Review of Hart's Atheist Delusions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Review of Hart's Atheist Delusions - Essay Example Therefore, this paper is a review of Hart’s Atheist Delusions, whereby each section of the book will be reviewed. The book gives an outline concerning the transformation of Christianity during the ancient world through ways that have been forgotten such as liberalization from fatalism, presenting substantial dignity on human beings, challenging the features of cruelty in pagan society and elevation of charity above the qualities. Hart also establishes an argument concerning the term â€Å"Age of Reason,† which is considered the initiation of authority to be a cultural value. Moreover, the thesis in this book is concise, whereby it explores the misrepresentation of Christianity history during the New Atheists and the positive effect on the world’s culture. The first section of the book entails an assessment of the new â€Å"gospel of unbelief† and supporters, which is preceded by a question rose on the central principles implying that the world has facilita ted modernity. The book seeks to establish whether the world can be a better place thought the modernist doctrine, absolute human autonomy, which is embraced by a substantial stability. The next section of the book entails a direct challenge to the modernity through a rewrite of the Christianity history, and an assessment of the cultural struggle between the rivalry from the pagans and growing Christianity faith. The book raises concern in exposed modern myths, which represent Christianity as forces of intolerance, fallacy, irrationalism and cruelty. On the other hand, there is an opposite representation of the paganism, whereby it is attributed to love, peace and fostering coexistence through an attitude of the minority. In the contrary, the pagans have a culture attributed to anti-intellectuals, corruption and oppression. However, despite this dissolute environment, Christianity has managed to uphold their optimism, liberation and anti-elitist, which is preached though their value s of honorable integrity, thereby generating cultural conditions that foster flourishing of philosophy and science in a long period. In fact, Hart claims that Christianity takes credit for the greatest benefits enjoyed in the world today. In the third section of the book, the case established to lose the line of argumentation, whereby the information presented becomes incoherent throughout the development of six chapters. Nevertheless, the chapters sought to establish a case based on the modern conception on humanity through a positive invention of Christianity. Therefore, these offers illustration of the way culture have abandoned Christianity leading to desertion of humanity. The argument in this book becomes problematic in numerous dimensions, such as the difficulty involved in the process of deriving a discussion in the exact line of argumentation and the precision of each idea leading to the conclusion. Moreover, the last chapter of the third section depicts the Christianity do ctrine in relation to the principle of manifestation, which is an elevation of human conception concerning the level of divinity. Moreover, the claim in this section seems to turn on the doubtful interpretation of the incarnation, which surpasses the ecumenical creeds of the church, instead of a precision and argumentation offered by Hart. In fact, his argument appears to be insightful than a reader can understand, and if that is the case, there is obscurity created by oblique prose. In the last two chapters,

Tobacco's Scandalous Past Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Tobacco's Scandalous Past - Essay Example In 1901, "Edward VII, the tobacco-hating queen's son and successor, gathers friends together in a large drawing room at Buckingham Palace...and announces, "Gentlemen, you may smoke" (Borio). Smoking jackets became popular and advertisements glorified the attractiveness of smoking. This was the age when it was fashionable to enjoy a glass of port wine with an elegant after dinner cigar ("History of Smoking"). This sensation swept Great Britain and began the conflict between good health and fashion for the tobacco industry. Soldiers during World War I were treated to cigarettes in their rations and as they brought the habit home, it gained even greater popularity. According to Borio, one-third of the returning soldiers were addicted to cigarettes. By 1935 the reported cases of lung cancer among cigarette smokers were skyrocketing and in 1938 the first medical report on the ill health effects of tobacco was released by John Hopkins University (Borio, "George Seldes on Tobacco"). By 1948, lung cancer was growing at 5 times the rate of any other cancer and had become the most common form of disease (Borio). Many of the victims of smoking were veterans who had gained the habit during World War I. The last half of the 20th century witnessed a string of monumental events concerning tobacco.

