Better life Quote by Laurie Forest

““And I do, in fact, know how to read.” I look to Fain. “Are you familiar with The Realm Apothecarium?” “Y-yes, of course,” Fain stammers, nodding disjointedly. “That’s the premier guild text.” He gives a nervous titter and shakes his head. “I’ve a hard time making heads or tails of the bulk of it.” “I’ve worked every tonic in there to at least one-eighth capacity using substandard, cheap ingredients,” I state flatly. Fain blinks at me. “That’s, er, impressive.” “And Principia Mathematica. Have you studied that?” Fain laughs. “Of course I’ve worked out most of the sets. Almost to the end...” “I finished it two years ago.” Fain stares at me, silent. I turn to face Vale. He’s gone very quiet and still, but I can sense the unsettled heat churning behind his fiery gaze. “How about you, Vale? Have you worked through it?” I purposely address him informally, even though it’s considered disrespectful. I mean to insult him, and he knows it. He narrows white-hot eyes on me, his words clipped. “It was a bit beyond me.” Fain blows out a deep breath and shakes his head. I turn back to Fain. “Vale and his sister think that because I’m poor, I can’t appreciate fine things. That I’m illiterate.” I pause, looking them both over boldly. “I can see that things won’t be that different here in some ways. My family and I are still poor. Still viewed as lower class. But that’s fine. No one is trying to kill us, and I can make a better life for us. I’m an apothecary. A good one. We’ll find our way among the lower classes.” My eyes flick toward Vale, whose storming gaze is hot on mine, and I hold his gaze with searing defiance before returning to Fain. “I won’t ask you to suffer my presence any longer than is necessary, Mage Quillen. I’ve polluted your dwelling long enough.””

— Laurie Forest