“When you say ‘old friend,’ are we talking, like...since the Ice Age?”“No. Of course not.”“Oh.”“It’s only been about four hundred years.”“Ah. Yes. Only four hundred.” A wry expression spread over his face. “Being with you is a continual experiment in perspective. Among other things.”

“And I don’t want his body touching something I wear. He’ll contaminate it. (Sasha)Oh, good grief, Sasha. Grow up. You’re four hundred years old and you’re acting like a whelp. It’s not like he has cooties or anything. (Astrid)Yes he does! (Sasha)”

“You cannot have a best friend for one hundred and fifty four years without trust.”

“I swear I only want to hear about you, to know what you've been doing. It's a hundred years since we've met-it may be another hundred before we meet again.”

“For every year of peace there have been four hundred years of war.”

“Madrére Sybille, an elder of the Sistéria, is speaking to twenty-four year old Sistére Graice:Sybille – I won’t lecture you but twenty-four is still young. Age brings experience and . . Graice – And wisdom? That’s just what old people say.”