Have you ever been approached by a grim-looking man, carrying a naked sword with a blade about ten miles long in his hand, in the middle of the night, beneath the stars on the shores of Lake Michigan? If you have, seek professional help. If you have not, then believe you me, it can scare the bejeezus out of you.
Jim ButcherAh. Medieval-style ransom.โ Toot looked confused. โHe did run some, but I stopped him, my lord. Like, just now. In front of you. Right over there.โ There were several conspicuous sounds behind me, the loudest from my apprentice, and I turned to eye everyone else. They were all either covering smiles or holding them backโ poorly. โHey, peanut gallery,โ I said. โThis isnโt as easy as Iโm making it look.โ โYouโre doing fine,โ Karrin said, her eyes twinkling. I sighed. โCome on, Toot,โ I said, and walked over to Hook.
Jim ButcherScience, the largest religion of the twentieth century, had become tarnished by images of exploding space shuttles, crack babies, and a generation of complacent Americans who allowed the television to raise their children. People were looking for something - I think they just didn't know what. And even though they were once again starting to open their eyes to the world of magic and the arcane that had been with them all the while, they still thought I must be some kind of joke.
Jim Butcher