The Throne of Fire

I suppose if time flies when you’re having fun, it really creeps when you’re hurtling toward your death.

A king leads his people like a shepherd leads his flock.

“Sorry about the mess, but what do expect from Romans? They never did clean up after themselves.”

“Um,” I said—again with the incredible verbal skills.

I didn’t answer, but, please—nothing is obvious with boys. For such simple creatures, they are quite baffling.

I would not let a stupid liquid mummy drown me in three feet of water.

He said that as if it were a perfectly normal request, like Pass the salt.

Don’t get starry-eyed about somebody you can’t have, especially if it blinds you to somebody who’s really important.

That was plenty brave. Stupid, but brave.”

I’d always imagined he would look rather skinny with his shirt off (not that I imagined that a lot, mind you) but he was in excellent shape.