I married your dad because he was a seventh son. And I bore him six sons so that I could have you. Seven times seven, you are, and you have the gift.
-- Tom's Mother (Chapter 1 paragraph Page 15)

Importance: Tom’s mother is always talking about duty and how important it is that Tom is the seventh son of a seventh son. His birth order means he’s eligible to be a spook. This quote shows not only the expectations she has for Tom, but also her own sense of duty since she put forth so much effort just to make sure he was born.

Who’ll look after the ordinary folk? Who’ll keep them from harm? Who’ll make the farms, villages, and towns safe so that women and children can walk the streets and lanes free from fear?
-- Tom's Mother (Chapter 1 paragraph Page 15)

Importance: At first the job of a spook was rather ambiguous, but Tom’s mother makes the...