"You're planning something, Theo. I can tell."

"What do you mean, mother?"

"You're going to do something shameful. Again. And bring sanction on our family in front of the Church and our peers. Again. And make us look weak. Again. You're still a horrible liar, Theopho Lebanel, and you know it."

"I assure you, I am not planning anything that will bring shame on the family."

"Careful choice of words, there, boy."

"It...might make you look weak. Especially if you try to stop me and fail. It will bring shame on me, most likely. But not you, or Father, or anyone else."

"Why can't you just use your cleverness within the rules?"

"Mother, look. I was not born someone willing to be a good goat in Asmodeus's farmyard. If I was born a millennium ago I wouldn't have been a good sheep in Aroden's flock. I am a malcontent by nature. Write me a letter of reference to Duke Baelfin and don't interfere, and I'll be safely out of your hair."

"Baelfin? Wh-."

"Mother, ask me no questions on this. Please. You're not a very good liar yourself."

"...fine. But you'd better write home."

"As much as I can without disgracing you."

 "You're planning something, Theo. I can tell."

"What do you mean, mother?"

"You're going to do something shameful. Again. And bring sanction on our family in front of the Church and our peers. Again. And make us look weak. Again. You're still a horrible liar, Theopho Lebanel, and you know it."

"I assure you, I am not planning anything that will bring shame on the family."

"Careful choice of words, there, boy."

"It...might make you look weak. Especially if you try to stop me and fail. It will bring shame on me, most likely. But not you, or Father, or anyone else."

"Why can't you just use your cleverness within the rules?"

"Mother, look. I was not born someone willing to be a good goat in Asmodeus's farmyard. If I was born a millennium ago I wouldn't have been a good sheep in Aroden's flock. I am a malcontent by nature. Write me a letter of reference to Duke Baelfin and don't interfere, and I'll be safely out of your hair."

"Baelfin? Wh-."

"Mother, ask me no questions on this. Please. You're not a very good liar yourself."

"...fine. But you'd better write home."

"As much as I can without disgracing you."

 "You're planning something, Theo. I can tell."

"What do you mean, mother?"

"You're going to do something shameful. Again. And bring sanction on our family in front of the Church and our peers. Again. And make us look weak. Again. You're still a horrible liar, Theopho Lebanel, and you know it."

"I assure you, I am not planning anything that will bring shame on the family."

"Careful choice of words, there, boy."

"It...might make you look weak. Especially if you try to stop me and fail. It will bring shame on me, most likely. But not you, or Father, or anyone else."

"Why can't you just use your cleverness within the rules?"

"Mother, look. I was not born someone willing to be a good goat in Asmodeus's farmyard. If I was born a millennium ago I wouldn't have been a good sheep in Aroden's flock. I am a malcontent by nature. Write me a letter of reference to Duke Baelfin and don't interfere, and I'll be safely out of your hair."

"Baelfin? Wh-."

"Mother, ask me no questions on this. Please. You're not a very good liar yourself."

"...fine. But you'd better write home."

"As much as I can without disgracing you."

 "You're planning something, Theo. I can tell."

"What do you mean, mother?"

"You're going to do something shameful. Again. And bring sanction on our family in front of the Church and our peers. Again. And make us look weak. Again. You're still a horrible liar, Theopho Lebanel, and you know it."

"I assure you, I am not planning anything that will bring shame on the family."

"Careful choice of words, there, boy."

"It...might make you look weak. Especially if you try to stop me and fail. It will bring shame on me, most likely. But not you, or Father, or anyone else."

"Why can't you just use your cleverness within the rules?"

"Mother, look. I was not born someone willing to be a good goat in Asmodeus's farmyard. If I was born a millennium ago I wouldn't have been a good sheep in Aroden's flock. I am a malcontent by nature. Write me a letter of reference to Duke Baelfin and don't interfere, and I'll be safely out of your hair."

"Baelfin? Wh-."

"Mother, ask me no questions on this. Please. You're not a very good liar yourself."

"...fine. But you'd better write home."

"As much as I can without disgracing you."