(A)ny time you buy weapons, or build an army, you begin to look for an excuse to use them. Plus, you pose more of a threat to others.

Just a rat, she repeated to herself. After all, there were rats in the palace. Human and otherwise. Could be worse.

Just because you're the enemy of my enemy don't mean you're my friend, Han thought.

How'd it go with Leesha?" "It was great! We were bad cop and bad cop!

Han made no effort to put up a brave front. Most of the time he just screamed himself hoarse, though a couple of times he amused himself by screaming Fionas's name as if he were in the throes of passion. FEEE-OHHH-NAAA! Lord Bayar made him pay for that, but afterward, Fiona didn't come down anymore, which Han appreciated.

More and more, there were no revelations, but simply the uncovering of truths long known but dimly remembered. Everything had been written long ago. There was nothing truly new in the world, but only the slow, circular march of time that revealed the old things once again.

She had never felt more alive than when she lay dying in Han Alister's arms.