Moonblood Quotes

“I'll never tell you to stop loving. You see, I believe in hopeless love. Oh yes. I believe in it with all my heart, though you may discount the heart of an old nanny like me. For real love brings pain. Real love means sacrifices and hurts and all the thousand shocks of life. But it also means beauty, true beauty.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“There is a moment that comes into every life when the right word, the right look even, could change the shape of the world forever. The wrong one could as well, though the resulting shape would be different. No word at all, however, and the moment slips by, and things remain unsaid that perhaps should have been said, perhaps shouldn't, and no one can ever know for sure.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“I'll choose an ugly truth over your pretty lies any day.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“Regret and repentance do not always walk hand in hand.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“Our Prince does not give his servants hopeless tasks. They sometimes do not follow an expected path, but they are never hopeless.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“You don't understand," Lionheart said, turning his back on the cat. "No one does."
"While I am a firm believer in the uniqueness of each person," said the cat, "the motications of the spirit are as predictable as the seasons.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“What, suddenly I am a figure from an ancient bit of nursery nonsense?" He lifted a forepaw and began chewing his toes, the picture of dismissive indifference. "And the next egg you come across you'll ask, 'Tell me, sir, what were you doing up on that wall anyway?'"
"Are you ashamed to answer?"
"I am ashamed of nothing. I am a cat." The cat gracefully placed his paw next to the other, sitting as prim as a perfect statue.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“I’m worthless,” Lionheart says. “I couldn’t save her. I couldn’t redeem my honor.” “You never can,” the Prince replies. He takes Lionheart by the shoulders and forces him to sit up, to face him. “But do you think my grace insufficient to forgive you?”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“Lionheart glared at the cat, who smiled back. "Can you read my mind?"
"No." The cat sniffed and seemed to smile. "I can smell it. Which is made the easier for the stink your thoughts give off. All this self-pity and moping! *I did what I had to do.* Lick my whiskers, you did. Be a man, and face your actions for what they were!”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“Fear was not well-known to Sir Eanrin. He generally found it got in the way, so he bypassed the emotion entirely.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“There is a moment that comes into every life when the right word, the right look even, could change the shape of the world forever. The wrong one could as well, though the resulting shape would be different. No word at all, however, and the moment slips by, and things remain unsaid that perhaps should have been said, perhaps shouldn’t, and no one can ever know for sure.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“No, something far more mysterious has taken Felix. He has heard the unicorn." Like a performer, the cat gave a dramatic pause.
"Um," said Lionheart.
"You have no idea what I'm talking about, have you?"
"No, sorry."
"Mortals," growled the cat.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“For nothing you have done could equal the evil that I myself have committed against all who loved and trusted me. No regret you ever know will compare to the despair I knew when I recognized what I had done. And no forgiveness you may yet receive will ever outshine the grace that was extended to me, the vilest of all my Master’s servants. “No, Lionheart, I can never hate you, for in truth, you and I are alike, and if our deeds were measured against one another, no one could say yours were the worse.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“You know, I think Dame Imraldera is very pretty. What do you think?"
"I think you're slower than a slug, prince, that's what I think," said the cat, and he darted on ahead up the hill.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“Hullo there, jester," the poet said with a bright smile. Lionheart, who had not made himself known wondered just how the blind poet had known he was there. "I say, it's a bit discomfiting, isn't it? Old Ragniprava prowling abut the place, I mean. I've almost bumped into him once or twice. It's the most socially awkward situation. I mean, what do you say? 'Greetings, my lord, sorry about the eye. Shall we let bygones be bygones?' It's not as though I can make him the whole eye-for-an-eye offer, can I?”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“I will always protect you, he had said. But that does not mean you will not know pain.
In the darkness of Palace Var, lost in Vahe's sweet-smelling enchantments, she had rejected him. Shame filled her, made all the more painful because he now looked directly into her eyes and said:
"My child, won't you come to me?"
She was on her feet in a heartbeat, running to his outstretched arms. Like a little girl running to her father for comfort, without a thought for her vile face, her dirty rags, her burned body. His arms closed around her, and he held her gently but with strength, and she cursed herself again and again for doubting him.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"You were long since forgiven," he replied.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood

“Lionheart bows his head then, pride sapped from him and replaced with dawning humility. "I would have fled."
"But you did not. I am with you now." The Prince places a hand on Lionheart's shoulder. "You understand, don't you, the difference between guilt and repentance?"
Slowly, Lionheart nods.
"You understand that you can never absolve your own sin?"
Again Lionheart nods.
"But you are forgiven. All that is past is past. The man you once were is no more. The man you are now is what matters, and I declare your name in truth: Lionheart. From this moment forth, you will serve me with the courage of roaring lions, and all my foes will tremble at your name, for they will know that you are one of mine.”
― Anne Elisabeth Stengl, Moonblood