Max Marlow’s Reviews > The Blade Itself > Status Update

“Something dug into the Bloody-Nine’s back, but there was no pain. It was a sign. A message in a secret tongue, that only he could understand. It told him where the next dead man was standing.”

“A woman, really? Anything else? Can we narrow our search beyond half the population?”

“Stands. Seating.” Logen stared vacantly back at him. How could something stand and sit at once? “For the Contest!” the carpenter shouted in his face. Logen backed slowly away. Gibberish. Nonsense words.

“I’ve settled a few scores in my time, but it only led to more. Vengeance can feel fine, but it's a luxury. It doesn't fill your belly, or keep the rain off.
To fight my enemies I need friends behind me, and I'm clean out of friends.
You have to be realistic. It's been a while since my ambitions went beyond geting through each day alive.

“It had seemed a clever notion to pitch near the gorge. No chance of anyone sneaking up behind. Now, as Logen slid over the edge of the cliff on his belly, the idea lost much of its appeal.”