Real life is sometimes boring, rarely conclusive and boy, does the dialogue need work.

Friends don't menace friends with giant terrifying swords, okay?

Well, speaking as a feminist, I'm glad that women can lead--uh, groups of unspeakable magical evil."

"Yes," Alan said gravely. "It'd be shoking if the evil magicians were sexist. For one thing, that would mean they were stupid, and having stupid enemies would be a terrible blow to my manly pride.

I'm told I have the body of a god."

"A Greek god, or one of those gods with the horse heads or elephant's legs coming out of their chests?" Alan asked. "Next time someone tells you that, ask them to specify.

Fear's useless. Either something bad happens or it doesn't: If it doesn't, you've wasted time being afraid, and if it does, you've wasted time that you could have spent sharpening your weapons.

Mae's first impulse was to die of shame, but she realized after a hot, stomach-clenching moment that this was probably impractical.