“Well, fuck you. And the eagles you rode in on.”

“Lady Kathryn de Réméré understood where her duty lay. She did—truly. The hitch, though, the tricky part, the really twisty trouble was . . . . Well, she was actually having a difficult time convincing herself that her duty was to do her duty.”

“The swift greyhounds chased him for hours, wearing the wolf down, tiring him out so he would be too weak to give more than a token fight at the end.He remembered this tactic well from when he had been the hunter on the horse....At least I know what happens next.”

“The spell was simple and I'd said half of it before she even figured out that it was a spell.Since you like bubbles so,In a bubble you must go.In that bubble you will stayTill your bubbles go away.Sound can't pass from inside out Even if you scream or shout.If you want to be set free, End your spell, that's the key”

“The tinkle of wind chimes announcing the return of our fairy guests made us both look up. Our chance to be alone was going to be shorter than either of us had hoped.I sighed and brushed an errant dragon scale from Eadric’s tunic. “Someday when we have lots of time, remind me to tell you what you mean to me.”Eadric tilted my head back so he could gaze into my eyes. “I can tell you what you mean to me with just one word.”Let me guess,” I said, smiling up at him. “Maybe I make you happy because you no longer have to enter kissing contests to find the best kisser? Do I bring excitement into your life because I can wisk you away to exotic lands on my magic carpet? Or do you find me delightful because I can conjure food whenever you’re hungry?”No, that’s not. . . Wait, what was that last one?”I laughed and shook my head. “Never mind. So tell me in one word, what do I mean to you?”That’s easy,” said Eadric. “Everything!”

“Without my protectionm your journey is doomed before you begin.'Great! I thought. Even the snake is a critic!”

“How do you plan to scare people tonight?" asked a hollow-voiced spector. "I'll wait until they sit down to supper, then scream whenever someone sticks his knife in his meat."I'll haunt the bedchambers," said another. "A bloody ax at midnight always gets a good reaction."A ghost with a purplish tinge to his aura spoke next. "I can top both of you. I'm going to dress like a guard and haunt the privy. I'll hide in the hole and when anyone sits down I'll wail, 'Who goes there? State your business!”