Quotes from Naomi Novik, Blood of Tyrants

Laurence reached up to wipe the grime from his face, and finding his hand come away red with gore felt back to where his scalp hung open and wet. Help me fold it up again, he said. A head wound is always a bloody nuisance; but unless my brains are out in the air, I suppose it will not kill me.

The river flows to the sea, whatever the wind says about it