“Allow me to present myself, milady. I am Simon of Ravenswood, brother to the ogre, and your most fervent protector for this journey. (Simon)Wonderful. And pray tell who will protect her from your drooling? Should I have my squire fetch rags now, or should I wait until she starts to drown? (Draven)”

“I’ve had worse. (Draven)Such as? (Simon)The day my heart was ripped out of me. I assure you the king’s executioner could never equal the pain I felt the day I saw our mother die. (Draven)”

“Oh, Draven. You’re my hero too! If not for you, that mean old boar would have eaten me alive. (Simon)Get off me, you nimble-pated gelding. (Draven)”

“If it makes you feel better though, she is well worth it. (Draven)I hope you can still say that when they’re scooping your entrails out and you’re still alive to feel it. (Simon)”

“I should be mortified, I know. But Alys is a good friend to me, and though she has her faults, she has a good and generous heart.(Emily)And is that all that matters to you? (Draven)Aye. People will always make mistakes, but in the end ‘tis their heart that matters most. (Emily)”

“You should have been a jester instead of a knight. (Sin)True, but jesters don’t get to carry a sword. Personally, I like my sword. You know, the whole knight images really makes the ladies lust for me. Not that any have lusted for me recently, since I have only been in the company of married women, but one is ever hopeful…Oh, wait, I’m in Scotland, where they hate us English. Damn, my chances with the women have just fallen to nil. Wasn’t there a monastery a few leagues back? Mayhap I should go take my vows and just save myself the embarrassment of being sneered at. (Simon)”

“(Emily frowned, then turned about in her saddle to scan the inner bailey.)Milady? What do you seek? (Simon)A marker announcing this as the gate to Hades. (Emily)”