“I didn't send them after you,' said the cool, familiar voice. 'I sent them after the Regent's Guard, who were making enough racket to raise the dead, the drunk, and those without ears.”

“The guard said, 'Our orders are no one in or out.''You can tell the Prince that,' said Damen, 'after you tell him you let through the Regent's pet.'That got a flicker of reaction. Invoking Laurent's bad mood was like a magical key, unlocking the most forbidding doors.”

“I thought killing was easy for you," said Laurent. His voice was rather quiet. "I thought you did it without thinking." "I'm a soldier," said Damen, "and I have been for a long time. I've killed on the sawdust. I've killed in battle. Is that what you mean by easy?""You know it isn't," said Laurent, in that same quiet voice.”

“After a long moment Laurent said, with painful honesty, "I...find it difficult to let go of control.""No kidding," said Damen.”

“Are you going to try it with me? Or doyou only take pleasure in attacking thosewho cannot defend themselves?" Damenheard the hardness in his own voice. Heheld his ground. Around them, the towerroom was empty. He had sent everyoneelse out. "I remember the last time youwere like this. You blundered so badlyyou gave your uncle the excuse heneeded to have you stripped of yourlands.”

“Nicaise had picked up a gilt three-pronged fork, but had paused before sampling the dish in order to speak. The fear he'd shown of Damen at the ring seemed to still be there. His knuckles, clenched around the fork, were white.'It's all right,' said Damen. He spoke to the boy as gently as he could. 'I'm not going to hurt you.'Nicaise stared back at him. His huge blue eyes were fringed like a whore's, or like a doe's. Around them, the table was a coloured wall of voices and laughter, courtiers caught up in their own amusements, paying them no attention.'Good,' said Nicaise, and stabbed the fork viciously into Damen's thigh under the table.Even through a layer of cloth, it was enough to make Damen start, and instinctively grab the fork, as three drops of blood welled up.'Excuse me a moment,' Laurent said smoothly, turning from Torveld to face Nicaise.'I made your pet jump,' said Nicaise, smugly.Not sounding at all displeased: 'Yes, you did.''Whatever you're planning, it's not going to work.''I think it will, though. Bet you your earring.''If I win, you wear it,' said Nicaise.Laurent immediately lifted his cup and inclined it toward Nicaise in a little gesture sealing the bet. Damen tried to shake the bizarre impression that they were enjoying themselves.Nicaise waved an attendant over and asked for a new fork.”

“I'm not sure that's quite what I asked,"said Laurent. His voice had the samequality as his gaze. "This is closequarters.""Close enough to see your eyelashes,"said Damen. "It's lucky you do not havethe size to breed great warriors.”