Artemisia Quotes

“You aren’t useless. You have your mind, you have your determination. You can still probably wield a sword better than half of Cress’s army, I’d bet, depth perception or no. Stay and fight and show her that she didn’t ruin you.”

Erik swallows. For a moment, he says nothing, but eventually he nods his head. “I don’t suppose you could heal me, Heron?” he asks, though he sounds like he already knows the answer.

“I can’t make you a new eye,” Heron says, his voice pained. “But I can try to help with healing your other one.”

“What about you, Artemisia?” Erik asks. “Any illusion you could cast to hide it?”

“Nothing permanent. I’m sorry,” she says. “And nothing that would give you back your vision.”

“Ah well,” Erik says, his voice still quavering. “I had a few good years of being handsome. It’s more than most get.”

It’s an attempt at a joke, but no one laughs.

“You’re still handsome,” Heron says quietly.

Erik laughs, the sound hard. “I’m monstrous,” he says.

“You’re brave,” Heron says, louder this time. “And steadfast. And you fight for your people—for what you know is right no matter what it costs you. You are, without a doubt, the handsomest man I’ve ever seen, and if you try to say otherwise one last time, I will break your nose as well, you vain ass.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“You are sweet and docile and dumb.”

I recoil. “Excuse me?”

She smirks. “Another role to play. You’re very good at playing roles.”

I’m tempted to look at Søren, who’s too busy rowing to talk but can certainly hear every word.

“Let them believe you are dim,” Artemisia continues. “The King, his court, your suitors. If they believe you to be an idiot, they will underestimate you. Let them.”
― Laura Sebastian, Lady Smoke

“You said they were a…religious…?”

“Oligarchy,” he finishes. “Ruled by five high priests, who are in turn elected by smaller delegations of regular priests, one for each sub-country. Though the common belief is that each high priest is chosen by God himself.”

“God?” Artemisia asks.

“They’re monotheistic, yes,” he says.

She rolls her eyes. “Just say there’s only one. You aren’t in court, your fancy words don’t impress anyone.”
― Laura Sebastian, Lady Smoke

“He looks at Erik. “The last thing you’re going to do is wallow. You’re going to get back on your feet and figure out how to adjust. Trust me, you’ll thank me for it later.”

Erik grimaces but nods. “I’m sure I will,” he says, forcing himself to sit up, and groaning as he does. “But right now, I’d like to say some far less savory things to you.”

“Keep a list,” Heron says with a small smile. “You can tell them to me over dinner.”

For an instant, Erik is shocked and flustered—a look I’ve never seen on him before. He recovers his wits quickly enough. “It’s a deal,” he says.

Artemisia looks between the two of them, eyebrows raised so high they almost disappear entirely into her hair.

“We are at war,” she says with a sigh. “Surely there is a better time to flirt than when death is around every corner?”

“Truth be told, I’m hard-pressed to think of a better time to flirt,” Erik says, pushing himself to his feet. “You very well may never get another chance.”

Artemisia rolls her eyes.

“Just because I can’t see you doesn’t mean I don’t know you’re rolling your eyes, Art,” he says, holding an arm out to her, which she takes. She guides him a couple of hesitant steps. “Just because you don’t know how to flirt—”

“I know how,” she snaps indignantly as she leads him out of the tent, the two of them continuing to bicker as they go.”
― Laura Sebastian, Ember Queen

“We are not defined by the things we do in order to survive. We do not apologize for them. Maybe they have broken you, but you are a sharper weapon because of it. And it is time to strike”
― Laura Sebastian, Ash Princess

“Wouldn't it be convenient
if I stayed forever locked here,

turning my head
as he signs his name
to my work, never caring
if anyone knows
who actually bled
onto the canvas?”
― Joy McCullough, Blood Water Paint

“«Vedranno chi è Artemisia» le vien detto. L'alterigia fanciullesca e un po' smargiassa della sua natura viene allora a confortarla, angelo nero e puerile, innocente e forte che torna pian piano a custodirla. Esso ignora l'umiltà, la dolcezza, il dubbio cauto e ombroso dello stato femminile; nulla trattiene il vento dalle sue ali.”
― Anna Banti, Artemisia

“Per quante forme, per quanti modi diversi possa esprimersi il dolore di una intattezza violata, Artemisia me lo fa intendere in quest'aria di sacrificio e di pericolo che fomenta, con i rimpianti di tutti, il suo rimpianto di risuscitata invano. La nostra povera libertà si lega all'umile libertà di una vergine che nel milleseicentoundici non ha se non quella del proprio corpo integro e non può capacitarsi in eterno di averla perduta. Per tutta la vita essa si adoprò a sostituirla con un'altra, più alta e più forte, ma il rimpianto di quell'unica restò.”
― Anna Banti, Artemisia

“Durasse per sempre il buio, nessuno mi riconoscerebbe per donna, inferno per me, male per gli altri.”
― Anna Banti, Artemisia