Castle in the Air (Howl's Moving Castle, #2)

by Diana Wynne Jones

one received almost at once an interesting injury, which he doubled up to contemplate.

“He’s the best wizard in Ingary or anywhere else. If he’d only had time, he would have defeated that djinn. And he’s sly and selfish and vain as a peacock and cowardly, and you can’t pin him down to anything.”