The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England

by Brandon Sanderson

I patted the tree I’d been hiding behind. “Thanks for the cover,” I whispered. “You’re a good tree. Tall, thick—and most importantly—wooden. Four and a half stars. Would hide behind you again. Half a point off for lack of refreshments.”

It was strange to feel a sudden sense of loss and pain for a person whose face I couldn’t remember.

what is magic but a science not yet discovered?

“Time to do this. Carp diem.” “…Carp what?” “Seize the fish,” I said. “You know, like the old saying ‘carpe diem,’ except it’s funny because… Never mind.”

I strolled up, hands in my pockets, wind tugging at my cloak. Handy piece of clothing, that. I didn’t need the warmth, but I sure felt more dramatic wearing it. (Four stars. The weird kids might be onto something.)

“Life is awful sometimes,” I said instead. “So you cope.” “Others cope without grifting,” she said. “Ealstan does it by helping people survive.” “And those Hordamen do it by ripping people apart,” I said. “Burning down villages. On that scale, you’re not doing so bad.”

Where are you from?” “Seattle.” I glanced at her. “We don’t have many Anglo-Saxons there. Good coffee, though. And great bookstores.

There is no only when it comes to goodness and joy. The smallest amount is as large as the universe, and one boy saved from a pit is a precious work beyond that of any king’s treasury.”

I started keeping a list of things I liked and didn’t like. I thought if I rated things, it would give me the proper context to compare. I hoped…it would lead me to who I am. What I like.” Ryan just shook his head, bemused. “Johnny, how can you not know what you like?” He didn’t get it, but, typically, I hadn’t explained it well. It was why I’d started keeping that list, though. To see if there were trends I wasn’t noticing. About myself, the world.

“it forces me to wonder. How much of my confidence is because things did go my way? When I look at a loser—no offense—I guess I want to assume he deserves it. Because it helps me believe that it could never have happened to me.”

“Killing is desperation, not strength. To live without killing…that is a strong society.

“Do not be ashamed of your joy,” he told us, his voice intense. “Regardless of what aelv Ryan says. This is not a thing of shame. It is why I fight. It is why my sons bled. Never be ashamed of joy.”

I’d assumed an eventual rematch would be a way to take back my dignity. Turns out, nobody can take that from you. You’ve got to throw it away.