Valek Quotes

I shook my head at Janco. "I've got the situation under control. Go back to the Keep, I'll meet you there."
Janco stared at me in astonished silence. Ari, though, trusted me. "Come on, she doesn't need our help." Ari sheathed his sword. Janco recovered. He flashed me one of his mischievous grins. "I'll bet you a copper that she'll be free in five minutes," he said to Ari.
Ari grunted in amusement. "A silver on ten minutes," he countered.
"I'll bet you both a gold coin that she kills him," Valek said
from behind them. They moved aside and he entered, still dressed in his Adviser Ilom disguise. "The only way to take care of your problem. Right, love? ~ Maria V. Snyder

Valek coalesced from the shadows and wrapped me in his long lean arms. I soaked in his musky smell, listening to his heart beat. Strong and steady. No indication that he had been sneaking around. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Your mother sounds like a formidable woman," Valek said into the silence.
"You have no idea," Leif replied with a sigh.
"Well, if she's anything like Yelena, my deepest sympathies," Valek teased.
"Hey!"
Leif laughed and the tense moment dissipated.
Valek handed Leif his machete. "Do you know how to use it?"
"Of course. I chopped Yelena's bow into firewood," Leif joked. ~ Maria V. Snyder

I signaled when Owen's wife was linked to him, who was linked to Yelena. Valek paused, marveling at the intricacies of magical communication. Ixia really needed to find a way to keep up. ~ Maria V. Snyder

But you've slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Well, Valek, any new promotions?" the Commander asked
"No. But Maren shows promise. Unfortunately she doesn't want to be in my corps or even be my second.She just wants to beat me." Valek grinned, delighted by the challenge.
"And can she?" the Commander inquired. His eyebrows rose.
"With time and the proper training. She's deadly with her bow; it's just her tactics that need work."
"Then what do we do with her?"
"Promote her to General and retire some of those old wind-bags. We could use some fresh blood in the upper ranks."
"Valek, you never had a good grasp of military structure."
"Then promote her to First Lieutenant today, Captain tomorrow, Major the next day, Colonel the day after, and General the day after that."
"I'll take it under advisement. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Yelena, you've driven me crazy. You've caused me considerable trouble and I've contemplated ending your life twice since I've known you." Valek's warm breath in my ear sent a shiver down my spine.
"But you've slipped under my skin, invaded my blood and seized my heart."
"That sounds more like a poison than a person," was all I could say. His confession had both shocked and thrilled me.
"Exactly," Valek replied. "You have poisoned me. ~ Maria V. Snyder

It's a dirty way to fight, but I'm late for lunch.
- Valek to Yelena ~ Maria V. Snyder

And what did you give him in return?"..."My heart. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Valek leaned back in his chair and said to me, "I don't think I would have made it past the audition,Yelena. I probably would have set my hair on fire by this point."
"What's a singed head for the sake of art?" I teased. He laughed. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Yelena." I halted in the doorway, looking back over my shoulder.
"You once said I wasn't ready to believe your reason for killing Reyad. I'll believe you now."
"But I'm not ready to tell you," I said and left the room. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Valek: You know a death sentence hasn't kept us apart before.
Yelena: Is that an order Valek?
Valek: No, it's a promise! ~ Maria V. Snyder

Oscove?" Valek paused. "He didn't have the stomach for it. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Ghost?" I asked.
Moon Man pointed to Valek. "Kiki's name for him. It makes sense," he said, seeing the look of confusion on my face. "To magical beings, we see the world through our magic. We see him with our eyes, but cannot see him with our magic. So he is like a ghost to us."
Valek listened to Moon Man. Although expressionless, I could tell by the rigid set to Valek's shoulders that he was prepared to strike.
"Another relative?" Valek asked.
A broad smile stretched Moon Man's lips. "Yes. I am her mother's uncle's wife's third cousin. ~ Maria V. Snyder

I'd better get going or Valek will be wondering where I am."
"Yes, by all means go. I noticed you and Valek have become close. Tell him, for me, not to kill anybody, will you?" Sarcasm rendered Rand's voice sharp.
I lost control and slammed the oven door shut. It echoed in the quiet kitchen. "At least Valek has the decency to inform me when he's poisoning me, ~ Maria V. Snyder

Valek was liquid in motion. As i watched him, one word came to mind: beautiful. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Ixia wasn't perfect, but there were benefits to living there. For me, Valek was one. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Our souls bonded. His pleasure was my ecstasy. My blood pumped in his heart. ~ Maria V. Snyder

