The expression on Martel's face is wonderful, really - 'go on, field that, would you?' with a resigned sort of amusement, the kind where you can't help but laugh a little inside because your life is truly some kind of elaborate farce. Kurik's lingering influence no doubt has a lot to do with just how much Ewar - who can't be more than twenty-five or twenty-six himself, to Martel's early forties - gets away with in his position, how much Martel is willing to tolerate from him.

"Are you going to do something rash, Sparhawk?" he inquires, all casually urbane innocence.