Gran, for the gods' love, it's talk like yours that starts riots!" I said keeping my voice down. "Will you just put a stopper in it?" She looked at me and sighed. "Girl, do you ever take a breath and wonder if folk don't put out bait for you? To see if you'll bite? You'll never get a man if you don't relax." My dear old Gran. It's a wonder her children aren't every one of them as mad as priests, if she mangles their wits as she mangles mine. "Granny, "I told her, "this is dead serious. I can't relax, no more than any Dog. I'm not shopping for a man. That's the last thing I need.
Tamora PierceYou know something? There are sandstorms that strip man and horse and bury them โ I've seen them. I saw bones piled higher than my head for the folly of a bad king and those who wanted his throne. I lived through a blizzard that froze every other living creature solid. Against those things, you're only a man. I can deal with you.
Tamora PierceFolk caught up in a riot aren't our cousins and sisters, our brothers and uncles. They are part of a big animal with many arms and claws, armed with stones and sticks.
Tamora PierceHe was overconfidentโ, she told him. โAnd I won so the gods must have thought I was right. Otherwise theyโd have made me lose. You know how trial by combat works.โ โYou won because you were goodโ he corrected her. โI find it hard to believe the gods sit forever about the Divine Realms betting on jousts and trials by combat.
Tamora Pierce