There are only three people in life you can never fool--pawnbrokers, whores, and your mother. Since your mother's dead, I've taken her place. Hence, I'm bullshit-proof.

Crooked Warden, I will fear no darkness for the night is yours," muttered Locke, pointing the first two fingers of his left hand into the darkness. The Dagger of the Thirteenth, a thief's gesture against evil. "Your night is my cloak, my shield, my escape from those who hunt to feed the noose. I will fear no evil, for you have made the night my friend." "Bless the Benefactor," said Jean, squeezing Locke's left forearm. "Peace and profit to his children.

They kissed for the sort of endless moment that only exists between lovers whose lips are still new territory to one another.

If reassurances could dull pain, nobody would ever go to the trouble of pressing grapes.

It was strange, how readily authority could be conjured with nothing but a bit of strutting jackassery.

Only one way to win when you're being chased by someone bigger and tougher than you. Turn straight around, punch their teeth out, and hope the gods are fond of you.

When you can't cheat the game, you'd best find a means to cheat the players.