The King's Traitor Quotes

“Fools convince themselves their enemies are their true friends.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“Memories had painful edges that could still cut.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“He found sarcasm to be an adequate defense in such moments. “I could have him killed at any time, my lord,” he said knowingly, his eyes bright. “But it would grieve me to make Elysabeth suffer. So I patiently wait for the man to get the pox.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“Loyalty binds me,”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“Bless me with courage and not fear. Bless me with the wisdom to know whom to trust and to be worthy of trust. Bless me with the strength to serve and not the desire to be served. Bless me with the humility to be ruled and not the will to rule. Give me the faith to do the Fountain’s bidding. Bless me to rise to it. After”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“What he needs is forgiveness. Not because he is good. But because you are good.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“Children can handle complex truths better than simplified falsehoods.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“Bless me with courage and not fear. Bless me with the wisdom to know whom to trust and to be worthy of trust. Bless me with the strength to serve and not the desire to be served. Bless me with the humility to be ruled and not the will to rule. Give me the faith to do the Fountain’s bidding. Bless me to rise to it.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“was kind, benevolent, generous, and dutiful. Owen had asked how someone could survive with two such beasts inside them. Would not one of them eventually win? Duke Horwath had given him a crinkled smile. “Which wolf wins?” he had asked. “The one that you feed.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“Though Owen was twenty-four years old, he felt like an old man. His cares and responsibilities were an unshakable burden. He was sick at heart, sick in his soul, and the only force that kept him going was the slender hope of escaping the daily misery his life had become. The thought of seeing Evie again—no, seeing Elysabeth again—both worried him and rekindled sparks of warmth inside his cold iron heart. He had not spoken to her once since the day they had said good-bye at the cistern in the king’s palace seven years ago. He occasionally received letters from her, flowery prose talking about the wonders of Atabyrion and the antics of her two children. He never answered—he could not bring himself to—but he had finally written to tell her of her grandfather’s failing health. He owed her that much, a chance to see her grandfather before he passed. Besides, Owen felt a debt of duty and gratitude to Duke Horwath, enough for him to summon the courage to face the girl he had loved and lost. That she was happy in her marriage to Iago made it worse somehow.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“inside each person lives two wolves. One was full of evil, jealousy, anger, resentment. The other wolf was kind, benevolent, generous, and dutiful.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“There were only more ravens. A whole unkindness of them. He smirked at the thought. Evie had once told him about the various names used to describe groupings of birds. It had taken her nearly an hour to recite them all.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“Owen saw the tray and smiled, nodding and gesturing to the desk. Kevan popped one of the berries into his mouth and blinked in surprise. “Quite tasty. I’ve heard good reports about the berries of that land. Perhaps you can arrange a change in my assignment once you become the Duke of Brythonica?” Owen smiled and scooped up a few berries himself. They were delicious and sweet, so very sweet they made him blink in surprise. “Are you so anxious to leave Kingfountain, Kevan?”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“Then she lifted her head and looked into his eyes with a fierceness that startled him. She pushed away and lifted the cowl to hide her face. “I’ll be back before dawn,” she whispered. “Bolt the door.” “I told Kevan that I needed”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“were your men treated?” Ashby shrugged. “There were so many from so many different countries, I don’t think we stood out. When we got back, the palace staff looked like they wanted to spit on us, but the people down below knew nothing of our arrival. Nary a word about it.” “Thank you, Ashby,” Owen said, finishing his work. He stood and buckled his scabbard around his waist. “So what you’re saying is the kingdom is vulnerable.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“We learn much through suffering,” she said. “But I think what we learn most is who we really are. I’ve known the true you for some time, Owen. But you were like a chick struggling to escape its shell. Now you’re free to grow and become what the Fountain intended you to become. You may have thought what the Fountain forced you to endure was unpleasant, even cruel. But now you know yourself. Now you know what you would have chosen without any foreknowledge of the consequences. That’s why I couldn’t tell you, Owen.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“Then he drew the blade, Firebos. As it cleared the scabbard, the sky rumbled with thunder.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor

“I was rude, cantankerous, and unkempt.” “You still are,” the king said snidely.”
― Jeff Wheeler, The King's Traitor