Brand a man as a thief and no one will ever hire him for honest labor - he will be a hardened robber within weeks. The brand does not reveal a person's nature, it shapes it.

We always find it difficult to forgive our heroes for being human.

Words were dangerous when loosed. They were more powerful than cannon and more unpredictable than storms. They could turn men’s heads inside out and warp their destinies. They could pick up kingdoms and shake them until they rattled.

True stories seldom have endings. I don't want a happy ending, I want more story.

Well, you will have to do. If you had died along with your mother, I would have taught the cat to read.

It was hopeless. She was flawless. She was a sunbeam. Mosca gave up and got on with hating her.

My good lady,’ interrupted Clent, ‘are you telling me that he is not the Luck? That you have in some way obfuscated the chronology of his nativity?’ Seconds passed. A beetle flew into Mistress Leap’s hair while she stared at Clent, then it struggled free and flew off again. ‘Did you lie about when he was born?’ translated Mosca.