Confessions of Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley (quote)

Just wanted to share a heavy-hitting excerpt from this book; I know the FDS minded will appreciate it:

“She said that her father was a great chieftain who killed the mare because he was not weakened by affection of any kind. And I asked her if affection was not also a strong means of enduring human life.

I said that men fear affection because it is stronger than power and one must only have brute force to wield power but must have strength deeper than flesh to wield affection. For with affection comes with great sorrow, the sorrow of inevitable death, but also with affection comes joy and peace that power can never give.

Aileen asked me what good my affection had ever done, for I was barren and alone. This made me weep as she looked on, her chin raised as though she knew herself to be a chieftain’s daughter.

And here I say that a woman can ally herself with men’s power as long as she has her youth to offer. But when a woman loses her youth she will regret playing that game.”