The Shadows of Dust Quotes

“People don’t change, they only get better at hiding themselves.”
― Alec Hutson, The Shadows of Dust

“This isn’t a game, Kerin! If you want to survive you need to keep your head down. No one will care about you if you’re just a random streamsurfer, an old friend of mine from a previous life. But keep talking loudly here, of all places, and you’ll bring down attention you do not want, I promise you.”
― Alec Hutson, The Shadows of Dust

“I already hated squids, and then this one had to go and wreck my beautiful shell.
You were too pretty before. And I bet female turtles love scars.
Kerin imagined he saw the edges of Drifter’s huge mouth twitch. You’re right about that, luckily. Easier to see I’m a true warrior now.
Nala’s tail thumped his leg. “What is Drifter saying?”
“He’s telling me that these new battle scars might help him find a mate.”
She snorted. “Males.”
― Alec Hutson, The Shadows of Dust

“I would say . . . around one hundred.
Kerin fumbled with his spyglass, nearly dropping it.
A hundred? A hundred war krakens?
My estimate is on the lower end. I was trying not to depress you.
That . . . is an armada. We’re being pursued by the largest Mandate fleet in the tributary.
Yes. Congratulations. None of your ancestors ever managed to aggravate an entire interstellar empire before. It’s really quite impressive.”
― Alec Hutson, The Shadows of Dust

“He’d come awake clawing for breath, filled with the same helpless fear he’d felt all those years ago. No matter how big he grew, no matter how good with a sword, that smiling face was always watching from the shadows, waiting for the day when he’d be alone again.”
― Alec Hutson, The Shadows of Dust