How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"Lord Davit," she said, "have you a wife?"
He shook his head. "It's the only thing my estate lacks, My Lady."
Katsa kept her eyes on her venison and carrots. "My uncle is very disappointed in me, because I never intend to marry." (7.64-66)
Katsa's always quick to work this line into her conversations with eligible bachelors, and she must have to do it multiple times a week. Can you imagine making a decision about your life, and then having someone continually try to force you to make a different choice? Because that's what Randa's doing by constantly placing eligible bachelors next to Katsa at dinner. It'd be like if you told your parents you were going vegetarian and they continued to put meat in front of you at every meal. That would get old. Fast.
Quote #2
Randa had made a deal with a Nanderan underlord. The underlord couldn't attract a wife, because his holding was in […] a dangerous place, especially for a woman. […] The underlord was desperate for a wife, so desperate that he was willing to forgo her dowry. King Randa had offered to take the trouble to find him a bride, on the condition that her dowry went to Randa. (13.7)
Marriage as a business proposition. Lovely. To be sure, this still goes on in parts of our world. Women are more or less auctioned off for the benefit of their families and the families into which they marry. Land. Money. Status. Hmph. With women having such economic value, you'd think they'd be treated better, but it is precisely in these societies where women are seen as a commodity that they receive the worst treatment. And the fewest rights.
Quote #3
And she would be married, and to Giddon. She would be his wife, the lady of his house. She'd be charged with entertaining his wretched guests. Expected to hire and dismiss his servants, based on their skill with a pastry, or some such nonsense. Expected to bear him children, and stay at home to love them. She would go to bed at night, Giddon's bed, and lie with a man who considered a scratch to her face an affront to his person. A man who thought himself her protector—her protector when she could outduel him if she used a toothpick to his sword. (13.107)
Gee. Hard to imagine why Katsa turned him down, isn't it? We're kidding, obviously—of course the life described here would be detestable to Katsa. It would be full of duties that don't interest her, and she'd be restricted to the domestic sphere when what she loves more than anything is to be riding through the countryside at breakneck speed.
And the idea of Giddon as her protector? That's an insult. That would be like if you were a really good cook or a great with power tools, and your partner insisted that he or she should be in charge of that task based on gender. Lame.