The Ruins of Gorlan (Ranger's Apprentice, #1)

by John Flanagan

Arald often said that girls made the best recruits to the Diplomatic Service. They tended to be more subtle than boys, who gravitated naturally to Battleschool. And while boys constantly looked to physical means as the way of solving problems, girls could be depended on to use their wits.

Although it does help if your intelligence force is also intelligent.

Sometimes, he thought wryly, a reputation for being right all the time could be a heavy burden.

“Always assume an enemy knows you’re there and that he will attack you,” he said.“That way, you tend to avoid unpleasant surprises.” He smiled grimly to reassure the boy.“It can still be unpleasant, but at least it’s not a surprise.”