Qacha just nodded. She's a good one, that Qacha. She seems to know when to keep talking and when to let the words drizzle into silence.

Mama used to say, you have to know someone a thousand days before you can glimpse her soul.

Before the academy, Miri never had cause to wonder if a person was head smart or not. It seemed everyone was clever at something – there were those who were best at picking out the right fissure for prying a block of linder free and those who were best at making cheese or tanning hides, beating drums or tossing stones. Now, smart meant to Miri the talent to think around a new problem and learn new things.

Look no farther than your hand,Make a choice and take a stand.