Freedom and security are recurring ideas. Aislinn's Grandmother has lived fairly safely for a long time. She has enjoyed the Security of her self-control, but has never known Freedom. She has lived at home behind as much steel as she can find, afraid to even speak aloud of the faeries lest they hear her. She has lost her daughter to the faery sight, and imposes strict rules on Aislinn to prevent the same from happening to her. Grams will quickly pull Aislinn out of school at the first sign that she has attracted the attention of the faeries.