Victoria Hanley

“Tortor”

“He wondered what the years had done to his face as he traced the effects on hers. Eyes the same blue-lit green, but where mischievous joy once danced, now he saw sadness, deep as the ocean. Her cheeks were thinner. There was something else too: the arrogant pride of a princess seemed to be extinct. Yet the indefinable, untamed quality of her spirit remained. Yes, it was Torina.”

“What is your future, son of a king?' he heard Torina say.Landen smiled. 'Ask your crystal, daughter of a queen.'She traced his eyebrow with a finger. 'My crystal never tells me what I can see with my own eyes.”

“I have lived with you and loved you, and now you are gone. Gone where I cannot follow, until I have finished all of my days.”

“Dear Torina, I can't face the idea of sacrificing you to this danger. You must stay alive." He caressed her cheek. "Hear me," he went on. "Even if you feel only friendship, Torina, I've loved you since the day you helped me to my feet. I tried so hard to stop. Then I thought you were dead, and my life hurt every day.”

“Let me tell you about weakness! Killing the strong to prove your strength is foolish weakness. Killing fools is easy weakness. Killing the weak is evil weakness. Accomplishing your ends without killing, mastering your mind when you want to kill--that is strength!”

“Those two are carved from the same tree." the queen said. By the same blade." The high king answered and offered her his arm in splendid dignity”