--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So did you murder Balekin?' Nihuar asks…" description: "\"“So did you murder Balekin?' Nihuar asks me, clearly able to put off her curiosity no longer. 'Yes,' I say. 'After he poisoned the High King.' 'Poisone..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/holly-black-329_cardan_so-did-you-murder-balekin-nihuar-asks-me_1722724.jpg" --- # So did you murder Balekin?' Nihuar asks me, clearly able… ![“So did you murder Balekin?' Nihuar asks me, clearly able to put off her curiosity no longer. 'Yes,' I say. 'After he poisoned the High King.' 'Poisoned?' she echoes in astonishment, looking at Cardan. He shrugs, lounging in a chair, looking bored as ever. 'You can hardly expect me to mention every…” quote by Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/holly-black-329_cardan_so-did-you-murder-balekin-nihuar-asks-me_1722724.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/holly-black-329_cardan_so-did-you-murder-balekin-nihuar-asks-me_1722724.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/262/holly-black-329_cardan_so-did-you-murder-balekin-nihuar-asks-me_1722724.jpg) > ““So did you murder Balekin?' Nihuar asks me, clearly able to put off her curiosity no longer. 'Yes,' I say. 'After he poisoned the High King.' 'Poisoned?' she echoes in astonishment, looking at Cardan. He shrugs, lounging in a chair, looking bored as ever. 'You can hardly expect me to mention every little thing.”” [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character’s curiosity and guilt reveal moral ambiguity in a fantastical setting. **In simple terms:** Curiosity meets guilt in fantasy. Key Takeaway Question motives before acting. Themes morality curiosity fantasy guilt Mood mysterious dark Type literary dialogue When to use this quote - reading - role‑playing games - creative writing Key Concepts ethical ambiguity character dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Why does the character hide curiosity? - What does the poison symbolize? A Different Perspective Moral complexity may confuse readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cardan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardan/) [Cardan-greenbriar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardan-greenbriar/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Holly-black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holly-black/) [Jude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jude/) [Jude-duarte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jude-duarte/) [King Poisoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-poisoned-1352898/) [Murder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder/) [Murder Balekin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murder-balekin-1352895/) [Nihuar Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nihuar-asks-1352896/) [Poisoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poisoned/) [Say Poisoned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-poisoned-1352897/) [The-folk-of-the-air](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-folk-of-the-air/) [The-queen-of-nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/the-queen-of-nothing/) ## Related quotes > [“Are you angry about-' He cuts himself off, looking at my face more carefully. 'No, you're afraid. But why would you be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/are-you-angry-about-he-cuts-himself-off-looking-at-my-face-more/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Cardan glances toward me, as though for help. When I am silent, he frowns, annoyed with both of us. 'Although I am wearing the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/cardan-glances-toward-me-as-though-for-help-when-i-am-silent-he/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Though I would not delight to see the straps sink into your skin, neither would I mourn.' 'Enough blustering,' he says. 'You've already won.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/though-i-would-not-delight-to-see-the-straps-sink-into-your-skin/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Lady Asha, as the mother of a prince, found herself much in demand with the Court, if not the High King. 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Cardan himself lounges, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/the-parlour-is-as-i-remember-it-from-council-meetings-it-carries-the/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“He gives me one of his most awful smiles. 'I suppose she'll have to be searched.' ... 'My husband was murdered,' I say. 'And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/he-gives-me-one-of-his-most-awful-smiles-i-suppose-she-ll-have-to-be/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“How do people like us take off our armour? One piece at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/how-do-people-like-us-take-off-our-armour-one-piece-at-a-time/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Madoc says you will duel for love,' I say. 'Whose?' he asks, frowning. There is no banquet too abundant for a starving man. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/madoc-says-you-will-duel-for-love-i-say-whose-he-asks-frowning-there/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“You should go.' 'This is my room,' he points out, affronted. 'And that's my wife.' 'So you keep telling everyone,' the Bomb says. 'But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/you-should-go-this-is-my-room-he-points-out-affronted-and-that-s-my/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“My sweet nemesis , how glad I am that you returned”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/my-sweet-nemesis-how-glad-i-am-that-you-returned/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“It is said that faerie children are not like mortal children. They need little in the way of love. They need not be tucked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/it-is-said-that-faerie-children-are-not-like-mortal-children-they/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Then Cardan comes in to view, a fond smile on his lips. When he speaks, he does so in a conspiratorial whisper. 'When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/then-cardan-comes-in-to-view-a-fond-smile-on-his-lips-when-he-speaks/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“It's okay to want something that's going to hurt, I remind myself. I move toward him, so we are close enough to touch. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/it-s-okay-to-want-something-that-s-going-to-hurt-i-remind-myself-i/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## More by Holly Black > [“What they don’t realize is this: Yes, they frighten me, but I have always been scared, since the day I got here. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/what-they-don-t-realize-is-this-yes-they-frighten-me-but-i-have/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [When you don't know what you're searching for, you have to look absolutely everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/when-you-don-t-know-what-you-re-searching-for-you-have-to-look/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Madoc makes a snorting sound, then turns to me. 