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dbd7fb1
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Sometimes the price of dreams is achieving them
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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90c5c26
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It's only nice not being wanted for murder if you've actually killed someone. Otherwise, what's the point? Besides, what makes you think I'm not wanted for murder?
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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ab22d12
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Standing in the middle of the cellar with a sickened look on his face, Alric said, "I can't believe I'm being subjected to this." "Consider it a vacation," Hadrian suggested. "For at least one day you get to pretend you are nobody, a common peasant, the son of a blacksmith perhaps." "No," Royce said, preparing his own sleeping space but keeping his boots on. "They might expect him to know things like how to use a hammer. And look at his han..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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20f2811
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Every life is a journey filled with crossroads. And then there are the bridges, those truly frightening choices that span what always was, from what will forever be. Finding the courage, or stupidity, to cross such bridges changes everything
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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51171f9
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Fear made all the difference between rational and insane and could even masquerade one for the other.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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981bbec
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Everyone stared in shock at the pool of white robes and the bright-red blood that began to stain them. Behind her, holding a rock in both hands, stood Malcolm. -- "We really need to talk about this habit of yours," Raithe told Malcolm as he stared down at the pile of cloth and the frail Fhrey at his feet." --
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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9ab3e33
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How you been, Bernie?" Royce greeted him. "Going for a walk?" "Actually, I was about to find a place to relieve myself." "Good, I'll go with you." "Go with me?" he asked nervously. "I've been known to help people relieve themselves of a great many things." Royce put an arm around Bernie's shoulder as he urged him away from the tents."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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24b447f
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Royce scanned the interior. "Nobody home," he said at length. "Wasn't last time either. I'm surprised they haven't tightened security up more." "Oh yeah, a single break-in after centuries is something to schedule your guards around." "They'll be kicking themselves tomorrow."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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cf3d45e
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I never thought you cared all that much if I ever found Gaunt." Hadrian looked up at the tower again. "At least not that much." "Honestly? I don't care at all. This whole quest of yours is stupid. So you find Gaunt--then what? You follow him around being his bodyguard for the rest of your life? What if he's like Ballentyne? Wouldn't that be fun? Granted it'll be exciting, as I'm sure anyone with a sword will want to kill him, but who cares?..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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742ba35
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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."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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6b92c91
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Okay, let's say you're a cat and Hadrian's a dog and you want to make him happy. You give him a dead mouse and are surprised when he isn't thrilled. The problem is that you need to see the world through the eyes of a dog to understand what's best for him. If you did, you would see that a nice juicy bone would be a better choice, even though to a cat it's not very appealing.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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2d366cd
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Hadrian had always felt that cats were picky, untrusting things. Being fragile, they had to be. Whenever a cat sat on him, Hadrian felt special, as if the animal approved, and their acceptance was some sort of gift. Makes a body feel worthy of something to have a cat trust you that much.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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f1bd71e
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You don't believe in right and wrong? Good and bad?" "Sure, right is what's good for me, and bad is what I don't like, and those things are very, very wrong ." "You really were raised by wolves, weren't you?" "Yes, I was."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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9f10b38
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That's not the reason I didn't tell you," Royce snapped. "You just said it was!" "I know I did!" "So you're lying to me again?" "Call me a liar one more time--" "And what? What? You going to fight me?" "It's dark in here."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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03fd840
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By the way," Hadrian began, "what was the real reason you didn't tell me?" "Huh?" "A bit ago you said--" "Oh." Royce continued to study the walls. He seemed a little too preoccupied by them. Just as Hadrian was sure he would not answer, Royce said, "I didn't want you to leave." Hadrian almost laughed at the comment, thinking it was a joke, and then nearly bit his tongue. Thinking of Royce as anything but callous was difficult. Then he r..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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c0a4190
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I should have let you kill him." Silence. "You're nodding, aren't you?" "I didn't say a word." "Bastard," Hadrian grumbled. "You know the worst thing?" "I've got a pretty long list of bad things right now, and I'm not sure which one I would put on top. So I'll bite."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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bb08c8e
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The moment the two men entered, she leapt from her seat, knelt, and bowed her head. "Hey! Watch it, that's a new dress," Hadrian said with a smile. "Oh!" She scrambled to her feet, blushing, then curtsied and bowed her head once more. "What's she doing?" Royce whispered to Hadrian. "Not sure," he whispered back. "I'm trying to show the proper reverence, Your Lordships," she whispered to both of them while keeping her head down. "I'm sorry i..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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d335e0c
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Take my advice: live your life to the fullest. Breathe the air, taste the wine, kiss the girls, and always remember that the tales of another are never as wondrous as your own.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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a464153
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If it was that easy, your father would have told you himself. This-like any real truth-must be discovered on your own. Honestly, I have no idea what your father might have told you. I do know he felt you were too optimistic, too naive, and Royce is ... well ... not. At our last meeting, I spoke to him of Royce. It was Danbury's idea-his last wish-that if I ever found his wayward son, I should introduce the two of you. I think he felt Royce ..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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621b62c
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You're a bastard, you know that?" "Being an orphan, I have no idea, but you might be right. Now, can we eat?"
