“Jock put his shoulder to the framework and the whole thing crumbled inward with a crash of glass. "Rotten as touch-wood," he said. "This place would never stand a siege.”

“Cole. Know this now. I will never forget what you've done for me. Never. Do you hear me?He nodded, but I could see he was crumbling, as if finding Jack would put an end to everything he wanted. Because it would. I placed my hands on either side of his face and brought his lips to mine in a light kiss.”

“He stands there, facing the largest windows, touching the glass with the open palm of his hands, feeling everything, but seeing nothing.”

“He's never fired a gun in his life," Palamedes said. "He abhors weapons."As Palamedes spoke,the group could see Shakespeare put the tonbogiri to his shoulder,then jerk three times.Two of the attacking vimanas spun out of control,both of them crashing into two more. The flour flaming craft spiraled into the sea."But then he's always been full of surprises," Palamedes added.”

“He balled up my discardedsweatshirt and put it against his shoulder.“Go on,” he said. “I don’t bite.”“And from what I hear, that’s a good thing.”He gave a rumbling chuckle. “Yeah, it is.”I leaned against his shoulder.”

“That's No'-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock-Jock, mistress,' said Not-as-big-as-Medium-Sized-Jock-but-bigger-than-Wee-Jock-Jock. 'Ye were one jock short,' he added helpfully.”