Wait. You don't understand. I just wanted it to stop. Wanted the hurting to stop." I smoothed a bloodied lock of hair from her eyes and felt very tired as I said, "The only people who never hurt are dead." The light died out of her eyes, her breath slowing. She whispered, barely audible, "I don't understand." I answered, "I don't either." A tear slid from her eye and mixed with the blood. Then she died.

I've never lost a duel to the death. Not one.

Everyone is down on pain, because they forget something important about it: Pain is for the living. Only the dead don't feel it.

If you can't manage courtesy, try silence.

A pure heart and mind only takes you so far - sooner or later the hormones have their say, too.

Ack!" I said. Fearless master of the witty dialogue, that's me.

He's Black Council," I said. "Or maybe stupid," Ebenezar countered. I thought about it. "Not sure which is scarier." Ebenezar blinked at me, then snorted. "Stupid, Hoss. Every time. Only so many blackhearted villains in the world, and they only get uppity on occasion. Stupid's everywhere, every day.