An Echo of Things to Come (The Licanius Trilogy, #2)

by James Islington

For I did not know which was harder to bear: The echo of her passing, or the long silence that followed.

It will be harder to choose what is right over what is expedient, when you know how many times that has resulted in failure, and how important it is to succeed.” He leaned forward, expression serious. “But all of us who live long enough face that problem, Tal’kamar. Sometimes it’s what’s right against what lets us win. Sometimes it’s what’s right against what lets us survive. But it is always a choice.”

“The lesser of two evils, and the greater good. The most dangerous phrases in the world.”

“If a builder and an architect sit at the same table, does one role become more like the other? Or do they work better together because of it?” He waved Caeden into the seat next to him. “We are all servants, Tal’kamar—just with different roles. They serve me so that I may serve the people. We have different jobs, but we are equals nonetheless.”

“There is only one reason to be passionate about a lack of faith—and that is fear,” said Caeden quietly. “Fear that you are wrong. An innate need for others to share your opinion, so that you can be less afraid.” He shook his head. “I do not feel the need to argue, to cajole, to threaten or accuse. If others wish to believe differently, that is no business of mine. I simply do not think that there are gods.”

“The only hope for this world is to remove kan from it completely. To stop it from being drawn through the rift, so that the rift may then be sealed.” He sheathed the blade. “The only hope for this world is for all of us to die.”

“We all feel that way sometimes. But … we aren’t El. We’re not omniscient. At some point, we have to decide to trust. To believe.” She sighed. “That is another mark of being a god, Tal. Lesser beings cannot fully comprehend them or their plans, and therefore must choose to have faith instead.”