Megan Whalen Turner

Quotes

1. "Gen-" Sophos started to ask another question, but I interrupted him.

   "No," I said, "not Gen. Eugenides from now on. I never, never, want to hear Gen again in my life."

   The magus laughed while I shook my head.

   "You haven't spent any time in the king's prison," I said. "And you haven't had to drink your way through every disreputable wineship in the city of Sounis. I cannot tell you how sick I have been of cheap wine and of being dirty. Of talking with my mouth half closed and chewing with it open. Of having bugs in my hair and being surrounded by people who think Archimedes was the man at the circus last year who could balance four olives on his nose."

   The magus looked around the books piled in my study. "I remember that Archimedes. I think it was five olives," he said with a straight face.

   "I don't care if it was twelve," I said.

2. 

   "If you want to keep something safe from thieves, hide it carefully and keep a close watch over it."

3. 

   "The second night you repeated the same words over and over. I think the fever had set in by then. Do you remember what you said?

   "No."

   She knew every one of them. His voice, broken and stumbling, had filled her dreams until she had wept in her sleep, crying tears for him that she'd never been able to cry for her father or for herself. "Oxe Harbrea Sacrus Vax Dragga..." she began.

   Eugenides's chin lifted as he recognized the opening words.

   "It's the invocation of the Great Goddess at her spring festival," he said calmly, "calling her to the aid of those that need her. Those words are archaic."

4. 

   The Thief leaned close to the queen to speak almost in her ear. "From shadow queen to puppet queen in one rule," he whispered. "That's very impressive. When he rules your country, and tells you he loves you, I hope you believe him."

   He anticipated her blow and leaned back. Her hand only brushed his cheek in an entirely unsatisfying manner. "At least that's one lie I didn't tell you," Eugenides said.

5. 

   The magus described the fighting with the guard in detail and made me look very good indeed.

6. 

   "Be cautious," said the other. "Do not offend the gods."

7. 

   While the magus, realizing his error, was trying to word an apology, my father came to look in at me. "I thought I heard you laughing up your sleeve," he said.

8. 

   He could tell her he loved her. He ached to shout it out loud for the gods and everyone to hear. Little good it would do. Better to trust in the moon's promises than in the word of the Thief of Eddis. He was famous in three countries for his lies.

9. 

   With my good hand I reached under the braid at the base of my neck to free the thong that was tied there. It was the shorter of the two that Pol had given me on the banks of the Aracthus. One-handed, I couldn't easily get the knot undone, and several strands of my own dark hair came with the thong when I pulled it free.

   I glanced back briefly at the magus and was delighted to see his mouth open in astonishment.

   "Gen," he said under his breath, "you viper."

   Above the queen's extended palm I held Hamiathes's Gift. It had hung hidden in my hair since I'd braided it there after first fighting in the Sea of Olives.

10. 

    "I can't steal things without two hands," Eugenides said bitterly. "That's why she cut one off."

    The queen of Attolia was only ever "she." The name Attolia rarely passed his lips, as if Eugenides couldn't bear the taste of the word in his mouth.

    "There are a lot of things that a person with two hands couldn't steal," Eddis said.

    "So?"

    "Surely if it's impossible to steal them with two hands, it's no more impossible to steal them with one. Steal peace, Eugenides. Steal me some time."

11. 

    "You must choose now. Between the two of us we can reach a treaty without a wedding. You don't have to marry him, but if you choose to marry him, you have to believe him."

    Attolia turned, and Eddis thought that behind her mask the queen might be afraid, and so she finished lightly. "You have to believe him, because he's going to have you entire palace up in arms and your court in chaos and every member of it from the barons to the boot cleaners coming to you for his blood, and you are going to have to deal with it."

    Attolia smiled. "You make him sound like more trouble than he's worth."

    "No," said Eddis thoughtfully. "Never more than he is worth."

12. 

    "Nahuseresh, if there is one thing a woman understands, it is the nature of gifts. They are bribes when threats do not avail." The queen shook her head. "The problem with bribes, Nahuseresh, is that after your money is gone, threats still do not avail."