And Mother does not hate her; actually, she fears Damaya. Is there a difference? Maybe.

...she wonders why a part of her is trying to find value in degradation.

Many things have broken him. He holds himself together with spit and endless smiling, but all can see the cracks. You, though; you are dented, bruised, but intact.

That we're not human is just the lie they tell themselves so they don't have to feel bad about how they treat us

But for a society built on exploitation, there is no greater threat than having no one left to oppress. And now, if nothing else is done, Syl Anagist must again find a way to fission its people into subgroupings and create reasons for conflict among them. There's not enough magic to be had just from plants and genegineered fauna; someone must suffer, if the rest are to enjoy luxury.