“Go back,” he said.“Can’t. Stand aside?”“Can’t.”“So it’s like that?” I said.Fix exhaled. Then he nodded. “Yeah.” And for the first time in a decade the Winter Knight and Summer Knight went to war.”

“Like life is short,” he said. “Like you don’t know when it’s going to end. Like some things, left unsaid, can’t ever be said.”

“Lean forward a little, my lord," Toot said instantly, and shouted, "Hey, Kernal Purpleweed! Come watch the Za Winter Lord Knight's back!"I fought not to smile. "No, that's a metaphor," I said.Toot frowned and scratched his head. "I don't know what it's for.”

“Knight takes Knight,” I called into the cloudy night air. “Check.”

“All right, you primitive screwheads. Listen up. I'm Harry Dresden. I'm the new Winter Knight.”

“This is ridiculous. I look like the Games Workshop version of a Jedi Knight.”

“Now, Lily said, her burning voice bitter. Now you give me a choice. The ministar flared to life in her palm again. Thus do I choose, you son of a bitch. Knight of Winter, burn and die.”