The Last Wish (The Witcher, #0.5)

by Andrzej Sapkowski

Oh, Stregobor, it would be great if the cruelty of rulers could be explained away by mutations or curses.”

In this legend, the kings kept their promises. And we, poor vassals, are only bound to kings by the royal word: treaties, alliances, our privileges and fiefs all rely on it. And now? Are we to doubt all this? Doubt the inviolability of the king’s word? Wait until it is worth as much as yesteryear’s snow? If this is how things are to be, then a difficult old age awaits us after our difficult childhoods!”