Miriam

“he hadn’t killed me yet, so I decided to keep talking. (This is a mistake I make a lot.)”
― Rick Riordan, The Chalice of the Gods

“Farewell daughter. May the Saint, in his kindness, keep you safe.”
Glorian tried to find the words she wanted to express. I will make you proud. I am afraid. I love you, even if I do not think you love me half as much. I will never treat my daughter the way you have treated me.
“Goodbye, Mother,” was all she did say. “I bid you a safe voyage. Please send my good wishes to Lord Magnaust and Princess Idrega.”
“I will.”
Queen Sabran turned away. Glorian found a deep well of courage and said, “I will be a good queen.”
Her mother stopped.
“You think me weak,” Glorian said, willing her voice not to quake. “You always have— but I know whose bone and blood I am. I am the chosen of the Saint, the fruit of his unending vine, the iron of the ever-snow. I am the daughter of Sabran the Ambitious and the Hammer of the North, and I will rule this realm without fear. My reign will be remembered for centuries to come.” She let the words soak through the silence, then said, “I am enough.”
For a very long time, Queen Sabran said nothing. Her experience was impossible to read.
“Belief is only the first step,” she said, very softly. “Start forging your armour, Glorian. You will need it.”
― Samantha Shannon, A Day of Fallen Night

“So Alecto, wearied of talking, kneeled upon the rock and offered up the sword to her, and placed the child’s hand upon the blade, so that it received also the red blood of the child. This made the child exceeding faint, but it did not swoon of weariness.

Which strength pleased Alecto, who said: Notwithstanding, I offer you my service.

To which a voice on the opposite side of the shore was raised, exceeding wroth, and Alecto heard it shout in a very great shout: Get in line, thou big slut.”
― Tamsyn Muir, Nona the Ninth

“Life is too short and love is too long.”
― Tamsyn Muir, Nona the Ninth