Chris

“It seems to me,’ said Philippa prosaically, ‘that on the whole we run more risks with Mr Crawford’s protection than without it.”
― Dorothy Dunnett, Pawn in Frankincense

“We have a saying in my country that a beautiful woman deserves love." (...)
"Ugly women do not?" asked the queen as if genuinely curious.”
― Megan Whalen Turner, Return of the Thief

“Nahuseresh tells me I am not king. We'll see if he really prefers the Thief.”
― Megan Whalen Turner, Return of the Thief

“With a scroll and a book you will look like a scholar." she said "On that horse you will look like a king."
"I might have to be a king. I don't have to look like one."
(...)
"I picked out the horse," said Sounis hastily and the king turned to him swaying a little as if with surprise.
"You Sophos? I thought you were my friend!"
"I am," the king of Sounis assured him. "He has all the fighting spirit of an apricot. His trainers have given up and sold him for farm work. Honestly, like riding a slowly moving sofa," Sounis swore. "On my honor.”
― Megan Whalen Turner, Return of the Thief