Before we get to this week’s Notable and Quotable, we here at Bloodlines Reforged want to spark the Christmas Spirit with a giveaway! Beginning Dec. 16th and running through Dec. 20th you can download the eBook boxset, Heirs of Vanity for FREE! Furthermore, for the first five subscribers to email us a wishlist for Santa, we will give away a code for a FREE audiobook of Heirs of Vanity through Audible.com! If you’re not into audiobooks, the codes are completely transferable and may make a great gift for a loved one. This offer is only available in the United States or the United Kingdom. 
I hope this week’s newsletter finds you all well. Now, onto this week’s Notable and Quotable!
This week’s quote from Whetstones of the Will, Book III in the Lords of Order & Chaos Series.
Verkial continued up the trail that wound into the foothills of the mountains, trying to decide how to explain the little bit that he knew about the abominations. They had been only legend for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, but now some fool had re-opened that can of worms. Actually, not just some fool, but a spoiled brat with a smarmy mouth and likely no head for politics or tactics whatsoever.
“You remember that ox that defeated you in those games during our respite in Dead Horse?”
“Sire, I was drunk, and had been fightin’ in games all day that day, and I…”
“Shut up. You remember it, right? The game of Rope-Pull between you two?”
“I do.”
“That ox was stronger than you,” Verkial held up his hand to stop another protest from Hallgrim. “Just barely, but it still won the Rope-Pull. Tell me, did anyone in that crowd fear the ox?”
“Of course not,” Hallgrim said with a confused look on his face. “Why would anyone fear an ox?”
“But they do fear you, right?”
“You’re da…, yes, they do, my lord. They fear yourself as well.”
“Why, neither of us is as strong as that ox.”
“’ Cause we’re a danger to more than just piled up hay,” Hallgrim said with a laugh. “Why, I remember this one time…”
“So, it isn’t strength alone that makes something dangerous, right?” Verkial waited for Hallgrim’s nod and then continued. “Champions are powerful, no doubt. They’re strong. But, they don’t have any ambition, no drive. Some know how to use weapons, but they only know what they’re taught. No champion ever invented a weapon or a new killing technique with blade or hammer. No champion ever devised a plan of battle or set up an ambush. The violence of this world is all man-made. A Chaos Lord, well, that’s just a man with the strength of a demon at his disposal.”
You can find an ever-growing glossary and geographic guide on our website here; www.bloodlinesreforged.com. You can also find a few spoilers such as the lineage of kingdoms, the Code of the Cavalier, and so on.
The first book I need to tell you about this week is a tale from Sara Jolene entitled The Deliverer’s Destiny. “Sometimes some must die in order for the rest of us to survive.” You can download it for FREE!
Next, I need to tell you about a collection of Japanese folklore tales from Erynn Lehtonnen called the Yokai Calling Series. It comes out on Amazon in just a few weeks.
As to life here in our little corner of the world, we are all doing well. I thought I would give you a glimpse into breakfast time at the Hanson Household. Pictured below is our Great Dane, Pinker, our orphaned kitten, little Nugget, our peahen, Margaret, and our steer, Red for Dinner.
Let me know how you’re doing. Feel free to drop me a line at rj@bloodlinesreforged.com with word of how you’re doing, questions about our tales, or comments about the story or the world of Stratvs. If you enjoy our brand of ‘humor’ or just want more frequent updates, you can follow us on Facebook here; Roland’s Quest!
Until next time, ‘Crush your Enemies!’
R.J.