“I must confess I will miss your... proximity when jumping together.''Well,' she said, answering his smile with one of her own.'There's always sickle training in the ballroom.''That there is.”

“Do you always mix business and pleasure?” She flashed her most alluring smile. "Miss Stockton, when you own an inn, your business is pleasure.”

“I've always been my own teacher. And I must confess I've been my favorite pupil a well.”

“Celaena." She looked back at him, her red gown sweeping around her. His eyes shone as he flashed her a crooked grin. "I missed you this summer."She met his stare unflinchingly, returning the smile as she said, "I hate to admit it, Sam Cortland, but I missed your sorry ass, too.”

“Ornon said, "I have seen him jump across atriums four stories above the ground, a distance that would make your blood freeze, and I heard him once confess that he sometimes thinks the distance is beyond him. He always jumps, Your Majesty. The Thieves are not trained in self-preservation. I beg you would take my advice.”

“Well,what if you can't get to your reticule in time?" she wondered aloud. "What would you do then, stand there and scream?""Well,there is that." Miriam smiled in amusement. "But if only works if there's a man nearby, willing to risk his skin to save yours." She shook her head. "Most unreliable. On the other hand, I've found a hat pin or even a brooch to be quite handy. You'll notice I always wear one. Stab a varmint's hand or arm with it and see if he doesn't do a jumping jig in the opposite direction posthaste.”