‘We can excuse a demon who stalks the night seeking blood. It is his nature, he was created for just such a purpose. But not a man who by day commits acts of murder and by night returns home to be a good, loving husband and father. For that is evil of a monstrous kind, and casts doubt upon us all.‘
– Owen Odell, to himself, Morningstar
‘Heroes are people who face down their fears. It is that simple. A child afraid of the dark who one day blows out the candle. A woman terrified of the pain of childbirth who says, “It is time to become a mother.” Heroism does not always live on the battlefield.‘
– Karis, to Pooris, Dark Moon
‘Without the darkness of night how can we fully appreciate the glory of the sunrise?‘
– Gamal, to Skilgannon, The Swords of Night and Day
‘And now I am going to tell you a great truth, and if you are wise you will take it to your heart. All men are stupid. They are full of fear and insecurity – it makes them weak. Always the other man seems stronger, more confident, more capable. It is a lie of the worst kind, for we lie to ourselves.‘
– Pagan, to Scaler, The King Beyond the Gate
‘Always listen to fear. Never be ruled by it. Fear is like a cowardly friend. His advice is not always wrong, but, given the chance, he will drag you down into the pit he dwells in.‘
– Jaim Grymauch, to Kaelin Ring, Ravenheart
‘A man must stand against evil wherever he finds it and he must use all his talents.‘
– Tenaka Khan, to Scaler, The King Beyond the Gate
‘My father told me never to be a part of anything that lacked honour. He once said to me that there was no greater satisfaction for a man than to be able to look in a mirror while shaving, and be proud of what he saw.‘
– Premian, to Jomil, The Legend of Deathwalker
‘Love is a mystery. We embrace it where we can. Mostly we do not choose whom we love. It just happens. A voice speaks to us, in ways the ear cannot hear. We recognize a beauty that the eye does not see. We experience a change in our hearts that no voice can describe. There is no evil in love.‘
– Odysseus, to Kalliope, Shield of Thunder
‘You humans are wonderful creatures. You can show compassion and love that is awe-inspiring, and hatred of such power and vileness it could darken the sun itself. What you find hard to accept is that such extremes are in each and every one of you. You gaze upon the works of evil men and you tell yourself that they must be monsters, inhuman and different. Because to accept that they are just like you would threaten the foundations of your existence.‘
– Ustarte, to Waylander, Hero in the Shadows
‘When the wolf slaughters the sheep we shrug and say, it is his nature. When the sheepdog turns on the flock it breaks our hearts, for his actions are treacherous.‘
– Gershom, to Helikaon, Shield of Thunder
