“One cannot toss ambassadors back like bad fish," said Eugenides. "You treat them with care, or you'll find you've committed an act of war.”

“Eschewing ceremony, Eugenides said, "You shot the ambassador?""You gave me the gun," protested Sounis."I didn't mean for you to shoot the ambassador with it!" Eugenides told him."Oh, how our carefully laid plans go astray," murmured the magus."You shut up!" said Gen, laughing.”

“He waved at his attendants. "I dragged them like a ball and chain all the way across the palace and back.""If sterner measures are called for, we can find a larger ball and chain." The queen turned and disappeared into the partment."Oh, dear," Eugenides muttered as he followed...The queen's sterner measures, dispensed by the Eddisian Ambassador, arrived before dawn.”

“Upset at the sight of blood?" he said. "Not my wife, Ornon.""Your blood, " the ambassador pointed out. Eugenides glanced at the hook in his arm and conceded the point. "Yes," he said.”

“It isn't deep," the Eddisian Ambassador said from the other side of the bed. He was leaning over the wound, looking critical and mildly disappointed. Eugenides didn't miss a beat."It is...too...deep!" he insisted, outraged.”

“On the bed, Eugenides stirred restlessly. "Upset at the sight of blood?" he said. "Not my wife, Ornon.""Your blood," the ambassador pointed out.Eugenides glanced at the hook on his arm and conceded the point. "Yes," he said. He seemed lost in memory. The room was quiet.”

“There are a lot of things a person with two hands couldn't steal," Eddis said."So?""If it's impossible to steal them with two hands, it's no more impossible to steal them with one. Steal peace, Eugenides. Steal me some time.”