What a strange world it is, where prisoners are left their weapons and the written word is a mortal danger.

Staring at the wall opposite him he presented the queen with a view of his ear and awaited her orders.

You didn't know I could do that, did you?" he asked, conversationally. "I did not, Your Majesty," Teleus gasped. "My grandfather killed a man that way once, using the edge of the wooden sword." "I hadn't realized the Thieves of Eddis were so warlike." "They aren't, mostly. But like all men, Teleus, I have two grandfathers." Teleus rolled his eyes to look up at him, and the king said, "One of mine was Eddis." "Ah," said Teleus. "Ah, indeed," said the king.

In the afternoon, the king and queen sat to hear the business of their kingdom. At least, the queen sat to hear the business; Costis was still not sure what the king was doing.

[I had a]...Second bowl of oatmeal. It was a little bit gloppy.

That one,"-he nodded toward the closed door-" will rule more than just Attolia before he is done. He is an Annux, a king of kings.

Her queen danced like a flame in the wind, and the mercurial king like the weight at the center of the earth.