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c17e5a7
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You were right about the swords," Royce said. "You really do need three." "You sound drunk." "I feel drunk-and I hate being drunk. Nothing works the way it's supposed to. And it makes me act stupid ... like you." "You're aware I'm in the process of trying to save your life, right?" "What part of stupid don't you understand?"
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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fcc3d06
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Royce made to protest, but Hadrian held up his hand. "Relax. I'll deal with Count Nightshirt." "Viscount." "What's the difference?" "A whole lot of money."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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1a8b88f
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No god, goddess, or spirit would ever inhabit or employ a chicken.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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dd42627
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You ready?" Royce asked. "For what?" "Turn around. Let's go back-to-back and link arms."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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f75eca3
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Sunlight had a way of showing the realities that shadows born of firelight hid. The
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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422e072
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Why are you here?" "Oh-- I came to tell the chieftain we're going to die." The girl said it quickly and with the same casual indifference as if she were announcing that the sun sets in the evening. Persephone narrowed her eyes. "Excuse me? What did you say? Who's going to die?" "All of us." "All of whom?" "Us." The girl looked puzzled, but this time Persephone wasn't certain if it was the tattoos or not. "You and I?" Suri sighed. "Yes..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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eb8066a
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Strange game, this stating the obvious," Suri said, shaking her head. She got up and joined Minna at the woodpile. "Pointless, but popular. Everyone plays it. But as you can see, I'm getting the knack of it. Tura told me to blend in at villages, especially the dahls. She said people who live inside walls are crazy and can be dangerous. Touched animals are, too. Cursed by the gods, sort of like you, and even a tainted squirrel's bite can m..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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893cc8a
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Do you see the butterfly?" Suri grinned with enthusiasm. "Yes, I see it, but--" "So stunning and delicate; it's marvelous. No one can see a butterfly and not stop to admire it. I'd love to be one. To go to sleep and wake up a season later with such beautiful wings and the ability to flutter about. That's the most wonderful sort of magic, don't you think? To change, to grow, to fly. But..." She paused. "I wonder what the cost would be." Th..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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d3fba6f
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Ferrol's Law was created for ordinary Fhrey, not the Miralyith," Gryndal said. "The Art has elevated us, and we cannot be bound by the law of a god when we have become gods ourselves." Arion saw Mawyndule nodding, a look of wonder and admiration in his eyes. He would be the next fane, and it was her responsibility to make sure he was a good ruler. She stepped forward. "How wonderful! I wasn't aware we had achieved divinity. When exactly di..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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db274c9
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Arista was tortured with thoughts of roasted pig dripping with fruit glaze, beef served in a thick, dark gravy, and mountains of chicken, quail, and duck.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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046a929
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When something sounds like a giant vomiting up a dwarf, you should not expect sunshine and daisies.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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f25b13f
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Royce stared at him a second. "What?" "You heard me-you hear every stupid thing anyone ever says. That's the most annoying thing about you. Well, not the most -it's actually really hard to order them. The list is so ridiculously long."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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bb3d116
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City of Percepliquis Ever sought, forever missed Pick and shovel, dig and haul Search forever, fall the wall. Gala halted, city's doom Spring warmth chilled with dust and gloom Darkness sealed, blankets all Death upon them, fall the wall. Ancient stones upon the Lee Dusts of memories gone we see Once the center, once the all Lost forever, fall the wall
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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bafb549
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no one would ever demand compensation to keep people alive. You make us sound like monsters, as if people wouldn't help others unless they got something out of it.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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0ad6675
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Road--tomorrow?" Myron asked. "Am I going back to the abbey?" "Better--you're going to be a hero."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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82193a2
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Wouldn't matter," Suri said. "Regardless where you're born, the world has a way of finding you and ruining everything." --
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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e8d2443
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A beautiful day might bring disaster, while a day that begins trapped inside an ancient tomb might be the best one of your life.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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861844c
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Rivers age as they go downstream," Suri told Raithe while they looked at the disagreeable gorge. "That's what Tura once told me. They start out as tiny trickles, then in their youth and adolescence are like this, boundless energy throwing themselves heedless against unmovable rocks. Then they usually fall. Sometimes it's a series of tumbles and sometimes one great plummet, but hitting bottom usually takes the fight out of most rivers. After..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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8dd8b0e
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Is this where it was?" Royce asked, stopping and studying the base of the tower. "How should I know?" Hadrian replied as his eyes coursed up the length of the south tower. Up close, it blocked everything else out, a solid wall of black rising against the light of the moon. "I can never understand why such small people build such gigantic things." "Maybe they're compensating," Royce said, dropping several lengths of rope. "Damn it, Royce. It..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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8c96372
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Most people never come near their true love, or if they do, it's one sided. That is perhaps more tragic than never finding love at all. To know joy lies forever just beyond your reach--in a way, it's a kind of torture.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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fc671bd
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The more you know about the past, the easier it is to divine the future.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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6637f4f
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Sebastian nodded his way. "This is Hadrian ... er, Hadrian..." He snapped his fingers and looked for help. "Blackwater." He extended his hand and shook with each. "And where do you hail from, Hadrian?" Eugene asked. "Nowhere really." "A man with no home?" Samuel's voice was nasal and a bit suspicious. Hadrian imagined him the type of man to count money handed him by a priest. "What do you mean?" Eugene asked. "He came off the boat from..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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2d118fd
