"Tristam stood and raised his glass. “May life be kind, and friends loyal. Ventures profitable, children plentiful, and age like a slow turning of the leaves in autumn; grand, beautiful and tranquil."

“If sleep sought him, it was spectacularly unsuccessful.”

““My older cousins teased us—my sisters and brothers—with tales that Erasmus Flattery was a mage. We were all struck dumb in his presence, terrified that he would practice some enchantment upon us. In truth, we always hoped to see some magic, but of course we never did.” She laughed again. “Children do love to believe such things.”

“I am a trained empiricist, sir. Superstition is not compatible with my pursuits.”

“No man of the first rank is ever satisfied with his accomplishments, no matter what others make of them.”

“Soldiers, Your Highness. Men trained not to think for themselves.”

“Wood is a gift from the world of nature to we undeserving men...One should be thankful for such gifts, take no more than we need, and waste none of that.”