The Steerswoman

I don't necessarily respect other people's religions, or any religion. But the people—I respect them, and I give them the honor they deserve, whatever they believe.

The change, she knew, was only in herself; she was relieved of deception, and her mind was free to work on its familiar paths. She recognized for the first time that lies worked damage in two directions.

Bel sipped her tea. “It’s trouble if you cross a wizard, trouble if you help a wizard, and trouble if you don’t have a wizard, for things like dragons and hurricanes.” She put down the cup. “That’s altogether too much trouble.

He was one of the five soldiers. He was wearing red then.” Bel looked back. “Well, he’s wearing red now.

There you go again, doubting. You doubt that the moon ever existed, you doubt the gods, you doubt the cards, and you doubt magic. Is there anything you don’t doubt?” “Quite a lot,” Rowan told her, laughing despite herself. “I don’t doubt that some things people believe are true, and some are false. And I don’t doubt that there’s some means to tell the difference.” Then she admitted, “But I sometimes doubt that I possess the means.

People need truth! They need it to be happy, to know what to do, to live!” Rowan