How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Say that you will never leave me," he said, holding her hands.
"I shall never leave you," said Merle.
"Is it so easy to say?" Erik asked, surprised.
"It is, since it is you I speak of," Merle answered. "I will never leave you. No matter what happens, or where you go, or what you do. I will never leave you."
"But it might not be so easy," Erik said. "Our love is forbidden. It might become impossible for us to be together."
Merle shook her head. "I will find a way," she said. "I will always find a way." (5.415-21)
Words have power. Here, Merle swears never to leave Erik(a). She's already promised as much in other lives, but here she is renewing it. This pledge, of course, is going to be her downfall—bye bye, bunny.
Quote #8
He cried, "Leif! Our skald! We must have words! Give us words to remember our long voyage, and our great deeds, and to remember those who we lost."
There was Leif, walking into the center of the longhouse, to stand by the firelight, to give us his words.
He was a beautiful man, tall and thin, not one for fighting, though he fought with the others when it was needed so. But his tools were words; those mysterious gifts from the gods, and while most men merely learned how to use them, Leif was one of the wizards who had learned the secret of how to make magic with them.
He stood by the fire, and waited for silence.
Then, he cried.
"Hwaet!"
And so, we all knew his words were about to begin, and wonderful they were to hear. (6.4.24-30)
Ah, the magic of language. Leif is a Nordic poet and he wields his words like weapons. He doesn't fight with his hands, he tells tales with his tongue—and luckily, his talents are pretty useful when it comes to not being killed.
Quote #9
Eirikr had never been short of words for his people, not before. Not when the crops bloomed under the sun and summer rain, not when the raiding was good, when the children came quickly and grew happily.
He had not been short of words in times of need either, or when a warrior had fallen, or when a battle had been won, at great cost.
And yet now, he thought, as he looked across the silent faces of his people, what words are there?
My time has run.
What can I say to these people now?
I can say nothing to my queen, what then can I say to them? (7.2.34-39)
King Eirikr is about to die and words are failing him. Hey, we get it: There's a lot of pressure on him, especially since his death is supposed to reverse years of pestilence and famine. And he's not even sure that it's going to work. What can he say? Here's hoping? Fingers crossed?