"“Gaius says there is no cure for the plague. If that’s so, we can only try to scare it away.”"

"Time is short whenever official business is concerned. Even the candles burn faster."

"There’s bronze coins to be had from boiling pitch, but there’s gold in terror."

"“It’s all too subtle for a simple man like me,” Felix continued. “Intrigues and plots and poisons and loyalties shift…"

"Debts are more deadly than a Persian sword, especially for a captain of excubitors."

"“You’re embarrassed for your emperor. Understandably.” Justin grimaced. “I don’t need a physician, Felix. What I need…"

"It happened that a shipment of marble intended for a job on which I was working for the business owner I mentioned wa…"

"A man makes his own fortunes."

"Every day some of those who lived in [the] city fell prey to its predators. Anonymous murderers were about as likely …"

"Since our enemies don’t have chains, our best defense is to learn which way they are going to jump."