Quotes by Jack Campbell

You should remove your jacket, the Mage said. Use it to shade your head.She didnt want to remove her one sign of authority, her one piece of armor, though in both respects the jacket offered little right now. Im a Mechanic. I know that. Is there anyone around that you need to impress?

Her hand gripped his, and even amid the fear and danger he marveled at the feeling that came with the contact. If we die holding hands in this way, will we enter the next dream together?

She sat back, eyeing the flames now leaping upward to lick at the wooden beams of the ceiling. If this fire gets out of hand, or if the guards take too long to come, you and I may be in a lot of trouble.We are already in a lot of trouble.That was my reasoning, too. Of course, if that happens and the fire gets too big before the mighty citizens of Ringhmon stop it, itll also gut this little palace and destroy everything inside it. Including the enormously expensive Model Six that I just fixed, which theyll be responsible for paying fo, and probably the other Model Six that they openly own. She shrugged, trying to appear unworried. Thatll teach them to kidnap me. But that wont happen. Well be fine.You say that and yet you are frightened.Yes, Im frightened! I admit it! Happy? No, wait, Mages are never happy. Just try not to die, all right? I dont want that to be my fault.Alain thought through her words. I will attempt not to die. Your plan appears to be sound, as well as potentially very destructive. I see that it is a mistake to offend you.

You should have know this, Mari, that I would help you.She was smiling again as she wiped her eyes. Maybe I should have known. But I didnt, Alain. You are a Mage, and sometimes my memories of what happened in the waste and in Ringhmon and at Dorcastle have seemed like some kind of hallucination. I didnt know how you would react when I found you. I was actually...Alain, I was afraid that when I found you Id discover that youd gone back to being like you were when we first met. That youd just look at me as if I didnt exist and walk away. I should have realized that wouldnt happen. I should have known that youd help without question. You keep saying that truth doesnt exist, buy you are true. Theres nothing false about you.

There are things we dont do. From this moment forth, let us all ensure our every action reflects well on us and our ancestors. Let us live to the highest standards, lest we win this war only to find ourselves staring in the mirror at the face of our late enemy.

... anyone who really believed what they were saying could get it said in a lot fewer words.

Im scared and overwhelmed and my mind is racing. But, she paused and looked at him. Youre here. You just gave me hope. You also just scared the blazes out of me. Im no longer sure that Im the most difficult person in this relationship.I remain sure of it, Alain said.Did you just make a joke? She pulled away a little and stared at him, smiling more like she usually did. Are you making fun of me, Mage?Alain couldnt remember how long it had been since he had laughed. The act was completely alien to Mages, to the training he had endured since he was a small child. But now he laughed, the sound rusty and halting, yet he knew it was a laugh, and it felt so good to be laughing and holding Mari that Alain wondered what Mage art or other promised reward could possibly be worth giving up such things.

Fast and stupid is still stupid. It just gets you to stupid a lot quicker than humans could on their own. Which, I admit, is an accomplishment, she added, because were pretty damn good at stupid.

Can dragons fly?The apparent change of subject didnt seem to startle the Mage. No. Not at all. They do not have wings, ... If you want a flying spell creature, you need a Roc.A what?A Roc. It is a giant bird, Alain explained. Mari shook her head. A giant bird. Im crazy to be listening to this, you know that?I have thought…” He fumbled for words, for a moment looking just like any other seventeen-year-old young man. Was that actually embarrassment showing? “You might…be interested…someday….in flying…on a Roc. I mean…with me.” 
“Are you asking me on a date?” Mari tried desperately not to laugh at his discomfort. “A date on a giant bird?”
“Um…I do not know…just something to do…together. That is not dangerous,” Alain added hastily. 
“Doing something together, that isn’t dangerous?” Mari asked. “That would be a change of pace for us, wouldn’t it? … Have you ever gone…flying…with a girl before?” 
Was he blushing? Just the faintest hint of it, but—stars above. She had made a Mage blush. 
“No,” Alain said.

She settled into a sitting position, wincing. Oh, my poor rear end. I hope you appreciate what I went through to get here.Alain watched her anxiously. You have hurt your...My butt. Yeah. She returned his gaze, puzzled. Ill survive. Why are you blushing?Blushing? His face felt warm. What did that mean?Yes. Mari laughed. Does talking about my butt embarrass you? Im sorry. Its nothing special.I... His face felt even warmer. I think it is.You do, huh? Where have you been all my life?This time he gave her a mystified look. I sent almost all of it inside a Mage Guild Hall. The one in Ihris. You know this.Mari laughed again.

If we run into any legionnaires well say were out hiking and show them our forged imperial identity papers.What is hiking? Alain asked. Walking for fun, Mari explained. I mean, youre walking long distances, but not because you have to. For fun.Alain gazed steadily at her. Walking long distances, for fun. Are you saying a joke?Mari shook her head. I know it sounds like that, but people really do it.

I do not know how you have done this to me. I thought that if I returned the help you had given me that I would be free of the inexplicable influence you have over me. But it does not seem to be working, and you say you cannot break the thread.Mari realized that her mouth had fallen open as she stared at Mage Alain. Are you serious?What would I be if not serious?Youre saying that I put a spell on you that controls your thoughts and actions?Why else am I here? The Mage asked.Because it was the right thing to do!The...what? I am still uncertain about what right thing means— the trace of puzzlement had retired to him.Listen...Mage Alain! I dont...put spells on boys! Or men! Or anybody! I have no idea why you think that you are thinking about me, but I assure you that it has nothing to do with me thinking about you or making you think that you want to think about me!

Security is not a license for people in authority to hide the tactics they would never openly admit to using.

Mari stared at him. Are you telling me that you came to rescue me, following a metaphorical thread through imaginary holes, but now that youre in the same cell with me you cant get us out?Yes, that is correct. This one erred.That one sure did. Now instead of one of us being stuck in here, were both stuck in here.The Mage gave her a look which actually betrayed a trace of irritation. He must have really been exhausted for such a feeling to show. I do not have much experience with rescues. Are you always so difficult?

“I realized that success in most things depends on finding people stupid enough to volunteer to try doing them but smart enough to have a chance of succeeding.”