The Emperor's Edge Quotes

“Trust me, I never underestimate my charm or any of my other magnificent attributes. They work great on women. Alas, men tend to see me as an unwelcome rival. You, he might listen to. You're good at talking people into things."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because I'm perched in the rafters of a cannery, at risk from a man-slaying magical creature, and spending time with a drunk, a gangster, and an assassin at . . . what time is it?”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Well, I’m freezing. Either one of us is going to have to check or we’ll have to start cuddling.”

Sicarius climbed the ladder.

“There’s something wrong with a man who chooses to face death over cuddling with a woman.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“I didn’t faint, I passed out in a manly way,” Sespian muttered.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Friendship is as selfish as any other relationship, perhaps more so because it masquerades as something noble. I am more comfortable with those who approach me with blades drawn.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Oh, they’ll be punished.” Amaranthe smiled and pointed at the heretofore silent Sicarius.
“Pa here, he’s the farm dis-ci-pli-nar-i-an. He was a soldier and he knows how to lay into a man an’ make him wish he’d never thunk of running off. Ain’t that right, Pa?” She smiled up at Sicarius.
“Yes,” he said flatly. “Ma.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Sitting in the shadows, with a killer, in an empty building, gazing at the corpse of another killer. When had her life grown so strange?”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“You said nothing to me of the newspaper clippings.”

“No, because you were displaying…snippiness yesterday.”

“Snippiness?” he asked.

“It’s a word.”

“I think not.”

“I’ll ask Books when we get back.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Who sent you?” Sicarius asked.

Amaranthe considered carefully before answering. If he simply meant to scare her into providing information, he could have started with a knife against her throat. No, he had almost broken her neck. He had intended to kill her but stopped mid-motion. Why? And would he continue where he had left off if she answered incorrectly?

“Commander of the Armies Hollowcrest.”

Given the previous demonstration of how he could see through lies, the truth seemed a safer choice. Besides, she found herself reluctant to die to protect Hollowcrest’s anonymity.

“Why?”

“To kill you.”

“That I gathered. Why did he send you? What did you do to anger him?”

“I… Uhm, what?”

“It was a suicide mission. You must have suspected.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“His hair stuck up more than usual, but he was otherwise neat in his typical black. If they lived through the mission, she decided to buy him an obnoxiously cheerful shirt. Something in sunflower yellow, perhaps.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“My husband,” Amaranthe said.

“Really! I would have guessed bodyguard.”

Yes, even without visible weapons, he had that aura.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“An explanation.” Sicarius regarded her intently. “Clarify the situation with the emperor. I could not understand the incoherent jumble you spit out before falling unconscious.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Is there a reason we’re taking the alley?” he asked. “The air is a tad ripe out here.”
“Unfriendly eyes out front.”
“Enforcers?”
“A ten-year-old boy.”
“Oh, yes. Terrifying.”
“He’s someone’s spy,” she said.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“You were married; don’t you know how this is supposed to go? The woman doesn’t want you to argue or try to solve the problem with logic. The woman wants you to commiserate with her. You don’t have to fix anything. Just stand there and nod and say ‘uh huh’ and ‘I understand.’ That’s all you’re supposed to do.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“It’s not my fault,” Maldynado said. Amaranthe joined them. “I didn’t say it was.” “No, but women like to blame things on me, so I figured I’d announce my innocence preemptively.” “What type of things?” Books asked. “Their unwanted pregnancies?” “Of course not. To bear my offspring would be an honor. They know that.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“The two men flashed edged smiles at each other, reminding Amaranthe of circling wolves, albeit extremely well-dressed wolves.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Technically speaking, Maldynado is the better fencer. Your man is the better killer.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“When Amaranthe stepped outside after midnight, she caught Maldynado peeing his name in the snow. The bright, starry sky revealed a little too much and she cleared her throat as she approached. “So much for keeping our hideout inconspicuous,” she said.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Women like to make up rules to befuddle you...it's part of living in their world. Get used to it.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“I didn’t faint, I passed out in a manly way,”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Torture, but more methodical than the simple cuts and burns designed to extract information. They were performing medical experiments on these people. She shuddered.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“That was despicable. “Sir, I’m not—” Amaranthe started. “Such an accomplishment,” Hollowcrest interrupted, “would gain you great recognition…a promotion.” She sucked in a breath.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“You’re good at talking people into things.” “What makes you say that?” “Because I’m perched in the rafters of a cannery, at risk from a man-slaying magical creature, and spending time with a drunk, a gangster, and an assassin”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“In his first week on the throne, he vowed to make peace with all the nations we’ve ever warred with, cut military spending in half, funnel the money to education, and…oh, yes, and phase out the empire itself, instating some ridiculous people’s republic with elected officials.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“If the Forge people are vying for more power in the government, then it makes sense for them to fund more startups. Then they can place people out there in the business world who will grow in power and wealth and later be loyal to the ones who granted them their opportunity.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“The woman doesn’t want you to argue or try to solve the problem with logic. The woman wants you to commiserate with her. You don’t have to fix anything. Just stand there and nod and say ‘uh huh’ and ‘I understand.’ That’s all you’re supposed to do.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Corporal Amaranthe Lokdon paced. Her short sword, night stick, and handcuffs bumped and clanked at her thighs with each impatient step. Enforcer Headquarters frowned down at her, an ominous gray cliff of a building that glowered at the neighborhood like a turkey vulture, except with less charisma.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“The woman doesn’t want you to argue or try to solve the problem with logic. The woman wants you to commiserate with her. You don’t have to fix anything. Just stand there and nod and say ‘uh huh’ and ‘I understand.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Amaranthe wondered how many times Books had sat here reliving those moments. Maybe the alcohol let him forget sometimes.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Some orders could not be followed.”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge

“Hollowcrest!” Books sat up straight. “That murdering bastard!”
― Lindsay Buroker, The Emperor's Edge