“The light from his torch painted the barren forest in shades of his own reflection, black-haired, gray-eyed and pale for want of a touch. He pulled his cloak close, unable to determine which made him more uncomfortable: the dreary woods or the new moon settling onto his heart like a cloud of moths.”

“Tortured Soul 101: The depth of despair one experiences during the creative process (as experienced say, in an abysmally blank page or canvas) is directly proportional to the scope and power of the work that emerges when it breaks.”

“The gods cared nothing for those they touched. Especially war gods.”

“Innocence crafts its own demise.”

“If you are in doubt about what's balanced, look to the natural world. Animals know the right paths.”

“She held out her hands, cupped and holding a small plant.'The power to heal is the power to destroy,' she said with the faintest smile.”

“The strongest and most mysterious weeds often have things to teach us.”

“Gardens are made of darkness and light entwined.”

“Wizard is as wizard does.”

“Melisande lay in bed in the loft of her cottage in Graebrok Forest north of Odr. Wide awake and blinking in the dark, she listened to the mice above her head. Nearly a moon past, her swordsman had repaired a crack in the eaves before returning to the towers and yards of Merhafr, the great port on the Njorth Sea, where he served as a King’s Ranger. His name was Othin, taken from a god of wisdom, trickery and war. What such a one knew of carpentry, well, that was open to question. But he knew other things. Nice things.”

“Love knows all paths, where even gods and cats are blind.”