"Seem to be the first thing the creature heard, which isn't at birth but a couple of days later. For subsequent batches he has apprentices take shifts chanting the correct word, and they all come out all right. I know some people nailed theirs down by reading the dictionary but some didn't."

"I have no idea if Kyeo would like one but what a charming concept."

"Isn't it? Lots of people want a pet, but, you know, in the evenings, not all the time."

Fy hisses.

"I want you all the time," he assures her.

"Yes, but you only have to feed her every couple of weeks!"

"And if that's how often one wants to feed their pet they should get a snake not a hamster."

"I guess that's fair."

"Who wants to come to Absalom with me tomorrow."

"You going to be there all day? I'll come if not."