How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"But I…want to thank you, Dylan."
"For what?"
Alek raised his hands, and for a moment Deryn thought he would cry again. But he only said, "For knowing who I am." (35.67-69)
Excuse our loud and obnoxious sniffling—this is just too precious. But what does Alek mean? Who is he? Is he just referring to his identity as his father's heir/not heir, or to something deeper, perhaps to the person who walked across a glacier to help a fallen airship?
Quote #8
"What could be more important than your birthright?"
"Allies." (38.34-35)
Volger asks the question, and Alek answers it. This shows the deep rift in their thinking: Volger is determined to protect Alek and his path to the throne, but Alek is making his own path and forming his own alliances. What's the difference between allies and friends? Can they be the same thing? Or is Alek just using a word he thinks Volger will understand better than friends?
Quote #9
The captain leaned back and smiled. "You're rather friendly with young Alek, aren't you?"
"Aye, sir. He's a good lad."
"So he seems. A young boy like that needs friends, especially having run away from home and country." The captain lifted an eyebrow. "Sad, isn't it?" (40.20-22)
Oh, Captain Sneakypants Hobbes. We guess you have to do your duty, but it makes you seem like a jerk when you try to use Deryn's friendship with Alek to pump her for information.