“Seeing that my words had done absolutely nothing to pull North from whatever depths he was clinging to, Owain did what came naturally. He smacked North upside the head hard enough to send him sprawling into the window. And when it seemed that North would turn around and return the favor, Owain hit him again, harder.”

“Owain crossed his arms over his chest. "I've gone straight. Only good, clean jobs for me now.""So, in other words," North said, "you're living in poverty?”

“Owain told me about the beautiful, fair-haired Vesta. It took me several minutes to work out that Vesta was a horse, and that Owain was possibly in love with her.”

“Real friends are hard to come by, and as annoying as Henry is, he'd throw himself in front of dragon's fire for you.""And that's the definition of a real friend?""Oh, yes, just ask Owain." He laughed.”

“Genet raised his hand, and I squeezed my eyes shut, sure I would be receiving the worst backhanded slap of my life.Genet froze and whimpered, but didn't back away."Oh, ho," said a familiar voice. "That was close !" I opened my eyes as North's free hand - the one that hadn't caught Genet's wrist - gently pulled my arm free. I pushed myself away from both of them."You interrupt my business ?" Genet sputtered. "Do you know what this wench just accused me of being ?""A filthy pig," North said good-naturedly. "But there's only one filthy pig allowed in her life, and the position's been filled.”

“I'm trying to feel sorry for you, really I am,"North said."If you wait just a moment I'm sure the tears will come.”

“I pulled myself from his mind, day by day, piece by piece, memory by memory, until there was nothing of Ruby left to weigh him down or keep him bound to my side..”