“At last Niko dropped his hands, and opened his eyes. His perfect tree illusion solidified and settled."Very nice," said Briar with approval. "Couldn't have done better myself""Couldn't do it at all yourself," muttered Tris.Briar ignored her. "But you'd never find a cork oak in these parts. Too cold."Niko looked down his nose at the boy. "I beg your pardon?"Briar shrugged. "Just thought I'd mention it."Niko glared.”

“Rosethorn had gone to her room the moment Niko started to cough. Now she returned with her syrup and a firm look in her eye. "I thought you were having trouble last night. Drink this." She poured some into a cup and held it out to him.Niko looked at it as if she offered him rotten fish. "I am fine. I am per-" He couldn't even finish the sentence for coughing."It's not bad," said Tris, crossing her fingers behind her back. "Really, tastes like-like mangoes."Niko looked at her, then took the cup and downed its contents. The four watched with interest as his cheeks turned pale, then scarlet. "That's terrible (exclamation point)" he cried, his voice a thin squeak."Maybe I was thinking of some other syrup," Tris remarked with a straight face.”

“Don't let him upset you," Niko told the four softly. "He's old and he's frightened.""You're as old as him, and you aren't scared of us," Briar pointed out.Niko glared at him. "Thank you so much," he retorted waspishly.”

“He doesn't need my help coming up with pranks. He's got too many ideas of his own.- Daja referring to Briar in their first year at Discipline cottage”

“Briar: "So I guess I was the last to know." Rosethorn: "Of course you are. You're a man, aren't you?”

“Waves are the voices of tides. Tides are life," murmured Niko. "They bring new food for shore creatures, and take ships out to sea. They are the ocean's pulse, and our own heartbeat.”

“Briar: "They never tell you some things. They tell you mages have wonderful power and they learn all kinds of secrets. Nobody ever mentions that some secrets you don't ever want to learn." Rosethorn: "All you can do is learn good to balance the bad. Learn and do all the good within your reach. Then, if you wake in a sweat, you have something to set against the dream.”