The Invasion of the Tearling

When it fails, they do call it madness, Lazarus. But when it succeeds, they call it genius.

This, I think, is the crux of evil in this world, Majesty: those who feel entitled to whatever they want, whatever they can grab. Such people never ask themselves if they have the right. They consider no cost to anyone but themselves.

Corruption begins with a single moment of weakness.

Even small gestures of kindness have the potential to reap enormous rewards. Only the shortsighted man believes otherwise.

And Kelsea wondered suddenly whether humanity ever actually changed. Did people grow and learn at all as the centuries past? Or was humanity merely like the tide, enlightenment advancing and then retreating as circumstances shifted? The most defining characteristic of the species might be lapse.

Always, we think we know what courage means. If I were called upon, we say, I would answer the call. I would not hesitate. Until the moment is upon us, and then we realize that the demands of true courage are very different from what we had envisioned, long ago on that bright morning when we felt brave.

Pen?” “Lady?” “You think I’m pretty.” He blinked in surprise. “I always found you so, Lady. But it’s true that your face has changed.” “You always found me pretty?” Pen shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, Lady. Some women are defined by their appearance, but you have never been one of them.

Whenever she had a problem to consider, she invariably found herself in the library, for it was easier to think when she was surrounded by books.

If we could be better people,” she would say, “if we could care about each other as much as we do about ourselves, think about it, Lily! Think what the world would be!

Love was a real thing, Aisa thought, but secondary. Certainly love was not as real as her sword.

This is a fool’s errand,” Mace grumbled. “You think all of my errands are foolish, Lazarus. I’m not impressed.

Selfishness and self-destruction, riding hand in hand, as they so often did.

There's a better world out there, so close we can almost touch it.

You can defend your kingdom, or you can defend your people, Majesty. You don’t have the manpower to do both at once.” “People are more important than land.

Anger was the indulgence of a child, not a queen.

Only a fool blames the dealer

Do you always eat with so many of your Guard, Majesty?” “Usually.” “Are security concerns so great?” “Not at all. I prefer to eat with my Guard.” “Perhaps when you begin a family, that will change.” Kelsea narrowed her eyes as Milla began to ladle soup into her bowl. “My Guard are my family.

The King of Cadare cannot have an alliance on an equal footing with a woman. Marriage ensures that Your Majesty is seen to submit her will to my master in all things.” Mace moved in sharply, blocking off Kelsea’s right side. She blinked in surprise, for she had sensed no threat from the ambassador or his guards. It took a few moments for her to see it: Mace had actually moved to protect the ambassador. Some of Kelsea’s anger ebbed away then; she smiled at Mace, and felt a rush of affection when he smiled back.

It’s just … difficult.” “You’ve noticed the change in her, then.” “I never cared which face she wore.” “Ah. So this isn’t new.” “No.” “That makes it worse, I think.

I don’t want to die, Arlen, but I would lay down my life for any of these men, or they for me. That’s a real thing, sacrifice, but you will never understand it.

Sometime in the last forty-eight hours, Lily had discovered the great secret of pain: it thrived on the unknown, on the knowledge that there was a greater pain out there, something more excruciating that might yet be breached. The body was constantly waiting. When you took away the uncertainty, when you controlled the pain yourself, it was definitely easier to bear,...

I know all about the wildness of youth, believe me. But regret has a terrible ability to follow you, long after youth has vanished

The problems of the past. How the problems of the past, uncorrected, inevitably became the problems of the future.

We have trust, Lady, you and I?” “I trust you with my life, Andalie.

It didn’t matter then, anyway. Elyssa had about as much use for books as a cat has for a riding crop. But now …” Tyler heard the Mace’s unspoken thought easily. Queen Elyssa may not have cared about illiteracy, but Queen Kelsea would care, very much. “But the Queen would never kick you out of the Guard.” “Of course she wouldn’t. I just don’t want her to know.

The hawk ripped out his jugular, spraying the morning sunlight with a fine mist of blood.

The wrongs of the past are not less significant, they’re just harder to fix. And the longer you ignore them in favor of more pressing issues, the worse the harm, until the problems of the past actually create the problems of the future.

I’m sober.” “That’s not my concern. I know you’ll never make that mistake again.” “Then what’s your concern?” the younger man asked, his tone aggressive. “You and her.