Academ's Fury (Codex Alera, #2)

by Jim Butcher

You will probably find, in life, that successes and victories tend to overshadow the risks you took, while failure will amplify how idiotic they were.’

‘What if a stone falls from the sky and kills you where you sit, Aleran?’ Kitai said. Tavi blinked. ‘What is that supposed to mean?’ ‘That not all things are in your control. That worrying about those things will not change them.’

‘Are you ready?’ Amara asked him. ‘Mmm. Got him loaded up easy enough. You sure about this?’ ‘No,’ she said. ‘But then, what is sure in this life?’ Doroga smiled, his teeth a sudden white gleam. ‘Death,’ he said. ‘That’s encouraging,’ she said, her voice dry. ‘Thank you.’ ‘Welcome,’ he said. ‘You afraid to die?’ ‘Aren’t you?’ she asked. The Marat headman’s head tilted thoughtfully. ‘Once I would have been. Now . . . I am not sure. What comes after, no one knows. But we believe that it is not the end. And wherever that path leads, there are those who went before me. They will keep me company.’