M4-Sword of the Spirit Quotes

“Esmeralda’s breath caught, a vision flashed: Mack jumping in front of Prince Peter, his face set and determined, men scattering and shouting.

“It’s nice to meet you. Welcome to Peccioli, Esmeralda.”

Esmeralda tried to control her expression as the vision changed. She saw Mack bursting into a room, finding young Prince Peter contorted in pain, suspended above his bed. Mack bellowed a Scripture, and the black smoke departed, but the stench of sulfur lingered.

Her eyes grew huge as she whispered, “The black smoke… you fought it…you saved the Prince from it.”

Mack jerked his hand away.

The vision cleared and Esmeralda looked at him in horror. “I’m so sorry. I should not have said that.”

Mack, turning to Thaddeus, drawled, “Well, she is a surprise. You brought me a seer?” —Esmeralda ben Claude and Mack ben Robert”
― Staci Morrison, M4-Sword of the Spirit

“Beau clawed at the overturned table, pushing to his hands and knees, blood running off his beard onto the floor. The man who charged enemy lines a dozen times against overwhelming odds determined he would not die groveling on the floor. —Beau Landry”
― Staci Morrison, M4-Sword of the Spirit

“Saying goodbye, Joanna hugged Esmeralda and whispered, “Be prepared. Beau Landry is beautiful.” She pulled back and chuckled. “I thought you would like to know. No one warned me.”

Esmeralda covered a giggle and said, “Okay.”

“I am quite serious. He is unbelievably handsome.” Joanna’s brown eyes flashed as she pretended to fan herself.

Esmeralda laughed, “I’ve only ever had eyes for one man.”

“He is not a man. He is a French Cajun god.” —Lady Joanna ben Luke and Esmeralda ben Claude”
― Staci Morrison, M4-Sword of the Spirit

“Thaddeus absorbed her, imprinting his mind with her curly brown hair, her delicate chin, her gorgeous big eyes. “You need time to grow up, to find out who you are going to be. You need to do that without me lurking around like some… lecherous old man.”
Her lower lip trembled, but before she could protest, he cut her off. “I swim in a deep ocean of regret and self-recrimination, Esmeralda. I don’t need to add despoiling little girls to my conscience.”
“We have never done anything to be ashamed of. You’ve never done anything to be ashamed of.”
“And I plan to keep it that way,” he said in a strained voice. —Thaddeus ben Todd and Esmeralda ben Claude”
― Staci Morrison, M4-Sword of the Spirit

“Thaddeus kept his own council, but at the end of the second week, it was eating at him. Adopting a casual tone, he asked Eve, “Where’s Esmeralda been?”
Eve looked up from her reading. “She’s around. She came by yesterday.”
Thaddeus stroked his chin and said, “Hmm, I haven’t seen her.”
Eve returned her attention to her book but added softly, “She’s growing up, Thaddeus. Perhaps that crush she’s always had on you has finally run its course.”
It was the most personal observation she ever made to him, and he caught the significance. Not bothering to deny her words, he said, “One can only hope that it has.”
“Can one?” She stood, for once ready to retire before she fell asleep in her chair. “I think to be loved by anyone is special, Thaddeus. You’d do well not to wish it away.” She patted his shoulder. “Good night." —Thaddeus ben Todd and Eve ben Medford”
― Staci Morrison, M4-Sword of the Spirit

“At eighteen, Lady Joanna ben Luke had a talent for being invisible. The night of the Coronation Ball, she applied herself to the task and blended into the yellow and gold wallpaper like a chameleon. Invisibility, unfortunately, did nothing to ease her physical discomfort. She surmised the seventh ring of Hell was not much hotter than the Palace ballroom tonight.”
― Staci Morrison, M4-Sword of the Spirit