'I am sure that Wren here wouldn't mind taking Lady Nore's castle and lands for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/madoc-makes-a-snorting-sound-then-turns-to-me-i-am-sure-that-wren/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [That’s family for you. Can’t live with them, can’t murder them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/that-s-family-for-you-can-t-live-with-them-can-t-murder-them/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“No, I won't help you. No I won't hear you explain why I should. It really is a magical word: no. You say whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/no-i-won-t-help-you-no-i-won-t-hear-you-explain-why-i-should-it/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Let her alone,' said the enkanto, 'or I will curse you blind, lame, and worse.' The old man laughed. 'I'm a curse breaker, fool.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/let-her-alone-said-the-enkanto-or-i-will-curse-you-blind-lame-and/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“lt's an honor and a delight to meet you and a tragedy you're here”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/lt-s-an-honor-and-a-delight-to-meet-you-and-a-tragedy-you-re-here/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“No fire at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/no-fire-at-all/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“His wax-white skin was cool to the touch when she brushed his neck to find the knot of cloth. She'd never been this close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/his-wax-white-skin-was-cool-to-the-touch-when-she-brushed-his-neck-to/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [So what are you really wearing?" The words left her mouth before she could consider them. She winced. He didn't seem to mind; in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/so-what-are-you-really-wearing-the-words-left-her-mouth-before-she/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I grab a chair. "I don't mean to pry," I say, "but we're in a hospital. You sure you're fine?" She sighs heavily. "No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-grab-a-chair-i-don-t-mean-to-pry-i-say-but-we-re-in-a-hospital-you/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [Kaye: You know what the sun looks like? Janet: No, What? Kaye: Like he slit his wrists in a bathtub and the blood is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/kaye-you-know-what-the-sun-looks-like-janet-no-what-kaye-like-he-slit/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“That was how she felt, right then. As if there was too much of her, as if her skin was tight with muchness. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/that-was-how-she-felt-right-then-as-if-there-was-too-much-of-her-as/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“It was a vow, a piece of a chant, their scripture, something they took so seriously that saying it aloud embarrassed them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/it-was-a-vow-a-piece-of-a-chant-their-scripture-something-they-took/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Some broken things stay broken”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/some-broken-things-stay-broken/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) [Explore all 666 Holly Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) ## More Cardan quotes > [“Oak gave up his room so they could sleep there, and although the bed is small, Cardan cannot mind when he takes Jude in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/oak-gave-up-his-room-so-they-could-sleep-there-and-although-the-bed/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Are you angry about-' He cuts himself off, looking at my face more carefully. 'No, you're afraid. But why would you be afraid of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/are-you-angry-about-he-cuts-himself-off-looking-at-my-face-more/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Then Cardan comes in to view, a fond smile on his lips. When he speaks, he does so in a conspiratorial whisper. 'When I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/then-cardan-comes-in-to-view-a-fond-smile-on-his-lips-when-he-speaks/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It's disgusting, and I can't stop.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/most-of-all-i-hate-you-because-i-think-of-you-often-it-s-disgusting/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“He realizes he doesn't want to play this game, once so familiar to him. He has no interest in trading barbs. He has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/he-realizes-he-doesn-t-want-to-play-this-game-once-so-familiar-to-him/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Kill him, a part of me says, a part I remember from the night I took him captive. Kill him before he makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/kill-him-a-part-of-me-says-a-part-i-remember-from-the-night-i-took/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I have thought and thought since you were gone, and there is something I wish to say.' Cardan's face is serious, almost grave, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-have-thought-and-thought-since-you-were-gone-and-there-is-something/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I think of Madoc, dozing away upstairs, all his dreams of murder. I think of Oriana and Oak being forced apart for years. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-think-of-madoc-dozing-away-upstairs-all-his-dreams-of-murder-i/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“It is said that faerie children are not like mortal children. They need little in the way of love. They need not be tucked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/it-is-said-that-faerie-children-are-not-like-mortal-children-they/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“She's my wife," Cardan says, his voice carrying over the crowd. "The rightful High Queen of Elfhame. And most definitely not in exile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/she-s-my-wife-cardan-says-his-voice-carrying-over-the-crowd-the/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“My sweet nemesis , how glad I am that you returned”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/my-sweet-nemesis-how-glad-i-am-that-you-returned/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“You should go.' 'This is my room,' he points out, affronted. 'And that's my wife.' 'So you keep telling everyone,' the Bomb says. 'But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/you-should-go-this-is-my-room-he-points-out-affronted-and-that-s-my/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“Jude, he'd said, running a hand up my calf, are you afraid of me?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/jude-he-d-said-running-a-hand-up-my-calf-are-you-afraid-of-me/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“The Roach clasps his hand on the back of my neck with a laugh. 'You did good, kid, you know that? You came out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/the-roach-clasps-his-hand-on-the-back-of-my-neck-with-a-laugh-you-did/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [“I recall that your hands were on her, but her eyes were on me,' Cardan returns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/i-recall-that-your-hands-were-on-her-but-her-eyes-were-on-me-cardan/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) [Browse all 92 Cardan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cardan/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“So did you murder Balekin?' Nihuar asks me, clearly able to put off her curiosity no longer. 'Yes,' I say. 'After he poisoned the High King.' 'Poisoned?' she echoes in astonishment, looking at Cardan. He shrugs, lounging in a chair, looking bored as ever. 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