--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Except for the giant sword in his hand…" description: "\"“Except for the giant sword in his hand. \"Is that really necessary?\" I asked when I walked in, noting that his dagger was also hanging off his belt. Hi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc6/rachel-hawkins-379_better-now_except-for-the-giant-sword-in-his-hand-i_972233.jpg" --- # Except for the giant sword in his hand. "Is that really… ![“Except for the giant sword in his hand. "Is that really necessary?" I asked when I walked in, noting that his dagger was also hanging off his belt. His head jerked up, and I thought he might have been relieved to see me. But then he turned back to the Itineris, crouching down to pull something out…” quote by Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc6/rachel-hawkins-379_better-now_except-for-the-giant-sword-in-his-hand-i_972233.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc6/rachel-hawkins-379_better-now_except-for-the-giant-sword-in-his-hand-i_972233.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc6/rachel-hawkins-379_better-now_except-for-the-giant-sword-in-his-hand-i_972233.jpg) > ““Except for the giant sword in his hand. "Is that really necessary?" I asked when I walked in, noting that his dagger was also hanging off his belt. His head jerked up, and I thought he might have been relieved to see me. But then he turned back to the Itineris, crouching down to pull something out of a black duffel bag at his feet. "Never hurts to be prepared," he said. "It just seems like overkill when you already have a dagger and I have supernatural magic at my disposal." "'Superpowerful?'" He stood up, a gold chain dangling from his fingers. "let me remind you of two words, Mercer: Bad. Dog. " I rolled my eyes. "That was nearly a year ago. I'm way better now." "Yeah,well,I'm not taking any chances," he said. For the first time, I noticed there was some sort of holster thing on his back. He slid the sword into it so the hilt rose over his shoulders. "Besides," he added, "I thought you might not come. After what happened the other night..." he paused, studying my face. "Are you all right?" "I will be when people stop asking me that." "You know I had nothing to do with that, right?" "Yeah," I replied. "And if you did have something to do with it, I will vaporize you where you stand." The corner of his mouth quirked. "Good to know." He closed the distance between us, coming to stand entirely too close to me. "What are you doing?" I asked, hoping I didn't sound as breathless as I felt. He lifted his hands, and with surprising gentleness, placed the chain around both our necks. Looking down at it, I saw that the links were actually tiny figures holding hands. I'd seen it somewhere before. "This is the necklace one of the angels is wearing in the window at Hex Hall." "It is indeed." Reaching down to take my hands, he explained, "It's also a very powerful protection charm, which we're going to need." I swallowed as we laced our fingers and stepped closer to the Itineris. "Why?" "Because we're going a very long way." I involuntarily squeezed his fingers with mine. The last time I'd traveled through the Itineris, I'd only gone a few hundred miles, and that had made my head nearly explode. "Where are we going?" I asked. "Graymalkin Island," he answered. And then he yanked me into the doorway.”” [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) ## 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 balances over‑preparation with confidence, using magical tools and trust to face unknown dangers together. **In simple terms:** Balancing preparation and confidence with magical tools. Key Takeaway Trust and preparation go hand in hand. Themes confidence trust magic preparation friendship Mood tense hopeful Type dialogue narrative character interaction When to use this quote - team missions - dangerous journeys - building trust Key Concepts over‑preparation magical protection character dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance preparedness with flexibility? - When does confidence become complacency? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on gear can hinder adaptability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dagger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dagger/) [Holding hands](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holding-hands/) [Sword](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sword/) ## Related quotes > [Rose pictured him standing at the boundary of the Ogletree house in that enormous fur cape, with a giant sword sticking over his shoulder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/rose-pictured-him-standing-at-the-boundary-of-the-ogletree-house-in/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [“Get him now?" Duncan asked. He looked at the sword in his hand. Unsure of what he should do, he tossed the weapon at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/get-him-now-duncan-asked-he-looked-at-the-sword-in-his-hand-unsure-of/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [“We all know what a big giant sword you have, I’m sure. No need for you to wave it in our faces yet again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/we-all-know-what-a-big-giant-sword-you-have-i-m-sure-no-need-for-you/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [“It just seems like overkill when you already have a dagger and I have superpowerful magic at my disposal.” “‘Superpowerful?’”He stood up, a gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/it-just-seems-like-overkill-when-you-already-have-a-dagger-and-i-have/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“People were born with two hands; why not use both of them? As it was, swordsmen fought with only one sword, and often one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiji-yoshikawa/people-were-born-with-two-hands-why-not-use-both-of-them-as-it-was/) [Eiji Yoshikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiji-yoshikawa/) > [“She held Needle in her left hand, her sword hand, the candle in her right fist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/she-held-needle-in-her-left-hand-her-sword-hand-the-candle-in-her/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Drualt took Freya's warm hand, Her strong hand, Her sword hand, And pressed it to his lips, Pressed it to his heart. Come with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-carson-levine/drualt-took-freya-s-warm-hand-her-strong-hand-her-sword-hand-and/) [Gail Carson Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-carson-levine/) > [“Coulter remained near her, sword in hand. “I suppose it goes without saying, if you slip into a trance, you’ll never come out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/coulter-remained-near-her-sword-in-hand-i-suppose-it-goes-without/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) > [“Arthur was simply there in their midst, the sword in his hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/arthur-was-simply-there-in-their-midst-the-sword-in-his-hand/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [“I have already decided to die with my sword in hand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-raphael-mcmanus/i-have-already-decided-to-die-with-my-sword-in-hand/) [Erwin Raphael McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-raphael-mcmanus/) > [“Better a sword than an empty hand when you set off to slay the dragon.