And that's the worst of it—that they've not even a choice whether they'd like to give their life to such a thing. It's only admirable if they choose it.

[ Her response is quick, but not as harsh as it might have been months earlier. Katsa is growing accustomed to these conversations; she will only rise to anger with him if he hits a rather more personal nerve.

Still, she sounds just as certain of her opinion as he does. ]

Regardless—[ a minor shiver ] —if I ever learn of someone doing magic like that here, I'll pound that person and make sure with my own hands they can never hold a knife or cast a spell again.

[ But no need for this lyrium nonsense. ]