Trudi Canavan

“Though I can’t help feeling a sudden death cheats you of something. Death is an experience of life. You only get one death. I would like to be aware it was happening, even if that did mean enduring pain and fear.”

“Friendship? What friendship? I lust after him and he rightly ignores it!”

“

Great. She shook her head. Not only am I having conversations with myself, but now I'm refusing to talk to me. This has got to be the first sign of madness.”

“Suddenly she was all too aware how different she was. A woman among all these man. A natural from a humble background among rich young men chosen from powerful families. A beginner among the well trained.”

“He liked the idea that if either of them ever fell from grace, the other might be there to offer support.”

“If your appearance is all people see, they have no respect for your mind.”

“Unquestioning obedience is for slaves, the uneducated and the pathetic.”

“Cold, truthful common sense was harder to like than warm, hopeful generosity.”

“Mortals did not need gods to order them to kill eachother. They were quite capable of finding reasons to do so themselves.”

“Tayend nodded. “I know it won’t. I admit I was worried about you, but you are still your old self, underneath.”Dannyl straightened in protest. “Underneath what?”The Elyne stood up, waving one hand in Dannyl’s direction. “All…that.”“I’m reeling at your descriptive clarity,” Dannyl told him.”

“Extending his senses, Lorkin tried again to hear his mother’s surface thoughts. What he picked up seemed too out of character, however. He must be imagining it. Though…it was also odd that he would imagine his mother thinking such a string of curse words.”

“The most powerful women in Sachaka and all you do is waste time gossiping and matchmaking”

“He had given her too much. He had given her everything.”

“Achati chuckled. "You may be surprised. Some might come in the hopes of being snatched away to a secret place ruled by exotic women.”

“Better to know the quick pain of truth than the ongoing pain of a long-held false hope.”

“Wisdom and knowledge is everywhere, but so is stupity.”

“Cery: So, Hem, tell me why I shouldn't see how many holes I need to make before you start leaking money?”

“So what were you [Sonea] and Dorrien discussing before?' Akkarin asked.She turned to regard him. 'Discussing?''Outside the farmhouse when I was buying the food.''Oh. Then. Nothing.'He smiled and nodded. 'Nothing. Amazing subject, that one. Produces such fascinating reactions in people.”

“There's always a bit of truth in each rumour, the trouble is finding out which bit.- Tayend”

“Nodding, Cery strode to the door and stepped through. Though the burly guards eyes him suspiciously, Cery smiled back. Never make enemies of someone's lackeys, his father had taught him. Better still, make them like you a lot.”

“How am I going to make friends with these people if all I can think of is how easy it would be to rob them?”

“It was impossible to imagine the aloof, dignified, powerful High Lord living as, of all things, a slave.”

“Akkarin: I watched the first woman I loved die. I dont think I can survive losing the second.Sonea: I love you too.”

“What was I thinking? Of all the assistants I could have wound up with, why did I have to choose the one with the scary mother and troublemaking in his bloodlines? I am doomed.”

“It is said, in Imardin, that the wind has a soul, and that it wails through the narrow streets because it is grieved by what it finds there.”