Dana > Dana's Quotes

“Master Graves was incensed and said, as punishment for my disruption, I would have to write my letters an extra ten times that day.
"Ten times the better I'll know them, then." I said. "How strange that you should punish me by ensuring I come out more educated than Roden, who has tried to obey you.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“I never denied being a fool. That's the difference between us.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen

“You wouldn't want to be king of my country," I said.
"Why is that?"
"Well, you're rather fat. I doubt you'd fit onto my throne.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“I've got to go."
"Go where?"
"To go. I'd have just taken care of it myself, but it looks like you want to come along."
Mott cursed. "Wait for morning."
"Wish I could. I've been cursed with my mother's pea-size bladder.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“Everyone gets scared at times. It's only the fools who won't admit it.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Her eyes scanned the dark skies. "Did it rain? Why are you all wet?"
"A nighttime bath."
"Fully dressed?"
"I'm modest.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“You eat with your left hand. That's unacceptable. Can you do it with your right?"
"Can you do it with your left?”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen

“You're such a young king. I barely remember being your age."
"Then clearly we're talking about how old you are, not how young I am.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Is it true?" Devlin asked me. "You're Prince Jaron?"
"KING Jaron, actually. News must travel slower amongst the illiterate." I glared at Gregor with every inch of disdain I felt. "Shouldn't you be groveling to me or bowing or something?"
Gregor smiled. "I think before I have the chance, you will already be dead."
"Ah. So much for all your toasts to my long life.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Erick: "I think I may grow to hate you before this is over."
Jaron/Sage: "But you don't already and that's got to be some sort of record.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“I thought you were from a civilized country," he said. "How have you come to look more like Carthya's whipping boy than its king?"
"I have a habit of irritating some of our less civilized people," I answered. "But you seem like a civilized...pirate. I'd much prefer it if you didn't have me whipped."
"And why shouldn't I?"
With some effort, I forced a smile to my face. "Because it will hurt.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“My hands folded into fists. "As king, that is my order."
"Forgive me, but the king's order is the most reckless thing he's ever said, which we both know is quite an accomplishment. If you want to stop me from dragging you back to Drylliad, then you'll have to kill me here."
"I can't do that," I said. "Who'll make sure Tobias gets back safely? He can hardly cross a road without endangering himself."
"I can too," Tobias said.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“If he put us in dresses, we wouldn't suddenly become women”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen

“This is for you." i pressed the stone in Kerwyn's hand.
Kerwyn turned it over in his hands, unimpressed. "imatator's gold? It's worthless."
"No, it's real gold. I am real Kerwyn."
...
He pulled a creased and worn paper from his pocket and unfolded it. His hands shook increasingly as he read it. Then he turned to the audience and said,
"This note was given to me by King Eckbert
...
to read it only if someone ever came forward claiming to be the prince. This is what it says." He read aloud,
"'Many may one day claim to be the lost prince of Carthya.
...
You will know the Prince Jaron by one sign alone. He will give you the humblest of rocks and tell you it's gold.'"
...
"Lords and ladies of Carthya, I present to you the son of King Eckbert and Queen Erin. He is the lost royal of Carthya, who lives and stands before you. Hail, Prince Jaron.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“Fink had a full bowl and grinned at me as he sat back on the bench. "It would help if you used words like 'please' and 'thank you.'"
"Then I'll thank you to please stay out of my business.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“(Talking about Jaron's broken leg)
"How does it feel?" Fink asked.
"Like butterfly kisses, what do you think?”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Finally I grinned and said, "I won't eat meat if it's been overcooked." She (Amarinda) glanced up at me, confused, and I added, "I thought you should know that, since we're going to be friends now."
Amarinda's smile widened. "I think it's unfair that women aren't allowed to wear trousers. They seem far more comfortable than dresses."
I chuckled. "They're not. Every year I think fashion invents one more piece I have to add to my wardrobe."
"And one more layer to my skirts." She thought for a moment, then said, "I think it's funny when you're rude to the cook. I shouldn't admit that, but his face turns all sorts of colors when you are and there's nothing he can do about it."
"He can overcook my meat.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Long live king Jaron. If he leads us half as well as he entertains us, then Carthya has a truly great future ahead.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“By now, Gregor had recovered. "Sage? Devlin, forgive my accusation, but you are a fool. Don't you know who this is?"
Devlin didn't appear to forgive the accusation. With a sneer on his face, he folded his arms and said, "Enlighten me."
Gregor looked at me and frowned. "He can perform the Avenian accent as well as his own Carthyan tongue. And although he has a reputation for being able to steal the white off snow if he chooses to, this boy is far from being a mere thief. Devlin, you are facing the boy who has haunted the pirates for the past four years. This is Jaron, the lost prince of Carthya.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Kerwyn pulled me aside as the last of the supplies were being loaded. "Please, Jaron, don't go."
Despite his pleas, I could only shake my head. "There's no other choice now."
"I thought a little sleep would change your mind."
Placing my hand on Kerwyn's shoulder, I said, "I had the same concern, so I kept myself awake.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“You'll address me by my title," I said sharply. "And bow until your pointed chin scrapes the floor.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“And I want you to find something in the hills for the vigils to protect, like a rock or a thornbush. I don't want them around here.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Let's begin with an easy agreement. Before his death, your father and I were negotiating for a small area of land on our borders, near Libeth. The Carthyan land has a spring that my farmers need for their crops. Carthya has other spings nearby, so you won't miss it."
"My father wouldn't have missed it, but I would," I said, with no actual idea of what spring he meant. "It happens to be my favourite water source in all of Carthya, and I won't part with it.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Any chance we can bypass the cruelest method of death and settle this over a game of cards?”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“I can't do that," I said. "Who'll make sure Tobias gets back safely? He can hardly cross a road without endangering himself.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Get me a real chair”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen

“You are the biggest fool of a boy I've ever known," Mott said. Then his tone softened. "But you will serve Carthya well."
"I wish I felt ready to do this," I said. "The closer we come to the moment, the more I see every defect in my character that caused my parents to send me away in the first place."
"From all I'm told, the prince they sent away was selfish, mischievous, and destructive. The king who returns is courageous, noble, and strong."
"And a fool," I added
Mott chuckled. "You are that too.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The False Prince

“I need a sword first," I said. "People here keep taking mine.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King

“Afraid of a wooden sword?"
"Just demonstrating my skills in evading an attack. Impressed?”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen

“Do you laugh at me?"
He was quiet for a moment and finally the tention drained from him. "No, Jaron," he said darkly. "I curse you with every breath I exhale, but I do not laugh.”
― Jennifer A. Nielsen, The Runaway King