Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4) QUOTES

2 " Take my advice: live your life to the fullest. Breathe the air, taste the wine, kiss the girls, and always remember that the tales of another are never as wondrous as your own. "

― Michael J. Sullivan , Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4)

4 " There are no honorable causes. There is no good or evil. Evil is only what we call those who oppose us. "

― Michael J. Sullivan , Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4)

6 " Royce took out his dagger and drove it into the table, where it stood upright. “Look at the blade. Is it bright or dark?” Hadrian narrowed his eyes suspiciously. The brilliant surface of Alverstone was dazzling as it reflected the candlelight. “Bright.” Royce nodded. “Now move your head over here and look from my perspective.” Hadrian leaned over, putting his head on the opposite side of the blade, where the shadow made it black as chimney soot. “It’s the same dagger,” Royce explained, “but from where you sat it was light while I saw it as dark. So who is right?” “Neither of us,” Hadrian said. “No,” Royce said. “That’s the mistake people always make, and they make it because they can’t grasp the truth.” “Which is?” “That we’re both right. One truth doesn’t refute another. Truth doesn’t lie in the object, but in how we see it. "

― Michael J. Sullivan , Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4)

8 " Their jobs were almost too clean for Royce's taste. "

― Michael J. Sullivan , Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4)

10 " She put her hand on his shoulder and gave a soft squeeze. She did not know what else to do. First her mother, then her father and Fanen, and finally Hilfred—they were all gone. Mauvin was slipping away as well. The boy who loved his sword more than Wintertide presents, sweet chocolate cake, or swimming on a hot day refused to touch it anymore. The eldest son of Count Pickering, who had once challenged the sun to a duel because it had rained on the day of a hunt, spent his days watching ducks. "

― Michael J. Sullivan , Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4)

12 " Royce traveled wrapped in his cloak with the weight of the rain collapsing the hood around his head—not a good sign for Thranic and Bernie. Until then, Royce had played the part of the good little sailor, but with the reemergence of the hood, and the loss of his white kerchief, Hadrian knew that role had ended. They had not spoken much since the attack. Not surprisingly, Royce was in no mood for idle discussion. Hadrian guessed that by now his friend had imagined killing Thranic a dozen times, with a few Bernies thrown in here and there for variety. Hadrian had seen Royce wounded before and was familiar with the cocooning—only what would emerge from that cloak and hood would not be a butterfly. "

― Michael J. Sullivan , Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4)

14 " Arcadius was nothing but an old hack, what Cenzars used to refer to as a faquin, an elven term for the most inept magician—knowledge without talent. "

― Michael J. Sullivan , Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4)

16 " Don't you see?" She addressed the entire room. "We either fight here and win, or die trying, because there won't be anything left if we fail. This is the moment. This is the crucial point where the future of yet unborn generations will be decided either by our action or inaction. For centuries to come, people will look back at this time and rejoice at our courage or curse our weakness." She looked directly at Royce now. "For we have the power. Here. Now. In this place. We have the power to alter the course of history and we will be forever damned should we not so much as try! "

― Michael J. Sullivan , Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4)

18 " You ready?” Royce asked. “For what?” “Turn around. Let’s go back-to-back and link arms. "

― Michael J. Sullivan , Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4)

20 " I hope you’re planning on heading to the kitchens. I’m starved—practically eating my fingers here.” He chuckled. "

― Michael J. Sullivan , Rise of Empire (The Riyria Revelations, #3-4)