The Runestaff

Every court must have its fool, every great ideal must attract some who are motivated only by self-interest.

“And is adventure and sensation all we should seek, Meliadus?”

“Aye—why not? All is chaos, there is no meaning to existence, there is only one advantage to living one’s life and that is to discover all the sensations the human mind and body is capable of feeling.”

And then he pursed his lips in disgust. “Doubtless that was the result of supernatural interference with our brains! How I hate the supernatural!”

It is many years since I have wielded a weapon larger than a pen, borne anything weightier than a difficult problem in philosophy.

“You fought well and you fought for justice.”

“Justice?” Hawkmoon called after him as he left the room. “Is there such a thing?”

“It can be manufactured in small quantities,” Fank told him. “But we have to work hard, fight well and use great wisdom to produce just a tiny amount.”