“They have terrified my poor wife and threatened my very person!"Halt eyed the man impassivley until the outburst was finished.Worse than that," he said quietly, "they've wasted my time.”

“You're a very amusing fellow," he told Halt. "I'd like to brain you with my ax one of these days."Erak to Halt.”

“Take one more step and I'll put an arrow through you."Will tried to model his voice on the quiet, threatening tone Halt had used. He had retrieved several of his arrows from the nearest target and now he had one of them ready, laid on the bowstring. Halt glanced around approvingly. "Good idea," he said. "Aim for the left calf. It's a very painful wound.”

“Are there bears in these mountains?" he asked.His companion nodded. "Of course. But it's a bit early in the year for them to be moving around. Why?"Halt let go a long breath. "Just a vague hope, really. There's a chance that when the Temujai here you crashing around in the trees, they might think you're a bear."Erak smiled, with his mouth only. His eyes were as cold as the snow."You're a very amusing fellow," he told Halt. "I'd like to brain you with my ax one of these days.""If you could manage to do it quietly, I'd almost welcome it," Halt said.”

“You're right, Halt,' she said, and he nodded acklowledgement of her backing down.'Nice to hear someone else saying that for a change,' Will said cheerfully. 'Seems like I've said those words an awful lot in my time.'Halt turned a bleak gaze on him. 'And you've always been right.”

“Halt! How are you? What have you been doing? Where's Abelard? How's Crowley? What's this all about?" "I'm glad to see you rate my horse more important than our Corps Commandant," Halt said, one eyebrow rising in the expression that Will knew so well. Early in their relationship, he had thought it was an expression of displeasure. He had learned years ago that it was, for Halt, the equivalent of a smile.”

“Would you trust him with your life, Halt?" Gilan interrupted, and Halt looked up at him."Yes," he said quietly. Gilan patted his shoulder once more."Then trust him with his own," he said simply.”