“Normally for Gabrielle, diplomacy was a tool best left in the box.”
“Normal! He thought. Normal! I don't want things to be normal. Normal is always being left out, never belonging.”
“a king can only work with his best tools.”
“The mind is left bereft when it is nothing more than a tool of regurgitation.”
“Diplomacy never works.”
“As she lifted the glittering strand of diamonds from the box, a small slip of paper fell out. She caught it as it wafted toward the floor. Four words in ancient script, an arrogantly slanted scrawl.Accept these, accept me.Well, she thought, blinking, that wascertainly direct and to the point.-Adam's note to Gabrielle”