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| Link | Quote | Stars | Tags | Author |
| 82a89fa | Your brother is a dear, and I do love him for the way he never fears to tell the truth. But he really doesn't understand some things, does he?" "No," I squeaked. My voice seemed to come from someone else. Nimiar ran her fingers along the harp strings and cocked her head, listening to the sounds they produced. "No one," she said, "--well, no ordinary person-sits down to a harp and plays perfectly. It takes time and training." I nodded stupid.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| de9f176 | We saw Bran and Shevraeth only at dinner, and that seldom enough, for they were often away. When the weather was particularly bad, they might be gone for several days. On the evenings we were alone, Nee and I would curl up in her room or mine, eating from silver trays and talking. Branaric and the Marquis managed to be around on most days when the weather permitted gatherings in the old garrison courtyard for swordfighting practice. Even th.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 8176e10 | I don't know what instructions Nimiar gave her seamstress in private. I had expected a modest trunk of nice fabric, enough for a gown or two in the current fashions. What returned, though, just over a week later, was a hired wagon bearing enough stuff to outfit the entire village, plus three determined young journey-seamstresses who came highly recommended and who were ready to make their fortunes. "Good," Nee said, when we had finished int.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| cf98cba | To resume--and we'd better hurry, or they'll be down here clamoring for our company before their supper goes cold--Lord Vidanric has been working very hard ever since the end of the war. Too hard, some say. He came to Athanarel sick and has been ill off and on since then, for he seldom sleeps. He's either in the saddle, or else his lamps are burning half the night in his wing of the Residence. He's here on his mother's orders, to rest. He a.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 956624b | Love is one of the simplest of what we call the Mysteries, and yet the strongest, like air: the greatest treasure cannot buy it nor the smartest thief steal it nor the most powerful emperor command it. And like air, it freely fills to infinity whatever is open to it. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 3f24b4c | We ended up downstairs in the summer parlor, whose great glassed doors would in a few months look out on a fine garden but now gave onto a slushy pathway lined by barren trees and rosebushes. Still sitting where it had for nearly three decades was my mother's harp. As soon as Nimiar saw the instrument, she gave a gasp and pressed her fingertips to her mouth. "'Tis a Mandarel," she murmured reverently, her face flushed with excitement. "Do y.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 1fdda4c | I think you should wear your hair down," Nee said, looking me over. "For a dinner? I might kneel on it," I protested. She smiled. "We'll dine empire style, for Prince Alaerec will be there." I remembered from my visit to the Renselaeus palace that Shevraeth's father had been wounded in the Pirate Wars many years before. He could walk, but only with difficulty; and he sat in chairs. "So wear your hair bound with these." She picked up an enam.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 3d1d267 | The grandeur around us was a silent testimony to wealth and power. The air was scented with a complex mixture of exotic flowers and the faintest trace of tanglewood incense, denoting peace and kindred spirits. "Easy over the fence," Deric said softly beside me. We were already at the parlor. I suppressed a grin at the riding term, then stepped forward to curtsy to the Marquise. "My dear Countess," Lady Arthal said, smiling as she pressed my.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 81e317d | Ah, my dear," Princess Elestra said to me in her fluting voice--that very same voice I remembered so well from my escape from Athanarel the year before. "How delighted we are to have you join us here. Delighted! I understand there will be a ball in your honor tomorrow, hosted by my nephew Russav." She nodded toward the other side of the room, where the newly arrived Duke of Savona stood in the center of a small group. "He seldom bestirs him.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| a64c841 | Then, without warning, notes from a single flute floated as if down on a breeze, and with a quick snap of wrists the dancers twitched the ropes into soaring, billowing squares of gauze. A gasp from the watchers greeted the sudden change, as the gauzy material rippled and arched and curled through the air, expertly manipulated by the dancers until it seemed the scarves were alive and another kind of dance altogether took place above the huma.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| adcf5e9 | When the meal was over, the Princess invited everyone to yet another room, promising music after hot chocolate. Dazzled by the glint of jewels and the gleam of silk in the firelight, I moved slowly until I found myself face-to-face with Princess Elestra. "Has my son shown you the library yet, my child?" she asked, her gently waving fan flicking up for just a moment at the angle of Confidential Invitation. "No," I said, instantly ill at ease.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 1162062 | I tried to think of some sort of politeness to speak out, but then Bran held up his glass and said, "To my sister! Everything you've done is better than I thought possible. Though," he lowered his glass and blinked at me," why are you dressed like that? The servants look better! Why haven't you bought new duds?" "What's the use?" I said, feeling my face burn again. "There's still so much work to be done, and how can I do it in a fancy gown?.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| d8a0cdb | Though few had seen him go, his leaving seemed to constitute a kind of subtle signal, for slowly, as white wore on, my guests slipped away, many of them in pairs. Elenet left with the Orbanith family, all but her laughing. The Renselaeuses came all three to thank me formally for a splendid--memorable--evening, and then departed in a group. After they left, I felt tiredness pressing on my shoulders and eyelids; and though I stood there, ba.