How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"But why wouldn't the king want to see his people fed and the sick among them healed?" Sadima asked him.
Franklin took her arm. "Because the people would follow anyone who could do that for them—then the king would no longer be king—and he knows it." (29.10-11)
This conversation between Franklin and Sadima illustrates one of the underlying assumptions of politics: people who hold the power make rules to stay in power. And rules like "no one can study magic" are meant to make sure that no one can replace the king by offering things to the people that are outside his power.
Quote #2
"No," Rinka interrupted her. "There is a royal family that sells herbs in Limòri. The king forbids anyone else bringing them into the city at all." (31.5)
Ah yes, creating a monopoly: one of the time-honored ways of gaining control of a situation. This seems like one of those unfair, arbitrary rules that are only good for the people in charge. Imagine if it were illegal for any shop but a government-owned shop to sell a basic necessity, like milk or shampoo. That'd sure stink, wouldn't it? But criticizing the rules the government makes, well, that's not always gonna lead somewhere nice.
Quote #3
"You both have to vow never to tell anyone else about this place," he said. "Never." (35.51)
If Somiss is making Franklin and Sadima swear solemn vows to keep things like the location of some old tunnels secret, maybe it's because he's a bit of a control freak. Here we see how Somiss's insistence on order reveals how paranoid he actually is. He's got to be the one in charge of keeping the location a secret, and he's the one who's most worried about being found out. If he were a lawmaker, we could see him making heaps and heaps of rules to protect himself from persecution.
Quote #4
"Stop helping each other," he said in his graveled whisper, "if you wish to live." (36.9)
Wow—future-Somiss isn't any more chill than present-Somiss. His instructions to the boys at the magic academy are, well, strict and serious-sounding. Who would actually make a rule that people aren't supposed to help each other? The wizards in this world would, apparently. Seems like they're not big on teamwork.
Quote #5
Then he leaned close to whisper. "Did you see any king's guards this evening?" (29.20)
When Franklin asks Sadima if she's seen any royal guards, it draws attention to the fact that the king has guards to enforce his orders. Of course Sadima doesn't even know what they look like—we're guessing the king's guards don't have much business in tiny farming communities like the one Sadima grew up in. Maybe flying under the radar isn't such a bad thing after all.
Quote #6
Sadima watched as Franklin's feelings flickered through his dark eyes. "They sold you?" (43.16)
Welcome to a land where slavery is legal, where slaves are bound to their masters for their whole lives, and where free parents can choose to sell their children into slavery. Which is exactly what happened to Franklin. Sadima is horrified—those aren't the rules she grew up with, so she can't even fathom how parents could choose to sell their children.
Quote #7
Sometimes I would touch myself—the idea that the wizards could not find me was as exciting as anything else. (50.3)
Hahp has discovered the joys of flaunting authority. For whatever reason, doing transgressive stuff feels good and can even be a turn-on (though, if Hahp is going through puberty, there's a chance he's at the stage where everything is a turn-on). But breaking rules, man… there's something to be said for the thrill of it all.
Quote #8
Toward the end, a heading caught my eye: forbidden practices. There was a list beneath it. Two lists, really, in a boxed table. The first column named the offenses. The second named the punishments, which were all alike. Death. (54.7)
So wizards only have to live by four rules, but breaking those rules results in death. That seems a little strict, don't you think? The four forbidden practices are carnal acts (a.k.a sex), silent-speech (a.k.a. telepathy), teaching magic outside the academy, and betraying the four vows. These wizards sure take themselves seriously.
Quote #9
"We could buy a little farm," she said, her throat tight. "We could have children."
She saw joy in his eyes for an instant, then it was gone. "He would find us. Or some constable would. I belong to his father, Sadima. They would offer a reward." (55.22-23)
There is some kind of police force in this world—the constables whom Franklin mentions—but it seems like they're devoted to upholding laws that are unjust (like slavery). That's too bad.
Quote #10
That was the reward for graduating? Vowing to give up everything that mattered to most people? I shoved the history book aside and opened the song book. (58.6)
Hahp has an unpleasant moment when he reads that graduates of the academy are supposed to vow to live in silence, celibacy, and poverty. If those are the rules wizards must live by, being a wizard is sounding like less and less fun (not to mention the fact that the training will likely kill you).