Niko's angular face caught a flicker of firelight and Tempus saw his future there: sharp purpose, discipline, and power in perfect balance; love of man and gods, and mercy transcending all. If war ever wore a more humane face, this one would make it so.

Wanting neither too much to live, nor too much to die.

The city guardsmen were like the keres, doom-bringers of merciless vengeance.

This was what men fought for, what men died for: a chance at life, and to fight on other days - the battle of your choice, of the body, or the heart, or the soul.

"Mercy is not in favor in my heavens today," says Vashanka, unforgiving and combative, folding vast arms and spearing Harmony with lightning that crackles from his gaze.

I won't go back and live in the sea again.

"Dreamers and dreaming dead, lots of them from neither here nor there with no chance of getting home again, lost in place and time.