Unraveller

Gentleness is often mistaken for weakness, but the two are not even close cousins.

Besides, one cannot throw away everything that is touched by pain.

Real hearts are nothing but trouble. They break and bleed and bring their owners torment. But without them existence is hollow, only breath following breath.

I don't think about "being happy" unless I'm with you, and then I never am. Humans are never happy.

You'd be better at it than me' he told Nettle when he visited her. 'This sort of Unravelling doesn't feel like I'm using a magical gift. Sometimes it's like I'm a ghost walking alongside somebody on a difficult journely. I can point out things they've missed, but I can't walk for them. I can't stop the briars tearing them, or their feet aching. I've never done anything so hard.

Changing a law is like digging a new field. You'll break ancient roots and blunt your spade with a lot of stones, but eventually plants will grow in your furrows, and your new hedge will thrive and it'll be as if it always was that way.

You'd know you were a boy, so she would too. If someone knows they're a man or boy, that's what matters. Outside appearences aren't important. It's what's inside that counts—who we are in our souls. She can see the truth, even if others wouldn't.

Well, what else are you going to do? Kill me yourself? Right here, in broad daylight, with all your neighbors watching? Would you use that sickle of yours? It's a good sickle. Do you think you'd ever want to use it again after that? Imagine seeing your hands every day, and remembering the blood on them. Imagine living here the rest of your life in this village, knowing that everybody knew what you'd done. They're remember it every time they looked at you - and you'd see it in their eyes. Your remember my face too. It would be there all the time, like a stain in your eye. Killing me doesn't get rid of me. It means you'd never get rid of me. Ever.