A story?" Phresine was surprised. "What makes you think I can tell stories?" "Insight," said the king. "Go on. - Megan Whalen Turner

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.

They are mice, Nahuseresh, hiding in their mouseholes, hoping their own familiar cat will come home to drive you away. At least when I hang people from castle walls, it is because they are traitors, not because they drive hard bargains. You seem willing to hang anyone who is displeasing to you. How kind of you to show my barons that if I am a hard ruler to cross, you are a worse one to serve. I must thank you for that as well as your emperor's gold. They will be most mousy and well behaved for months.

"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.