It’s not my fault,” Maldynado said. Amaranthe joined them. “I didn’t say it was.” “No, but women like to blame things on me, so I figured I’d announce my innocence preemptively.” “What type of things?” Books asked. “Their unwanted pregnancies?” “Of course not. To bear my offspring would be an honor. They know that.

Utter foolery shouldn’t be delegated; one should take the risk and accept the consequences oneself.

She retrieved the scissors and waved them triumphantly. “It’s a testament to your lovemaking skills that your crooked bangs didn’t distract me earlier, but we’re going to have to fix that before going another round.

His hair stuck up more than usual, but he was otherwise neat in his typical black. If they lived through the mission, she decided to buy him an obnoxiously cheerful shirt. Something in sunflower yellow, perhaps.

It’s probably someone taking advantage of the situation,” Amaranthe said. “One of my instructors used to say, ‘In every crisis lies opportunity.’” “Yes, politicians have that motto too.

Why would I want to spend time with some adoring, warm youngster when I could have a stiff, aloof assassin whose idea of romance involves throwing knives and running up stairs together?

Besides, how would she have gotten him to fall in? Throw a carpet over it and stand on the other side? That only worked in the old fables and to animals with the brightness of inebriated sloths.

Amaranthe cleared her throat. “Enough girl talk. There are enemy cabins full of dastardly old ladiesthat we must infiltrate.

There are times like this when I wish I’d gone to the military academy and joined the army.” “Why?” “Because there’s a soldier axiom about not sharing a foxhole with anyone crazier than yourself. If I’d actually joined, I’d be able to quote it precisely. That would be apt right now.” “Ha ha.

Some men brought women flowers. Sicarius chose not to kill people. The latter seemed a tad more momentous.