Michelle West Quotes

My Ona Elena once told me something important," Adam said, hesitant now that the force of Levec's anger had deserted him. "Happiness is like a seed." Before Levec could speak, Adam lifted a hand. "She said that anger and hatred and love are like seeds as well. All the things we feel that endure, are."
"And we are?"
"Dirt," Adam replied.
"I might agree with that statement, but I'm certain you intend to go elsewhere with it."
"We are earth. But we are like different types of earth, in different climates. Not all seeds that fall from a tree take root. Not all things that take root survive. We cannot be given happiness. Only the seed of it. We might not recognize the seed," he added. "Because we can't see the tree it might become. We are surrounded by trees, and the seeds in our hands looks nothing like them.
"For some, the earth is damp and fertile, and all seeds take root. But for others, the earth is hard, and water scarce. Elena believed that no man--or woman--starts life as a desert. But without trees, any many or woman can become one." - Adam

You'll learn, girl. These aren't scars. They're nothing. The scars you carry with you? The ones that never leave? They're all in here." She'd tapped her chest. "Regret," she said softly, "for the things you didn't do. Or the things you couldn't do. They haunt you enough, and you see things like this," and she put her hand to her neck, "and they mean nothing.

But that was the way of the Lord; where subterfuge was required, it was crafted with care. He could lie, of course; he had in the past. But his lies were imbued with the force and strength of belief, of believability; they were the truth that his audience desired, and they were glorious lies, larger in all ways than most truths. This lie was no exception.

By some strange alchemy of the divine, darkness was light: the Lord of the Hells was clothed in it, as if it were raiment or armor, and he shone with it.

Commander Sivari found them. "You're popular," he said, but only after delivering a very correct, very formal bow. "I didn't think they were going to let me in, and it's career-limiting to refuse a Commander of the Kings' Swords entry into any portion of Avantari. ACormaris," he added, bowing.

I am not so fearful of my own status that I must see it slavishly worshiped at every possible moment, Kovakar," the kinlord responded. "It bores me" - Isladar