I have never known what to tell anybody. Except that it is better to do something than nothing, even if the cost is great.

Double, treble, quadruple bubble, watch the stock market get into trouble.

But we survived, didn’t we? That makes it an adventure. If you get killed it’s a tragedy.

Let this be my final lesson. Everyone and everything has a time to die.

Well met, Mistress Lirael. This ragamuffin, as your servant so aptly described him, is His Highness Prince Sameth, the Abhorsen-in-Waiting. Hence the bells. But on to more serious matters. Could you please rescue us? Prince Sameth's personal vessel is not quite what I'm used to, and he is eager to catch me a fish before my morning nap.

There were also very special or dangerous items that had to be fetched in person, or even by large parties of armed librarians.

There is always a choice, even if the alternatives don't appear to be equal.