Stormsworn (The Forsworn Oath, #3)

by David Estes

“Ambition is a dangerous thing. Too little of it and you’ll be mired in place for the whole of your life. Too much and you’ll make dangerous decisions that only hold the promise of very small gains. Figuring out the perfect balance between the two is what will benefit you the most.”

“How do I do that? How do I figure out the perfect balance?” The woman laughed—another first. It was an awful sound, snorting and sort of coughing. “If your enemies are bleeding and you’re not, then you’ve succeeded,”

Soraya knew there was truth in the woman’s words, but it didn’t change the wrongness of what she’d done to the soldiers, did it? Just because a person had the ability to kill didn’t mean they needed to kill, right?

“I’m sorry, it’s just…He hasn’t exactly been the god we’ve needed Him to be, has He? He left when we needed Him the most.” “Maybe don’t say that when we meet Him.” “I don’t know if I can keep it in.” “Gods tend to smite things down when they offend Them. Do you want to be smited? Smoted? Smitten? Doesn’t matter. Because I sure as void don’t.”

“Fine. You’re right. Me showing up like this in the dead of night with my dragon brother was probably not the best way to handle this little reunion, but time is of the essence,

Tomas had fought at Stonewall, and yet that was nothing compared to the battle he now waged against the laugh that wanted to escape his mouth.

Gado and I headed for Marchessault.” “Why?”

His eye met hers, and for the first time since they’d been reunited, she felt nothing barring the distance between them. No past, no history, no regret, no anger. It was like the rest of the world had disappeared in that stare. “I came to find you.”

Chub. How long have we known each other? I don’t have a sea calendar handy, but…a week? She rolled her eyes. You really don’t know anything about time, do you? Of course, I do! When the sun goes down, the fortnight ends. When it rises, the new year begins. Do that a bunch of times and you’ve got yourself a week.

Lady Ainsley of Corth is the only one that Lady Ainsley of Corth can love.” “That’s…sad.” The woman raised both eyebrows at her comment. “Sad, huh? I never thought of it like that. But aye, it’s a little sad now that you mention it. Also pathetic. And annoying. Mostly just annoying.”

“Respect may be taken and given, but never stolen.”

“There are those who know no joy other than the taking of it from others. They are the saddest kind of people, who will never know true happiness. I feel sorry for them, for they are broken and have no desire to fix themselves.”

“You feel sorry for the assassins?”

“What are you scared of?” Gado found his tongue looser than he wanted it to be. “Everything.” “So am I.”

“Really? You don’t act like you are.” “How do I act?” “Bold. Brave.” “Just because one gird’s themselves in armor doesn’t mean they’re made of steel beneath.”

Though Kaivery was still in that period between adolescence and adulthood, their words contained a wisdom well beyond their years. Still…

I have an Ability that people can only dream of, but I use it so poorly I might as well be able to transform into a puppy rather than a dragon. At least I wouldn’t destroy anything.”

“Puppies like to chew on shoes. That’s pretty destructive.” When Gado raised his eyebrows, Kaivery added, “From experience. Anyway, you can sulk all you want—” “I’m not sulking.”

“We were forced to make swift decisions in your absence,” Marisette said quickly, sounding like a child making excuses standing next to the broken window with a rock in her hand.

Mammoth turned his head and loped toward them, tail wagging behind him. Ludo took a step back, while Bryony moved forward to give the big fella a scratch behind the ears. “Hello, Mammoth, you’re a beautiful boy, aren’t you?” She looked back at Ludo. “You’re not scared of a puppy, are you?” “He’s no puppy; he’s a monster. And most monsters I’ve met will take your arm off if you get too close.” “Good thing I’m already missing a leg.”

In the split-second before being swallowed, Soraya had what she later realized was an absurd thought: I wonder if I can blast him to pieces from inside his belly?

you know what they say about appearances. Sometimes they’re more harmful than unseen reality.”

“My services would include more than that, of course.” “Good to know. I’ll consider it after we’ve completed our simple mission to destroy a goddess and save Finfalla from the Blood Tide.” “And after we’ve had brunch.”

Her words were beginning to slur together, weariness drawing her away from reality and into another world, the place where dreams lived when they weren’t needed.

Beatty grabbed Hemlock’s elbow. “How do you do that?” “Do what?” “Talk to men that way. Like they’re…” “Idiots?” Hemlock suggested. “No, like they’re not intimidating.” “Because they’re not.” “To me, they are. My tongue gets all tied up in knots half the time.” “Only half the time?” “Well, yes, because the other half of the time I can’t find my voice at all. You know how Moona transforms into a woman of the sea? Well, I turn into some kind of squeaky mouse. It’s pathetic.” “Do you want to know my secret?” Hemlock said, dipping her head toward the much shorter woman. “Yes! Please!” Beatty said brightly. “I don’t give a shite what any of them think of me.”

Beatty looked at her like she’d gone mad. “I’m pretty sure that every man between here and the Emerald Isles can resist me. In fact, they’ve done quite a good job of it for the last few years.” “That’s because you think they can.” “No, I act like they can because they do.” “Only because you act like they can because you think they do when really they’re waiting for you to act like they can’t so that they won’t.”