The Shadow of What Was Lost (The Licanius Trilogy, #1)

by James Islington

He leaned over and, as coldly as possible, plunged his knife into Tenvar’s thigh. Tenvar screamed in surprised pain; even as Davian pulled the knife out again, he slammed into Tenvar’s mental box with everything he had. It disintegrated,

HAH,

the two of them would come out here and spend hours just…talking. He knew the princess was being nothing more than friendly, but Caeden had begun to live for those times.

For most of the men, the hope of victory—the belief that it was attainable—was what gave them the courage to fight.

This was Hael—the man from Erran’s vision?

If she killed him now...would that not effectively, definitely alter the future, proving visions are ultimately not in fact inevitable?

And then the blade had vanished from Nihk’s hands, and reappeared through his neck with Davian holding the hilt.

“No, Torin.” Flecks of foamy blood appeared at the corner of the duke’s mouth, but his tone was firm, even at a whisper. “No healing.”

Okay THIS trope, I hate.

“I can save you!” Elocien gave him a sad, affectionate smile, clasping Wirr’s hand in his own. “But you must not,” he murmured. “We’ve been tricked, Torin. They’ll be coming through Fedris Idri. We need the Gifted to fight, else we all die, not just me.”

Terrible reasoning! He alone could likely override the king's orders. What does dying accomplish?! Although I suppose this was Erran's vision and so theoretically, Elocien will wake up somewhere healed, only to then be hung? Or did he take Erran's place, altering future events?

“Because it’s time to end this,” said Wirr heavily. He got to his feet. “It’s time to change the Tenets.”

Oh shit THATs why. The link was passed on.

“I’ve been…keeping something from you. From all of you,” he said, his voice small. “Do you remember what I told you about how Elocien and I met?”

He's been influencing him!!!

“‘I swear I shall not use Essence to harm or hinder non-Gifted, except in cases of self-defense or for the purposes of protecting Andarra.’”

I swear I will not use Essence with the intent to deceive, intimidate, or otherwise work to the detriment of non-Gifted, except in cases of self-defense or for the purposes of protecting Andarra.’”

“‘I swear that as no Administrator may kill or bring harm of any kind to me, I shall not kill or bring harm of any kind to an Administrator.’”

“You have come for Licanius, as you always do. The question is, how did you get in this time? Did the Traveler bring you? Did the Keeper take pity on you? Or perhaps you finally plucked up the courage to return to the Plains of Decay and use one of the Columns?” He kept moving, never taking his gaze from Caeden’s face. “Another body again, I see. Which poor soul did you take it from this time? Did you really think it would fool us? Fool me? No. No, such a poor deception is beyond you, I think. You have a plan. You always have a plan.”

One of the Columns?! Do I sense a crossover episode??

The sword atop the pillar, on the other hand… “That’s Licanius, isn’t it?” he said. “Yes.”

Totally thought it was a girl or a being up until now, maybe some divine power trapped in mortal form but a sword is just as cool. No disappointment here!

You are Tal’kamar, though precious few know you as such. You destroyed Saran’geth for an ideal. You butchered the Arathi for revenge. You created the Plains of Decay for the love of a woman long dead.” He paused. “You saved Jala Terr knowing it would cost you a century alone. You hid Wereth from the Shadows because you believed a good man was worth more than a good name. You destroyed us—and then, when we hated you most, you saved us at the expense of everything you ever wanted.” There was sadness in those blue eyes as he said the last. Sadness, and bright pain. “You have lived for over four thousand years, and done so much evil and so much good. You are a legend here amongst the Lyth, despised and beloved, famous and infamous both. You are Tal’kamar,”

Holy crap the audibook and text really disconnect here. Audio says 3000 years and leaves out half of the feats!!

“What does Licanius mean? It sounds Darecian. You could at least tell me that much.” There was silence from Garadis. “‘Fate,’” he said eventually. “The translation is more specific, but in your language, it means ‘fate.’”

Res Kartha

“A year?” “And a day,” said Garadis.

Hahaha exactly as long as Kvothe was supposed to be banned from the Archives.

The Blind commander’s face began to wither, his eyes becoming hollow, his skin creasing and then stripping away. Suddenly Mash’aan’s armor burst into a thousand pieces, tiny black discs skittering across the cobbled stone street, barely discernible in the murk. The stark white of a skeleton was visible for a few moments before it too disintegrated, crumbling to the ground in a fine white powder.

The blade drank in what little light was in the street, bending shadows so that they swirled around it, cloaking the steel from view.

Badass

“The problem, Tal’kamar, is that if you do not know who you were, you cannot know to change.”

He checked his memories, startled to find that his oldest one was of speaking to the Ath. That had been only a hundred years ago—not long before he’d finally rejected the name Aarkein Devaed, realized his mistakes, and started along the path that had ultimately led here. He knew he’d hated what he’d done, hated what he’d become as Devaed, but he couldn’t remember the details anymore.

Significantly worse than finding out Vader is your dad! Also was

“It’s not true,” he choked, staring up at Asar, who was watching him impassively. “It is,” he replied. “But it can’t be!” Caeden shook his head desperately, tears streaming down his face.

AHAHAAH Luke Skywalker reference!!