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1 " They were being poisoned. "
― M.L. LeGette , The Orphan and the Thief
2 " Toad must have been very accustomed to traveling this way, balanced on the back rails of a rushing buggy, but Melena was not. She gripped the sides and white-knuckled the rails with her knapsack sandwiched between her knees. Hazel was clamped onto the roof, grinning like an alligator in the sun. And Toad lounged like a cat. "
3 " The next second a great blast of hot light erupted over Toad and Jed, but they didn't stop. Toad was trying to punch every bit of Jed that he could reach. There was a great howling of fright and a heavy-booted foot nearly missed Toad's fingers. Jed knocked Toad off him and rose to his feet. He swung his foot back, readying to kick. With a roar, Hazel flew at Jed. Her sharp claws latched onto his back, piercing through the leather vest. Jed roared in pain. His hands scrabbled for Hazel, but she flew in the air, beating her wings against his face. With a bellow, he turned on his heel and raced out of the pub. "
4 " A creature--a frightfully, awful creature--was mere feet from her. Its eyes were enormous, the size of goose eggs and milky white. Its gray, slippery skin was stretched taut upon its face. Its mouth was wide and full of needle teeth. Its hands rested on the rock, hands that were webbed and huge with each finger ending in a sharp, curved nail. It was as tall as a human man, yet oddly shrunken and hunched. "
5 " I appreciate thieves who do their research, but at least you recognize worth when you see it. "
6 " O sweet, sweet JoannaHow torn my heart!O sweet, sweet JoannaOur kiss shall never part!O sweet, sweet JoannaHow thine eyes do mine miss!O sweet, sweet JoannaLushest green now turned to mist!O sweet, sweet JoannaHow wicked the under-lord king!O sweet, sweet JoannaWho stole our cherished ring! "
7 " Wonderful. I'm stranded with the least creative Ramblers. "
8 " In the light from the rising moon, a miniature statue shimmered on a pedestal: a statue of a dragon, carved from an enormous emerald. He nearly tripped over his own feet in his haste to reach it. He stretched out his hands. His mouth went dry. A dazzling light flooded the room as a door swung open. Toad froze. His stomach dropped through the floor. His arms were still raised, inches from the statue, but his eyes were transfixed upon the giant figure standing in the doorway. "
9 " Ah, Mr. Ogg! How I like you!” Mr. Owl cheered. “Always ready to break a neck. Good fellow! "
10 " He was a dastardly fellow,” the beer mug continued happily. “Truly repugnant. And smelled! Oh, lad, the stench could knock over an ox! "
11 " You’ve been one busy worm! "
