Oathbound

“This is the man who fooled the world’s most powerful and ancient secret society into believing he was one of them, for who knows how long. Even now the Order believes Erebus to be their highest-ranked, most loyal Merlin soldier. Only he and I know the truth—that he is the Order’s greatest enemy. And only we know that I, the Order’s own Crown Scion and king, have left the Round Table to become his pupil.”

Bree recognizes the true magnitude of her bargain with Erebus, setting the tone for their relationship early on and foreshadowing how she will try to push back against Erebus and what he wants from the Order. This quote also shows that Bree is desperate enough to ask Erebus for help.

“Greedy men collect what they cannot understand, and weak men destroy what they cannot control. A man who is both will attempt to recreate that which is beyond his comprehension, obliterating the original in the process.”

Erebus explains to Bree how the Order exercises power. This foreshadows how the Order will act later in the novel by attempting to recreate Bree’s powers through their experimentation with Rootcrafters. His descriptions of greedy and weak men can also be seen in other characters in the novel, such as Mikael and the collectors at his gala. However, all of these characteristics can also be attributed to Erebus in his search for the crown and training of Bree just so her can kill her.

“While Nick’s eyes are on Larkin’s face, my healer’s gaze is on him. The pulse in his throat is slowing down. He’s coming back to us, to the here and now, but I’ve learned not to believe anyone who, without prompting, declares that they are ‘fine.’ Sel says this constantly. Bree, far too much for my liking. Nick? ‘Fine’ was the word he uttered in a relentless stream right before he publicly renounced his title and left the chapter. Nick has always said he is fine, but Nick has never been fine.”

This quote comes from the first chapter narrated by William and succinctly shows his most important characteristics. Will takes his role as a healer seriously and is always looking out for his friends, even when they are not looking out for themselves. This quote also helps to characterize Nick, Sel, and Bree, and how they often put the needs of others above their own, finding strength in