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4a44e56
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A--ris--ta?" Degan asked, sounding horse. "What is it?" "A rat bit me," she said, once again shocked by her own rasping voice. "Jasper does that if--" Gaunt coughed and hacked. After a moment, he spoke again. "If he thinks you're dead or too weak to fight." "Jasper?" "I call him that, but I've also named the stones in my cell." "I only counted mine," Arista said. "Two hundred and thirty-four," Degan replied instantly. "I have two hundred an..
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humor
prisoners
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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b4ef222
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The smallest of the children fascinated Myron, and he watched them in amazement. They were like short drunk people, loud and usually dirty, but all were surprisingly cute and looked at him in much the same way that he looked at them.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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9bdd33d
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She put her hand on his shoulder and gave a soft squeeze. She did not know what else to do. First her mother, then her father and Fanen, and finally Hilfred--they were all gone. Mauvin was slipping away as well. The boy who loved his sword more than Wintertide presents, sweet chocolate cake, or swimming on a hot day refused to touch it anymore. The eldest son of Count Pickering, who had once challenged the sun to a duel because it had raine..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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a71454a
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I'm not going to kill these people," Hadrian said. "They're nice people." "How do you know?" "I talked to them." "You talked to me too." "You're not nice people." "I know, I know, I have those wolf eyes that good old Sebastian warned you about. Remember him? The nice man who, along with his nice lady friend, was planning to slit your throat?" "He was right about you at least."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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d5e05fa
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The thing about the old is that we never change so much as the young. We slip in degrees, adding rings like trees--a new wrinkle here, a shade less color there, but the young transform like caterpillars into butterflies. They become whole new people as if overnight.
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youth
change
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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4aab802
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Royce cast a harsh and anxious look at the prince. "What?" Alric asked. "I thought we discussed the importance of keeping a low profile." "Oh, please." The prince waved a hand at the thief. "I don't think it will get me killed if this monk knows I'm the king. Look at him. I've seen drowned rats more formidable."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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94e0dee
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Sometimes the price of dreams is achieving them." Arista"
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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9df92cd
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Wake up, buddy," Royce whispered, nudging him. Hadrian was damp with sweat. "About time you got here. I was starting to think you ran off and left me." "I considered it, but the thought of Magnus as my best man kinda forced the issue. Nice haircut, by the way. It looks good on you--very knightly." --
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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3d333ca
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Hadrian gestured toward the sentinel. "So, what's going on between you and Thranic, anyway? He appears to really hate you--even more than most people." Royce did not look in his direction. He sat nonchalantly, pretending to ignore the world, as if they were the only two aboard. "Funny thing, that. I never met him, never heard of him until this voyage, and yet I know him rather well, and he knows me." "Thank you, Mr. Esrahaddon. Can you prov..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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9bc723e
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Life is all about conflict. The pursuit of happiness--that's life, not the achievement. It's all about the journey, my friend.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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79b4074
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Spring had let go of Winter's hand and was reaching out to Summer
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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a29080c
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Power doesn't equal worth. Wisdom is a far greater virtue.
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virtue
worth
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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981b8c8
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After catching an arrow in the back and passing out in Tom the Feather's barnyard, Hadrian had woken up on a comfortable bed surrounded by lovely women. He thought he'd died and regretted every time he'd ever cursed Maribor's name.
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prostitutes
repentance
paradise
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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b9ed41b
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Hadrian discovered that the most fascinating thing about plummeting in total darkness wasn't the odd sense of euphoria instilled from the free fall or the abject terror derived from anticipating sudden death, but that he had the opportunity to contemplate both.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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9e9fb2e
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Just--don't--move," Guy said with his hands spread out in front of him. He looked as if he were trying to catch a wild horse, and did not advance, dismount, or draw his sword. Just then the portcullis dropped. "There's no escape," Guy assured him. From a nearby door, a handful of guards trotted toward Hadrian with their swords drawn. "Stop!" Guy ordered, raising his hand abruptly. "Don't go near him. Just fan out." The men waiting in line l..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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14a3825
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There were times Hadrian wondered if Royce was actually a cat that some mischievous witch had turned into a man and then lost track of. The similarities were too numerous to be coincidental. An irritatingly-superior aloof nature, fastidiousness, a habit of roaming at night, and his general propensity for solitude were all evidence.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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6db4926
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Alric! Stop it!" Pickering snapped at him. "You mustn't let the men see you crying!" Fury flared in Alric, and he spun on the count. "No? No? Look at them! They are dying for me. They are dying on my order! I say they do have a right to see their king! They all have a right to see their king!" Alric wiped the tears from his cheeks and gathered his reins. "I'm tired of this. I'm tired of having my face put in the dirt! I won't stand it. I'm ..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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4a1c3f9
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Magic is a little like playing the fiddle. It's damn hard to do without hands.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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f9628bf
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That living has no value - it's what you do with life that gives it worth.
