Tis Vanth's cage. You can just move it out of the way." "I already have," he grumbles. "With my shin.

I pause at the door, wishing I could find a corner and sleep until my head clears, but the sailor said the abbess is expecting me, and while I do not know much about abbesses, I suspect they are not fond of waiting.

... then he offers me his arm. As I take it, I wonder what folly decreed that women cannot walk unassisted.

You come to us well tempered, my child, and it is not in my nature to be sorry for it. It is a well tempered blade that is the strongest.

People hear and see what they expect to hear and see.

I blew that clay pigeon to smithereens. I don't know why Mum got so upset. According to Uncle Andrew she's a crack shot herself. But she says I'm too young. What I'd like to know is how old does a person have to be before they get to do all the fun stuff?

I stare at him coldly. "I do not care for needlework." I pause. "Unless it involves the base of the skull.