Well, laddie, if you've let an old buzzard like me hurt you confidence, you couldn't have had much in the first place.

That's all this job is, Daine," she explained. "Trying to please everyone and pleasing no one. And it will only get worse, not better.

A friend had commented once that Neal had a gift for making someone want to punch him just for saying hello.

What if custom is wrong? demanded the part of her that believed in the code of chivalry. A knight must set things right.

Don't call me 'gentleman'. I work for a livin'.

Indeed Not. Stop kicking me, Daine. You understand, she is very important to a number of powerful nobles and mages in Tortall." Numair's voice was quiet, almost friendly; his eyes were hard. "Their majesties. Lady Alanna and her husband, the baron of Pirate's Swoop. Me. All of us would take iit amiss if we thought for a moment she was being trifled with, particularly by a young man who wasn't free to do the right thing by her." "Numair," Daine growled. "Can I speak to you privately for a moment? "No. Stepping on my foot won't work either. Do I make myself clear, Prince Kaddar?

I've said it before and I'll say it again, my lord. You are an evil man.