And the kings were no better to their own people than they were to each others.

What a horrifying notion," he said. "A creature with the power to take over one's mind.

Go safely. Go safely, she thought to him. what a silly, empty thing it was to say to anyone, anywhere.

And she would protect him as fiercely, if it were ever his need- if a fight ever became too much for him or if he needed shelter, or food, or a fire in the rain. Or anything she could provide. She would protect him from anything.

How absurd it was that in all seven kingdoms, the weakest and most vulnerable of people - girls, women - went unarmed and were taught nothing of fighting, while the strong were trained to the highest reaches of their skill.

I’m suspicious of the notion of a single book that would benefit everyone to read.

Sneaking was a kind of deceit. So was disguise. Just past midnight, wearing dark trousers and Fox's hood, the queen snuck out of her own rooms and stepped into a world of stories and lies.