“
If this hast been done to language, I fear to know the fate of all else.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2))
“
Hadrian leapt to his feet. Royce was already up.
“Don’t bother,” Esrahaddon told them. “She’s dead, and there’s nothing you can do. The monster cannot be harmed by your weapons. It—”
The two were out the door.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2))
“
The greatest minds and the most advanced engineering went into its creation. They carved the prison out of solid rock from the face of the
mountains just north of the lake. They sealed it not only with metal, stone, and wood but also with ancient and powerful enchantments. In the end, when it was finished, it was believed to be the most secure prison in the world.”
“They must have had some really nasty criminals back then to go to so much trouble,” Hadrian said.
“No,” Myron replied matter-of-factly, “just one.”
“One?” Alric asked. “An entire prison designed to hold just one man?”
“His name was Esrahaddon.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2))
“
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 provide me with perhaps a more cryptic answer?”
Royce smiled. “I see why he does it now. It’s rather fun.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4))
“
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 and pits. Hadrian got only a dozen yards before falling on his face.
“Stay behind me,” Royce told him.
“I thought we were spreading out?”
“That’s before I remembered you’re blind.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2))
“
Were you really that powerful before?” Esrahaddon showed him a wicked smile. “Oh, my dear boy, you couldn’t begin to imagine.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2))
“
he locked the door and waited for you two to find the body.” Esrahaddon paused. “That cannot be right you—two—to?” He rolled his eyes and shook his head. “If this hast been done to language, I fear to know the fate of all else.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2))
“
What bothered Ezra the most was that destroying the tree took less effort than reversing the river or raising a wind. This was the first true lesson he had taught himself: Creation was impossible, alteration challenging, but destruction came naturally to the world.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))
“
They watched each other, staring across the green. Royce walked forward, crossing the distance between them in silence. Two ghosts meeting at a crossroad.
“It’s been a while—Esra is it? Or should I call you Mr. Haddon?”
The man tilted his head, lifting his eyes. “I am delighted to see you as well, Royce.”
“How do you know my name?”
“I’m a wizard, or did you miss that from our last meeting?”
Royce paused and smiled. “You know, you’re right; I might have. Perhaps you should write it down for me lest I forget again.”
Esrahaddon raised an eyebrow. “That’s a bit harsh.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Theft of Swords (The Riyria Revelations, #1-2))
“
What about happiness?” he had countered. “Can you have too much?” “Yes. Happiness is merely a state when everything is as it should be. But if everything is always perfect, there is no challenge, no reason to live, no purpose to exist. Happiness is the reward for struggle, and without struggle there can be no growth. What does not grow, Ezra, is dead — or should be. Still, you must guard against indulgence.
”
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Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))
“
Men were big, brave, strong, and they always knew what to do. Ezra was small, weak, cowardly, and ignorant of everything.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))
“
What do you see before you? What else could you? I am a child who has everything. But honestly, I would trade places with just about anyone. For good or ill, I'll never know freedom, never be allowed to take a chance and experience accomplishment. Never really know my own worth, or worthlessness. You know, never being allowed to fall down steals any gratification or confidence from standing up.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))
“
Too much will create a thirst. Quenching that thirst makes you drunk. Being drunk invites greater excess. Soon your judgment is lost, and power becomes your only desire. That’s when it happens.” “What happens?” “You change into the worst version of yourself, and eventually lose even that, until all you are is a shadow.
”
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Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))
“
You’re young, Kendel,” Andreas said. “You haven’t witnessed what we have. The Cenzarium has long sought to take control. They don’t accept any kind of authority, except their own. They refuse to take a proper oath to the emperor — only to the empire. They don’t believe in the gods, not even in Novron. They want to abolish not only the Teshlor Guild, but the legions, leaving the empire helpless.” “How can order be maintained without soldiers?” “Oh! They say the solution to that is to educate everyone. They profess that only the unlearned commit crimes — out of ignorance — and that educated men will always do what is right. All we need to do is teach the people right from wrong, and crime will disappear!” Andreas rolled his eyes. “The truth is,” he resumed, “that they want to teach us all to read so they can use words to control everyone. Then they will invite the Fhrey back to be our overlords.
”
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Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))
“
They’re evil, you know.” “Evil?” Esrahaddon said, surprised. “That’s an odd term for a Cenzar to use. I didn’t know we believed in evil. I thought we understood that people acted badly merely as a result of not knowing better.” “True,” he said. “Problem is, everyone knows better than everyone else.” Offman frowned. “Wish I knew that listening weave.” “Wouldn’t help,” Esrahaddon said. “All three of them are runed.” “Oh, right.” He scowled. “Good point.” Isilpor-Sond gave Esrahaddon a wink. “Still, if there is true evil in the world, we’re looking at it,” Offman declared. “Ignorance, hate, paranoia, and the absolute conviction that it is good and right to force others to accept their values.
”
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Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))
“
Esrahaddon was certain he was back there treating Elinya with a level of respect she’d never known. The daughter of Hal Haston was probably suffering a nosebleed from the height of the pedestal he was putting her on. And she deserves every inch.
”
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Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))
“
Culture, she mused, is like a drop of ink on a wet page. It splatters and bleeds, but never far. What does spread isn’t the original black but rather some form of gray, as the native paper absorbs the ink but never fully surrenders to it. The ink despises the loss of true color, and the paper hates the change forced upon it.
”
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Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))
“
I’m not a philosopher, but I know that worth isn’t found in a sword or the skill to wield it. Worthiness comes from the heart, from courage in the face of adversity, from fighting a battle you know you can’t win with dignity.” He looked at the pressed grass where he had fallen. “Sometimes you fight and lose because you must. Doing so is right and good and worth it. I learned that from Master Rawlings, the closest thing I had to a real father.
”
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Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))
“
Foolish is the raindrop that believes it chooses where to land.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))
“
Happiness is merely a state when everything is as it should be. But if everything is always perfect, there is no challenge, no reason to live, no purpose to exist. Happiness is the reward for struggle, and without struggle there can be no growth.
”
”
Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))
“
Wrong, right - these words have no meaning except in the minds of men. They are but illusions. There is only what is and what isn‘t, what has been and what will be.
”
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Michael J. Sullivan (Esrahaddon (The Rise and Fall, #3))