“You really do have ice in your veins,don't you," said Damen.”

“What are you doing?" Damen's breathwas shaky."What am I doing? You are not veryobservant.""You're not yourself," said Damen. "Andeven if you were, you don't do anythingwithout a dozen motives."Laurent went very still, the soft wordshalf bitter. "Don't I? I must wantsomething.”

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

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

“Why do you give me good advice?"asked Laurent.Isn't that why you brought me withyou? Instead of speaking those wordsaloud, Damen said, "Why don't you takeany of it?”

“I should make you watch, said Laurent, while he's stripped down for every man in the troop to have him."Damen stepped forward. "You don't mean this. You need him as a hostage.""I don't need him continent," said Laurent.”

“I'm twenty years old,' said Laurent, 'and I've been the recipient of offers almost as long as I can remember.' 'Is that an answer?' said Damen. 'I'm not a virgin,' said Laurent. 'I wondered,' Damen said, carefully, 'if you reserved your love for women.' 'No, I--' Laurent sounded surprised. Then he seemed to realise that his surprise gave something fundamental away, and he looked away with a muttered breath; when he looked back at Damen there was a wry smile on his lips, but he said, steadily, 'No.' 'Have I said something to offend you? I didn't mean--' 'No. A plausible, benign and uncomplicated theory. Trust you to come up with it.' 'It's not my fault that no one in your country can think in a straight line,' said Damen, frowning a touch defensively.”