His last thought was that it hadn't been stupidity that had allowed his son to enchant him so easily with words. It had been love.

Katsa and Po were trying to drown each other and, judging from their hoots of laughter, enjoying it immensely.

For a group of people who claimed to be concerned for her safety, they did seem to have developed rather a habit of encouraging uprisings against monarchs.

At least her last words to him had been words of love. But she wished she'd told him just how much she loved him. How much she had to thank him for, how many good things he had done. She hadn't told him nearly enough.

I'm afraid of plenty of things," he said. "I just do them anyway.

When Brocker arrived he took her hands and held them to his face and cried into them.

I hear you're supposed to be good at manipulating people. Try a little harder to make me like you, all right? I'm the queen. Your life will be nicer if I like you.