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We don't want anyone suspecting us of stacking the deck the way we are.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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96ddfdd
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Why does this always happen?" Royce asked. "Why are we always hanging on a wall, waiting to die by slow vivisection? I just want to point out that this was your idea--again." "I've been waiting for that. But I believe I told you not to come." Hadrian shifted in his chains and sighed. "I don't suppose there's much chance of a beautiful princess coming in here and saving us again." "That card's been dealt."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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1c629d7
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There are no honorable causes. There is no good or evil. Evil is only what we all call those who oppose us.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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6177664
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Are you--" Hadrian began, but stopped. For the first time since their capture, he felt hopeful but thought better of it. He turned to Royce. "Is she being sarcastic? You can usually tell better than I."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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ef776cf
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Don't let go. Don't you dare let go. Do you hear me? Are you listening to me, Royce Melborn? You have to hang on, Royce. Please... give me your hand. Give me your hand!" Royce's head snapped up. He focused on Hadrian and there was a curious look in his eyes. "What--what did you say?" "I said I can't reach you. I need your help."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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22d5dfe
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Well, I did see The Crown Conspiracy while in Colnora. I found the sets pathetic and the orchestration horrible, but the story was good.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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1917c91
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I hope you're planning on heading to the kitchens. I'm starved--practically eating my fingers here." He chuckled."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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c99327c
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Royce's tone shifted between amazed and angry but finally settled on a nice restrained tempest.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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fa03acb
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I don't have a single callus. Even if I decided to leave title and pride behind, I lack any useful skills. I'm like a milk cow slapped on the backside and turned out of the barn to make her way in the forest. A chicken, returned to the wilds to fend for myself." "I don't think chicken's have ever been wild," Hadrian said. "Exactly." Albert paused to stare at the remainder of the salt pork strip. "Your friend is right. This is just prolongin..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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8fa5f91
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Good afternoon," Hadrian offered, but no one replied. No one smiled. Some whispered in the shelter of doorways. Mothers pulled children inside and men picked up pitchforks or axes. "This is where you grew up?" Arista whispered to Hadrian. "Somehow it seems more like how I would imagine Royce's hometown to be." This brought a look from Royce. "They don't get too many travelers here," Hadrian explained. "I can see why."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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9ceb9a9
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Arista," the wizard said, "sharks don't eat seafood because they like it, but because chickens don't swim. We all do the best we can with the tools we have, but at some point you have to ask yourself where the tools came from."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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945589d
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There always seemed to be a better way, except when it came to people. Once broken, people couldn't be repaired.
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pain
trauma
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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f153ff9
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The God Killer is the Coppersword's favorite son. His secret treasure.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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38b15f3
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It's strange. I keep forgetting you don't have hands," Hadrian commented. "I don't," the wizard replied coldly."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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9a20695
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I suspect she, or someone she reports to, read the note I left in my pack." "You left a note for the thieves' guild? What did it say?" "Just that they were my animals and that they might want to reconsider taking them." Albert and Hadrian exchanged looks of bewilderment. "They know me, and we have an arrangement. They leave me alone...and I leave them alone." "You leave them alone?" Albert said in a mocking tone. Royce smiled at him. I..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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82b8c35
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Courageous hearts weren't banned from the breast of women.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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dc07cfa
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you can't have an adversary without being one.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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0037bd6
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At first I thought it was a dragon, savage and fierce. I wish that had been true. Dragons only kill you; Gilarabrywns break your heart.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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50db785
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She regretted volunteering, as getting off the ship required wading in chest-deep water. It was very cold and took her breath away. Her robe billowed around her as she struggled to find traction in the ground below. A strong wave struck her from behind and she started to fall face forward. Hadrian caught her by the elbow and held her up. "Thank you. I thought I was going for a swim there," she told him. "Bad form on the wave's part, sneakin..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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3f8cb25
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What was that all about?" Royce asked. Hadrian shrugged, but Royce looked unconvinced. "You were here for what--five years? Anything happen? Anything you want to share?" "Sure," he replied with a sarcastic grin. "Right after you fill me in on how you escaped from Manzant Prison and why you never killed Ambrose Moor." "Sorry I asked."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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ec8609e
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What is your name?" "Finally decided to ask, eh?" Hadrian chuckled. "I will need to know if I am going to book you passage." "I can take care of that myself. Assuming, of course, you are actually taking me to a barge and not just to some dark corner where you'll clunk me on the head and do a more thorough job of robbing me." Pickles looked hurt. "I would do no such thing. Do you think me such a fool? First, I have seen what you do to pe..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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fc40d69
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They smiled too much, were quick to compliment and support, but behind the stretched lips and soft words was a judgment. No one was ever good enough--at least not until they were dead. The dead were exemplary.
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Michael J. Sullivan |