“What do you mean? (Fatima)There’s so much evil out there to protect him and others from. How can I fight for that and keep him safe simultaneously? (Stryder)I still do not understand, milord. You are but one man with one sword to fight all the world. This is indeed a good thing. But when you are gone so too is your sword. So it seems to me that while it is important to fight the bad man, it is just as equally important to raise a good one. Raising more than one would be even better. That way when you are gone, you will leave a whole generation behind who will fight for what is right. (Fatima)”

“I could no more love a man of the sword than either of our mothers. So, tell me, Stryder. How do we get out of this? (Rowena)I don’t know. Murder? (Stryder)”

“Nay," she said stubbornly. "I have just been told that the only chance I have for freedom is in your hands and by all that is holy, you will deliver me my freedom or I shall see to it that you live out the rest of your life in merciless misery."He gaped at her. On any other man such an expression would have looked foolish, but to credit Lord Stryder, even when taken by surprise, he still managed to carry off an air of supreme authority and handsomeness. "I beg your pardon? Have you gone completely mad?""Not I, but rather the king you love so well. It appears he would see us marry.""My hairy arse."She gave him a droll stare. "That is much more information about your person, Lord Stryder, than I care to know.”

“The only way to peace is to lay aside weapons. (Rowena)And the bloodiest of wars are often fought not with weapons, but rather with tongues. A man can heal an external wound a thousand times faster than he can heal even a small one dealt to his heart. You are a warrior, milady. You just choose a different forum for your battles, but you battle nonetheless. Like the men you hate so much, you hurt and wound. Have you given thought to why you fight the wars you do? (Zenobia)”

“(Will unsheathed his sword.)What is it you do? (Stryder)Remember when you told us you’d rather be dead than married? (Val)”

“What did they do to you, to make you withdraw so far into yourself? (Sin doesn’t answer.) You’ve left me again, haven’t you? I can always tell. Your eyes turn dull, cold. Very well, I shall leave you in peace. But know this: One day I am going to find the heart you have buried away from the world. (Callie)And what would you do with it if you found it? (Sin)I would hold it safe and keep it from the hurt that has shriveled it. (Callie)”

“I love you like a brother, Stryder, but I swear there are times when I could strangle the very life out of you. (Zenobia)’Tis a good thing you care for me then. Given my treatment, I shudder at what you would do to me should you decide to hate me. (Stryder)”