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryk-brown/better-a-sword-than-an-empty-hand-when-you-set-off-to-slay-the-dragon/) [Ryk Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryk-brown/) > [“It’s so hard for us to let go of the sword and take the hand of the crucified one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-zahnd/it-s-so-hard-for-us-to-let-go-of-the-sword-and-take-the-hand-of-the/) [Brian Zahnd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-zahnd/) > [“In the midst of the lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white samite, that held a fair sword in that hand. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-thomas-malory/in-the-midst-of-the-lake-arthur-was-ware-of-an-arm-clothed-in-white/) [Sir Thomas Malory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-thomas-malory/) > [“Jackson fingers the gold, the jet, the horn, the glass, the iron. Then - because he is a man and a Welsh man at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-bingham/jackson-fingers-the-gold-the-jet-the-horn-the-glass-the-iron-then/) [Harry Bingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-bingham/) > [“Once you take sword in your hand, you will lose your right to talk about the peace! Man of peace and love never takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/once-you-take-sword-in-your-hand-you-will-lose-your-right-to-talk/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Rachel Hawkins > [“Cal stepped forward, hopefully to come to my rescue. "I could toss her off the pier, Ms. Vanderlyden." Or not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/cal-stepped-forward-hopefully-to-come-to-my-rescue-i-could-toss-her/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Or maybe your magic isn't that destructive after all. 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Irritation flashed over his face. "Honestly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/do-you-remember-the-section-on-controlling-demons-in-demonologies-i/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Both of us widened our eyes and said, "Woah." Then I immediately blushed. Oh my God, had I just looked at Archer and said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/both-of-us-widened-our-eyes-and-said-woah-then-i-immediately-blushed/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) > [“Ah, Grace and Aislinn arguing. 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But laughing is exactly what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/when-someone-tells-you-somebody-s-been-murdered-laughing-is-probably/) [Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) [Explore all 614 Rachel Hawkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/) ## More Better now quotes > [I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind. I'll do it all for you in time. And out of all these things I've done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-sheeran/i-m-out-of-sight-i-m-out-of-mind-i-ll-do-it-all-for-you-in-time-and/) [Ed Sheeran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-sheeran/) > [I suppose things are better now, but ... I don't know. People still hate each other, they just know how to hide it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-buscemi/i-suppose-things-are-better-now-but-i-don-t-know-people-still-hate/) [Steve Buscemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-buscemi/) > [I love because I know how it feels like not to be loved. 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It simply means we have grown and can write better now. And you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-voelker/it-s-wonderful-to-look-back-at-our-old-writing-and-cringe-it-simply/) [Jeanne Voelker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-voelker/) Browse all 255 Better now quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Except for the giant sword in his hand. \"Is that really necessary?\" I asked when I walked in, noting that his dagger was also hanging off his belt. His head jerked up, and I thought he might have been relieved to see me. But then he turned back to the Itineris, crouching down to pull something out of a black duffel bag at his feet. \"Never hurts to be prepared,\" he said. \"It just seems like overkill when you already have a dagger and I have supernatural magic at my disposal.\" \"'Superpowerful?'\" He stood up, a gold chain dangling from his fingers. \"let me remind you of two words, Mercer: Bad. Dog. \" I rolled my eyes. \"That was nearly a year ago. I'm way better now.\" \"Yeah,well,I'm not taking any chances,\" he said. For the first time, I noticed there was some sort of holster thing on his back. He slid the sword into it so the hilt rose over his shoulders. \"Besides,\" he added, \"I thought you might not come. After what happened the other night...\" he paused, studying my face. \"Are you all right?\" \"I will be when people stop asking me that.\" \"You know I had nothing to do with that, right?\" \"Yeah,\" I replied. \"And if you did have something to do with it, I will vaporize you where you stand.\" The corner of his mouth quirked. \"Good to know.\" He closed the distance between us, coming to stand entirely too close to me. \"What are you doing?\" I asked, hoping I didn't sound as breathless as I felt. He lifted his hands, and with surprising gentleness, placed the chain around both our necks. Looking down at it, I saw that the links were actually tiny figures holding hands. I'd seen it somewhere before. \"This is the necklace one of the angels is wearing in the window at Hex Hall.\" \"It is indeed.\" Reaching down to take my hands, he explained, \"It's also a very powerful protection charm, which we're going to need.\" I swallowed as we laced our fingers and stepped closer to the Itineris. \"Why?\" \"Because we're going a very long way.\" I involuntarily squeezed his fingers with mine. The last time I'd traveled through the Itineris, I'd only gone a few hundred miles, and that had made my head nearly explode. \"Where are we going?\" I asked. \"Graymalkin Island,\" he answered. 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