A Strange and Stubborn Endurance (The Tithenai Chronicles #1)

by Foz Meadows

but what else could be expected from a pageant of mortals elevated to a nebulous immortality by divine whim?

“As marriage is made for mortals, let it be governed by mortals,” the justiciar said, his voice a pleasant tenor, “yet also witnessed by the divine, as all that is mortal is witnessed. In keeping with the laws of Tithena and Qi-Katai, and in honour of the contracts made by kin and clan, I invoke the witness of Ayla,

“Yours is a strange and stubborn endurance,

cynics believe in the gods; just not in their kindness.”

Cae frowned. “Better to borrow milk than trouble—” “—but neglect sours all,”

“I can’t tell you

how to feel about yourself, but I can say I don’t share the sentiment.

“Stolen me? As well to say a caged bird can be stolen by the sky.”

and I decided to treat myself to a tiny bit of optimism.

He was also reckless, not quite because he didn’t value himself, but

because he valued others or other things more.