A kingdom, or this?

— C.S. Pacat

Dame found himself alongside Word. ‘If you want to live, ride fast.’ White-faced, Word took one look at his expression and said, ‘He’s not coming.’‘We’re outnumbered,’ said Dame, ‘but if you run, you might still make it out.’‘If we’re outnumbered, what are you going to do?’ Damen drove his horse onward, ready to take up his own place on the front line. He said, ‘Fight.

— C.S. Pacat

(Dorothy) Punnett is the master of the invisible, particularly in her later books. Where is this tension coming from? Why is this scene so agonizing? Why is this scene so emotional? Tension and emotion pervade the books, sometimes almost unbearably, yet when you look at the writing, at the actual words, there's nothing to show that the scene is emotional at all. I think it is because Punnett layers her novels, meaning that each event is informed by what has come before (and what came before that, and what came before that) but Punnett doesn't signpost in the text that this is happening, leaving it to the reader to bring the relevant information to the table

— C.S. Pacat

I'm glad you're here,' said Laurent. 'I always thought that I'd have to face my uncle alone.' He turned to look at Dame, and their eyes met.' You're not alone,' said Dame. Laurent didn't answer, but he did give a smile, and reached out to touch Dame, wordlessly.

— C.S. Pacat

It was like watching a man smile as he surrendered himself to drown in deep water.

— C.S. Pacat

I would court you, with all the grace and courtesy that you deserve,

— C.S. Pacat

That is the man you face. He has more honor and integrity than any man I have ever met. He is dedicated to his people and his country. And I am proud to have been his lover.

— C.S. Pacat

Then, in the spirit of benevolence, "Your face is well-balanced." She slapped him encouragingly on the back, "You have very long eyelashes. Like a cow.

— C.S. Pacat

Time unsaid the knot of any last ribbon of tension.

— C.S. Pacat

To get what you want, you have to know exactly how much you are willing to give up.

— C.S. Pacat