Just a rat, she repeated to herself. After all, there were rats in the palace. Human and otherwise. Could be worse.

It was one of the warm nights at the end of summer that makes promises that won't be kept.

Just a rat, she repeated to herself. After all, there were rats in the palace. Human and otherwise. Could be worse.

You look like a boy who has eaten the fruit of the tree of knowledge and doesn't like the taste.

Tears stung her eyes. She sank her knees next to the sleeping bench and gently raked strands of golden hair from him forehead. "Don't you die. don't you dare. I forbid it." As if Han Alister had ever listened to anything she said.

More and more, there were no revelations, but simply the uncovering of truths long known but dimly remembered. Everything had been written long ago. There was nothing truly new in the world, but only the slow, circular march of time that revealed the old things once again.

Commander! Sir! Wake up!" Jack surfaced from sleep, wondering who the commander was and wishing he'd respond so he could go back to sleep - until he remembered that he was the commander.