She's come for me.
-- Narrator (chapter 1)

Importance: The night the Lang's find Karel in the field, Duncan has a vivid dream about his birth mother. Having been content with his adopted family for his entire life, he is alarmed by the realization that the mystery woman in his dream is his birth mother, come with a message. This vision inspires Duncan's longing to reunite with Esmeray, and to discover the truth of who he is through his familial origins.

Because I'm not pretty enough? Old enough?
-- Zoe (chapter 5)

Importance: One evening not long after finding Karel, Zoe asks her brothers if they think the attacker would have done something to her if she had been the one hitchhiking on the side of the road. Trying to comfort her, the boys assure her he would not have hurt her. Zoe responds with the indignant questions above. Though her brothers do not yet realize what is happening inside...