He pulled my arm out to expose my bracelet. "When I carved this, my thoughts were on you, love. Your life is like this snake's coils. No matter how many turns it makes, you'll end up back where you belong. With me." His sapphire eyes held a promise. - Valek ~ Maria V. Snyder

It's your fault. I was defending you!" I blurted.
He paused. "In protecting my honor, you exposed months of work. I should be flattered? ~ Maria V. Snyder

Another relative?" Valek asked.
A broad smile stretched Moon Man's lips. "Yes. I am her mother's uncle's wife's
third cousin."
Valek and Moon Man ~ Maria V. Snyder

Besides, thinking kind thoughts about Valek could be extremely dangerous. I could admire his skills, and be relieved when he was on my side in a fight. But for a rat to like the cat? That scenario ended only one way. With one dead rat. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Anything else you want to tell me?" I asked Valek as we stopped a few feet short of the castle's south entrance. "Did Ari and Janco set me up for Nix's attack? Do you have another test of loyalty for me up your sleeve? Maybe the next time, I'll actually fail. A prospect that seems appealing!" I pushed away Valek's supporting arm. "When you warned me that you would test me from time to time, I thought you meant spiking my food. But it seems there is more than one way to poison a person's heart, and it doesn't even require a meal. ~ Maria V. Snyder

How did you-"
Fool your guards? They're not very good, the forgot to check the ceiling for spiders."Valek grinned. His angular face softened. ~ Maria V. Snyder

In keeping with his cryptic nature, all your Story Weaver said was 'The horses know where to go.' It's certainly not a military strategy I would use, but I've learned that the south uses its own strategy. And, strangely enough, it works. ~ Maria V. Snyder

What have I earned from you, Valek? Loyalty? Respect? Trust?"
"You have my attention. But give me what I want, and you can have everything. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Valek would get more from me than a smile. ~ Maria V. Snyder

No, love. You're the only one who has caused me to do the oddest things. You have truly poisoned me. ~ Maria V. Snyder

I balled my hands into tight fists to keep them from wrapping around Mr. I-Know-Everything's superior neck. ~ Maria V. Snyder

With time and the proper training. She's deadly with her bow; it's just her tactics that need work."
"Then what do we do with her?"
"Promote her to General and retire some of those old wind-bags. We could use some fresh blood in the upper ranks."
"Valek, you never had a good grasp of military structure."
"Then promote her to First Lieutenant today, Captain tomorrow, Major the next day, Colonel the day after, and General the day after that. ~ Maria V. Snyder

I'm surprised you didn't go after him." And glad.
"I wanted to, but Ari stopped me."
"Did he sit on you?" I teased. That earned me a smile.
"No. He used logic."
"Yay for logic."
"I better go and tell them you're safe. They're waiting with the guards."
"The guards?"
"Yes, I insisted they remain there. It was difficult since Ari and Janco won't let me go anywhere on my own."
"That's good. Stronger together, remember?"
He hesitated for a second, then said, "I need to tell Ari he was right."
"It could be worse."
Valek waited.
"It could be Janco who was right."
"Ah, yes. That would be worse. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Many have tried to kill us. All have failed.
-Valek ~ Maria V. Snyder

You're right. And so was my snake."
Snake?"
He pulled my arm out to expose my bracelet. "When I carved this my thoughts were on you, love. Your life is like this snake's coils. No matter how many turns it makes, you'll end up back where you belong. With me. ~ Maria V. Snyder

The big man shifted in his seat, appearing uncomfortable. "Do you really believe we would eliminate someone you're in love with?"
I sputtered. "I'm not - "
Ari held up a hand. "He's helping you, then. That's important to us."
Staring at him in shock, I finally asked, "Love trumps logic?"
"Every time," Valek said. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Trusting is hard. Knowing who to trust, even harder. ~ Maria V. Snyder

There's an arrest warrant out for her. Did you even consider taking her to the Commander?"
"No."
"Why not?" Valek didn't try to hide his disbelief. "Killing isn't the only solution to a problem. Or has that been yourformula?"
" My formula! Excuse me, Mr. Assassin, while I laugh as I remember my history lessons on how to deal with a tyrannical monarch by killing him and his family."
Valek flashed me a dangerous look. ~ Maria V. Snyder

Why did Mother ask you to help me rescue Gelsi?" I asked Leif.
"She thought I could assist you in some way. Instead, I had tried to-"
"Kill me? You can join the 'I Want to Kill Yelena Guild.' I hear they have six
members in good standing.
Valek is president since he had wanted to kill me twice."
Yelena to Leif ~ Maria V. Snyder