Luck in the Shadows

Though you thrust a knife at my eyes, I will not flinch.

You hardly know me. Why do you want me to come with you?" "Who knows? Perhaps you remind me just a bit of—" "Someone you used to know?" Alec interjected skeptically. "Someone I used to be.

Still clutching each other by the arm, they turned to watch the last stones plummet over the edge. “I don't know how many times a day I can stand to watch you almost die,” Seregil gasped. “Twice is my limit,” croaked Alec, sinking to his knees.

Cursed be the weapon that tastes the blood of a friend.

They have a saying among them: 'When whores are few, a boy will do.

A Skalan trader tried to tell me the streets of his cities were paved with gold," Alec went on. "I didn't believe him, though. He was the one who tried to buy me from father. I was only eight or nine. I could never figure out what he wanted me for." "Really?" Seregil lifted a noncommittal eyebrow.

But is it an honest living?" Alec persisted, clinging to his last shred of resolve. "Most of those who employ me are great lords or nobles." "It sounds like a pretty dangerous line of work," Alec remarked, aware that once again Seregil had side-stepped the question. "That's the spice of it, though," cried Seregil. "And you can end up rich!" "Or on the end of a rope?" Seregil chuckled. "Have it your way.

At first it was simply that the spells would not come off. Or they would, but with the most unexpected results. He would try to move a small object, a salt cellar; it would overturn. He would try again and the salt would burst into flames. On the third try it might fly at his head, or mine. One day he attempted a simple messenger spell, and in the space of five minutes every spider, centipede, and earwig in the place came swarming in under the door. We began conducting his training outside after that. “Attempting to levitate, he blew up an entire grove of trees in the park. A simple summoning, butterflies I think, and all the horses went crazy for an hour. Things soon reached such a state that whenever anything unusual happened within the Orëska grounds, we got the blame for it. “Oh, but it was frustrating! In spite of all the blunders, all the destruction, I knew the power was there. I could feel it, even when he could not. For he did succeed now and then, but so erratically! Poor Seregil was devastated. I saw him brought to tears just trying to light a candle. Then there was the time he turned himself into a brick.

These are Plenimaran marines, and there's not much most of them aren't capable of, if you take my meaning." "I don't think I do," said Alec, puzzled by Seregil's tone. "Then try this. They have a saying among them: 'When whores are few, a boy will do.' Got that?" "Oh." Alec felt his face go hot.

Come on, Seregil, let's show him how it's done." "I'm busy," replied Seregil, working on a tricky bit of fingering. Moving to stand over him, Micum groweled, "Put away that twopenny toy, you tit-sucking coistril, and show me the length of your blade!" Seregil laid his harp aside with a sigh. "Dear me, that sounds rather like a challenge-" Lunging swiftly past Micum, he sprang to his feet and drew his sword, then swung a flat-bladed attack at Micum's forearm.

I want to come with you, but first you’ve got to give me a few straight answers.” “It’s against my nature, but I’ll try.

Who is that?” Alec asked, puzzled by the man’s silence. “That’s Rhiri. He’s deaf, mute, and absolutely loyal. Best servant I ever found.

They have no awe left in them for the little marvels. All their wonder has turned to appetite.

I can’t think of anything that means less to me than money; it’s too easy to come by.

Ordinary words simply preserve ideas. Still, you have to be careful. Words can lie, or be misunderstood. Words don’t have magic, but they have power.

Luck in the Shadows, Alec; you don't question it, you just give thanks and pray it doesn't run out!

Honor's a damned expensive thing if you're dead when the battle's won!

The instruction of inexperienced young men is one of life’s unrivaled pleasures.

knowledge is as powerful, in its own way, as any magic, and that magic without knowledge is worse than useless; it is dangerous.

Put away that twopenny toy, you tit-sucking coistril, and show me the length of your blade!