Activity-based Costing: Advantages and Disadvantages

Activity-based Costing: Advantages and Disadvantages Activity-based costing is an information system, that assigning resource of cost to products or services based on the activity consume. The Economist, June 29th 2009, Activity-Based costing Thus, ABC can help the manager to obtain more accurate and up-to-date costing information to evaluate the cost budgeting to maximize profit. (Metin Reyhanoglu, Activity-Based Costing System: Advantage and Disadvantage, Ankara University, Turkey, Pp.2) In additional, ABC can provide a company with precise cost information to improve company performance. In order to allow identify the products and prevent inefficient or unnecessary activities for cost reduction and enter in the wrong marketplace. (Turney 1991, Pp.50) The ABC is become most popular since1980s from the rising lack of relevance of traditional cost accounting of assigning costs and to enhance its usefulness to decision making define by English mans Robin Cooper and Americans Robert Kaplan. ABC system follows two stages to identify the cost. Firstly, is accumulates manufacturing overhead costs for each activity consume; Secondly, identifying the resources and activities consume and then assigning the costs to the products, services and customers. ABC is an alternative to Traditional Cost Accounting in which a companys overheads are assigned in proportion to an activitys direct cost. This is dissatisfied whereas two systems which are absorbed the same costs but can use very different amount of overhead. Hence, for a company using TCA system that make and more and more variety products would lead to large losses. For the todays manufacturing, ABC systems is most appropriate to adopted for companies to customise products, this is because it can assigning indirect costs more accurately. While ABC look complex whereas TCA is simple, because ABC required a lot of specializes knowledge to be able implemented correctly and provides positive results. It is a well know that the Traditional cost accounting (TCA) is a systems usually assigns costs based on single volume to measures such as labour hour, machine hour and etc. It is arbitrarily assigning manufacturing costs overhead to units produced (only to product). It is an allocate manufacturing costs directly to products or services such as direct labour hours, direct labour costs or machine hours. But TCA is fails in assigning non-manufacturing costs such as administrative expenses because it is not absorbed in to products or services. This is a reason why the TCA system often report inaccurate in product cost compare to ABC system. But in the situation, the company where there is a large diversify of products or high level of automation, thus, the overheads misrepresentation will be significant in TCA system. Therefore, ABC system is more appropriate to adopt it can help the manager to analysis more accurate cost management than TCA system. ABC can provide reliable information in calculation product costs and is best practice for products and service profitability analysis. Therefore, todays manufacturing most of the management recommendation using ABC to determine costs. When overhead is high, diversify products, therefore cost of determine cost of mistake high and competitive is stiff thus ABC is able to calculate the precise cost of product compare with TCA. ABC system is help to evaluate performance and set budget which can assist the manager to use this information to control and comparison purpose. To prevent over budget situation and overcome unpredictable occur. ABC can help the management to set clear picture of the objective to guide the company toward given target. For the TCA system is determining the cost of production after the produces. Therefore, TCA system is almost obsolete whereas ABC system is become famous. ABC can provide more precise information in determine cost of product and control the quality of the products to prevent sacrificing by competitor. Advantages Disadvantages In the advance manufacturing, many companies adopt ABC system because its can provide more advantageous offer so that can reduce misrepresentation in product costs. ABC can provide more logical, relevance and accurate information to assist company calculation more precise cost of product and evaluation the performance, leading to increase profitability measurement. For the accurate measurement of ABC that can help managers more effective at decision making. Therefore, a better decision can improve the management strategic and tactical planning effectively, detect changes in unpredictable and allows managers to detect mistake become crucial. To be profitability, a company must calculate its product costs in order to make its pricing decision. Therefore, ABC system is an effective product costing system more appropriate to adopt. It can provide management with the vital information, timeliness and accurate information to designed standard costs to compare the variance between actual costs. Management can analysis the mistake and take corrective action of variances. It can minimize the risk of error estimate product cost. To remain ahead of competition, the company must be offer goods and products of the good quality and right price for retain customers. Thus, the company is in interest the prices competitors set of their products. This is an important factor for the company to determined cost of product and making decision whether is a right time to enter a new market. If the selling price set too high lead to loss lots of loyal the customers and damages the company image. Therefore, the company must prepare contingency plan for changing needs of the market. Although ABC can help manager manage overhead and understand profitability of products and customers as well, despite managers should be aware several limitations. For getting accurate information is not easily, sometimes the company need spent lot of times to collect data and investigate, that all is not free thus caused consume a lot of human resources and valuable time. It is a well know that the ABC system is not cost free. Lot of the company considers an ABC is likely to be very expensive to implementing. Due to ABC was not updating because designs difficult and time consuming to