Lynn Flewelling > Quotes

“Though you thrust a knife at my eyes, I will not flinch.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Luck in the Shadows

“I hate being told what to do! Especially by myself!”
― Lynn Flewelling

“You always have a choice. Don't ever imagine you don't. Whatever you do, it's a decision and you have to accept responsibility for it. That's when honor becomes more than empty words.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Stalking Darkness

“It was Alec who brought their lips together.

Seregil's first reaction was disbelief. But Alec was insistent, clumsy but determined. It lasted an instant, an eternity, that one awkward kiss, and it spoke silent volumes of bewildered honesty.

The moment that followed was too fragile for words.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Stalking Darkness

“So I might have to marry Alec when I'm grown," Illia was prattling across to Seregil. "I hope that won't hurt your feelings too much."

Seregil slapped a hand over his heart like a troubadour in a mural. "Ah, fair maiden, I shall slay a thousand evil dragons for you, and lay their steaming black livers at your dainty feet, if only you will restore me to your favor."

"Livers!" Illia buried her face against Alec's shoulder with an outraged giggle.
"You wouldn't bring me livers, would you, Alec?"

"Of course not," Alec scoffed. "What a disgusting present. I'd bring you the eyeballs for a necklace, and all their scaly pointed tongues to tie your braids with.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Stalking Darkness

“A crafty nightrunner died of late,
And found himself at Bilairy’s Gate.
He stood outside and refused to knock
Because he meant to pick the lock.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Shadows Return

“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.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Luck in the Shadows

“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.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Luck in the Shadows

“Whatever role you play, play it to the hilt.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Shadows Return

“Cursed be the weapon that tastes the blood of a friend.”
― lynn flewelling, Luck in the Shadows

“Take what the Lightbearer sends and be thankful.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Traitor's Moon

“It is better to lack the semblance of honor but possess it than to possess the semblance and lack the honor.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Traitor's Moon

“Talí." It was the only thing Seregil could think of that encompassed everything he felt right now.
Alec smiled. "You called me that by accident the first time, remember?"
"Unthinking, perhaps, but no accident."
Alec's cheeks went crimson as he declared softly, "You're my talí, too.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Glimpses: A Collection of Nightrunner Short Stories

“How do you break into a ship?"
"The same way you do a house, only wetter.”
― Lynn Flewelling, The White Road

“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.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Luck in the Shadows

“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.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Luck in the Shadows

“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.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Luck in the Shadows

“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.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Luck in the Shadows

“First shall be the Guardian, a vessel of light in the darkness. Then the Shaft and the Vanguard, who shall fail and yet not fail if the Guide, the Unseen One, goes forth. And at the last shall be again the Guardian, whose portion is bitter, as bitter as gall.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Stalking Darkness

“They have a saying among them: 'When whores are few, a boy will do.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Luck in the Shadows

“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.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Luck in the Shadows

“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.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Luck in the Shadows

“I don't want to spend a fortune on my cremation urn, but I really do want to look nice at my memorial service.”
― Lynn Flewelling

“Anything we do, talí, we do with honor.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Stalking Darkness

“I was chosen, too, you fatherless son of a whore. [...] But it's my people at the Cockerel that I'll kill you for, and for what you did to Alec. For the runners and keeks you used and betrayed, the innocents who've died at your order. Hell, I'll kill you for the sheer fun of it. Come on, Lord Eater of Shit. Let's get this over with.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Stalking Darkness

“What does talí mean? Is it Aurenfaie?"

"Talí?" A ghost of the old grin tugged at one corner of Seregil's mouth. "Yes, it's an Aurenfaie term of endearment, rather old-fashioned, like beloved. Where'd you pick that up?”
― Lynn Flewelling, Stalking Darkness

“In Skala warfare is a womanly thing.”
― Lynn Flewelling, Hidden Warrior

“Imagine—Lord Seregil and Lord Alec slapped up in the Red Tower for common housebreaking? No one knows what we really are, or what we’ve done for Skala. It would just be shame and dishonor, and for what? Because some titled slip of a girl couldn’t keep her skirts down on Mourning Night, then decided she wanted a proper marriage? For that, I risk losing you?”
― Lynn Flewelling, Shadows Return

“If she takes me to task over this, shall I tell her you attacked the trees?” “We had no treaty with the forest,” Saruel replied serenely.”
― Lynn Flewelling, The Oracle's Queen

“You're a natural actor when the role doesn't go against your stiff-necked, Dalnan yeoman's pride. Relax! Flow with the moment."

Seregil suddenly grabbed him by the arm and whirled him into an eccentric jig around the room. Alec hadn't even heard him approach. But he recovered swiftly and took the lead.

"But Sir Alec IS a stiff-necked Dalnan yeoman," he said, laughing as he clomped through the steps of a country dance Beka and Elsbet had taught him.

"Wrong!" Grinning wickedly, Seregil yanked him into a formal pavan. "Sir Alec is stiff-necked Dalnan GENTRY. Besides, he should be picking up some of Lord Seregil's airs along the way."

Alec leaned back in mock horror. "Maker's Mercy, anything but that!”
― Lynn Flewelling, Stalking Darkness