Publishers have realized that, unlike the previous time period, American teenagers are both smarter and require more topical material than they had been giving them before that. For one thing, they'll read thicker books. Besides, has anybody looked at the news or read the newspapers recently?

Girl, boy or dancing bear, you're the finest page-the finest squire-to-be-at court." (Jon to Alanna)

Well, laddie, if you've let an old buzzard like me hurt you confidence, you couldn't have had much in the first place.

You look as scary as a buttered muffin.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, my lord. You are an evil man.

Dreadful sorry mistress. Ma always said I was too silly to die

You must tell Lady Alanna that sometime. I'd do it from a distance.