Rose Reid > Quotes

“Speak quickly. My patience wanes.”
― Rose Reid, Crown of Crimson

“The fire catches shortly after, lapping up the dry wool, engulfing it like sweets”
― Rose Reid, Crown of Crimson

“I stand behind Sebastien and with one thrust I have wrung him through. Sebastien chokes, attempts to shout, but then just drops to the ground in a heap. Cicero’s eyes are wide with astonishment and torment while he stares at his fallen brother as if he can’t believe what he’s seeing. When he finally looks up, I see rage in his eyes. I point my sword at him. “You’re next.”
― Rose Reid, Crown of Crimson

“He is brave enough to turn his back on me. His mistake. I run up behind him and jump onto his back before he can open the door. Swinging my legs around his body, I spin him so quickly that he is thrown to the ground. I jump to my feet, moving quickly as self preservation kicks in, and reach for the door handle.”
― Rose Reid, Crown of Crimson

“The Queen of Crimson. And, in time, Death’s Herald, Ghost of Grimway, and Butcher of Brindale. My name has been public knowledge only for a short time but my reputation was crafted the day I massacred an entire envoy.”
― Rose Reid, Crown of Crimson

“I was worked by the toughest, trained by the strongest, taught by the smartest, and led by the quickest. Quay made sure of that. On my first assignment, he gave me no weapons to fight with. When I’d asked why, he’d told me I was a weapon, and I should know by now how to wield myself. These men, these swordsmen, have no idea what it is like to be a weapon. They have trained with swords and perhaps firearms for years, I’m sure, and they assuredly know how to brandish them, but they have not been put through the extensive training I have been subject to. And the Cannon, for all their cruelty and intolerance, did fashion me into a weapon.”
― Rose Reid, Crown of Crimson

“The Queen of air and darkness Begins to shrill and cry, ‘O young man, O my slayer, To-morrow you shall die.’   O Queen of air and darkness, I think ’tis truth you say, And I shall die tomorrow; But you will die to-day.”
― Rose Reid, Crown of Crimson

“The night is filled with intermittent panicked shouts and pained wails, followed by the occasional laughter of an Evrallonic soldier. Fury warms me and I don’t feel the bite of the wintry air anymore, but I control my rage, filter and focus it, so that when two soldiers run past me, chasing after a young boy, I am able to act swiftly. I step out of the shadows and grab the first soldier by the hair, which has been left exposed after he either discarded or dropped his helmet. He opens his mouth to shout but it dies on his lips when I slit his throat, dropping him to the ground as he chokes. The soldier chasing the boy stops and turns around, drawing his sword upon seeing me. It’s the last thing he does. Before he moves an inch, I’ve thrown my dagger into his forehead. A wave of shock rolls through the soldiers body and I walk past him, snatching the blade from his skull just before he falls to the ground. The boy has disappeared but he’s none of my concern now. I move through the community like the wraith I’ve been labeled. Anyone wearing soldier’s attire is brought to their knees and left to die in the streets. Fishing families scurry out of my way like they know who I am and take refuge in their homes as I make my way to the other side of the community. An Evrallonic soldier stands on the doorstep of a home, hovering over a young woman whose blouse has been torn. The young woman is sobbing, her body trembling under the pressing soldier. The Evrallonic man is leaning towards her when I approach. He barely has time to look up before I’ve brought my knee up and connected it with his nose. The satisfying crack sounds through the air and the soldier shouts in disbelief, holding his nose. He drops his hand a moment later and unsheathes his sword, swinging a deadly strong blow at me. I sidestep and place my foot between his, easily knocking him to the ground when he trips over me. His sword spills from his hands and I snatch it up, jabbing it through the man’s chest before he can even utter a plea for mercy.”
― Rose Reid, Crown of Crimson

“PROLOGUE     “I SEE THE GIRL YOU SPEAK OF.” “The Boy as well?” “Yes. Very loyal is she, but very trustworthy is he.” “Is there a difference?” “Just because she is loyal does not mean she is worthy of our trust. Take heed.” “Does she realize who she is? She can see us; I have seen her watching us before.” “She can. She believes she is nothing more than that she is. She believes she can never be more than that she is, but she has become something completely new; completely different. We cannot tell her everything.”
― Rose Reid, Crown of Crimson