Kingslayer Quotes

“The safest thing to do with an army cook was to accept whatever the man handed you with a smile (dire consequences came with not smiling) and to eat it quickly before your tongue could adequately taste it.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“You are just as ruthless now as you were three years ago.” “Did you think I’d changed?” He felt like laughing for some strange reason. “Sego claims I am kind, and I am to the people nearest to me, but I have limited kindness for people trying to conquer my country. If they dare to face me on a field of battle, I will use everything in my power, every dirty trick that I know, to destroy them.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“The only time that a man cannot learn something is if he has shut his eyes and ears and refuses to learn.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“And heaven help the enemy when those archers were bored because then they would take on the most challenging shots for the sheer entertainment of it.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“First rule in bluffing, Ramin—never, ever talk more than you need to. The trick is to give the other side just enough information to think that you have the upper hand. Then you silently wait them out, as if you have every confidence that you’ll win no matter what they do. Silence sells the idea. Talking, as if you have to convince them, that’s what spoils it.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“Without looking away from Adad he said, “Ramin.” “Yes, sir.” “You’re smiling evilly.” “I learned how to from the best, sir.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“General,” Ramin’s tone held steady but had a hint of laughter in it. “Try to contain your evil smile. You’re scaring the men.” Darius cleared his throat and tried to smooth out his face into a bland expression. Judging from Ramin’s reaction, he didn’t quite succeed in looking impassive.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“All under control,” Ramin soothed from behind him. Darius stopped and slowly turned, giving the man quite the look for that tone. Bohme watched this play out for a moment before reaching out and giving Ramin a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Alwaysh wakesh up grumpy,” he assured the commander in a loud whisper. “Don’t mind.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“All that was left was waiting for the troops to arrive. “I have nothing left to do,” he said to Bohme in something of a daze. “Take a nap,” Bohme suggested helpfully. “I don’t like naps,” Darius responded grouchily. “They make me sluggish.” “You shound like a two year old, shir.” He felt like one, too, saying that.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“I’ll save the country if you resurrect the house,” he offered with an ingenious smile. His betrothed gave him a suspicious look. “How is it that when you say it in that way, it sounds like you have the easier job?” “Because I’ll have more help than you will?” he offered artlessly. She shook her head in resignation. “It’ll fall to me regardless. You have no idea what to do with a house.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“Well said, Darius!” she called to them. “For this duel, there are no rules! Just don’t kill each other.” Darius was fairly sure only Grygotis had to obey that rule. He didn’t think the queen would be too upset with him if he accidentally-on-purpose killed this idiot. He stole a look at her and found her eyeing him in a pointed way. Alright, so maybe she would. He sighed regretfully.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“He couldn’t help but smile and wave back. His steward sidled up to him and murmured, “General, you have a besotted smile on your face.” “Shut it, Sego,” Darius responded without losing his smile.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“I thought it was a cardinal rule that members of the court don’t rise before noon.” Sego’s eyes were laughing as he responded, “Clearly, they think today’s fight will be more entertaining than the back of their eyelids.” Great. Now the man thought himself a comedian.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“Someone, at some point in time, had added two tiers of wooden benches along the outer edges to give people room to sit. At that moment, half of the courtyard was filled to capacity. Darius stopped dead, looking around him incredulously. I”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“Under the circumstances, a reminder seemed…prudent.” Prudent, eh? Darius shook his head and let out a breath. “Sego, what would I do without you?” “I’ve often asked myself the same question,” Sego responded mock-seriously, lips quirked in a hint of a smile. “The answer is terrifying.” Caught off-guard at this unusual display of humor, Darius laughed out loud. This man truly was worth his weight in gold.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“Sego’s eyes were large enough to fall out of his head. After a terribly long moment of silence he managed to croak, “New rule: you are not allowed to make decisions of this significance without me.” He could hardly disagree, not under the circumstances.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“Just cry it out. You have every right to be upset. For that matter, I’m upset.” Her hands slowly gripped his sides as she let her head sink onto his chest. “But you’re not crying,” she objected with a sniff. “We can take turns,” he offered. “You’ll comfort me next, right?”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“You utter fool,” Darius snarled in a tone that sounded menacing even to his own ears. “You are a soldier of the Niotan Army. Your first duty, always, is the protection of every man, woman, child and beast of this country. The fact that you would put your own pride above a young woman’s life is beyond appalling.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“Feeling a little triumphant, he walked confidently there, silently proving to Bohme that he could navigate his way around without help, thank you very much.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“Darius knew very well that under that rough and scarred exterior lay a very quick mind. He started fervently praying that Bohme wouldn’t put the pieces together and figure out what the present was really for. Shaa apparently wasn’t listening as a second later Bohme started chuckling. “You got losht again.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“Darius read the situation for what it was: he wouldn’t be able to get any answers out of this man. Well, not unless he applied a few torture techniques, but you weren’t allowed to do that to allies. Without reason, that was.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“But truly, won’t you give me a hint? Men do better picking out presents when they have hints. Detailed hints, with actual names of what you want, are the best.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“He had no intention of keeping the people working for him ignorant. The more educated they were, the more useful they were. And they were usually more loyal to their employer as well.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“Darius had been taught as a child that one should never eavesdrop. But being in the military actually encouraged the bad habit. The things that he heard when no one thought he might be listening were truly informative. Not to mention entertaining.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“Darius ignored her open arms and regarded the baby still contentedly asleep on his chest. He was pretty sure he could talk and hold a baby at the same time. Surely no one would mind if he just brought her along….”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“before handing it back with a cordial word of thanks. The cook beamed at him, revealing several missing teeth, and offered him some hot tea to wash it down with. He even sprinkled a little sugar into the tea. (Something the rest of the men nearby grumbled about, but they hadn’t smiled.)”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“The meaning for ‘duck’ has left a lasting impression on me, Commander,” Darius drawled, making Ramin fall into a silent laughing fit again. “I know what you mean now. Carry on.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“Oh, I see. That makes perfect sense. When I hear the name of waterfowl I of course automatically think ‘danger, look out’!”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“I also plan on taking out their siege equipment at this stage.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer

“But in truth, he had no sympathy to spare for the man. In fact, if Grygotis caught fire this very moment, he’d likely throw kindling.”
― Honor Raconteur, Kingslayer