Opal Cowan Quotes

“There is a reason for everything, Opal. You might not be able to figure it out, and time might have made us all forget it, but the reason is there all the same.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Storm Glass

“Be careful,” Zitora said. “He’s armed.”
“I’m a Stormdancer! Mere metal is nothing compared with the power of a storm.” Kade made his voice boom and spread his arms wide. His eyes sparked with humor. “I. Am. Invincible.”
“Until a happy wind blows,” I said.
“Curse those sunny days.”
“The bane of your existence.”
“The scourge of society.”
“The downfall of decency.”
“And boring, too. Nothing like a good gale to put a spring in your step.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Storm Glass

“Janco leaned on the threshold of my door with his face creased in annoyance. “Did she just—”

“Yes.”
“But I don’t—”
“Yes. You do. We both stink.”
“Well, I’m not—”
“Yes. You are.”
He huffed. “You won’t let—”
“No. No complaining. Let’s go.” I grabbed a clean shirt and pants from my saddlebags.
“Well, she could have handled it better,” he grumped.
“No. She couldn’t.”

He settled into a sulky silence as we visited the bathhouse.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Sea Glass

“Old soul." I laughed. "You're Thirty."

"It's not the years, it's the experience," he paused.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Sea Glass

“It was my turn to groan. Dress shopping with Kade’s mother. Kill me now. The alternative—arriving home without a gown—was equally unappealing.

“Okay, but I’m taking my switchblade along.”

“To defend yourself against my mother?” he asked with an incredulous tone.

“No. To slit my throat if the day goes badly.”

He laughed. “Make sure you don’t bleed in front of her. She faints at the sight of blood.”

“I’m so glad you have your priorities straight,” I said. My voice dripped with sarcasm.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Spy Glass

“I explained about Helen’s comments. “It could be sour grapes because she wasn’t picked to make the orbs, but then again she might have a genuine concern. In my hometown of Booruby, I either know of or have heard of all the glassmakers.”

“We should keep an open mind and see how they do,” Kade said. He pulled me close.

“Think the best until proven otherwise?”

“Exactly. You should adopt it as your motto.”

I liked my way better. Assume danger and be pleasantly surprised when proven wrong.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Sea Glass

“As much as I enjoyed thinking all kinds of horrible possibilities about your whereabouts, do you think the next time you disappear, you could leave me a note?” Kade asked. “We can even make up a form. I’m gone because of A, Tricky, or B, Devlen, or C, fill in the blank. You can just circle a reason and leave it for me.”

“Wow. That’s some impressive sarcasm,” Heli said. “I’m glad I’m not on the receiving end this time.”

Considering all that had happened to me since I’d known Kade, I couldn’t blame him for being upset. “I’m sorry. I’ll try not to do it again.”

An eyebrow spiked. “Try?”

“Since your suggestion of making up a form actually is a good idea, I’d say try is the best I can do. I have no control over a whole list of things, but what I can control, I’ll make sure to let you know.”

His anger dissipated as he conceded the point. “You liked my form idea?” A hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth.

“It could use a little work. I think we should put check boxes next to the list—circling the reason might take too long. With a box, I can just check and go.”

“I’ll get right on it.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Sea Glass

“You are playing with dangerous people. The Council can be an ally for you to use if your arrangement with Gressa fails to work. But they won’t support you if you make them your enemy.”

I sorted through my encounters with the Council. “Since they haven’t ever supported me, I think I’m okay without them.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Sea Glass

“You look much better,” she said. “You should be out of here and causing trouble in no time.” A tired amusement lit her eyes.

“Not anymore. No magic left, so no more trouble.”

She sobered. “True. You can’t access the power source. Your glass magic is gone.” She covered my hand with hers. “Does that upset you?”

“No. I’m relieved. Now I’m just a regular nobody. No longer a problem. No longer a danger. No longer useful to Sitia.”

Zitora squeezed. “I won’t agree to any of those statements. You will never be a ‘regular nobody.’ Your deeds for Sitia have extended beyond the regular and into the extraordinary.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Sea Glass

“Well…I only made a lumpy paperweight so far.”

“I still have my very first paperweight.”

“You do?”

“I had to stand on a box to reach in with the punty rod. But I did everything myself. It resembled a squashed apple, but my parents were so proud of my creation I thought it was the best paperweight in the world.”

“I guess I’ll keep mine.”

“It’ll be a good gauge of how much you improve. When you become frustrated when a piece cracks or turns out wrong, you can look back at that paperweight and see just how far you’ve come.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Storm Glass

“Listen. Even before I found out about you and Devlen, I realized we couldn’t be together. Now brace yourself, I’m going to use a weather analogy.”

I groaned.

He quirked a smile. “You’re all energy and excitement and then you blow away. Being with you is like being on the coast, dancing in the storms. Breathless activity, followed by calm. I have that with my job.” He brushed my hair from my eyes. “After you sacrificed your magic I thought you would be content to stay uninvolved in Sitian affairs and be with me. But you rushed off, jumping right back into the maelstrom. I don’t have the energy to deal with storms on both fronts—pun intended. I need someone steadier.”

Tears ran down my face.

He hugged me. “And I’ll offer to render aid whenever needed because I know you wouldn’t ask. After all, I don’t want to miss out on all the fun.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Spy Glass

“That went well,” he said.

“I’ll suffer for it later. Her interrogation techniques would crack a hardened criminal in seconds.”

“I think you’re exaggerating. She’s very sweet.”

“Uh-huh. Then why didn’t you tell her you’re my husband?”

He had the decency to look chagrined. “I didn’t want to overwhelm her. She just met me and the children. It’s a lot to absorb. We’ll explain it to her later.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Besides, I’m going to ask her to plan and organize a big beautiful wedding for you.”

“Interesting strategy. Bribe her first, then blindside her. Good luck with that.”

He laughed. “I’m sure she will be thrilled since she missed our tiny ceremony. And I want your family and friends to be able to share in our joy.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Spy Glass

“Kade asked me to be the voice of reason when you dash off into danger. Note he said when.”
― Maria V. Snyder, Spy Glass