Least said, soonest mended isn't the advice for every occasion, Your Majesty, isn't the advice for every occasion. - Megan Whalen Turner

It matters, because I can't do anything more for this country, and it matters," he yelled as he threw the papers back to his desk, "because I only have one hand and it isn't even the right one!

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.

You bastard," said Sounis wearily. "I don't know why I don't stab you here in this alley so I can be the annux over Sounis and Attolia." They were twisting through the narrowest of passages, with Eugenides still in the lead, turning on what seemed to be a whim from one walkway to the next.
"Well, the stabbing would be unkind," said Eugenides, "but you can have the annux part with my goodwill."
"Not Attolia's."
"True," said the king. "Better not stab me.