Stephen Aryan > Quotes

“It's natural to be scared. There's no shame in that.”
― Stephen Aryan, The Coward

“Being a hero means rising up, not tearing other people down.”
― Stephen Aryan, The Coward

“Being a hero is all about overcoming fear.”
― Stephen Aryan, The Coward

“All of the heroes, without fail, had nightmares. They would cry out in the night, screaming and begging forgiveness from the dead who continued to haunt them. It didn’t matter that the people they’d killed had been enemies at the time, or that their cause was just. The weight of their actions was a constant burden.”
― Stephen Aryan, The Coward

“Only in action, in difficult times, is there truth, is there understanding.”
― Stephen Aryan, The Coward

“Katja threw herself at Teigan and they went down in a tangle of limbs, biting and clawing at one another.”
― Stephen Aryan, Bloodmage

“Life struggles. Here it is abundant. Clean. Safe. To kill something pure, to take it away when everything is so fragile, is not an easy choice. I will only eat what I have killed."
"But It's different here," said Kell.
"But I am not," said Willow.”
― Stephen Aryan, The Coward

“As Eloise raised a hand towards them, a shiver ran across Finn’s body and his breath began to frost in the air. A vortex of swirling sparks began to gather in her outstretched hand, growing in size and spinning faster and faster. Heat continued to be leached from all around, and soon Finn lost the feeling in his toes. His bones began to throb as if he stood naked in the heart of a terrible winter storm. With a flick of her wrist, Eloise released the energy and a massive streak of fire rushed from her hand towards the Vorga, roasting them alive in a conflagration. The flow of fire kept pouring from her hand, as if it were hidden up her sleeve, and she swept the unnaturally sticky flames back and forth, setting more soldiers alight like dry stalks of wheat.”
― Stephen Aryan, Battlemage

“To his left Finn saw the little tribesman, Ecko, weaving his magic with brutal efficiency against a group of soldiers. It spread out from his hands like a spider’s web. An intricate and invisible net of wires that he laid over their heads. At first glance it looked harmless. Finn looked closer and this time he could see the hooks, spikes and blades hidden in the weave. With a twist of both wrists Ecko pulled the net tight, drawing it towards him like a fisherman reeling in his catch. A dozen men were split apart and sliced into gobbets of meat. Heads flew off and fountains of blood erupted from gaping mouths as invisible blades tore into their bodies. At first he thought Ecko was dancing with glee, but watching closely he saw his feet weaving patterns in the dirt. Even as he slaughtered the enemy, he wove a protective shield against surprise attacks.”
― Stephen Aryan, Battlemage

“Except, you’re not out there on your own,” he said, pointing at Orran and then the ranger. “He’s there with you. And so is he, and him, and him,” he said, pointing at a skinny man with blackened teeth, a chubby man with long sideburns and several other men in turn. “They’re all your brothers. Every single one. They might not be kin by blood, and I’m not a priest so this isn’t a fucking sermon, but you’re all the same. He’s relying on you to watch out for him, and you know he’ll do the same for you, no matter what. That is what makes him your brother.”

Orran and his neighbour looked closely at each other and he saw others doing the same. “If he sees a blade coming at your head, he’ll get in the way and he’ll stop it. He will risk his life to save yours, because he knows what you’ve got to lose. He knows why you’re fighting, and he wants to make sure you get home. He won’t even think about it; he’ll just do it.

“Focus on the man in front and deal with him. But keep an eye out to the sides, and make sure you look after your family. Because without them, you’re already dead.”
― Stephen Aryan, Battlemage

“The girl had all the initiative of a potato. Unless told exactly what to do she would just stand around staring at the walls. It wasn’t completely her fault. Both her parents had the wit of a boiled cabbage so it had been inevitable that Sallie would be a dullard.”
― Stephen Aryan, The Coward