Everything I said he agreed with, which was trying, and his flute playing would make the deaf wince, but I think the real problem with Hyacinth was that he reminded me of myself. He read poetry. He flinched at loud noises. In addition to having no musical skills, he had no martial skills. He avoided any situation that might require physical effort on his part. Seeing him, I found it no wonder that my father despised me.

If we truly trust no one, we cannot survive.

All I wanted to do was lie in the dry grass with my feet in a ditch forever. I could be a convenient sort of milemarker, I thought. Get to the thief and you know you're halfway to Methana.

No man can choose to serve only himself when he has something to offer his state. No one can put his own wishes above the needs of so many.

That is ridiculous," she said. The king agreed. "Like falling in love with a landslide. Only you could fail to notice.

"Before you make a decision," he said, "I want you to know that I love you."

You're awake," he said. "Phresine is not," pointed out the queen. "Oh?" "You gave her lethium." "She gave it to me first.