The Song Rising

Never allow yourself to believe you should be silent.

You have risen from the ashes before. The only way to survive, " he said, "is to believe you always will.

When you dream of change, it shines bright, like fire, and burns away all the rot that came before it. It's swift and inexorable. You cry for justice, and justice is done. The world stands with you in your fight. But if there was one thing I had learned in these last few weeks, it was that change had never been that simple. That kind of revolution existed only in daydreams.

I imagined, too. And so imagination became my nemesis; my mind created monsters out of nothing.

War has often been called a game, with good reason. Both have combatants. Both have sides. Both carry the risk of losing.

Permission to disregard your orders, Underqueen." "Permission not granted. Permission categorically denied.

The only way to survive is to believe you always will.

We like to think we’re brave, but in the end, we’re only human.

Perhaps this is for the best,' Warden said. 'You already dwell too deep in shadows.' 'I would have gone into the shadows for you.

Just going outside put me at risk of winding up dead or captured. If I let that daunt me, I'd never do anything.

The wonderful thing about living in a morally bankrupt world is that every human being can be bought in one way or another. Everyone accepts a currency. Money, mercy, the illusion of power – there are always ways to purchase loyalty.

We sat with our arms around each other, holding too tightly and not tightly enough.

She was adamant that any organisation that labelled one group of people as evil would eventually do the same to others. That to treat any one person as less than human was to cheapen the very substance of humanity.

The room was an hourglass that hadn't yet turned.

We canna grieve for those who’ve gone. Not before we’ve fought to change the world that took them.

How did you get here, then?' 'We walked,' Maria said, 'hence the "dejected snowman" look we're all modelling.

Some people believe that if they keep their heads down and stick to their safe routine and trust that nothing bad will befall them, then it won’t. They see things happening to others, but they think they’re different; they’re special; it could never happen to them. They believe that nothing can get better, but also that nothing can get worse. They’re cowards, in one way, because they won’t fight, but they’re also brave, because they’re willing to accept their lot in life. Glupava smelost, we called it. Foolish courage.

Every revolution begins with breakfast,’ I quoted as they left. ‘Is this your revolution, Jaxon?