If I wanted to stun anyone at dinner, I'd hit them in the face.

Part of avoiding thoughts about something was not encouraging opportunities for that something to makes itself felt.

Wonderful," Garan grumbled when he'd gone. "We'll grow a reputation for our kindness to lawbreakers.

Brigan," she said, annoyed that he had not understood. "I’ll always be beautiful. Look at me. I have one hundred and sixty two bug bites, and has it made me any less beautiful? I’m missing two fingers and I have scars all over, but does anyone care? No! It just makes me more interesting! I’ll always be like this, stuck in this beautiful form, and you’ll have to deal with it." He seemed to sense that she expected a grave response, but for the moment, he was incapable. "I suppose it’s a burden I must bear," he said, grinning.

And what was it about the dark that made her question things she’d never questioned before, in the day.

Why are you still here?" she asked. "Shouldn't you be in a cave somewhere inspiring people?

There will be no yelling at people who are bleeding themselves to unconsciousness.