“Seniors get to do all the jolly things," Owen complained as they walked to archery practice that first day.Neal glared at the chubby second-year with all the royal disdain of a vexed lion. He was limping from a staff blow to the knee. "You are a bloody minded-savage," he informed Owen sternly. "I hope you are kidnapped by centaurs.”

“Mithros's spear, Kel!" he exclaimed. "When did you turn into a real girl?""You said she was a girl already," muttered one of his cousins..."But not a girl-girl, with a chest and all!" protested Owen...."I've been a girl for a while, Owen," Kel informed him."I never realized," her too outspoken friend replied. "It's not like you've got melons or anything, they're just noticeable.”

“Why do I get the feeling that if you give me a hard time, I'll tell all of our year-mates your family nickname is Meathead?”

“The Lower City is MINE, Its People are MINE.If I Find Them That's Doing All This Kidnapping And Murdering, They'd Best Pray For Mercy,Because Once I Get My Teeth In 'EmI Will NEVER Let Them Go. ”

“Nawat grinned. “I was helping to steal soldiers who couldn't keep up.”“What do you do with them?” she asked, curious. “I haven't heard of bodies being found.”“Nor will you,” Nawat informed her, sitting on a corner of the worktable. “They were still alive when we gave them to my warriors at the edge of the jungle.” He picked up Aly's hand and laced his fingers with hers. “My warriors will be able to say they last saw the missing soldiers alive, when the troops went on a visit to the jungle.”Aly walked her free fingers over their entwined hands. “But why would Crown soldiers visit the jungle?”“They didn't think they would at first,” Nawat admitted. “So my warriors show them the beauties of the deep jungle. They take away all the things the soldiers have of the civilized world, such as clothes and weapons and armor, so the soldiers will appreciate the jungle with their entire bodies. But my warriors have seen jungle before, so they get bored and leave. The soldiers stay longer.”“Like the tax collectors,” Aly whispered, awed by the beauty of what he described. “Take away all they have and leave them to survive the jungle. If you're questioned under truthspell, you can say they were alive when you left them. And the only way they could survive naked out there . . .” Nawat was shaking his head. Aly nodded. “I take it you don't leave them near any trails.”“They are there to appreciate the jungle that has been untouched by humans,” Nawat told her, a teacher to a student who did not quite understand.Aly sighed. “I am limp with envy,” she told him. “Simply limp.”

“Not too fast," called Raoul. "Let's not scare anyone.""His majesty said with all deliberate speed!" chirped the courier. He flinched under Lerant's glare. "That's how we're doing it," Raoul told him. "Deliberately.”

“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.”