Paladin of Souls (World of the Five Gods, #2)

by Lois McMaster Bujold

ISTA’S

Lady Cattilara,

Illvin,

the invisible reassurance of the gray thread,

But this was what she was given; it must do.

Ista’s next task was dangerous indeed, dangerous to them all, but she could not shirk from it. So many souls were at risk in this ride . . .

“Arhys rides out now. Pity his enemies, for death on a demon horse descends upon them out of the darkness, bringing sword and fire. Many will bear him company on his journey to his Father’s keep tonight, their souls like ragged banners borne before his echoing feet. You must choose now. Will you aid him or impede him, in his last journey?”

think not of what you desire, but of what he does; not of your good, but of his greatest good.”

So selfish

“So I pray the gods may hear even me, and let my whispered yes tower above my shouted no and mount all the way to their fivefold realm. As I would be heard, so I hear you.”

you do not ride alone, Arhys. The hearts of the two who love you best go with you now.

“That’s one,” said Ista aloud.

“That’s two,” said Ista.

On one recipient, that sword cut would have gone to the core. The half wounds were half as dire.

Soon there will be more. By the gods, a dy Lutez does know how to die three times, and three times three if needed.

It seemed to her that some great black glacier, some ice dam in her soul, was melting,

Simile

The Bastard god

“Seven,”

In the midst of your enemies, your Father has prepared a feast for you,

Liss’s

Dy Cabon’s

And a certain fat white god has promised Illvin to me, if I did not mistake Him.

Now. Oh yes, now.

a grotesque roar of hysteria-tinged triumph went up from half a hundred Jokonan throats.

A wall of water towered,

flushing a lifetime of stones, rubble, rotted and clotted trash before it.

For an instant, Arhys’s astonished, agonized, ecstatic soul moved through hers.

So it was given to me to lend him mine, for a little time.

The end of the pain was like a morning birdsong.

Simile

Illvin

he’s gone, now. Safe and gone.”

Haha ewww

Simile spooky

a Voice spoke:

My Word. Spacious in here all of a sudden, is it not?

Her disembodied quietude might be either serenity or shock.

the Bastard was surely a god to be approached with caution.

The Voice

The press of an enormous belly seemed to heat her back, along with an obscene implication of loins against her buttocks,

“You have a vile sense of humor,” she said weakly.

Haha

Yes, and you catch every one of My jokes, too. I love a woman with a keen ear.

The Voice

Illvin’s

Haha

“I saw my brother’s face when you blessed him. And yours when he blessed you. If that is madness, I would run down the road after it dressed as I am, and barefoot.”

Liss

I did not see his soul arise, nor his demon flee. I fear he is taken, perhaps wounded as well.”

“Do you think . . . do you think Joen can bind him into her array?” “I think yes, given time. What I do not know is how long he can resist her.”

Cattilara

“The demon is ascendant!” Ista cried. “It is taking her. Seize her, do not let her run!”