How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Dustfinger placed a hand on the coffin. "You see, the fairies have taught me how to lay a curse on someone. They were sorry for my cut face, and they knew how bad I am at fighting." (49.45)
Down in the crypt (already a place with creepy, potentially supernatural, vibes), Dustfinger begins to lay a verbal curse on Basta. Basta freaks out and starts to try to get his hands on Dustfinger, and in the ensuing fight, Dustfinger manages to get Basta's knife away from him, thus getting the upper hand. Did fairies really teach Dustfinger how to lay a curse? We don't know—but since Basta believes it, Dustfinger's words sure have a powerful impact, acting almost like a curse in their own right.
Quote #8
The maid scurried past Meggie again, looking frightened as if any contact might burn her. (53.21)
Maybe Basta's not the only superstitious one around Capricorn's village—when word gets out that Meggie can read people out of books just like her father can, the servants begin to treat her with respect and/or fear. Some call her a witch. Others, like the maid described here, try to avoid touching her. Is touching witches bad luck? Perhaps according to some folks.
Quote #9
"A famous writer once wrote, 'An author can be seen as three things: a storyteller, a teacher, or a magician—but the magician, the enchanter, is in the ascendant.'" (59.5)
If writing is a form of magic, maybe it's not so far-fetched to have people with the ability to bring characters from books to life. Besides, writing good stories is hard. It definitely takes a lot of practice, just like (we assume) learning magic out of spellbooks.