The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy

“‘P-perhaps you could envisage an early retirement?’

 A brutally stupid question to which Osric replied, ‘Do you know how Fyren are retired?’

 ‘Er—no, sir.’

 ‘Death.’”

In this passage, Knightley establishes Osric’s main motivations even as the exchange showcases the possible dangers he faces should he fail to find the proper treatment for his degenerative disorder. The scene also attests to the duality of his membership in the Fyren Order; while he takes pride in his work and is an effective assassin, he knows that his worsening seith rot, if discovered, will be a death sentence for an Order that tolerates no weaknesses among its members.

“[Aurienne is] a Haelan. She’d sooner walk into the Thames than help you. Perhaps we can equip you with a plan B. And a plan C.”

The author uses this dialogue to introduce the main source of conflict between the novel’s protagonists, establishing the social obstacles to their burgeoning romance. Although their banter indicates that they enjoy each other’s personalities, on some level, they are nonetheless separated by their opposing functions in society and the ethical dilemma involved in any sort of accord between a killer and a healer.

“[Aurienne] and her Order were literally ensconced in ivory towers.”

In this quote, Knightley highlights the potential biases in her characters, as Osric openly judges Aurienne for her rarified existence and her focus on research, both of which contrast with his skill for completing morally questionable jobs with much confidence and very little remorse. At this early point, he is incapable of seeing her as an individual; he merely condemns her for showing signs of the stereotypes for which he derides all Haelans.