How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Ani stared up at the baring branches, eyes wide to keep them dry. She felt powerless. Geric looked at her with sympathy, perhaps thinking she was just a sweet girl who hated to hear of the mistreatment of any animal. She shook her head, unable to explain. (13.20)
Here, perhaps for the first time, Ani has no manipulation or power to speak of. She wants to get Geric to save Falada, but it doesn't matter because she's just a goose girl and she can't persuade the king herself. Ani gets it here—she might not have liked being a royal when she was one, but she sure liked the power that came along with it.
Quote #8
She wished, not for the first time, that she had been born with the gift of people-speaking. Ani was sure that Selia could have gotten past those guards with a few seductive words. Ani saw Talone grip the hilt of his sword. There had to be a way to get to the king without drawing weapons. She would not kill palace guards or allow the workers to risk themselves in a vain brawl. (18.65)
Again and again, Ani wishes she could people-speak, but wouldn't that really just be so she could manipulate people too—just like Selia and her mom? She might get hurt by the people-speakers in the book, but when it comes down to it, she wants to be just like them.
Quote #9
"How'll we achieve it at all?" said Ani. "She rode into town with light-colored hair wearing my dress, and they accepted her as the princess. I show up with lighter hair, and the workers, the former prime minister, and at least one palace guard vote for me. Will our fate be decided when we stand side by side and the king judges which of us looks the most like a princess?" (19.44)
Uh-oh—Ani worries that she won't be persuasive enough to be believable as the princess. What she's really saying is that she isn't as convincing because she can't manipulate people quite as well, which Talone points out is actually a good thing since she is the princess after all.