“Then don’t wish to be normal,” said Miles passionately, rising to pace. “You’ll only waste your precious time in futile frustration. Wish to be great! That at least you have a fighting chance for. Great at whatever you are. A great trooper, a great sergeant. A great quartermaster, for God’s sake, if that’s what comes with ease. A great musician like Nicol—only think how horrible if she were wasting her talents trying to be merely normal.” Miles paused self-consciously in his pep talk, thinking, Easier to preach than practice . . . Taura studied her polished claws, and sighed. “I suppose it’s
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