Quotes from Storm Constantine

Shem enfolded Daniel in his arms and rocked him like a child. He uttered a low, monotonous groan, as if in pain, then words spilled out of him like blood.

I have never beheld a youth so pale and lovely. Such magic must refresh your very soul.

You are nearly a woman, and a wondrous woman at that!

Outside, she stood in the street, tears running uncontrollably down her face. Devil, demon. What had seduced her? Possibly not even flesh and blood. She must find him now and finish her task. It was her destiny. It was war.

When they hit the surface, Ays had to remind himself consciously to breathe. He opened his eyes and they became filled with lights and colors. For a while, he was unable to recognise shapes with them.

If I talked of Valraven Palindrake disparagingly before you went to Caradore as his bride, it was the voice of my pain.

The outside world was eclipsed from my mindscape; rarely have I experienced such moments of total reality.

Aninka regarded Taziel speculatively. She could swear that he'd somehow decided to keep Daniel for himself, but she wasn't sure of his reason for that. Simple altruism just didn't ring true.

He looked tired and stooped and Daniel thought with some discomfort that all he lacked was a crown of thorns.

Strangely enough, I saw our roles the other way around las time. I was the great magician and you were the poetic bard. But Taropat has changed that. I accept it willingly.

If this was indeed the ancient land of Eden, then not even a memory of its former splendour remained.

She wished she could sweep her brother out of the house, tidy up in his wake, remove his presence from the atmosphere. Having him around made the place feel dirty.

The performance is the life of the city, our life, and beyond all considerations of personal life.

Tayven was so young and the strength that shone from him was more pathetic than total vulnerability, because he'd had to learn to breathe it, sleep it.

When he turned around to look, he once again saw white faces peering in stillness from high, insanely angled windows, and dimunitive bodies climbing up and down the almost vertical streets.

I loved and lost too many times, but in Samuel found peace. In his innocence and inexperience, he lacked the brutal qualities of men who awake the beast with me.

My guardian-pursuer came to me then, as I walked alone in the black and white city of ruins. She was at my side, sensed before I could actually see her.

Daniel, pour your light into me. Make me feel, bring the faith. Heal me. Be one with me. Banish my eternal void. Give me your wisdom, as you always have. I will listen with humility. Take from me the burden of salvation. Still for me the endless procession of spinning stars and unfold for me the path of my destiny, but please walk with me along the way.

She felt as if she'd finally come home, to people that had always been her people. Women working magic together, a tradition as old as the earth Herself.

Shan had lived here, in close proximity to Taropat every day. Tayven felt a barb in his heart. Jealousy.

Perceiving interconnectedness between all living things, the ancient Taps believed that every individual was somehow linked through the abstract country of the soulscape.

The richness and variety of the human race enchanted him; he was not repelled by weaknesses or failings and was tolerant of most behaviours, even the least endearing. Difficult people interested him far more than those whose conversations and ideas inspired the spirit, or whose physical beauty constricted breath in the throat. He sought out the unusual, observing behaviour with cool yet committed interest. He loved them all.

Ah, how young you are, how beautiful. I can't bear to think what will happen to you. I can't bear the thought of watching you wither.

Natural rock formations looked like ancient temples, while ancient temples looked like natural rock.