Bad thing Quote by Kristin Cashore

““Papa?” she said, turning in circles now, spinning to look at each of the entrances. “Do you mean Papa? Where?” He came through an archway on the other side of the courtyard. Hanna shrieked and sprinted across the marble floor. He caught her up and carried her back the way she’d come, nodding to Fire and the guard, smiling through Hanna’s stream of chatter. And what was it with Brigan every time he reappeared? Why this instinct to bolt? They were friends now, and Fire should be beyond this fear of him. She forbade herself to move and focused on Blotchy, who offered his ears to be petted. Brigan put Hanna down and crouched before the child. He touched his fingers to her chin and moved her face one way and the other, surveying her still-bruised and bandaged nose. He interrupted her quietly. “And tell me what happened here?” “But Papa,” she said, changing subject in midsentence. “They were saying bad things about Lady Fire.” “Who were?” “Selin and Midan and the others.” “And what? Then one of them punched you in the nose?” Hanna scuffed her shoes at the ground. “No.” “Tell me what happened.” Another scuff at the ground, and then Hanna spoke dismally. “I hit Selin. He was wrong, Papa! Someone had to show him.” Brigan was silent for a moment. Hanna rested one hand on either of his bent knees and dropped her eyes to the floor. She sighed dramatically behind her curtain of hair. “Look at me, Hanna.” The girl obeyed. “Was hitting Selin a reasonable way to show him he was wrong?” “No, Papa. I did badly. Are you going to punish me?” “I’m going to take away your fighting lessons for now. I didn’t agree to them so that you might misuse them.” Hanna sighed again. “For how long?” “Until I’m convinced you understand what they’re for.””

— Kristin Cashore