What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I'm pretty sure I know exactly what you're talking about; but I read it more like 20-25 years ago. Its actually a book (possibly a trilogy?) I had wondered about and I thought I'd eventually tracked down its title, but I can't find it in my read list so maybe it has remained a mystery. I remember the twist at the end very clearly, but don't want to write it here as it would be a spoiler. Now just have to try to figure out what the book was called.

Hah! I knew it would eventually come to me. I'm pretty sure you're talking about the Gandalara Cycle by Randall Garrett and Vicki Ann Heydron.

The first book (of seven) is The Steel of Raithskar .

If that is it--you picked a winner of Matt. Randy and his wife Vicki were a GREAT writing team. You might also check out his Lord Darcy stories. Lord DarcyMurder and Magic

I second Michael's suggestion of the Gandalara Cycle. The scene described in the OP happens within the first few pages of Book One. (I remember the urine as being described as crystalline, though. Describing it as 'cubed' sounds even more painful.)

I had hopes I could find a Google Preview or somesuch similar to direct you to the exact scene, but I had no luck. But there is a book review and Wikipedia page for the series that confirms the earlier details.