Spellslinger

I’m a woman, kid. You probably haven’t met one before, coming as you do from this backward place, but it’s like a man only smarter and with bigger balls.

First thing you learn wandering the long roads, kid. Everyone thinks they're the hero of their own story.

We all got ugliness inside us, Kellen. Yours is worse? Then fight harder. Figure it out. But don’t you ever pretend you don’t have a choice.

History is written by the victors,’ she said, ‘but the truth has a way of revealing itself.

When you see the world outside your home town, outside the walls of what you were brought up to see, then you discover that you almost never know if you're dong the right thing. One action, brave and true, leads to war and destruction. Another, craven and greedy, leads to peace and prosperity.

Your ancient enemy is basically just a really, really big squirrel

Squirrel cats, it turns out, are sarcastic assholes.

I’m afraid there is a great deal of difference between not doing something and not being responsible for it.

Every society has atrocities in its past, Kellen. Do you think the Daroman empire was built on nothing but courage and military brilliance?

All right, you hairless skinbag sons of bitches. Which one of you wants it first? - Reichis

Chitra ignored the question, instead collapsing next to Reichis. She extended a paw and placed it on his muzzle. “He will be so full of anger, this one. You must be his caution, as he will be your courage. You will teach him when to flee and he will teach you when to fight.

Back at the oasis you told me that one day I'd figure out I was special... I'm done waiting. - Nephenia

I stared in awe as Ferius shuffled the deck, her hands moving smoothly and confidently as the cards flipped around her fingers. It was like watching a master mage performing a dazzling series of somatic shapes one after the other. It was like magic.

I suppose "cartographer" is as good a description as any, but the Argosi do not draw maps of places, but rather of people... cultures.' She tapped the deck in my hand. 'You understand the meaning of the suits? ... look more closely at the individual cards and you'll see that the particular design on each card reflects part of the fundamental power structure of that society.

What is a foe that cannot be defeated by magic? […] The truth.

We are such a small people. For all our magic, we're scared, paranoid little children trying to protect ourselves from the bullies of the world by becoming bigger bullies ourselves.

A woman. It's like a man only smarter and with bigger balls.

You're Mahdek. - Kellen, to Ferius

I'm a woman, kid. You probably haven't met one before, coming as you do from this backward place, but it's like a man only smarter and with bigger balls. - Ferius

As I walked out through the front entrance of the court, I made sure they heard me when I said, ‘My name is Kellen Argos.

A mage's power either grows or weakens. Power never reamins still and neither does the strength of a nation. Only those who can find new sources of strength may earn a mage's name. Those who cannot, have no value to our people.

The world's got plenty of mages, Kellen. What it needs are men and women." She made the words sound different than the way people usually say them. Important, somehow.