Dan

“The sword is like a serpent. You can try to tame it, but it is venomous and will often bite the hand that holds it.”
― Matthew Harffy, The Serpent Sword

“I take it you do not agree with your countrymen’s religious practices.’

‘Oh no,’ said Hippothous. ‘I am not Cilician by birth. Mine has been a long and tragic path. I was born in Perinthus, the noble city close by Byzantium. My father was on the Boule. When I was young, I fell desperately in love. Hyperanthes was nearly my age. Stripped for wrestling in the gymnasium, he was like a god. And his eyes – no sidelong glances or fearsome looks, no trace of villainy or dissembling.’

As they ate, Hippothous told them a tale of love, lust, subterfuge, murder, flight, shipwreck, loss and exile – a tale worthy of a Greek romance.

‘Probably from a fucking Greek romance,’ muttered Calgacus.”
― Harry Sidebottom, Lion of the Sun

“Maximus was cleaning his blade on the dead man’s wolfskin. ‘You promised him his life,’ the Greek said. ‘No, I said death was his last worry.’ Maximus swung up on to Pale Horse. ‘Is that not so for all of us?”
― Harry Sidebottom, Lion of the Sun