By the gods

What! you shun / An old friend, Balbus? No! It was not I! / No! by the gods! I never gave consent / To those red days of massacre!

He lifted eyes half-wild with horror in a face the color of yellow mud. “The child, Lady! By the gods, where is the child?”

‘Let me up and I’ll explain. Please, I can’t speak. I won’t try to run from you.’ / ‘Oh yes, by the gods, you’ll explain!’ […] ‘And you’ll help me get back to Earth, or I’ll kill you! Tell me, Auriel!’

“But you’re being so horrible…” “Are you whining? By the gods, if your family could see you now.”