The Strength of the Few (Hierarchy, #2)

by James Islington

“Ulciscor may not be the one that you want. But fathers rarely are.”

But what is the point of heroes if they don’t save the ones you love?”

Nothing I say will help, right now. Sometimes people simply need time. And sometimes, not even that works.

“A father is a man who loves you, no matter what. Not all of us can have one.”

Rule a man, and he will do whatever you can imagine. Befriend him, and he will do more.”

“Plenty of other families keep dogs for security.” “Dogs he will eat,” observes Eidhin. “Families he will eat,” adds Aequa. Diago huffs again,

“Will you take Leathfhear?” The call comes from someone and is taken up by others, a brief clamouring for Tara to acknowledge me that I do not know whether to feel embarrassed or hopeful about. I watch her. She comes to stand in front of me. Examines me. Looks into my eyes for a long few seconds. “No,” she says loudly. My heart drops and I almost open my mouth to protest, but this is her decision. She is our leader and if I have still not convinced her, then I must accept it now. I keep holding her gaze. “No,” she repeats. “But I will take Deaglán.”

“Sooner mead from mist than secrets from druids,”

“A society cannot make a man a monster, Diago. But it can give him the excuse to become one.”

“She told me that a child needs to hear and truly understand only three phrases from their father as they grow up. ‘I love you.’ ‘I will help.’ And, ‘I don’t know.’

A man holding a glowing ball. An eagle fighting a wolf. I do not pause to study them more closely.

And before I can turn, before I can process it, the familiar voice emerges from the murmurs behind. Wry, and quiet, and utterly perplexed. “Hail, Vis.”