That's a gesture of endearment in some cultures. Some hug, some kiss, some set each other on fire in small patches of woodland
Jonathan StroudHe was transfixed at the sight of the lords and ladies of his realm running about like demented chickens.
Jonathan StroudMinor magicians take pains to fit this traditional wizardly bill. By contrast, the really powerful magicians take pleasure in looking like accountants.
Jonathan StroudMost traditional ghost stories feature rather hapless protagonists, who have nasty things happen to them.
Jonathan StroudThat did it. I'd gone through a lot in the past few days. Everyone I met seemed to want a piece of me: djinn, magicians, humans...it made no difference.I'd been summoned, manhandled, shot at, captured, constricted, bossed about and generally taken for granted. And now, to cap it all, this bloke is joining in too, when all I'd been doing was quietly trying to kill him.
Jonathan Stroud