Maria V. Snyder

“Don’t worry," I said. "These men are good. They’re going to heal the world.”

“Ursan flourished the knife, threatening me. "Talk, or I'll start cutting off body parts.""Yours? Or mine?" I kept my voice steady despite my insides twisting into goo. "It's an important distinction.”

“She's the nicest person I know." Zila chewed on her lower lip. "Well, the second nicest. Avry's the first.”

“The Queen Seeker was back!”

“They were trying to discover a cure for the toxin," I said."It doesn't matter what the intentions were or what the logic was behind the decision. What matters is that six million people died." Quain gasped in mock horror. "Unless those six million people are pretending to be dead.”

“After almost two hours of creeping around the forest, one of the jacks discovered Belen. He had fallen asleep, and the young man had literally tripped over him. So much for his reputation.”

“Generals trump Majors," Ursan said."True, but do princes trump generals?""I attacked him.""Ryne's not the type to hold a grudge."Ursan considered. "Isn't he a king? Both his parents died""Technically, yes. But he hasn't assumed the title.""Neither has Prince Kerrick," Ursan said. " Don't you find that odd?""Not with Kerrick. He loved his father very much. I think it's still too painful for him to assume the title. Plus he hasn't been home in years."Ursan remained quiet until we reached his tent. "Prince Kerrick's a forest mage. Which means his eyes change colour with the seasons. Right?""Yes."He stared at me for a moment. "Lucky guy." Ursan ducked into his tent.”

“Ah, Kerry. You've found your heart. Who is she?"..."A healer, but she's... gone.”

“Tú me conectas a la tierra. Cuando estoy en la costa-hizo un gesto hacia la parte oeste del horizonte-, y danzando, puedo fácilmente perderme en la energía y personalidad de la tormenta. Solo quería hacer eso después de que mi hermana muriese, pero tú me mantuviste conectado. Me diste una razón para volver.”

“No puedo existir sin ti, así que matar a Galen no es una opción. Preferiría perderte por el Stormdancer, que perderte en el cielo.”

“Hay una sola cosa que deseo hacer cuando me liberen. Estar contigo”

“My cheek stung and throbbed. I remained on the floor of the cave. Belen stood between me and Kerrick. "...temper in check. She's a sweet girl," Belen said. "She's a healer, Belen. And no longer a girl. Healing Ryne is all I care about. All you should care about, as well. You know-" "Yes, I know what's at stake." Belen spat the words. "But if you raise your hand to her again, I'll rip your arm from its socket.”

“Our souls bonded. His pleasure was my ecstasy. My blood pumped in his heart.”

“It had been wishful thinking, plain and simple, dangerous for me to indulge in. Hope, happiness and freedom were not in my future.”

“What we do with our free time is none of your business. Now, why don't you shuffle off to Parffet. I saw him heading toward the latrines. He'll need you to wipe his ass soon. It's the one skill you're most suited for.”

“only one way to find out”

“Is there anything else you haven't told me?"My head spun. So much had happened and we still needed to stop a powerful magician. Death was a real possibility. I needed Valek to know how I felt."I love you"Valek wrapped me in his arms. "My love has been yours since the fire festival. If those goons had killed you, I knew then that I would never be the same. I didn't want or expect this. But I couldn't resist you.”

“Move back,” the man on the left ordered Valek. “Or I’ll skewer your friend.”Valek considered the threat. “Do you plan to wound, maim or kill him?” he asked the guard.“Threats should be specific in order to have the maximum impact.”The man just stared at him.“Skewer is just too vague. I think if you say, ’Stand back or I’ll stab him in the stomach,’ then I have an idea about how serious you are. After all, Leif’s stomach is his favorite body part so that’s a decent threat.”

“It was all a part of being trustworthy—of being a piece of sea glass. High tides, low tides, storms, sand and mistakes all contributed to the polishing process. Though difficult to endure at the time, the demanding elements helped smooth the surface, transforming one into a better person, not worse. A person who learned from the harsh environment, who knew the storm would end, and who felt confident she would still be in one piece.”

“I stared at Irys. My Story Weaver had to be laughing his blue ass off right now. My future appeared to be a long twisted road fraught with knots, tangles and traps. Just the way I liked it.”

“I doubt I would ever be missed. Noted absent, charged delinquent, reprimanded but never missed.”

“If you put enough sheep together you have a herd- a force to be reckoned with.”

