“Oh gods, stairs.”

“Safety is an illusion, Costis. A Thief might fall at any time, and eventually the day must come when the god will let him. Whether I am on a rafter three stories up or on a staircase three steps up, I am in my god's hands. He will keep me safe, or he will not, here or on the stairs.”

“No 'Glory shall be your reward' for me. Oh, no, for me, it is, 'Stop whining' and 'Go to bed'.”

“Because you do not believe?""Oh, no," said Attolia bitterly. "Because I believe and do not choose to worship.”

“You're awake," he said."Phresine is not," pointed out the queen."Oh?""You gave her lethium.""She gave it to me first.”

“And the Earth had no name. The gods know themselves and have no need of names. It is man who names all things, even gods.”

“He couldn't offend the gods with a pointed stick.”