So barring disaster or Acts of Dragons, Book V of Norothian Cycle – The Channel War - should be available right after the weekend, on April Fool’s Day (funny how that works out).
A friend suggested this idea by way of a “preview,” posting one line of dialogue from each of the 38 chapters. I admit, it’s a weird idea, but I sort of found it amusing, and so here you go. Hope to see you next week when I’ll be posting (gasp!) active links to where the book can actually be had, but until then, here is the entirety of The Channel War, via the mouths of those characters living it.
—
“There are days of sun and days of rain.”
“Fire shells, Lord Mayor. Your city yields, or it burns.”
“Sometimes there is a trumpet or something, but I did not think to bring a minstrel.”
“Reveal thyself.”
“I am willing to be searched if you would like, Miss.”
“There is betrayal behind us, and trouble all around. Staying in this place is standing still with our neck in a noose.”
“What in the hell is wrong with you, woman?”
“The rest are novice priests, though experienced villains.”
“Even should nothing happen, I suppose the damage to my reputation is done.”
“Your human blood makes you so stupid.”
“There is always a pretext that will move men toward war, it is just a matter of finding the right one.”
“We do not truck with demons nor devils.”
“I know what you did to me.”
“Do not laugh. She will cut you.”
“Be a dear and shoot the archers first, will you?”
“Give their masters something to think about before they try this again.”
“I assume you have something important to say, or else I am guessing you would not have risked having someone throw a net over your head.”
“I’m not getting on a horse for a while, but I’ll be fine.”
“Seems too heavy for any sort of cooking fire.”
“Lambs have no sense but to walk themselves to the slaughter.”
“I am sure he would have liked to see you again. He would be happy you are here.”
“You cannot hope to avoid a long and agonizing war by attempting to stay out of it. You must win it, and swiftly.”
“Take a breath and relax yourself, Captain. I am here to talk, if you will stop blustering and posing for a minute’s time.”
“Handsome or not, you have to teach a boy to work for it. The fisherman does not respect the easy fish.”
“Though it is worth remembering that the anchor which is cut away, may not be used again.”
“What was that? Are you shot?”
“I stand around a lot with no real idea of what I’m doing.”
“Congratulations. It only took you a week to summon the courage to ask that.”
“And who is this little charmer?”
“What do words mean to the dead?”
“Fantastic. I suppose the whole of the Empire now knows I am the puppet of that horned bastard in Devil Town.”
“Have I told you that you talk too damn much?”
“I hate and love you so much right now I could break both your legs.”
“That sounds rather dangerous.”
“I am backing my faith with my life and my steel.”
“Time for me to bleed a little?”
“That was not the deal, Kitty.”
“A woman has to talk. Or why did you think men pick up swords in the first place?”
