#cyrillisms

When the Roman general Sulla, who was about the same age I am now, marched on Rome to purge the city of usurpers, it was a bloodbath. His greatest rival was a young man named Marius, who was just 26 years old. And after Sulla had him killed, he held up his head in the forum and looked into the boy’s dead eyes and said, ‘First, you must learn to pull an oar. Only then can you take the helm.’

You say something with the right authority you generally get what you want.

All men dream of freedom, Sibylla. Especially those who are fool enough to believe themselves unchained.

No, no! You sound like a kitten mewling for the teat. You do not beg for this power; it is already yours to command. Demand its obedience. Speak the words as the dragon breathes. Does the dragon beg for fire, girl?