"I am very glad to be Marriette leBraun again." Marriette put her hand to her temples. "The crown fit very uncomfortably on this head."

"It is supposed to be uncomfortable." Harald said. "I must get used to it again, but not too used. I learned much on my travels."

"So, where do we go from here? We can't go back: two Houses giving in to treachery, peasants being sold into slavery to pay their debt."

"Not to mention the people are no longer cowed by the Houses," ...