My world was changing, and I was not ready for it.

I thought of betrayal and how it came so easily - in a word, a glance, a gesture.

As for religious faith, a lack of it shouldn't stop us from doing good deeds for their own sake.

How could you not know?" His voice was full of wonderment. "You changed me utterly. You were like a...like a bright, wonderful bloom in a garden full of weeds. Like a graceful capital on a page of plain script, a letter decorated with the deepest, finest colors in all Erin. Like a flame, Caitrin. Like a song.

Eat of my deep earth, drink of my living streams, for I am your Mother. Your heart is my wild drum, your breath my eternal song. If you would live, dance with me!

Come, dear heart. Lean on me and let us walk this path together.

You don't like it that I am the one you need to keep the wolf from the door; that comes as no surprise. But I am the one you have. At some point we'll both have to risk telling the truth.