Pg. 175 - Tazendra makes flash-stones. The procedure includes chanting in Serioli, "of which she had at least memorized what she needed to know." Chanting in an unknown language doesn't sound much like the sorcery described in _Issola_ - Vlad would say it actually sounds like witchcraft. There is a lot of excellent humor I missed on first reading. For example, on pg. 215 Fayaavik says, "Blood of the Horse, I am consistent, I think." I take this apparent wrong-character anachronism as SKZB poking fun at himself. Or Paarfi got mixed up - note the "the Horse" is used as an exclamation elsewhere, e.g. pg. 207. Another instance of subtle (?) humor - on pg. 198, Uttrik is describing a recent battle: his commander is mortally wounded, but manages to gather and array her forces and lead a charge before succumbing. I previously took this literally, but now it seems to me like a fish story from a slight young man whose dueling costume includes "sufficient ruffles and lace to have made a dance-party for the court" and who Khaavren refers to as "Dragonling". Finally, on pages 203/4 Mica compares himself to Kieron the Conquerer - I believe Paarfi intends this as farce, which is amusing.