When you choose your own way, you lose your happiness

Nonetheless, when it finally ended and the hairdressers left and Tess insisted upon pulling her to the mirror, Fire saw, and understood, that everyone had done the job well. The dress, deep shimmering purple and utterly simple in design, was so beautifully-cut and so clingy and well-fitting that Fire felt slightly naked. And her hair. She couldn__ follow what they__ done with her hair, braids thin as threads in some places, looped and wound through the thick sections that fell over her shoulders and down her back, but she saw that the end result was a controlled wildness that was magnificent against her face, her body, and the dress. She turned to measure the effect on her guard - all twenty of them, for all had roles to play in tonight__ proceedings, and all were awaiting her orders. Twenty jaws hung slack with astonishment - even Musa__, Mila__, and Neel__. Fire touched their minds, and was pleased, and then angry, to find them open as the glass roofs in July.__ake hold of yourselves,_ she snapped. __t__ a disguise, remember? This isn__ going to work if the people meant to help me can__ keep their heads.___t will work, Lady Granddaughter._ Tess handed Fire two knives in ankle holsters. __ou__l get what you want from whomever you want. Tonight King Nash would give you the Winged River as a present, if you asked for it. Dells, child - Prince Brigan would give you his best warhorse.

Happiness does not come from a job. It comes from knowing what you truly value, and behaving in a way that__ consistent with those beliefs.

[Poem: Slates of Grey]Sullen faces like slates of grey__hat I__ seen on a walk today.Bodies rushing bodies boltingTime for life a disregarding.Money to make and to grow oldWhat about the hands to hold?Deadlines, projects, people to meetWhat about our own two feet.Sullen faces like slates of grey...What I__ see most anyday.

Talent without money, coach, vision and mission is a piteous adventure.

The bacteriologist, often risking his life to find cures for lethal afflictions, was another kind of imperial hero, as brave in his way as the soldier-explorer.