Vathna

“Welcome home. Welcome back. We missed you. I missed you more than I should have, more than I wanted to. I went to hell for you. I’d do it again.”
― Leigh Bardugo, Hell Bent

“I can’t accept it,” I answered.
“Accept what?”
I wasn’t certain I could put my tangled, poisonous thoughts into words. It felt blasphemous to even try. “That—that there can be such a thing as…not necessary evil, because evil is never necessary—it can’t be—but…acceptable evil. Hurt and cruelty that the Lady would allow in service to Her will. Like the goat in Naimes,” I said, dimly aware I’d never told the revenant about the goat and it would probably think I had lost my mind. “She wouldn’t make someone kick the goat.”
The revenant was quiet—a careful, pained pause. “Nun,” it said. isn’t that what She’s done to you?”
― Margaret Rogerson, Vespertine

“You have taken advantage of my silence in every way, robbed me of my dignity and my pride. You have used me for your own gain. Now, in your hour of greatest need, you will use me again. And yet, I will still risk my life to save yours. I swore and oath to this country on the day I donned this coat, to protect you and every other citizen from harm so long as there is breath in my body.”
― Marie Lu, Skyhunter

“This dream again,” he murmured breathlessly. “My favorite.”
“Which dream is that?” My voice sounded hoarse.
“The one in which Saint Artemisia stands over me in judgement.”
“I told you, I’m not a saint.”
“Even in my dreams,” he said softly. “you never cease arguing with me.” He said this with distant wonderment, as though it were a quality he admired.”
― Margaret Rogerson, Vespertine