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Nisses’ Prophecies
On the Three Swords:
When frost doth grow on Claves’ bell
And shadows walk upon the road
When water blackens in the well
Three Swords must come again.
And shadows walk upon the road
When water blackens in the well
Three Swords must come again.
When Bukken from the earth do creep
And Hunën from the heights descend
When Nightmare throttles peaceful sleep
Three Swords must come again.
And Hunën from the heights descend
When Nightmare throttles peaceful sleep
Three Swords must come again.
To turn the stride of treading Fate
To clear the fogging Mists of Time
If Early shall resist too Late
Three Swords must come again.
To clear the fogging Mists of Time
If Early shall resist too Late
Three Swords must come again.
On Camaris:
Bringe from Nuanni’s Rocke Garden,
The Man who tho’ Blinded canne See
The Man who tho’ Blinded canne See
Discover the Blayde that delivers The Rose
At the foote of the Rimmer’s greate Tree
At the foote of the Rimmer’s greate Tree
Find the Call whose lowde Claime
Speakes the Call-bearer’s name
In a Shippe on the Shallowest Sea—
Speakes the Call-bearer’s name
In a Shippe on the Shallowest Sea—
—When Blayde, Call, and Man
Come to Prince’s right Hande
Then the Prisoned shall once more go Free …
Come to Prince’s right Hande
Then the Prisoned shall once more go Free …
Book 1: The Dragonbone Chair
"He who is certain he knows the ending of things when he is only beginning them is either extremely wise or extremely foolish; no matter which is true, he is certainly an unhappy man, for he has put a knife in the heart of wonder."
Author’s warning
Rhyme of the Six Kings:
Six Kings have ruled in Hayholt’s broad halls
Six masters have stridden her mighty stone walls
Six mounds on the cliff over deep Kynslagh-bay
Six kings will sleep there until Doom’s final day.
Six masters have stridden her mighty stone walls
Six mounds on the cliff over deep Kynslagh-bay
Six kings will sleep there until Doom’s final day.
Fingil first, named the Bloody King
Flying out of the North on war’s red wing.
Flying out of the North on war’s red wing.
Hjeldin his son, the Mad King dire
Leaped to his death from the haunted spire.
Leaped to his death from the haunted spire.
Ikferdig next, the Burned King hight
He met the fire-drake by dark of night.
He met the fire-drake by dark of night.
Three northern kings, all dead and cold
The North rules no more in lofty Hayholt.
The North rules no more in lofty Hayholt.
The Heron King Sulis, called Apostate
Fled Nabban, but in Hayholt he met his fate.
Fled Nabban, but in Hayholt he met his fate.
The Hernystir Holly King Tethtain
Came in at the gate, but not out again.
Came in at the gate, but not out again.
Last, Eahlstan Fisher King, in lore most high
The dragon he woke, and in Hayholt he died.
The dragon he woke, and in Hayholt he died.
Chapter 5, "The Tower Window".
"Books are a form of magic—” the doctor lifted the volume he had just laid on the stack, “—because they span time and distance more surely than any spell or charm."
Doctor Morgenes to Simon. Chapter 7, "The Conquerer Star".
"A piece of writing is a trap,” he said cheerily, “and the best kind. A book, you see, is the only kind of trap that keeps its captive—which is knowledge—alive forever."
Doctor Morgenes to Simon. Chapter 7, "The Conquerer Star".
"A man whose wisdom is true does not sit in waiting for the world to come at him piece by piece for proving its existence!"
Binabik to Simon. Chapter 18, "A Net of Stars".
"If your enemy comes to speak bearing a sword, open your door to him and speak, but keep your own sword at hand. If he comes to you empty-handed, greet him the same way. But if he comes to you bearing gifts, stand on your walls and cast stones down on him."
Father Dinivan quoting from the Book of the Aedon to Count Eolair. Chapter 22, "A Wind from the North".
"When it falls on your head, then you are knowing it is a rock."
Binabik to Simon. Chapter 24, "The Hounds of Erkynland".
"If you wish to carry a hungry weasel in your pocket, it is your choice."
Binabik to Simon. Chapter 25, "The Secret Lake".
"While we breathe, there's hope."
Prince Josua to Simon. Chapter 31, "The Councils of the Prince".
"Never make your home in a place. Make a home for yourself inside your own head. You'll find what you need to furnish it— memory, friends you can trust, love of learning, and other such things. That way it will go with you wherever you journey. You'll never lack for a home– unless you lose your head, of course..."
Simon remembering Doctor Morgenes. Chapter 43, "Beneath the Uduntree".
Book 2: The Stone of Farewell
"Not everyone can stand up and be a hero, Princess. Some prefer to surrender to the inevitable and salve their consciences with the gift of survival."
Cadrach to Miriamele. Chapter 2, "Masks and Shadows".
"Fight and live, fight and die, God waits for all."
Einskaldir to Deornoth. Chapter 4, "A Bowl of Calamint Tea".
"He who is not bringing in his flock at night gives away free mutton."
Binabik to Haestan. Chapter 5, "Singing Man’s House".
"Now I end my death song. I give my farewell to mountain and sky. It has been good to be alive."
Ookekuk in his letter to Binabik. Chapter 5, "Singing Man’s House".
"Fear goes where it is invited."
Cadrach to Miriamele. Chapter 7, "Spreading Fires".
"Pilgrims on the road through hell cannot afford too much merriment."
Prince Josua. Chapter 13, "The Stallion Clan".
Book 3: To Green Angel Tower
"A man who will not listen carefully to advice honestly given is a fool. Of course, a man who blindly takes any advice he receives is a bigger fool."
Prince Josua to Simon. Chapter 17, "Bonfire Night".
"This is our last chance. After us comes darkness."
Prince Josua to Sir Camaris. Chapter 23, "The Sounding of the Horn".
"We tell lies when we are afraid... afraid of what we don't know, afraid of what others will think, afraid of what will be found out about us. But every time we tell a lie, the thing that we fear grows stronger."
Simon remembering Doctor Morgenes. Chapter 42, "Roots of the White Tree".
"Good stories will tell you that facing the lie is the worst terror of all. And there is no talisman or magic sword that is half so potent a weapon as truth."
Simon remembering Doctor Morgenes. Chapter 42, "Roots of the White Tree".
"I am dead. I wish to stay that way."
Prince Josua to Simon and Miriamele. Chapter 60, "Leavetaking".
