Chorus lay on the southern bank of the Solomon River, towers glinting in the sun. The homes of wealthy men lined the river to the north; tanners, smiths, wainwrights, carpenters, and the poor clustered on the bank to the south. The city was a richly colored tapestry: the Great Gate on Kings-bridge, the maze of the Lower City, the marketplace, the tall houses in the Merchants' and the Gentry's quarters, the gardens of the Temple district, the palace. This last was the city's crown and southern border. Beyond it, the royal forest stretched for leagues. It was not as lovely as Beat nor as colorful as Udaipur, but it was Alanna's place.

— Tamora Pierce

Curiosity killed the cat,” Festal remarked, his dark eyes unreadable. Aly rolled her eyes. Why did everyone say that to her? “People always forget the rest of the saying,” she complained. “‘And satisfaction brought it back.

— Tamora Pierce

Curse him for being all tight muscle, with ivory skin and a mouth as soft as rose petals. Curse him for having hair as fair as the sun, and eyes as black as night. Curse him for having the grace of a cat and deft, cool hands. And now I am having the same argument on paper that I have in my own head on too many nights. I know my choice is sensible, but it isn't my common sense I think with, those times Rostov's stolen a kiss from me.

— Tamora Pierce

Data doesn't exactly need to be tested on whether she's honorable or not." "Doesn't she? Don't all of you? This is your first taste of the things which may come from your being powerful mages. People will offer you gold, status, even love. I want to know how you will react. If you want to know if your teachers will release greedy, thoughtless monsters into the world.

— Tamora Pierce

Data: "He and Rose thorn work together? They hate each other." Lark: "I didn't say they liked it.- Data and Lark referring to Rose thorn and Crane's cooperation on finding the cures for new diseases

— Tamora Pierce

Didn't they realize that the only way to change things was to act?

— Tamora Pierce

Does your ma know you're this silly?" she demanded tartly. He nodded, comically sad. "The few gray hairs she has on her head are my doing. But" — with an exaggerated change of mood — "I send her plenty of money, so she can pay to have them dyed!"" I hope she beat you as a child," Onus grumbled.

— Tamora Pierce

Don't call me 'gentleman'. I work for a livin'.

— Tamora Pierce

Don't die on me," she whispered when the clock struck midnight, and he still had not moved. "It's only a little shoulder wound. Goddess, George-don't die on me." His eyes flickered open and he smiled. "I didn't know you cared," he whispered. "And why insult me? I won't die for a wee nick like this; I've had worse in my day." Alanna wiped her wet cheeks. "Of course I care, you unprincipled pickpocket!" she whispered. "Of course I care.

— Tamora Pierce

Don't go thinking you can bounce me all over the ground just because I look like somebody's grandmother," the woman said dryly. "Some grandchildren need more raising than others, and I supply it," she grinned, showing very white teeth. -- ESA Bell, Shang Wildcat

— Tamora Pierce