the royal seal placed on correspondence, as you would know,’ he said.”