How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
They would all say, when they woke to their headaches and their shame, that the culprit had been a Graceling boy, Graced with fighting, acting alone. They would assume she was a boy because in her plain trousers and hood she looked like one […]. (1.17)
Sure it makes sense to wear pants—instead of a ball gown—if you're planning to take out a bunch of bad guys, but Katsa isn't just being practical here. Her trousers and hoodie look is just as much for disguise as it is for functionality.
Quote #2
They wound their way to one of the forest paths that paralleled the main road and set out eastward. They pulled their hoods low and pushed the horses hard. (3.19)
Again with the hoods. It's a good way to emphasize that they are incognito and acting in secrecy, and yes, we know these hoods are probably attached to cloaks of some sort. Still, we kind of like to picture Katsa, Oll, and Giddon making their way through the woods in matching hoodies.
Quote #3
They established regular meetings that took place in secluded rooms. There was an atmosphere of adventure at the meetings, of dangerous freedom. (3.43)
The Council depends upon secrecy and lies to make its very existence possible, and as the Council exists to do good, it's hard to see all the necessary deceit as a bad thing. But who gets to decide when it is and isn't okay to lie to a king or a government, or a government's constituents? Who gets to choose what is—and isn't—for the greater good?
You might think that Katsa and the Council are justified in doing the things they're doing the way they're doing them, and Shmoop might be right there with you, but you have to admit: there's a lot of gray area here.