“One of us might be assassinated and then my heir will be king. Don't give up hope just because chances are slim.""For the assassination or the heir, your majesty?”

“Your Majesty, you just-" Costis stopped."Just what?" the king prompted wickedly.Nothing would induce Costis to say out loud that the king had almost fallen from the palace wall and that Costis had seen him manifestly saved by the God of Thieves.The king smiled. "Cat got your tongue?""Your Majesty, you are drunk," Costis pleaded."I am. What's your excuse?”

“He looked gravely at the king. "It isn't an easy thing to give your loyalty to someone you don't know, especially when that person chooses to reveal nothing of himself. But no matter, Your Majesty. You are revealed at last."The king looked down at his nakedness and back at the captain."Was that a joke?" he asked.”

“You didn't know I could do that, did you?" he asked, conversationally."I did not, Your Majesty," Teleus gasped."My grandfather killed a man that way once, using the edge of the wooden sword.""I hadn't realized the Thieves of Eddis were so warlike.""They aren't, mostly. But like all men, Teleus, I have two grandfathers." Teleus rolled his eyes to look up at him, and the king said, "One of mine was Eddis.""Ah," said Teleus."Ah, indeed," said the king.”

“I am not sure I trust you.""You can trust me with your life, My King.""But not with my wine, obviously. Give it back.”

“Today, she had yielded the sovereignty of her country to Eugenides, who had given up everything he had ever hoped for, to be her King.”

“That one,"-he nodded toward the closed door-" will rule more than just Attolia before he is done. He is an Annux, a king of kings.”