How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
He didn't say another word, and my starving, unfocused mind finally figured it out a few moments later. He had realized, midsentence, that he might be helping me. (24.20)
Gerrard is once again a step or three ahead of Hahp at the academy. He figures out that the wizards are trying to mold the boys into mini-versions of themselves, which includes not being helpful or giving anything away for free. So even when Gerrard and Hahp are in the middle of a conversation, Gerrard will clam up if he realizes that something he's saying might be helpful for Hahp in getting ahead.
Quote #5
"My father suspects something. So my mother told him I had gone off, maybe to Yamark or Thereistine, she wasn't sure. I can only hope he believed her… She says she can't risk helping me anymore, not after today. He will have a dozen people watching her." (25.18)
Coming from a family like that, no wonder Somiss is paranoid and manipulative. His father has people watching his mother so that she doesn't secretly slip her son money; his mother lies to his father about his whereabouts… none of this is good news.
Quote #6
"Fools!" Somiss rasped. "Do you think he means to help you? Or keep you weak?" (28.37)
Somiss, why you gotta be such a kill-joy? Hahp's all proud of himself because he just magically manifested a crate full of apples. He's happy to share them with the other students, and of course it hasn't even occurred to him to use this act to secretly manipulate them into a weak position or whatever. But then Somiss has to show up and accuse him of doing just that in order to sow mistrust among the boys. Seriously, Somiss is no fun at all.