"They fear others—that is why they sought positions of power. Their greatest dream is to have a King who dances when they move the threads: and for Massenet, to marry his child to the heir of Entonne, and sit his grandson upon the throne. The ordinary desires of those who rise to such positions. In their appetites, they are not men of great originality. Though they will do enormous harm in spite of that."

“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.”