How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
For a moment Tilja didn't recognise either of them. Then she saw that the shorter one was Lananeth, and from that made the leap to seeing that the other was Zara, the Lord Kzuva's magician. But the change in them was shocking. There was that unnatural stillness and smoothness about them which all powerful magicians seem to have—that look of a statue brought to life. (16.82)
When Tilja sees Lananeth and Zara at the Lord Kzuva's house, she's shocked by their appearance—she doesn't even recognize them, since they now look like stone statues. She doesn't know what to make of this initial impression, but through observation and deduction, realizes a spell has been cast on them and saves them. Without Tilja's shrewd work, these magicians would have likely remained stuck together—at the mercy of the Watcher Varti—forever.
Quote #8
"We're Ortahlsons and you're Urlasdaughters. We aren't like anyone else. We can tell each other, can't we?"
[...]
"All right," she said bitterly. "I'll tell you. The answer is, I don't know. I haven't been told. Because I can't hear what the cedars say. I don't know the way to the lake. My little sister, Anja, does. You'll have to ask her." (3.148-150)
When talking with Tilja, Tahl automatically assumes she has her family's magic—he states that she's got to be magical, just like he is. When he learns that Tilja doesn't have the family magic, and she responds in a way that shows how hurt she is that she doesn't have power, he learns a valuable lesson. Tahl realizes the negative effect assumptions can have on the person about whom one makes a judgment.
Quote #9
"They're the fourteeners, all right," said a voice. "Get the old bag back up on the horse, and we'll go." (7.52)
Sometimes (okay, a lot of times) mistaken appearances can be unhelpful. Alnor and Meena disguise themselves as Qualif and Qualifa, Lananeth's servants, to get into Talagh unscathed. They get along just fine… until bandits think they're citizens with moolah and rob them.