"Shimmer: Well, we're family in a strange sort of way. I mean, heaven knows where my clan is because they've scattered all around the world, and you're an orphan. And we already seem to have adopted one another."

"Thorn: Are you serious?"

"Shimmer: As serious as I'll ever be."

"Thorn: You have such a fine way of winning friends."

"Thorn: In the past few days, I've heard an awful lot about a dragon's sense of honor and precious little about a dragon's sense of gratitude."

"Civet: I haven't trusted anyone since my own dear, loving father sent me to my death."

"Thorn: Are you sure you want to adopt me?"

"Civet: I waited almost too long to destroy the city. Oh, I knew I could flood the city all right, but I wasn't sure I could get away from Monkey afterward. And I had to be free to hunt down anyone who escaped from the city. My revenge had to be a complete and thorough one."

"Shimmer: Yes, though I must be mad or a glutton for punishment."

"Thorn: We're a team—whether she wants to admit it or she will die."

"Shimmer: I don't know if I would go that far—but you do come in handy at times."

"Shimmer: I don't know. It's been centuries since the situation last came up."

"Thorn: You're impossible."

"Shimmer: Unique is a better word."

"Thorn: Well, what does it take to convince you that I'm your friend?"

"Shimmer: Well, I like your attitude even if I don't quite agree with it."

"Thorn: Why do you always have to stand on your silly pride?"

"Monkey (in disguise as a soldier): We were sent here by that magnificent hero, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven."

"Shimmer: Because it's all that I've had sometimes."

"The Keeper: I once heard of a certain young dragon princess. It was said that no one was quite her match when it came to flying and fighting."

"Thorn: Are you really an outlaw like the keeper said?"

"Shimmer: It's all a misunderstanding really."

"Shimmer: However, I'm afraid you're going to have a short—if busy—life with me."

"Shimmer: You wouldn't happen to be that very same ape, would you?"

"Shimmer: That's a bold-enough promise, but can you keep it?"

"Thorn: You won't know, unless you take me along."

"Shimmer: In fact, relatives will stab you in the back twice as fast and hard as an enemy."

"Shimmer: I have never been a witch. They're to the magical arts what pickpockets are to banking."

"Thorn: Just who are you?"

"Shimmer: My people are the oldest and best of all living creatures."

"Shimmer: A dragon princess must fly like a dragon princess. If you want safety, find some stinking, plodding camel."

"Monkey: I am the Master of Seventy two transformations. I've probably forgotten more magic than you'll ever know. Even if you may be of the dragonish persuasion. Dragons were always deadliest with their tongues."

"Thorn: If I run away or hold you back, you can leave me. But I'll never let you down. You just wait and see."

"Shimmer: Your reputation was dead long ago. In fact, it's overripe—if not outright rotten."

"Shimmer: I'm glad to see that your tongue hasn't worn out even if your memory might have."

"Monkey: I supposed I'll just have to take Baldy's cauldron the way I took my magic rod."

"Monkey: Even as weak as Civet maybe after all this magic, I'd sooner jump into a pit of vipers than follow Civet into her mountain. My chances are far better going into the dragon kingdoms."

"Perhaps we leave the gnawer dead beside us. Perhaps you do, but having witnessed your last attack I doubt it.""

"Everyone nodded numbly, still stunned by his ferocity. "t's all right," he added. Remember, I'm on your side."

"Together, together, said Ripred in a singsong voice. What a lot of togetherness you are planning, and what a lot of solitude awaits you. Ah, here are your friends now."

"He looked at Ripred, and the rat gave him a slow wink. Remember, Gregor, the prophecy calls for only four of the twelve to die. Think we can take them, you and I?"

""Mutual need is a strong bond. Stronger than friendship, stronger than love. Do rats love?" asked Gregor wryly. Oh, yes, said Ripred with a smirk. We love ourselves very much."

""You mean you just took us that way so we'd all smell like rotten eggs?" said Gregor."

"Their second of hesitation gave him just enough time to blurt out, Anybody who wants to kill anybody else has to go through me first! Not entirely poetic, but it had the desired effect."

""Most rats read. Our frustration is, we cannot hold a pen to write."

""The rat was merely trying to sleep. Believe me, pup, if I had wanted to kill you we wouldn't be having this conversation, said Ripred."

"Yeah, well, I'm the warrior and Boots is a princess. And you two are going to get pretty hungry if you're waiting for me to serve you," said Gregor."

"Well, I prefer to think of myself as a legend, but I suppose 'guide' will do, said a deep world weary voice from the dark."