“He shook his head. He didn't know. He couldn't tell when he had woken fully. He walked to the horses. They definitely seemed alarmed. But then, they would. After all, he had just leapt to his feet unexpectedly, waving his saxe knife around like a lunatic.”

“As he poured carefully, Arrow's head turned toward the sound. The horse made a low grumbling noise in his throat."Hold your horses," he said. The he laughed. It seemed absurd to say tat to a horse.”

“Crowley shook his head. "I sometimes wonder if it was a good idea having Halt train apprentices. He seems to teach them no respect for authority.""Oh, he teaches us to respect authority," Gilan said innocently. "He just teaches us to ignore it when necessary.”

“You will be getting a haircut, won't you?"Halt ran his hand through his hair. It was getting a little long, he thought.I'll give it a trim," he said, his hand dropping unconciously to the hilt of his saxe knife. This time, Pauline did look up.You'll get a haircut," she said. Her gaze was steady and unwavering.I'll get a haircut," he agreed meekly.”

“We're going to see Ragnak," Halt told him. "He's going to have to promise to free every slave who fights for Hallasholm."Will shook his head doubtfully. "He won't like that," he said. Halt turned and looked at him, a faint grin touching the corner of his mouth.He'll hate it," he agreed.”

“Any sign of them yet? he asked. Will looked at him. 'Yes', he said. 'A party of fifty Scotti came though just twenty minutes ago'.Really? Horace looked startled. He wasn't fully awake yet. Will rolled his eyes to heaven. 'Oh, my word, yes', he said. 'They were riding on oxen and playing bagpipes and drums. Of course not,' he went on. 'If they had come past, I would have woken you-if only to stop your snoring'. I don't snore', Horace said, with dignity. Will raised his eyebrows. 'Is that so?' he said. 'Then in that case, you'd better chase out that colony of walruses who are in the tent with you...of course you snore.”

“You had this young man with you for... what, six years?"Halt shrugged. "Near enough," he replied."And did you ever understand a word he was saying?""Not a lot of the time, no," Halt said.Crowley shook his head in wonder. "It's just as well he didn't go into the Diplomatic Service. We'd be at war with half a dozen countries by now if he was on the loose."Will drew a deep breath to begin talking. He noticed that both men took an involuntary half step backward and he decided he'd better try to keep it as simple as possible.”