How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
As she edged past, Tilja was tempted to lay her hand on the glossy flank and wake the horse into life, just to see what happened. With a shock she realized that she was experiencing something she had never imagined, a sense of absolute power. All these people, even a great lord of the Empire, even the Emperor himself, were under her control. They could move, or not, as she chose. The thought was oddly frightening. If you had that power you wanted to use it. This must be what magicians were like, all the time. This was why some of them had tried to hard to get control of Axtrig. (12.11)
For the first time, Tilja is in a position of ultimate power over those who threaten her family and her own life. She is tempted to manipulate events to her own favor, perhaps just because she can—but she manages to resist this lure, in contrast to the very despots she opposes and tries to fight.
Quote #5
"What would have happened if I'd changed that man's dice throw?? she asked when he rested again.
"Who knows? Nothing. The whole world. Suppose one man loses a bet he would have one. He needs money to pay. He steals and is found out. He is punished and loses promotion. So he does not become the Emperor's favorite, does not get to rule and ruin a province, but another man governs it well—why, then, you have changed the happiness of many hundreds of thousands of people. Or the other way round." (12.29)
Tilja queries Faheel about what might've happened if she'd given into her desire to fix the dice game. Faheel tells her that, ultimately, she might have saved the world—or ruined it. Magician's can never tell how their actions will affect others, so it's best to not wield such absolute power.
Quote #6
So this was the Emperor. In all her life Tilja had never seen anyone looking so bored. He could have anything in the world he pleased, but nothing in the world could please him. Seeing him for that brief moment, she felt a shudder of horror both at him and for him. Then, as the throne vanished behind the next rank, she thought, And he wants to reconquer the Valley. No! (12.62)
When Tilja finally sees the Emperor, she's disgusted—he doesn't look like a ruler who cares about his subjects, but instead like one who is greedy, lazy, and probably unjust. He can have anything he wants, but he thinks he's going to take her Valley. After seeing the heart of the Imperial power, Tilja resolves to never let him get her home.