And have your mother put my head on a stake? Do you have any notion what that would do to my handsome good looks?

And have your mother put my head on a stake? Do you have any notion what that would do to my handsome good looks?

Despite all my public misconduct, in the past year, I had learned the Elemental spells, the Doppelschläferin, and the preparation and flying of a magic broom; I had survived two months as prisoner of war, saving the life of captain Johanne in the process; I had escaped the dungeons of Fortress Drachensbett, and after an arduous journey successfully reunited with my double, so preserving her, and all Montagne, from Prince Flonian's rapacity, I would somehow master the despicable art of being a princess.

I could not but wonder at the queen's unprecedented civility, until I realized with a flush of shame that it was my own improved behavior that motivated hers. So it is that we in life determine our own treatment.

Everyone I looked at, their whole lives, did exactly what they were supposed to do without even questioning it, without even wondering if they could do something different.

It was like he was in a contest to see who could do the least work, only he was the only contestant.

And if I didn’t, I’d spend the rest of my life wondering who I could have turned into if only I’d had the guts to try.