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 38a71ba | Thank you for showing me the library, Your Highness," I said. "I hope you will find time for exploring in here during your stay at Athanarel," she replied, leading the way to the doors. She was kind and unthreatening; and because we were alone, I took a chance. "Did you know I was using your carriage to escape that night?" I blurted. My words sounded sudden, and awkward, and my face burned. She sighed, looking down at her hand on the door'.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 56d3541 | May I ask you a personal question?" She looked up in query and made the graceful little gesture that I had learned was an invitation. "Isn't Shevraeth a friend of yours?" "Yes," she said cautiously. "Then why the fan, and the careful words when you asked about your friend Elenet?" Nee set her cup down, her brow slightly furrowed. "We are friends to a degree...Though we all grew up at Court, I was never one of his intimates, nor even one of .. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 247d3cd | One morning when we three were alone, Nee leaned forward and said, "Elen, you've been closeted with Vidanric a lot, I've noticed. Has he said aught about a coronation? I confess it makes me nervous to have it not decided--as if they are waiting for something terrible to happen." Elenet's expression did not change, but high on her thin cheeks appeared a faint flush. "I trust we will hear something soon," she murmured. And she turned the conv.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| fd8508c | I promised myself that next time Shevraeth tried to talk to me, I'd listen, and even if he insulted me, my family, and my land, I'd keep my tongue between my teeth. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| e721306 | Well, if he wants to be king, he'll just plain have to get used to questions and toadies and all the rest of it," I said. Remembering the conversation at dinner and wondering if I'd made an idiot of myself, I added crossly, "I don't have any sympathy at all. In fact, I wish he hadn't come up here. If he needed rest from the fatigue of taking over a kingdom, why couldn't he go to that fabulous palace in Renselaeus? Or to Shevraeth, which I'l.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 0f8f5cd | Well, if he wants to be king, he'll just plain have to get used to questions and toadies and all the rest of it," I said. Remembering the conversation at dinner and wondering if I'd made an idiot of myself, I added crossly, "I don't have any sympathy at all. In fact, I wish he hadn't come up here. If he needed rest from the fatigue of taking over a kingdom, why couldn't he go to that fabulous palace in Renselaeus? Or to Shevraeth, which I'l.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| cc34e9d | Well, if he wants to be king, he'll just plain have to get used to questions and toadies and all the rest of it," I said. Remembering the conversation at dinner and wondering if I'd made an idiot of myself, I added crossly, "I don't have any sympathy at all. In fact, I wish he hadn't come up here. If he needed rest from the fatigue of taking over a kingdom, why couldn't he go to that fabulous palace in Renselaeus? Or to Shevraeth, which I'l.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 07bf1e5 | But to return to your question, Vidanric's tendency to keep his own counsel ought to be reassuring as far as people hopping out with embarrassing words are concerned. If I were you--and I know it's so much easier to give advice than to follow it--I'd sit down with him, when no one else is at hand, and talk it out." Just the thought of seeking him out for a private talk made me shudder. "I'd rather walk down the mountain in shoes full of sna.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 6ec9b32 | Occasionally the rain lifted briefly, enough to enable me to see ahead when I topped the gentle rises that undulated along the road. And after a time I realized that though no suspicious riders were approaching, for I had passed nothing but farmers and artisans going into the city, I was matching the pace of a single rider some distance before me. Twice, three times, I spotted the lone figure, cresting a hill just as I did. No bright colors.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 7f53455 | Looking down the south road again, Meliara?" The voice startled me. I turned and saw my oldest friend, Oria, peering in around the door tapestry. Though I was the countess and she the servant, we had grown up together, scampering barefoot every summer through the mountains, sleeping out under the stars, and dancing to the music of the mysterious Hill Folk. Until last winter, I'd only had Oria's cast-off clothing to wear; now I had a couple .. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 31e183a | Speeches easy to young speakers are generally very difficult to old listeners. | Anthony Trollope | ||
| dab012d | If everyone who compromised with Galdran out of fear, or greed, or even indifference, were to be penalized," Shevraeth went on, "Athanarel would soon be empty and a lot of people sent home with little to do but use their wealth and power toward recovering their lost prestige." "More war," I said, and thinking again of my secret cause, I ventured a question. "Do you agree with Mistress Ynizang's writings about the troubles overseas and how t.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| aff17a2 | Shevraeth himself was there to bid us farewell--a courtesy I could have done without. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| c5ad762 | Gossip, I have discovered, is seldom spread about people who find happiness or contentment. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 045aee9 | His readiness to answer my questions caused my mind to glitter with new ideas, like a fountain in the sunlight. I was suddenly eager to try my own theories of government, formed during my half year of reading. I launched a barrage of questions related to the merits of an all volunteer army paid from crown revenues, versus each noble being responsible for a certain number of trained and equipped soldiers should the need arise. To each questi.