Red Seas Under Red Skies (Gentleman Bastard, #2)

by Scott Lynch

“All four of us would seem to be up to our balls in quicksand,” said Jean.

“If you must play, decide upon three things at the start: the rules of the game, the stakes, and the quitting time.” Chinese Proverb

deny something to enough people and sooner or later it will grow a mystique as thick as fog.

‘Difficult’ and ‘impossible’ are cousins often mistaken for one another, with very little in common.”

“As for history, we are living in its ruins. And as for biographies, we are living with the consequences of all the decisions ever made in them. I tend not to read them for pleasure. It’s not unlike carefully scrutinizing the map when one has already reached the destination.”

“But romances aren’t real, and surely never were. Doesn’t that take away some of the savor?” “What an interesting choice of words. ‘Not real, and never were.’ Could there be any more appropriate literature for men of our profession? Why are you always so averse to fiction, when we’ve made it our meal ticket?” “I live in the real world,” said Locke, “and my methods are of the real world. They are, just as you say, a profession. A practicality, not some romantic whim.” Jean set the book down before him and tapped its cover. “This is where we’re headed, Thorn—or at least you are. Look for us in history books and you’ll find us in the margins. Look for us in legends, and you might just find us celebrated.”

The gods spit on those without honor, you know! It’ll be a cold hell, and a dark one, for you!” “I’m chock-full of honor, sir. Got lots of it. Keep it right here between my empty stomach and my puckered white ass, which you may kiss, by the way.”

I want you to use your misplaced acorn of a brain before the squirrel comes looking for it again.

Know something? I’d lay even odds that between the people following us and the people hunting us, we’ve become this city’s principal means of employment. Tal Verrar’s entire economy is now based on fucking with us.”

Do that and we’re all gonna die, fast as a one-copper fuck in a one-whore cathouse.

“Gamblers play just as lovers make love and drunkards drink—blindly and of necessity, under domination of an irresistible force.” Jacques Anatole Thibault

As Chains had once said, feeling like you wanted desperately to die was fine evidence that you had yet to do so.

“Mew,” the kitten retorted, locking gazes with him. It had the expression common to all kittens, that of a tyrant in the becoming. I was comfortable, and you dared to move, those jade eyes said. For that you must die.

“Rance fell ill with a sudden bout of discourtesy,” said Zamira. “Then she just fell.

“I am hard pressed on my right; my center is giving way; situation excellent. I am attacking.” General Ferdinand Foch

So this is what a command is. Staring consequences in the eye and pretending not to flinch.