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

“Not I, but rather the king you love so well. It appears he would see us marry. (Rowena)My hairy arse. (Stryder)That is much more information about your person, Lord Stryder, than I care to know. (Rowena)”

“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)”

“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)”

“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.”

“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)”

“Marriage. ’Tis an unholy union between two people, and for what purpose? To make them both miserable. (Stryder)I don’t believe is has to be that way. Imagine a marriage where the man and woman respect each other. Where they are partners and allies. (Rowena)You are sober and speak more foolishness than I do while drunk. (Stryder)”