“What’s Hell?” inquired Wild-Eye. “You should visit before you pass judgement on a place. And have you never… — Tanith Lee

She had never acquired in-between shades of character, had not had the opportunity. She had been utterly selfish, and was now selfless, because she had never become a whole person, did not like herself, or know herself. Nor had she ever gained sufficient wisdom to be properly horrified at what she meant to do. She couldn’t think that intensely.

Resist. Come, you’re tough enough, my lady, aren’t you, if you beg for death rather than inflict evil?

The countryside meant grain and herds, and a river meant fish. And if the sky meant anything, it meant a cruel God who took no notice of their pains and chastised them if they sinned.