I comfort myself with the knowledge that if Duval ever feels smothered by me, it will be because I am holding a pillow over his face.

This is what I want to be. An instrument of mercy, not vengeance.

... while I am Death's daughter and walk in His dark shadow, surely the darkness can give way to light sometimes.

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

If you are not careful, soon you will have men locking themselves in dungeons so that you can rescue them.

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.

God's Teeth,' he says. 'I was only trying to wake you. You were crying out in your sleep.' 'I was not,' I say, then look from his neck to my knife. 'When I tried to wake you, you stabbed me.' He sounds sore put out. and I cannot blame him.