Love

Love in various forms is an overriding theme in this book. The most common is romantic love though there's also family love and loyalty love expressed throughout the story.

Duncan begins to fall in love with Madelyne almost immediately, though he doesn't at first recognize it for what it is. In Duncan's case, the fact that Madelyne helped warm his feet at her own expense was "the most unselfish act" he'd ever witnessed. With that picture of the young woman stamped indelibly on his mind, Duncan is enamored with Madelyne from their first moments together. Madelyne at first feels sorry for Duncan until she realizes that allowing himself to be captured was part of a plan. She's angry with him on many points, but taking her from her cruel brother's household isn't one of those. Instead, Madelyne sees him first only as a soldier but gradually sees the...