“I'm sorry, Cannan, but your niece is intolerable.""As are you.”

“In the end, the best for which one could hope was to leave the world in better straits than existed on the day of your birth; to truly have lived. And oh, how Cannan, the Captain of the Guard, had lived.”

“Oh, my! I'm so sorry, my lord!" I apologised, my voice coated with sarcasm. "As hardy as I am, it's just impossible to catch myself when I trip.”

“Through the window on the far wall, he could see the remains of his homeland-buildings crumbled, the city walls in ruins, streets upturned, Cokyrian flags flying high to lay claim to it's newest province. And that was just the outer layer. Beneath, there were families in shreds, bleeding where the death of loved ones had left wounds so deep they would eternally fester. Cannan, his son and his families murdered brother had left behind were bleeding. Hytanica had nothing left to give and, therefore, nothing else to lose.”

“What is wrong with Steldor?" my father asked, probably thinking illness since a shirt now covered his torso, concealing the last of his bandages."He was wounded," Cannan said, leaving out any hint of the strife we had experienced. "He's on the mend now." He cast a glance toward Nantilam, who still stood stiffly in the background, hands bound, Halias on alert next to her. "We have the High Priestess to thank for that.""Not that she would have assisted willingly," Halias muttered, but she bowed her head toward the captain in appreciation of his acknowledgement.”

“Saadi, what do you think you're doing?" I demanded."Well I thought I was helping you. As it turns out, I'm bleeding.”

“Ah, Galen! Late as always, I see," Steldor said as he took note of his friend's entry into the room. "I'm never late," Galen returned. "You should know by now that the party doesn't begin until I'm here.”