How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"…Randa isn't even worth your anger," Po said. "He's no more than a bully."
Katsa snorted. "A bully who chops off people's fingers or breaks their arms."
"Not if you stop doing it for him," Po said. "Much of his power comes from you." (12.64-66)
Katsa has been so brainwashed by Randa that she actually seems to believe he is the one who "chops off people's fingers or breaks their arms." She doesn't appear to realize that she is a separate individual and that she is the one who carries out these deeds. As much as she hates it when Randa looks on her as his possession, she too seems to have come to believe that she is nothing more than his weapon, with no will of her own.
Quote #5
"The king is just in some matters. In this matter, he is not. He wishes to bully you. But the king doesn't do his own bullying—he looks to me for that. And I—" Katsa felt strong suddenly. She pushed away from the desk and stood tall. "I won't do what Randa says." (13.53)
Catch that hesitation just before she makes her big pronouncement? We like that Cashore wrote it that way, because it helps us to feel the tension of the moment and what a big deal it is for Katsa to take this first step toward independence from Randa. We can almost feel her taking a deep breath just before she says, "I won't do what Randa says." (Actually, we may even have taken a big breath with her as we were reading that part. Yeah, we're pretty sure we did.)
Quote #6
"Katsa," he said. "Listen to me. You're the most powerful person I've ever met. You can do whatever you want, whatever you want in the world. No one can make you do anything, and your uncle can't touch you. The instant you walk into his presence, you have all the power. If you wish not to hurt him, Katsa, then you have only to choose not to." (14.179)
This is a great pep talk, and Po's right: it is her choice. Katsa worries that she won't be able to control her anger when she confronts Randa, that even though she has a choice as to whether or not she hurts him, she won't be able to make the right one. This is one of those situations in which her power is directly related to her control. The better she can control her, well… not her emotions, exactly—more like her reactions to her emotions—the more power she'll have.