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reality
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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b10df62
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When faced with certain death, running is sensible, but I think a man can make an unhealthy habit of it. Running can take on an importance of its own and become an excuse to avoid living a normal life.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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d06eede
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Fulfillment comes from striving to succeed, to survive by your own wits and strength.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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3ef41ac
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It doesn't take much to please you, does it, Myron?" "Anton Bulard once wrote, 'When you expect nothing from the world- not the light of the sun, the wet of water, nor the air to breathe- everything is a wonder and every moment a gift."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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8ee073c
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Royce eyed Hadrian with a skeptical expression. "He'll never manage the climb." "Climb?" Hadrian asked. "The treasure room is at the top of the Crown Tower," Arcadius explained. Even Hadrian had heard of that. Even farmers in Hintindar knew of the Crown Tower. Supposedly it was the leftover corner of some ancient but legendary castle. "I'm in good shape. A few stairs aren't going to kill me." "The tower is heavily guarded in every way,..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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6e6ac4b
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That was why nights were so frightening. Without the distraction of light, the doors to other senses were unlocked.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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e47810f
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Royce traveled wrapped in his cloak with the weight of the rain collapsing the hood around his head--not a good sign for Thranic and Bernie. Until then, Royce had played the part of the good little sailor, but with the reemergence of the hood, and the loss of his white kerchief, Hadrian knew that role had ended. They had not spoken much since the attack. Not surprisingly, Royce was in no mood for idle discussion. Hadrian guessed that by now..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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58bdf8a
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Royce is a survivor. You've never seen the beast, and he's lived his whole life in its stomach, yet managed not to be digested.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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4164e8d
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How are you speaking?" Gryndal asked. "With my mouth," she said. "Does everyone play that game?" --
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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651ecda
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Royce watched the courier ride out of sight before taking off his imperial uniform. Turning to face Hadrian, he said, "Well, that wasn't so hard." "Will?" Hadrian asked as the two slipped into the forest. Royce nodded. "Remember yesterday you complained that you'd rather be an actor? I was giving you a part: Will, the Imperial Checkpoint Sentry. I thought you did rather well with the role." "You know, you don't need to mock all my ideas." H..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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17c292e
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Royce found Hadrian splitting logs near the stockade gate. He was naked to the waist except for the small silver medallion that dangled from his neck as he bent forward to place another wedge. He had a solid sweat worked up along with a sizable pile of wood. "Been meddling, have you?" Royce asked, looking around at the hive of activity. "You must admit they didn't have much in the way of a defense plan," Hadrian said, pausing to wipe the sw..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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3419d2d
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You alive?" Hadrian asked. "If I were dead, I don't think there'd be geese." Royce tilted his head up to catch the arrow of birds heading south. "But maybe they're evil geese." "Evil geese?" "We have no idea what goes on in the water fowl world. They might have been a gang that stole eggs or something." "I'm guessing you have a fever."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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59e7598
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Dear Maribor, you're heavy," Hadrian growled as he untied the rope. "No, I'm not. You're wounded." Royce moved his hand and felt the blood-soaked clothes. "God, we're bleeding like a slit throat." "You're bleeding more than me," Hadrian said. "Oh, does that make you feel better?" "Actually it does."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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af0bbbe
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Always remember that the tales of another are never as wondrous as your own.
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life
life-experience
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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2183dfa
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Alric looked up at the thief with a scowl. "I just want to say for the record that as far as royal protectors go, you're not very good." "It's my first day," Royce replied dryly."
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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fe82f34
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I hate dwarves.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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f547446
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Although men were strong like rocks, any stone could crack. Women were more like water. They nurtured life and could shape the hardest granite through unrelenting determination.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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caf7fd1
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Believing the worst of people, of the world in general, was a trap too easy to fall into. Hadrian had fought beside soldiers who'd developed similar views. Such men saw evil and virtue as concepts of naivete. In their minds, there was no such thing as murder, an killing was just something you did when circumstances warranted. A terrible way to live. What good is a world - what is the point of living - if generosity and kindness are myths?
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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7719a80
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I notice you didn't include a blade with your new attire," Royce said. "Not even a little jeweled dagger." "Lords no." Albert looked appalled. "I don't fight." "I thought all nobles learned sword fighting." Royce looked to Hadrian. "I thought so too." "Nobles with competent fathers perhaps. I spent my formative years at my aunt's at Huffington Manor. She held a daily salon, where a dozen noble ladies came to discuss all manner of philosophi..
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stereotypes
humor
noble
fighting
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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7ac995d
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Do you think the Gilarabrywn knows we're still in here?" "Esrahaddon said it was intelligent, so I presume it can count." "Then it will come back and find us. We have to reach the castle. The distance across the open is about--what? Two hundred feet?" "About that," Royce confirmed. "I guess we can hope it's still munching on Millie. Ready?" "Run spread out so it can't get both of us. Go." The grass was slick with dew and filled with stumps ..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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311652d
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That's--why, that's wonderful!" Hadrian burst out as he leapt to his feet and hugged her. "Congratulations! He didn't even say anything. We'll be like family! It's about time he got around to this. I would have asked for your hand myself years ago, except I knew if I did, I'd wake up dead the next morning"
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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bf93d0a
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The gods don't give a gift that precious to someone so undeserving." "Are you my priest now?" Hadrian stared at him. Royce looked back down at the stream below. "She doesn't even know me. What if she doesn't like me? Few people do." "She might not at first. Maribor knows I didn't. But you have a way of growing on a person." He smiled. "You know, like lichen or mold." Royce looked up and scowled. "Okay, forget what I said. Definitely steer c..
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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1e0bb6c
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Arcadius was nothing but an old hack, what Cenzars used to refer to as a faquin, an elven term for the most inept magician--knowledge without talent.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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be07675
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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.
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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46b2d6a
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If anyone had asked Royce Melborn what he hated most at that moment, he would've said dogs. Dogs and dwarves topped his list, both equally despised for having so much in common--each was short, vicious, and inexcusably hairy.
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dwarves
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Michael J. Sullivan |
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bdc57bd
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Reason, truth, innocence" --Royce sat back against the wall and folded his arms--"unicorns, pixies, and dragons; you're not that young to believe in such things. How is it that you fancy yourself a resident of a make-believe world." "I told you. At this point, it's a choice." "It's not. It's fooling yourself. I can decide between eating fish or pork, but I can only pretend to eat unicorn meat. I can't actually eat a unicorn. The world is th..
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Michael J. Sullivan |