Don't knock the power of a pest," Leif said. "Persistance and stubborness can be useful in many situations.

Sieges weathered, fight together, friends forever.

Valek's thoughts returned to Yelena. An icy finger of loneliness touched the emptiness inside him. She was in Sitia, where she needed to be to learn about her magical powers, but she had taken his heart with her.

His movements were so graceful that I wondered if he had been a dancer, but his words betrayed to me that his fluid gestures were those of a trained killer.

Lying to yourself is easy, too. I know. It's much harder to stay and deal with consequences.

I never said it would be easy. Giving up is easy.

Suppressing his relief, Valek asked, “Can you please tell this Lieutenant who he has arrested?” “Can do,” Janco said with a smile. “Lieutenant Darren, let me be the first to congratulate you on capturing the elusive and legendary Kelav. He’s been wanted in Ixia for years on multiple counts of espionage.