Neal had a couple of good ideas and they fit nicely, so that's the way I decided to go.

There were two things going on: 1) I had already established in my own mind where I wanted to go with the next series, and having James around as a Grey Eminence would have complicated matters. He had had an amazing life and it was time to bid him good-bye.

Never underestimate the potential for human stupidity when wealth and power are at stake.

I'm a huge fan of Cabernet and Bordeaux, and am passionate about Pinot Noir and Burgundies.

There are many ways to love someone. Sometimes we want love so much, we're not too choosy about who we love. Other times, we make love such a pure and noble thing, no poor human can ever meet our vision. But for the most part, love is a recognition, an opportunity to say, "There is something about you I cherish." It doesn't entail marriage, or even physical love. There's love of parents, love of city or nation, love of life, and love of people. All different, all love.

You would do well to know, Marcus, that irritating a better swordsman than yourself is a good way to end up dead.

A hero is someone who simply got too frightened to use his good sense and run away, then somehow lived through it all.