“A minute or two more and Orlant disengaged, and swore. 'Are you going to fight me or not?'You said we were sparring,' said Damen, neutrally.Orlant flung down his sword, took two steps off to one of the watching men, and pulled from its sheath thirty inches of polished steel straightsword, which without preamble he returned to swing with killing speed at Damen's neck.”

“Why? Do you want to spar? We cankeep it friendly," Damen said."No," said Laurent.”

“And any hope Damen had that Laurentcould control this scene ended asLaurent's face shuttered, as his eyes wentcold, and with the sharp sound of steel,his sword came out of its sheath.”

“Stop enjoying yourself," Damen murmured. "We're going to be killed, any minute." "Giant animal," said Laurent. "Stop it.”

“Damen to Jord about Laurent: 'He needs me,' said Damen. 'I don't care if you tell the world.”

“The Regency,' said Laurent, addressing the troop, 'thought to take us outnumbered. It expected us to roll over without a fight.'Damen said: 'We will not let them cow us, subdue us or force us down. Ride hard. Don't stop to fight the front line. We are going to smash them open. We are here to fight for our Prince!'The cry rang out, For the Prince! The men gripped their swords, slammed their visors down, and the sound they made was a roar.”