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

by James Islington

All that I wanted, I received All that I dreamed, I achieved All that I feared, I conquered All that I hated, I destroyed All that I loved, I saved And so I lay down my head, weary with despair For all that I needed, I lost.

“Growing up, he hated the Gifted as much as anyone I’ve ever met,” he conceded after a moment. “But when he found out I was one of them…” He shrugged, looking awkward. “I think it changed him. Changed the way he looks at

“I can’t say I like the idea of not being in control of my own destiny,” he said eventually. “If everything is already laid out, if there really is a Grand Design, wouldn’t that mean we have no free will?”

“There are a lot of differing opinions, but I certainly think we have free will. Just because El knows each choice I’m going to make—even if He created me knowing it’s the choice I would make—doesn’t mean it’s not mine.”

That’s the natural arrogance of man, sadly. We want to believe that free will means complete independence from the plans of our creator.”

“You can put your trust in something that’s obvious, that’s measurable or predictable—but that’s not faith. Nor is believing in something that gives you no pause for doubt, no reason or desire to question. Faith is something more than that. By definition, it cannot have proof as its foundation.”

“Because it strikes me that a man needs to know what he believes before he can really know who he is.”

“We each have our temptations, Tal’kamar. We each have our own battles that must be fought.” He paused. “But you must fight them, my friend. You cannot hide from them. Otherwise you will never be more than you are.”

“I have something I need you to remember. A message from me,” he said. “That it was worth it. It changed me. And…I am so very sorry.”