The Scourge Quotes

“The tears brimming in her eyes make me stop. I cannot suffer a woman to cry. Elizabeth and I have an agreement: she does not cry in arguments anymore and I let her win them all.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“The Old Testament,” he says. “That's where God lives. In that angry, vengeful world. Christians tried to make him a merciful, forgiving God, but it's a lie. The New Testament is a beautiful quilt thrown over a bed of nails.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“In Moriah, God asked Abraham to kill his own son and Abraham didn't hesitate. He has asked me to put an end to this witch-whore and that peddler Gregory. And it will be done.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“I am Gregory the Wanderer,” the man says. It is an apt name, for one of his eyes wanders far from true.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“Hermits. Hiding in castles and priories and praying assiduously.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“If you look for ways to fault yourself, you will always find them. Intent is the true measure of fault.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“He was a man of unbending principle, and men of unbending principle rarely die of old age. I have bent my principles on occasion. That is why my name will rot with my body, while St. Edmund's name lives on.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“Isabella's scream is like a weapon. She hurls the cry at us and my ears ring with it.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“The three knights step backward and hold their hands to the side in a gesture of acquiescence.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“Gregory is waging war on England. He is our enemy.” Morgan gets the faraway look that means he's about to quote scripture. “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.” “This is the same Lord who says we shouldn't kill?” Tristan asks. “No, it's the Old Testament God,” I say. “The grumpy one.” “You have two Gods?” Zhuri asks. “Just one,” Tristan says. “But he had a troubled childhood.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“An ichorous stream of ooze gushes from his eye and washes over Zhuri's chin and neck.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“When the smoke clears enough to allow vision, the plaguers in the kitchen stagger forward reticently, as if dazed.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“We put an awful lot of powder into this,” Tristan says. “Are you sure we didn't put too much?” “Yes, I'm sure,” Zhuri says. He nods confidently several times, then shrugs. “Probably.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“I shrug. “It was the Old Testament God, Tristan. He was grumpy back then.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“I shrug. “Maybe it's a test. Maybe he's testing them like he tested Job.” “Yes, Job. God made a wager, didn't He? He let Satan torture Job almost to madness so He could prove a point.” Tristan tosses another walnut toward the bucket. The nut hits the rim with a clink and bursts in a shower across the floor. “God can be a heartless bastard.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“Cecilia blasts a great snort of air from her nostrils and speaks. Her voice is venomous. “There is plague in Danbury. More and more of it. The blighted ones come in packs from the north. Packs like the one we ran from today. Some of them find their way to Danbury. Ten of our people were killed in the last two weeks. My mother. My sister.” She trembles, points a finger at Thomas. “His wife! All of them dead. And still he makes fiery speeches about staying safe and about how he will protect us, and how Danbury is secure. It is not secure! We will be overrun soon, and we will die! All of us! Did you see it today? Did you see it? They will sweep into Danbury and surround us like they surrounded that — ” “Silence!” Sir Thomas stands and points to Cecilia. “You think fleeing is the answer? You think packing up in the black of morning and riding off to Dartford will keep you safe? Did it keep you safe today?” Silence falls again.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“knives upon plates any longer, I clear my throat and address the lord. “How large is your demesne, Sir Thomas?” “Nine hides,” he says. “Forty-five virgates.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“ribauldequin,”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“The New Testament says that Jesus Christ was murdered for our benefit. That his death washed away our sins and saved us from eternal hell. But before the Lamb of God allowed himself to be sacrificed, priests had to find other ways to keep the demons at bay. The most common way was by killing regular lambs. What we borrowed from the devil, we paid for with the blood of sheep and chickens and goats. Until the cost of our sins became too great, and God's son had to cover the debt.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“A monk at St. Edmund's Bury once told me the difference between praying to old bones and worshipping idols. Apparently, the bones of saints are not worshipped, they are merely venerated. The difference between worship and veneration is lost on me, but I am a simple knight. If the priests say that bowing before the withered remains of a martyr is not worship, then who am I to say otherwise?”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“The plan seemed to come to him just after you swore to join the priesthood, did it not? God works in marvelous, wondrous ways.” “Why is it that God is responsible for everything good in our lives, but anything bad is our own doing?” Morgan sighs and looks in my direction. “Sir Edward, did the solution to our problem come to you from seemingly nowhere?” “Yes, Morgan,” I say. “I felt a mysterious warmth. And the idea…well, it just flowed into my mind. As if from on high.” “See?” Morgan says. “See?” Tristan shakes his head. “I think I heard singing, too,” I say. “Beautiful, unearthly voices.” Sir Morgan struggles to keep his smile. “I'm sure they must have been angels singing. Or cherubs. Or fat, dead monks, maybe. The sweetest voices in heaven. I nearly wept with joy. In fact, I get a little teary just thinking back on it.” Morgan's smile turns into a scowl.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“When I am five paces from the dais I halt and meet Lord Robert's gaze. “Is this how the great Lord Robert treats his visitors?” “Dreadfully sorry. Was I being rude?” Lord Robert sweeps his arm grandly. “Welcome. Welcome to my dung-pit.” One of the men at the table laughs. Lord Robert points a hooked finger toward me. “But you, you are not visitors. You are my prisoners, you see? And tomorrow I will have your heads ripped from your shoulders and I will stake your skulls upon my wall.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“Lord Robert is there too, a withered old man in a stained fur cloak. A chair has been set on a high platform for him outside the wall. He slouches in the chair, his feet level with the log tops, and peers into the ring like a spectating cadaver.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“Morgan,” Tristan says, “do you truly believe this is a plague? That these people can be cured?” “The bishops say it is so,” he replies. “And God speaks through the bishops and the priests.” “I pray that God isn't that stupid,” Tristan says.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“Jacob the smith has made swords for me in the past and his work is exemplary.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“St. Michael was the angel who threw down Lucifer during the war in the heavens. It is said that he will weigh our souls on Judgment Day and decide if we are worthy of entering the Kingdom of Heaven.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“Always the child,” Sir Morgan says. “Always the fool. Fools don't get into heaven, Tristan. Fools rot in purgatory.” “We're all going to rot,” Tristan says. “There is only one heaven, and that is between a woman's legs.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“Lord James takes an aspergillum from an engraved silver bucket and splashes a plagued child with what I assume is holy water.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“Tristan finally breaks the silence. “Of course he'll forgive you. All you did was rip two humans to pieces. It's not like you buggered a horse.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge

“Sir Morgan scowls at Sir Tristan and quotes the last line of the verse that Prior David began: “But a witless man can no more become wise than a wild donkey's colt can be born a man.”
― Roberto Calas, The Scourge