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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d49ed19
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But we are sailors--served on the Endeavor." "Are you, now?" the ship's master asked skeptically. "Let me see yer hands." The master examined Hadrian's palms, looking over the various calluses and rough places while grunting occasionally. "You must have spent most of your time in the galley. You've not done any serious rope work." He examined Royce's hands and raised an eyebrow at him. "Have you ever been on a ship before? It's certain you'..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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71a857b
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You didn't kill him, did you?" "No. I locked him in the chapel but it won't hold. Which reminds me, could I borrow your sword? You're not going to use it, anyway." Royce handed him the falchion sword that had been part of his castle guard disguise. Hadrian took the weapon, slipped it from its sheath, and weighed it in his hand. "I tell you, these swords are terrible. They are heavy and have all the balance of a drunken three-legged dog tryi..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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4092679
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Royce decided to try to reason with Hadrian. "Would you rather they find out and send a detachment to hunt us down?" "No, I just hate being the cause of an innocent man's death." "No one is innocent, my friend. And you aren't the cause ... You're more like"--he searched for words--"the grease beneath the skids." "Thanks. I feel so much better."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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a42123b
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You don't win battles with hate. Anger and hate can make you brave, make you strong, but they also make you stupid. You end up tripping over your own two feet.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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cb78cdb
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One truth doesn't refute another. Truth doesn't lie in the object, but in how we see it.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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c93eb1e
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The dwarf?" Malcolm paused and thought a moment. "Well, I wasn't referring to him specifically. But now that you bring it up, I should point out that you run the risk of painting a whole race with the same ugly brush, which could have unexpected consequences in the future." --
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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7aa0213
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Pain, fear, drudgery, boredom, lots of boredom--these are the things that build character. And you need to experience loss and remorse because falling down gives you the opportunity to rise once more. Overcoming challenges turns a self-centered infant into a caring adult. Empathy--the ability to understand and appreciate the feelings of others--is the cornerstone of civilization and the foundation of our relationships. Lack of it . . . well..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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c1e7ee3
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Never say never on any endeavor; it sounds like a dare to gods that don't care. If the likes of us prosper, fail or falter; it matters not while they roll with laughter on an alter, at our miserable, sad little lives.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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92493d2
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You were a mistake, you know," Flood told Frost as they plodded up the hill. "Mother didn't want you." Frost shook his head. "We're twins, you idiot."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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937df91
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We have but the roads that lie before our feet, and all too often our choices are limited to walking or standing still. And standing still gets us nowhere.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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862b708
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from arrogance came apathy, from apathy came ignorance, from ignorance came hatred, and from hatred, well...nothing good ever came from hatred.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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bb49681
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Instructors could teach the basic techniques and methods, but a mastery of mechanical knowledge could never make a person an artist. No one could teach creativity or invention. A spark needed to come from within. It must be something unique, something discovered by the individual, a leap of understanding, a burst of insight, the combining of common elements in an unexpected way.
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inspiration
creativity
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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8bc299e
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Troublemakers in times of peace become heroes in times of trouble.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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917267f
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Usually to make something truly great, you need to start from scratch, Royce remembered him saying. You need to break everything down, strip away the impurities, and it takes great heat to do that, but once you do, then the building can start. The result can seem miraculous, but the process--the process is always a bitch.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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e53849e
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The area was home to wolves, elk, deer, bears, outlaws, and anyone seeking solitude, such as the monks of the Winds Abbey.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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5a74ac2
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Happiness comes from moving toward something. When you run away, ofttimes you bring your misery with you." "Who"
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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954ec87
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Nothing good would come from anticipating failure.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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f76ad6c
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From now on, no talking," Royce told him, having to shout to be heard over the wind as he hoisted the coil over his head. Is that supposed to be a joke?"
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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fbd1276
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First and foremost, the chicken was flooded with bad omens in the same overwhelming manner that Suri had seen just before coming to Persephone. Little had changed on that score. Looking deeper, searching for specifics, she saw that all the bones agreed that the full moon would be the time of reckoning--the pivotal moment. The bones didn't say how because the bones didn't know, most likely because she was reading a chicken.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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7f9569d
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Wilmer's head was smiling at least." "What about Myra?" "You don't want to know." They spilled into another chamber,"
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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ebfae06
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Royce wanted to stab him,
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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9932450
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There wasn't any point in worrying about tomorrow. No one knew what it held - maybe nothing at all.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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b7d7c16
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I didn't want you to leave.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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09e4c9b
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Unlike all other living things, people were never content to just live in a place, to be part of it; they always wanted to change things, to make places conform. Maybe that was why the gods and spirits appeared so cruel--their way of saying, Quit it.
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Michael J. Sullivan |