Цитаты из книги Годсгрейв

"Fuck you, Ashlinn." "I thought you`d never ask, Mia." Mia tensed, springing up off the bed, hands in fists. Ashlinn stood her ground, staring Mia down, jaw clenched. Their faces were only a few inches apart, the air between them crackling with arkemical current. "Don`t pretend you don`t feel it," Ash said. "Because it`s written in your every line and curve. You might know me, Mia Corvere, but I know you just as well. And I know what it is you want." Mia grit her teeth, one hand curling into a fist. She didn`t know whether she wanted to punch the girl or... There was an ocean of lies between them. Ash`s betrayal. Tric`s murder. The certainty the girl would do or say anything to get what she wanted. But there was truth in her words too. Of every person she knew in the world, the only one helping her in her darkest need was Ashlinn Jarnheim. Ashlinn Jarnheim was made of lies. Ashlinn Jarnheim was poison. And Ashlinn Jarnheim was beautiful.

"She`s gone," Mia said. Maggot looked at Mia, nodded sadly as she tied off the bandage. "Mine, too," she said. "But she taught me all she knew. And so, whenever I stitch a wound or set a bone or mend a fever, she`s still with me." A fine thought, Mia mused. One no doubt sung to orphans across the world since the beginning of time. But even if there were some semblance of her father in the way she fought, her mother in the way she spoke, they were still dead and gone. If they were with her at all, it was as ghosts upon her shoulder, whispering in the nevernight of all that might have been.

"I don`t want to hurt you, Crow," Matteo said. "And why not? Because I might hurt you back?" "Because... you`re a girl," he said. Mia`s eyes widened at that. Gritting her teeth, she wove past Matteo`s strike, sandals scuffing in the dust. Spinning on the spot, she smacked him hard across his shoulder blades, sent him staggering. As he turned to face her, she clocked him in the face with her shield, blood spraying as he toppled onto the dirt. Mia stood over him, presisng her wooden blade to his throat. "Take hold of your fucking jewels," she said. "Maybe your mother raised you to treat us all as delicate flowers, maybe you`re just thinking with your cock. But there are no girls on the sand. No mothers or daughters. Sons or fathers. Only enemies. You spend a moment worrying about what`s between your opponent`s legs, you`ll find your head parted from your body. And what good will your fool cock do you then?"

Once they were safely out of the bishop`s earshot, Mia took Jessamine by the arm, turned the Hand to face her. "Are we going to have problems, you and I?" "Whatever do you mean, Corvere?" "I mean it`s no secret we hate each other like fucking poison. But you`re my Hand now. I need to be able to trust you, Jess." The redhead`s green eyes sparkled as she spoke. "I don`t like you, Corvere. You think you`re clever. You think you`re special. You poisoned Diamo and cheated me out of my spot as top of Songs. But I serve the Mother, I serve the Ministry, same as you. Don`t question my devotion again." The redhead turned and stalked off into the dark.

"You`re wondering if I`m going to try and drown you, aye?" Jessamine`s lips twisted in a smile. "Put a knife in you as soon as your back is turned?" "What makes yo think I`m going to turn my back, Red?" Jessamine shook her head, her voice hard and cold. "There`s still blood between you and me. But the turn I come for you, you won`t be naked in a tub with soap in your eyes. You`ll be wide awake, blade in hand. I promise you that." Jessamine smiled, ear to ear. "So never fear, Corvere." Mia looked to the steaming baths. Down to the shadow at her feet. And then she smiled back. "I never do."