Абхорсен

Lirael almost apologized, but she held it back. She did feel sorry for Nick. It wasn’t his fault he had been chosen by an ancient spirit of evil to be its avatar. She even felt sort of maternal to him. He needed to be tucked in bed and fed willow-bark tea.

-Разве... можно?- спросил Ник, почувствовав, что течение отпустило его и он может шагнуть назад.
-Нет, нельзя,- ответила Собака.-Но я же- Невоспитанная Собака.