“At last Niko dropped his hands, and opened his eyes. His perfect tree illusion solidified and settled."Very nice," said Briar with approval. "Couldn't have done better myself""Couldn't do it at all yourself," muttered Tris.Briar ignored her. "But you'd never find a cork oak in these parts. Too cold."Niko looked down his nose at the boy. "I beg your pardon?"Briar shrugged. "Just thought I'd mention it."Niko glared.”

“Rosethorn had gone to her room the moment Niko started to cough. Now she returned with her syrup and a firm look in her eye. "I thought you were having trouble last night. Drink this." She poured some into a cup and held it out to him.Niko looked at it as if she offered him rotten fish. "I am fine. I am per-" He couldn't even finish the sentence for coughing."It's not bad," said Tris, crossing her fingers behind her back. "Really, tastes like-like mangoes."Niko looked at her, then took the cup and downed its contents. The four watched with interest as his cheeks turned pale, then scarlet. "That's terrible (exclamation point)" he cried, his voice a thin squeak."Maybe I was thinking of some other syrup," Tris remarked with a straight face.”

“Don't let him upset you," Niko told the four softly. "He's old and he's frightened.""You're as old as him, and you aren't scared of us," Briar pointed out.Niko glared at him. "Thank you so much," he retorted waspishly.”

“The parrot had a range of phrases. His own name ('Niko, Niko'), the name of his original owner and now 'Stavros'. Occasionally he would also say 'Panagia mou', which could be an expression of piety but also a gentle expletive, depending on how it was said. With the parrot it was hard to tell. It did not sound pious.”

“Niko does seem to have a buzzard's luck, don't he? Thor said after a moment. Tyler slanted a look at him. "What the hell does that mean?"Thor looked startled, then grinned. "Means he's been diggin' up more snakes than he can kill."Tyler looked at Alexander. "Is he even speaking english?""Niko has bad luck," Alexander translated.Tyler looked at Thor. "You couldn't just say that?""I did, son, but you just can't seem to spot a goat in a flock of sheep."Tyler scowled. "I'm pretty sure that was a insult.""Only because it was," Niko said."How the hell am I supposed to get all self-righteous and pissed if I can't understand what the idiot is saying?”

“You couldn't stop staring at his butt the other day."Della's mouth dropped open and she rolled her eyes. "You are so wrong." She fanned herself with her hand. "But the boy is eye candy to the max.”