Are these things you all say magical charms to chase me away? If so, they do not seem to be working. — Tad Williams

Sometimes doing the gods’ bidding required a hardened heart.

To fight a war, you must believe it can accomplish something. We fight this one to save John’s kingdom, or perhaps even to save all of mankind...but isn’t that what we always think? That all wars are useless—except the one we’re fighting now?

It was easy to hate if he did not think, Simon discovered.