How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Lords and ladies of…" he stopped and laughed, sharing some private joke with himself. "People of Mount Eskel. As your territory has no delegate at court to report to you, His Majesty the king sent me to deliver you this news." (1.89)
What a joker, huh? It seems like the delegate from the king's court thinks that it's ridiculous and laughable to refer to the people of Mount Eskel as "lords and ladies." What ever happened to common courtesy?
Quote #2
"I see I did not underestimate the degree of finishing mountain girls would require." (3.81)
Tutor Olana certainly starts off on the right foot with the girls by insulting them and telling them that they smell like goats. No wonder Miri doesn't want to listen to her—she's kind of a jerk.
Quote #3
"This teaching position was supposed to be an honor. I'll have you know I left a post at the royal palace tutoring the prince's own cousins to climb up here and baby-sit dusty goat girls, though I suppose you don't even know what the royal palace is." (3.105)
Even though she's teaching the future princess, Tutor Olana wastes no time in letting the girls know that she thinks she's above them. That can't be a smart long-term move since one of these girls will basically be her boss someday…
Quote #4
Miri glowered. Even if Olana's promises were true, Miri would not want to marry a lowlander, a person who despised her and the mountain [...] frowning at the sight of the mountain folk and all too eager to get back into his carriage and drive away. (4.80)
No wonder Miri doesn't know whether or not she wants to marry the prince—even with all the amazing riches and opportunities ahead, she doesn't want to end up marrying some kind of snotty jerk. That's what all the lowlanders she's met have been like, anyway.
Quote #5
Os shook his head. "It's easy to believe the traders will cheat us as much as they can, but what can we do about it?" (11.120)
The folks on Mount Eskel have consistently been screwed over by the traders, who give them much less than they deserve for linder. Maybe it's time to stand up and demand a little more respect from those lowlanders.
Quote #6
"No wonder lowlanders don't think of us as being true Danlanders," said Esa, "since Mount Eskel is just a territory." (12.29)
In class, the girls learn that Mount Eskel is only a territory of Danland and not an official province. Perhaps that's why the lowlanders think less of them; they don't have a real delegate to represent them at court and fight for their rights.
Quote #7
"I am impressed," said Olana. "I hadn't expected as much from mountain girls."
"We may be mountain girls," said Britta," but we're also Danlanders." (13.30-31)
Eat your words, Tutor Olana. She thought the girls were stupid and unable to learn at the beginning, but they've taken their lessons and applied newfound knowledge to fight against her.
Quote #8
Miri stood by her sister, observing a trader pat a quarrier on the back. "Seems strange. I thought they'd dislike us even more."
"Maybe it's hard to respect someone you're cheating," said Marda. (14.51-52)
The traders seem awfully happy for people who have just had to pay more for their linder. Guess they're more willing to be friends with the villagers if they feel like they're on an equal playing field.
Quote #9
"You know how the lowlanders have always been with us, how the traders talk and such. I've wondered if they were right, if we aren't as smart, if there's something wrong with us. With me." (15.18)
Poor Marda—she's actually taken all that lowlander talk to heart and believes that she might be dumb in comparison to the lowlanders. By teaching her to read, Miri proves to her sister that they are all capable of being just as smart as the lowlanders—they just need the right opportunities.
Quote #10
Miri's other dance partners were more appealing than the prince. Many spoke freely about the provinces of Danland, the capital, and their profession as a personal guard, delegate, or courtier. A couple let slip some dismissive words regarding Mount Eskel, but most seemed awed by the view and curious about life there. (18.38)
Miri had some misconceptions about lowlanders too—she thought they'd all be stuck-up jerks, but it turns out that most lowlanders she meets are just curious about what life is like for the villagers. They don't think less of her; they are just intrigued.