How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"The boffin doesn't need my help." Dylan snorted. "She already reckons you must be quite important."
"Because of this castle? Because they came for me in a walker?"
Dylan shook his head. "Because they traded a barking count for you." (30.76-78)
Alek's identity among his men is rather interesting. In this case, Volger considers it his duty to place himself in enemy hands instead of Alek, which suggests he's less valuable—but we all know Volger is the one who's really in charge.
Quote #8
"I trust you, Alek," she said. "But you're just a boy. How can I be sure your word holds with your men?"
"Because I'm…," Alek started, then took a slow breath. "They'll do what I say. They traded a count for me, remember?"
"I remember," she said. "But if I'm going to bargain with you, Alek, I need to know who you really are." (34.61-63)
If we were Alek, we wouldn't be quite so certain that they would do what we said. Volger doesn't really have a history of doing so, so Alek might be getting ahead of himself here.
Quote #9
Alek wiped the tears from his face. "They could marry, but the children could inherit nothing. As far as my grand-uncle is concerned, I don't exist."
"So you're not an archduke or anything?"
He shook his head. "Just a prince." (35.44-46)
Oh, Alek. We feel for the guy, but this exchange just goes to show how out of touch he is with the rest of the world. It's tough to be just a prince, after all.