“However, there are those who deserve to die but who have not yet encountered the means to do so—we help them on their way.”

“You would throw away all that we have given you for a man’s love?”“Not a man’s love,” I say softly. “But Duval’s. And I would find a way to serve both my god and my heart. Surely He does not give us hearts so we may spend our lives ignoring them.”

“And so it is with us; we serve as handmaidens to Death. When we are guided by His will, killing is a sacrament.”

“Tis Vanth's cage. You can just move it out of the way.""I already have," he grumbles. "With my shin.”

“It is this kindness of his that unsettles me most. I can dodge a blow or block a knife. I am impervious to poison and know a dozen ways to escape a chokehold or garrote wire. But kindness? I do not know how to defend against that.”

“It is all we have left to us. And while it is more than I ever dared dream, it is nowhere near enough.”

“He does not start guiltily, as he should, but frowns in annoyance. "Who are you?"I slip my hand through the slit of my overskirt, and my fingers close around the hard wood of the crossbow tiller. "Vengeance," I say softly.”