"Magic," said my integrator, "has rules. At the heart of the willful, associative universe, we find a modicum of rationalism, just as we find uncerta… - Matt Hughes

The combined effect of so many ambulatory sticks and balls, each of whom wore an expression of complete self-satisfaction, added strength to my longstanding belief that the profession of couturier required only a good knowledge of fabric and a malicious sense of humor.

"Could Rievor be hiding himself behind some magical cloak?" I asked my other self.
"No," he said. "I believe he is exercising that most potent form of invisibility: the one called, 'not being present at all.'"

"Are you familiar with Wallader's theory that every society is fundamentally organized around one or another of the cardinal sins?"
"I believe not," I said.
"He argues that the true seed of every culture, whatever the ideals to which it gives lip service, always turns out to be one of the seven mortal iniquities identified by the ancients: pride, greed, and anger are the most common; lust, gluttony, and envy less so; those based on sloth usually do not last."