“-Vivir es un riesgo- le dije yo-. Todas las decisiones, nuestras relaciones con los demás, cada paso que damos, siempre que te levantas de la cama por las mañanas, te arriesgas. Sobrevivir consiste en saber que corres esos riesgos y no en salir de la cama con una falsa sensación de seguridad”

“Usually, when you slice a person, he backs off or atleast hesitates. And he's more cautious when you have drawn his blood. But these things just keep coming. Their intestines can be falling out, but it doesn't matter.”

“Words are easy. It's convincing the heart that's hard.”

“Sieges weathered.”

“Here we go. Kerrick was as subtle as a thunderstorm.”

“Valek: You know a death sentence hasn't kept us apart before.Yelena: Is that an order Valek?Valek: No, it's a promise!”

“I feel an extremely annoyed thunderstorm nearby," Kade warned. "Actually, I'm the one annoyed. The thunderstorm could go either way."- Storm Glass”

“It’s your fault. I was defending you!” I blurted.He paused. “In protecting my honor, you exposed months of work. I should be flattered?”

“(...) I pushed his sword arm down, and stood next to Valek. Out eyes met. I understood that Valek's loyalty to the Commander was without question. His blue eyes held a fierce determination and I knew in my soul that Valek would take his own life after he had taken mine.”

“They actually think I would abandon the Commander. they have no concept of loyalty.”

“Trella! You’re here,” he said with glee.“Even though I’m not as smart as you, I do know where I am.”

“Riley - “Don’t worry, there are many safeguards in place. Unless you want me to have Logan explain—” Trella - “No! I trust you.”He clutched his hands to his chest. “She… Gasp… Trusts me! Call for medical aid stat!”I swung at him, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to my feet.Snaking his arms around my waist, he said, “We need to celebrate this momentous occasion.”"What are we celebrating?" Jacob Ashon, Riley's father, asked from the doorway.”

“You had me tied in knots. You saved Belen's life, and I wanted to kill and thank you all at the same time. And during those nights when we didn't know if you'd live or die, I went from being angry, to worried to frustrated to scared all within a single heartbeat. If you had die, I would have killed you.”

“I balled my hands into tight fists to keep them from wrapping around Mr. I-Know-Everything's superior neck.”

“No. I took this job in self-defense. Quain burns everything. Belen thinks jerky is all we need to survive. Flea's idea of a good meal is something that hasn't been in a garbage can first. And Kerrick poisoned us-''Not on purpose,' Kerrick said. 'The meat looked done.”

“We don't take orders from you, Sergeant." Quain said. "Your man tried to assassinate-""He isn't mine. My man has eyes that change color with the seasons.”

“It's a dirty way to fight, but I'm late for lunch."- Valek to Yelena”

“Lavender Lady not go again," Kiki said in my mind."I'll try to avoid it. No promises, though."She huffed. "Next time Kiki go.""A Horsefinder?""Help Lavender Lady.”

“My cape caught fire. I dived to the sand and rolled on the ground to snuff the flames. So much for my grand entrance.”

“Besides, thinking kind thoughts about Valek could be extremely dangerous. I could admire his skills, and be relieved when he was on my side in a fight. But for a rat to like the cat? That scenario ended only one way. With one dead rat.”

“When you warned me that you would test me from time to time, I thought you meant spiking my food. But it seems there is more than one way to poison a person’s heart, and it doesn’t even require a meal.”

“In keeping with his cryptic nature, all your Story Weaver said was 'The horses know where to go.' It's certainly not a military strategy I would use, but I've learned that the south uses its own strategy. And, strangely enough, it works.”

“[Janco] paused. His eyes held a distant gleam as if seeing into his past. 'My first practice was a shock. I was a cocky smart aleck--'[Opal] 'Was?'[J] 'Be quiet. I'm telling a story here.”

“I'm your mother. I see all. Hear all. Know all.”

“I am not a fool.”

“I had hoped to hear everyone discussing how much they missed my altruistic qualities, my legendary skills as a fighter and as a lover." He leered. "Instead, you're making plans for tomorrow. Interesting how life goes on in spite of itself.”

“Did you live here?" Leif asked. I nodded. "For two years"."Where did you stay?" "I had a room in Valek's suite." Leif shot me an incredulous look. "Boy, you worked fast.”

“I understood that Valek’s loyalty to the Commander was without question. His blue eyes held a fierce determination and I knew in my soul that Valek would take his own life after he had taken mine.”