Gaze Quote by Mercedes Lackey
““Elspeth had the joyous task of breaking the news to the rest of the Council. There was no such accord among the political leaders of Valdemar as there was among her military leaders. Lord Gartheser was speechless with outrage and shock; Bard Hyron was dazed. Lady Kester and Lady Cathan, still seething over Orthallen's accusations of complicity with the slavers, were surprised, but not altogether unhappy. Father Aldon had closeted himself in the tiny chapel of the Keep; Lord Gildas was with him. Healer Myrim made no attempt to conceal the fact that Orthallen's treachery had not surprised her. Nor did she conceal that his demise gave her a certain grim satisfaction. But then, she might well be forgiven such uncharitable thoughts; she was one of the four Healers who were tending Talia's wounds. Once the bare bones had been told to the Councillors as a group, Elspeth went to each of these Councillors in turn, privately. She gave a simple explanation of what had occurred, but would answer no questions. Questions, she told them, must wait until Talia had recovered enough to tell them all more.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Last Herald-Mage Trilogy, 1990s
Elspeth delivers grim news to a divided council, choosing silence on details until the wounded leader recovers.
In simple terms: She shares bad news but holds back details until recovery.
Key Takeaway
Speak truth, but protect the vulnerable.
Themes
politics
war
healing
leadership
Mood
tense
reflective
Type
narrative
dramatic
When to use this quote
- council meetings
- war aftermath
- healing process
- strategic communication
Key Concepts
duty
secrecy
compassion
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance honesty with protecting the vulnerable
- When is it right to with information?
A Different Perspective
Silence may breed mistrust among leaders.
![“In response to [the Philistine] threat [in the ninth century B.C.], the Hebrews could no longer rely on the leadership of 'judges,' ad hoc military leaders (some of them, peculiarly, women; perhaps reflecting as feminists claim, and earlier matriarchal society).” quote by Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/norman-f-cantor-15048_feminisim_in-response-to-the-philistine-threat-in_626699.jpg)
