Academ's Fury (Codex Alera, #2)

by Jim Butcher

“I do not question your people’s experience or knowledge, Doroga,” Bernard said. “You are different. That does not make you less.” Doroga smiled. “Not all Alerans think as you.”

Twilight was laying siege to the day, and shadows had begun to fill the streets.

The world of Carna is a cold, cruel place, lady. It is filled with danger and enemies to our people. The Realm is what keeps them safe.” Sudden and bitter scorn filled her throat with flame. Isana let out a breath, not quite a derisive laugh. “The irony. That someone the Realm failed to keep safe would be willing to sacrifice other families in service to it.” Serai withdrew her hands from Isana’s, cold, controlled anger now in her voice and presence. “Without the Realm to protect them, there will be no families.” “Without families,” Isana spat, “there is nothing for the Realm to protect. How can you say that when you may have the power to help them?”

“Head got nothing to do with the heart. Your heart wants what it wants. Head got to learn that it can only kill the heart or else get out of the way.”

“The One is all things. He is the sun, yes. And the sunlight on the trees. And the earth, and the sky. He is the rain in the spring, the ice of winter. He is the fire, the stars at night. He is the thunder and the clouds, the wind and the sea. He is the stag, the wolf, the fox, the gargant.” Doroga put a broad hand on his chest. “He is me.” Then he reached out and touched Amara’s forehead with a finger. “And he is you.”

“What if a stone falls from the sky and kills you where you sit, Aleran?” Kitai said. Tavi blinked. “What is that supposed to mean?” “That not all things are in your control. That worrying about those things will not change them.”

Kitai, never changing expression, put her fingertips lightly over Tavi’s lips, and continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “I have seen you protect others, though they consider you to be weaker than they. I have seen a very few decent people, like the boy we took from the tower.” She paused for a moment in consideration. “I have seen women trade pleasure for coin to feed their children, and others do the same so that they could ignore their children while making themselves foolish with wines and powders. I have seen men who labor as long as the sun is up go home to wives who hold them in contempt for never being there. I have seen men beat and use those whom they should protect, even their own children. I have seen your kind place others of their own in slavery. I have seen them fighting to be free of the same. I have seen men of the law betray it, men who hate the law be kind. I have seen gentle defenders, sadistic healers, creators of beauty scorned while craftsmen of destruction are worshiped.”

Sunset light slipped orange fingers through the upper windows of the hall,