Bride of the Shadow King Quotes

“It is my belief that no thing of beauty should ever be caged, princess. I would only hope that even a wild bird might be convinced to remain of its own free will. And a man who truly cared for such a bird would be honored to do everything in his power to convince it.”
― Sylvia Mercedes, Bride of the Shadow King

“I pat her hand lightly as I lead her from the dance floor. “It is my belief that no thing of beauty should ever be caged, princess. I would only hope that even a wild bird might be convinced to remain of its own free will. And a man who truly cared for such a bird would be honored to do everything in his power to convince it.”
― Sylvia Mercedes, Bride of the Shadow King

“How your human men may pretend they are stronger than their women. If they acknowledged what women endure simply to bring life into the world, they would necessarily have to adjust their thinking.” I stare at him. I cannot help it. Never in my life have I heard a man speak as he does. His smile grows. “You think me very strange, do you not?”
― Sylvia Mercedes, Bride of the Shadow King

“But now I taste longing. Not the stirrings of lust that every young man knows as he reaches a certain age. Not the unsettled discomfort in the blood that urges for action and adventure. No, this is true longing. An ache in the soul. A realization that my heart is not whole and won't be until somehow, somewhere, I find that missing piece.”
― Sylvia Mercedes, Bride of the Shadow King

“No one doubts your honourable nature, most noble of kings and best of brothers.”
― Sylvia Mercedes, Bride of the Shadow King

“The equals of men, you ask?” He considers the idea, his eyes bright in the candlelight. “A peculiar question. Are we not all trolde—both men and women alike? We cannot very well exist one without the other, so how could one be deemed superior to the other?” “I’ve heard it argued that because men are physically stronger, they must naturally take on the dominant role as protectors and providers.”
― Sylvia Mercedes, Bride of the Shadow King

“Why don’t you let me in, Ilsevel? We can talk better face-to-face.” “Don’t try that on me!” Her voice snaps like a guard dog defending its porch. “I know what you’re thinking. You’ll get hold of my hand, and you’ll make me feel all warm and calm and peaceful, and I’ll start thinking, Oh, why have I been so resistant to letting myself be bartered off like a piece of livestock all this time? How insensitive of me! The next thing I know, I’ll be married to a gods-spitting troll and dragged away to his lair, wondering how in the seven secret names I let myself be talked into it.”
― Sylvia Mercedes, Bride of the Shadow King

“Hastily, I switch tacks. “And what of your people? How would they feel about such informality?” “Shocked and horrified,” he answers at once. “Which should be a sight to behold, so you really must indulge me.”
― Sylvia Mercedes, Bride of the Shadow King

“What have I told you about flinging yourself bodily onto the blades of our enemies?” “You’re against it, sire,” Yok speaks through gritted teeth. “Dead against it.”
― Sylvia Mercedes, Bride of the Shadow King

“You know, I've never been a fancier of human women. But I'll admit, that particular specimen is striking. I notice you wasted no time in scooping her up for a little ride. How did she feel in the saddle, eh?”
― Sylvia Mercedes, Bride of the Shadow King