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 0034dcf | You've left me behind. What have you been reading, Mel? Life! You should go up to Erev-li-Erval and help take the field against the Djurans. Unless you're planning another revolution here!" "Were you thinking of taking the field against me?" the Marquis addressed me in his usual drawl. Aghast, I choked on a bite of food. Then I saw the gleam of humor in his eyes, and realized he'd been joking. "But I'm not," I squawked. "Not at all! I just.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 53f97fe | Yes," Bran said carelessly, indicating his two guests. "Nimiar--and Danric there, whom you already know." He frowned. "Life, sister, why are there trees in here? Aren't there enough of 'em outside?" I gritted my teeth on a really nasty retort, my face burning with embarrassment. The lady spoke for the first time. "But Branaric, you liked them well enough at my home, and I think it a very pretty new fashion indeed." She turned to me, and I g.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 21608a5 | A small daily task, if it be really daily, will beat the labors of a spasmodic Hercules. | Anthony Trollope | ||
| 1a348af | Three hours a day will produce as much as a man ought to write. | Anthony Trollope | ||
| 5f869e4 | PROLOGUE Soon after Father's death we discovered the latest, and worst, of King Galdran's acts: He was going to betray our Covenant with the mysterious and magical Hill Folk in order to harvest and sell the fabulous colorwood trees, which grow nowhere else in the world. The forests have been home to the Hill Folk since long before humans settled in Remalna. The Covenant made with the Hill Folk centuries before our time guaranteed that so lo.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 13d460d | Speaking of busy, what make you of this?" I held out the letter. Oria took it and frowned slightly as she read. When she reached the end, she said, "It seems straightforward enough, except...Merindar. Isn't she some relation to the old king?" "Sister," I said. "The Marquise of Merindar." "Isn't she a princess?" "While they ruled, the Merindars only gave the title 'prince' or 'princess' to their chosen heir. She carried the family title, whi.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 145e89f | I'd been proud of the parlor, over which I had spent a great deal of time. The ceiling had inlaid tiles in the same summer-sky blue that comprised the main color of the rugs and cushions and the tapestry on the wall opposite the newly glassed windows. Now I sneaked a look at the Marquis, dreading an expression of amusement or disdain. But his attention seemed to be reserved for the lady as he led her to the scattering of cushions before the.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 47abe18 | He mounted behind me and we started off, while I indulged myself with the image of grabbing that stick and conking him right across his smiling face. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 9670bff | How about writing to your brother?" Oria asked at last. "Bran is good, and kind, and as honest as the stars are old," I said, "but the more I read, the more I realize that he has no political sense at all. He takes people as he finds them. I don't think he'd have the first notion about what makes a good or bad ruler." Oria nodded slowly. "In fact, I suspect he would not even like being asked." She gave me a straight look. "There is one pers.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| c558c79 | The Duke of Grumareth was always a fool and will always be a fool," Shevraeth said, so lightly it was hard to believe he wasn't joking." | Sherwood Smith | ||
| e7cfdcb | But I'll still be betrothed. Some fun if he's a snob, and most of those court boys are snobs. And what if Uncle says I have to live with the boy's family? At least if he joins ours, I can stick him in the farthest room and pretend he isn't here. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 0cf931a | Innon and I, who were seated side by side at the far end of the long table from Uncle Darian, tried to outdo each other in snobbish manners. I don't even know how it started. I was conscientiously lifting my punch glass, curling my pinky, and I caught his eye. Then he did it, too, but his pinky was much more curled--and the game was on. Father was so pleased he smiled at us. What a disgusting pair Innon and I made! Peitar's eyes narrowed wi.. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 9a044ea | Lady Meliara?" There was a tap outside the door, and Oria's mother, Julen, lifted the tapestry. Oria and I both stared in surprise at the three long sticks she carried so carefully. "More Fire Sticks?" I asked. "In midwinter?" "Just found them outside the gate." Julen laid them down, looked from one of us to the other, and went out. Oria grinned at me. "Maybe they're a present. You did save the Covenant last year, and the Hill Folk know it... | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 89dc421 | Our penultimate lot, ladies and gentlemen, exudes an air of mystical melancholy. The tooth itself is crocodilian, but its aura is almost angelic. Note the curve; it is like a wing in ascent. Its owner, Mr. Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges, was a man of average height. His short, thin legs supported a torso, which was at once solid and svelte. His head was the size of a small coconut, and he had a slender, flexible neck. He was a pantheis.. | Valeria Luiselli | ||
| c867064 | Out of the first carriage stepped Bran, his hair loose and shining under a rakish plumed hat. He was dressed in a magnificent tunic and glossy high blackweave riding boots, with a lined cloak slung over one shoulder. He grinned at me--then he turned and, with a gesture of practiced grace that made me blink, handed out a lady. I gawked in dismay at the impressive hat and muffling cloak that spanned a broad skirt, and looked down at myself, .. | Sherwood Smith | ||
| 76d93d5 | No matter how far diverged by their singular histories, every human culture in the Thousand Suns resonates to its tragic echoes. | Sherwood Smith |