“Staring at the wall opposite him he presented the queen with a view of his ear and awaited her orders.” OrderViewsWallOppositesEarsStaringQueens Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“Relius looked away. "He said that you...cried," he said softly. "But not that he cried as well," said the queen, amused at the memory. "We were very lachrymose... would you like to hear more romance of the evening? He told me the Guard should be reduced by half, and I threw an ink jar at his head." "Is that when he cried?" "He ducked," said Attolia dryly. "I had not pictured you for a fishwife." "Lo, the transforming power of love.” ShouldWellsSaidRomanceMemoriesHalfEveningQueensCriedInkTransformingJarsPower Of LoveAmusedWell SaidAttoliaKing Of Attolia Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“Her queen danced like a flame in the wind, and the mercurial king like the weight at the center of the earth.” EarthWindKingsWeightQueensFlamesAttoliaKing Of Attolia Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“From shadow queen to puppet queen in one rule. That's very impressive. When he rules your country and he tells you he loves you, I hope you believe him. At least that's one lie I didn't tell you.” BelieveCountryHandsLyingLove YouShadowBlowQueensCheeksImpressivePuppetsAttoliaVery Impressive Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“The king lifted a hand to her cheek and kissed her. It was not a kiss between strangers, not even a kiss between a bride and groom. It was a kiss between a man and his wife, and when it was over, the king closed his eyes and rested his forehead in the hollow of the queen's shoulder, like a man seeking respite, like a man reaching home at the end of the day.” MenEndsHomeHandsEyeWifeKingsKissingSeekingStrangerShouldersQueensHis EyesReachingThe End Of The DayCheeksHollowBridesForeheadsRespiteAttoliaBride And GroomKing Of Attolia Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“My beautiful queen. Your entire court is staring at you, and I can't blame them." They were, too. The queen turned to look. Her glance swept through the crowd like a reaping sickle through grain. Mouths slammed shut on every side. There was a scuffling sound as the people in the back shifted, trying to screen themselves from view. The queen looked back at the king, who was broadly smiling.” PeopleTryingLooksI CanBeautifulSoundSidesViewsKingsMouthsBlameCourtCrowdsScreensStaringQueensGrainGlancesAttoliaStaring At You Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“You're awake," he said. "Phresine is not," pointed out the queen. "Oh?" "You gave her lethium." "She gave it to me first.” FirstsSaidQueensAwakeAttolia Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“He waved at his attendants. "I dragged them like a ball and chain all the way across the palace and back." "If sterner measures are called for, we can find a larger ball and chain." The queen turned and disappeared into the partment. "Oh, dear," Eugenides muttered as he followed...The queen's sterner measures, dispensed by the Eddisian Ambassador, arrived before dawn.” IfsWayBallsDearChainsDawnQueensPalacesAmbassadors Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“"Who am I, that you should love me?" "You are My Queen," said Eugenides. She sat perfectly still, looking at him without moving as his words dropped like water into dry earth. "Do you believe me?" he asked. "Yes," she answered. "Do you love me?" "Yes." "I love you." And she believed him.” ShouldBelieveSaidStillsEarthMovingWaterLove YouQueensSatDryBelieve In MeAttoliaDo You Love Me Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“She was the stone-faced queen, then and ever after. She had needed the mask to rule, and she had been glad to have it. She wondered if Eugenides was glad of his.” IfsNeededStonesGladQueensMaskEver After Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“If you are feeling more yourself, there is a problem best addressed immediately," said the queen. "In my nightshirt?" The king wriggled, as ever, out of straightforward obedience. "Your attendants. I have spoken to them. You will speak to them as well." "Ah. They have seen me in my nightshirt." He looked down at his sleeve, embroidered with white flowers. "Not in your nightshirt, though.” IfsWellsSaidFeelingsProblemSpeakWhiteFlowerKingsObedienceQueensStraightforwardSleevesWhite Flowers Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“The gossip will carry to Attolian spies, who will report to Relius, Attolia's master of spies, and he will carry the news to her." "Her secretary of the archives," murmured the magus. "Hmm?" asked the queen. "Secretary of the archives, Relius. Master of spies is so-" "Accurate?" "Overtly direct," said the magus. Eddis laughed.” SaidMastersNewsDirectQueensReportsGossipLaughedAccurateSecretarySpyArchivesHmmAttolia Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“The queen was settling on the edge of the bed, ungainly with hesitation and at the same time exquisite in her grace, like a heron landing in a treetop.” GraceBedEdgesSettlingQueensExquisiteHesitationLandingHeronsTreetops Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“No," he said. "Relius was right and I was wrong. You are My Queen. Even though you cut my head from my shoulders, with my last breath as a noose tightens, to the last beat of my heart if I hang from the walls of the palace, you are My Queen. That I have failed you does not change my love for you or my loyalty.” IfsHeartDoeSaidLastsCuttingWallMy HeartBeatsBreathsLoyaltyShouldersQueensPalacesMy Love For YouNoosesAttoliaKing Of Attolia Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“-You know-- Eddis hesitated, not sure how far to push the Attolian Queen. -Go on. Attolia inclined her head. -I was going to say that you look like a polecat when you smile like that. -Do I? Attolia still smiled. -You look a little vulpine yourself. The two queens sat for a moment in happy agreement.” KnowsLooksLittlesStillsTwoMomentsGoes OnQueensNot SureSatAgreementAttolia Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“She reached out and touched the king’s face, cupping his cheek in her hand. “Just a nightmare,” he said, his voice still rough. The queen’s voice was cool. “How embarrassing,” she said, looking at his maimed arm. The king looked up then, and followed her gaze. If it was embarrassing to wake like a child screaming from a nightmare, how much more embarrassing to be the reason your husband woke screaming. A quick smile visited the king’s face. “Ouch,” he said, referring to more than the pain in his side. “Ouch,” he said again as the queen gathered him into her arms.” IfsChildrenSaidStillsReasonHandsPainFacesSidesVoiceArmsKingsHusbandQueensTouchedNightmareRoughCheeksEmbarrassingReferringYour HusbandOuch Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“In the afternoon, the king and queen sat to hear the business of their kingdom. At least, the queen sat to hear the business; Costis was still not sure what the king was doing.” StillsKingsKingdomsQueensNot SureSatAfternoonKings And Queens Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“The queen had passed him, so close he'd felt the stir of air, and he guessed that if she had turned her head, only a little, and met his eyes, he might have died right there.” IfsLittlesMightEyeFeltAirMetsDiedQueensHis Eyes Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“The queen!" someone shouted in alarm, and the King erupted like a wild animal caught in a snare.” AnimalKingsCaughtQueensAlarmsSnaresWild Animal Author:Megan Whalen Turner
“After one moment of gripped immobility, the queen bent to kiss the king lightly on one closed eyelid, then on the other. She said, 'I love your eyes.' She kissed him on either cheek, near the small lobe of his ear. 'I love your ears, and I love'-she paused as she kissed him gently on the lips-'every single one of your ridiculous lies.' The king opened his eyes and smiled at the queen in a companionship that was as unassailable as it was unfathomable.” SaidMomentsEyeLyingKingsKissingEarsLipsRidiculousQueensHis EyesCheeksCompanionshipBentUnfathomableEyelidsKing Of Attolia Author:Megan Whalen Turner
