Crown of Crystal Flame

But the Dark cannot claim what Light does not surrender.

Those screams had been growing steadily louder, as the torture masters of Eld worked their way down the line of new prisoners. A few chimes ago, however, the screams had fallen mysteriously silent. "Do you think the torture masters have tired themselves out?" Gaelen pondered with black humor. "More likely, we're next, and they've just gone to sharpen their blades," Tajik said. Locked up in the room with them, Farel gave a grunting laugh of amusement. "Could be. They've been using them enough." "You know," Gil announced, "as rescues go, I have to say this one pretty much scorches rultshart turds.

My friends... today, we are not Fey, Celierian, or dahl'reisen, but brothers, united and strong, each of us honorable and worthy warriors of Light. We are the steel no enemy can shatter. We are the magic no Dark power can defeat. We are the rock upon which evil breaks like waves. We are warriors of honor, champions of Light.

Bel jumped to his feet, rubbing his wrists where the shel'dor piercings had chafed. "All right, kem'jetos. First we save Rain and Ellysetta, then we kick some Elden ass.

Let love, not fear, be your guide.

Well, I guess you can really gut a man with your little finger." He flashed her a look so flat and cold and full of death, she knew he'd earned every awe and terrified word ever spoken about him. "That is the least of what I can do." (Shannisorran v'EnCelay aka Lord Death)

All great gifts come with a great price," Bel murmured.

What's this?" Primage Dur squinted at the glow of magic in the forest before them. Twelve shining warriors in red leather stood interspaced between a line of gnarled trees, blocking the advance of the Eld. "Who are they?" "Dalh'reisen," Azurel hissed. "Are they... singing?

« It means there is no ‘meant to be’ for you. There is only ‘choose to be.’ So choose wisely, Ellysetta Erimea. Much depends on it. »

Hiding from the monsters only made them stronger.

To a man standing on the eve of battle, even false hope is better than none.

You are a force rarely born to a world, something we Elves call leinah thaniel, the Song that sings all Songs, the Mirror that shows all Mirrors, the Change that changes everything.

There is no 'meant to be' for you. There is only 'choose to be.' So choose wisely, Ellysetta Erimea. Much depends on it.

There are no fates I cannot change, but this fate is one I cannot change without you. You are my strength, Rain. You are the courage I've always lacked." He gave a choked laugh, and tears glittered in his eyes. "If I am your courage, then why does this idea of yours leave me so frightened?

The Fey did nothing in half measures. That intensity of emotion was part of their appeal. It made them the fiercest warriors, the staunchest allies, the most passionate lovers. The most devoted mates.

Rain flung his head skyward and loosed a mighty roar of primal triumph. Death to those who endangered the Fey! Death to those who injured his friends, his brothers! He was Rainier-Eras, Feyreisen, and he was winged vengeance.

Lord Hawksheart said we should stay together," she reminded him. ' Do not leave your mate's side,' he said. 'You hold each other to the Light,' he said. And he said we could only defeat the Darkness together." "He said many things. Most of which I don't trust." The safest place for me is at your side. Whatever happens, we face it together." His eyes closed and he nodded. "Doreh Shabeila de." So shall it be.

And though I will never forgive myself for what I did, every day when the doubts creep in, I remind myself that the gods made me for their own purpose. That no matter how seemingly dark and terrible that purpose was, they trusted me to fulfill it. And I remind myself every day, that somehow, I must have proven myself worthy in their eyes because they sent me you, my soul's mate and the beacon that drew me back from Shadow.