The Infinite Athenaeum
Ash Gray
Top 10 Best Quotes
“Owllwin was easiest the most contrary person Cricket had ever known. He was arrogant but humble, cowardly but brave, foolish but wise. He was funny, but sometimes she caught him crying when he was off on his own. It were as if he pushed himself to be a better person in spite of himself, in spite of his own failings, and Cricket secretly admired the fact: not many people were willing to admit they had faults in the first place.”
“You said the d-word,” Owllwin said regretfully. “I didn’t think you would, or I woulda warned ya.” “ . . . the d-word?” Cricket repeated in confusion. “Yeah . . .” Owllwin paused as if he was glancing around, then he whispered through the wall, “Dragon.” Cricket blinked. “Why can’t I say that?”
“Yet while Owllwin was arrogant, he was also humble enough to admit when he had made a mistake. Perhaps it was his sheer clumsiness that kept him so humble: the first time he spoke to Cricket was in the great dining hall, and he brought down six tables five minutes after.”
“The first time I saw Cricket, I loved her. Little did I know that skinny, goofy girl would one day grow up to be a great dragon slayer. I would have pegged her for a shoemaker.”
“I never thought I’d ever leave Zerc. But after knowing Cricket, it occurred to me that I had no reason to stay. I had no family, no friends aside from her. I never even spoke to Enkai until she brought us together. It was she who first inspired me to dream of actually seeing those worlds I spent my every waking moment reading about. Her and her wild heart, her laughing spirit, so bright in her eyes whenever she spoke of her travels and all the wondrous places she had seen. When I was a boy, I envied her for her adventures. When I became a man, I only pitied her.”
“Cricket nodded apologetically. She ripped the blankets back and hopped off her bed. Enkai snorted out a laugh, and it took her a moment to realize she wasn’t wearing pants.”
“Cricket glanced down when she saw a cookie slide under the wall. She plucked the cookie from the ground and bit into it, dirt and all. It was so disgusting, her eyes watered, but she was starving, so she choked it down.”
“Cricket could tell Enkai was holding back tears, and wishing to comfort him, she took his hand. They sat in silence for a long time, just holding hands, and when Cricket heard Enkai sniff, she knew he was crying. “You should go. You shouldn’t see me . . .” “What?” said Cricket at once. “Be a person? Have feelings? Here . . .” She took a washcloth from the nightstand and dabbed his tears away. “I cried when I lost my friends. One of them died to get me here too.” “I’m sorry,” Enkai said, blinking sympathetically as Cricket wiped his face. Cricket smiled. “No, it’s alright. I still see her sometimes.” She dropped her eyes to the washcloth as she contently folded it and set it aside. Enkai frowned. “You’re weird, Cricket,” he said with a laugh, and Cricket laughed as well. “But . . .” he added, “I guess that’s why I like you.”
“:We aren’t leaving here,: Cricket answered sleepily :Oh, but we are,: insisted the wolf with confidence. :You have bigger business about you than lingering here in bird paradise.: After everything that had happened with Neferre, Cricket knew the wolf’s words were true but decided to ignore them. :They don’t like being called birds,: she scolded. :And do you have gas? Ugh.: :Just the same,: said the wolf evenly, :time will take us from here. Be prepared when that happens.:”
“:She still didn’t have to lock you in a box,: said the wolf, emerging from Cricket’s thoughts. :If she does that again, I will eat her.: Cricket laughed. :You wouldn’t do that.: :No, I would not. But as your companion and protector, I must bristle and play the part.:”
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Book Keywords:
friendship, epic-fantasy, adventure, wolf, clumsy, dragonslayer, telepathy, young-love, dragons, romance, humor, humor-wolf, friendship-and-love
