If a man who claims to see the future is a fool, how much more so, the man who believes he can control it? We think we steer the ship of fate, but al… - Megan Whalen Turner

The king paused. "Your master of spies is a liar, and this time he is lying," the king said slowly, "to you." Attolia frowned, then almost imperceptibly shook her head.
"Have him arrested," said the king. After another pause he added unequivocally, "Now."
If he succeeds in having me killed, you could be the next Captain of the Guard. What, then, if the king destroyed Relius? Who would replace him?
Costis hardly breathed. The king hadn't ordered the arrest himself, though he could have, but he had directed the queen to do so, in public. Now they would see if the queen could protect her own or not.

"Sophos, you sleep with a knife under your pillow? I'm hurt."
"I'm sorry," said Sounis, blinking, afraid that he had made contact with his wild swing.
"I was joking. Wake up the rest of the way, would you?"
"Gen, it's the middle of the night."
"I know," said the king of Attolia.

Eschewing ceremony, Eugenides said, "You shot their ambassador?"
"You gave me the gun," protested Sounis.
"I didn't mean for you to shoot an ambassador with it!" Eugenides told him.
"Oh, how our carefully laid plans go astray," murmured the magus.
"You shut up!" said Gen, laughing.