develop. But found out that ABC can only be implemented in certain companies from certain industries because not all the companies suitable advanced system like ABC. For small businesses for choosing not implement of the system. Despite, some large businesses have discarded because of high maintenance and complex to implement. However, despite the claimed limitation of ABC, but still have company prefer to implementation of ABC system. Because its can provide most reliability and effective information. Eventhough ABC has consumed most of time and cost to gather information but it can result to get first-hand information for better strategic planning. The accurate information can assist in minimizing the waste, saving time, and easily to identify the cost of product simultaneous cost save. ABC system can help to reduce resources consumption and boost profits. Around the world, different companies have adopted ABC in order to minimize the costs and increase the profit. In this paper would be discuss the adoption of ABC system in four (4) countries with different culture and industries to identified the factor that critical to implementation. Case study one: Restaurant Industry in Tunisian According to Amel B. Hadj Salem-Mhamdia and Bahia Bejar Ghadhabs Value management and activity based costing model in Tunisian restaurant article was reported that the tourism industry play an important roles for Tunisians source of income and restaurant industry is highly competitive and is central to the success of the tourism industry. Costing method play an important role to further develop the restaurant industry in Tunisian due to costing method might direct and/or indirect lead the business to maximize the profit and minimize the cost. In this first case study, ABC system was successfully implemented the a la carte style restaurant in Tunisia (only a single restaurant in Tunisia). Thus, ABC system fully recommended adopting due to able to determine accurate cost of product in term of cost incurred of different activities involved in all menu items. This is because every different activity it can mainly directly affect the cost in the menu. Thus, ABC system can provide reliable and accurate information to calculate costs of the menu item and profitability measurement. In order to forecast the ingredients order, adjustment of recipe grade, etc. Operation Department (Chef, Services staff) is important for a restaurant, ABC system able to analysis the adjustment of operation salary, operation hours, staff arrangement. ABC system is a significant benefit for restaurant industry; it can provide reliable information useful for market research and culture analysis in service industry especially can improve of planning and cost control analysis. Simultaneous can directly perceived the restaurants activities via customer satisfaction survey analysis. In order to help managers make a good decision drive for restaurants profitability and competitiveness. In the conclusion, ABC system has been suggested as an appropriate method for guiding and leading the process of making decision. ABC is a viable method to estimate product costing in restaurant and also conduct a price sensitivity analysis in order to learn about the price elasticity patterns of the menu. The ABC system can be identifying the basics of service direction and service experience in a specific culture environment. Case study Two: Telecommunication Industry in Portuguese According to the Maria Joao Martins Ferreira Majors Management accounting change in Portuguese telecommunication Industry article was reported the telecommunication company in the Portugal changed the management accounting system in order to evaluate more accurate product cost and provide efficient information to enhance the decision making. In this subsequent case study, conduct in Portuguese telecommunications company call Marconi, the main activity of the company is providing long distance telecommunication service. The Marconis telecommunication business was operating in a monopoly organization in Portugal, hence was not facing any competition pressure issue. For todays industry, the telecommunication market in Portuguese become more and more competition attack the market. Therefore, the Marconi required the manager with significant market power should follow cost direction in order to justify the cost. So the Marconi decided to implemented ABC system in order to stay competitive and deliver more applicable and precise data which can be used by the management. In this research, the Marconi changed its TCA systems and replaced it with ABC system due to the company did not have a proper cost systems to control costs. ABC system, it can provide reliable information can be used to calculation the cost model which to satisfy the Portuguese telecommunication. The result of ABC system is highly recommendation to adopt in the telecommunication company in Portugal, because it can provide significant information to provide precise cost calculation of telecommunications interconnections. Thus, the European commission clearly designated that the ABC system is more appropriate used to allocate the common costs to the cost of product. Furthermore, ABC establishes an efficient managerial tool to support manager in decision within the new business environment. In addition, ABC system can provide accurate and up-to date information to support calculate product costing more precise through the allocation basis and assists managers better understanding of the drivers on costs. Finally, the telecommunication company choosing ABC as the right costing system sacrificing TCA in order to assist manager evaluate interconnection prices strategic more adequate was an important issue. Case study Three: Hot Spring Country Inn in Taiwan According to Wen-Hsien Tsai and Jui-Ling Hsus activity-based costing: a case study in Taiwanese hot spring Inns cost calculation article was reported the Hot Spring Country Inn is run a nontraditional style business in Yang-Ming-Shan area of Taiwan. The company is provides nontraditional lodging, hot spring and meal serving services. In this third case study, the Country Inn was forgone TCA and adopt ABC as their costing management because ABC system is more practice and appropriate for the company and can provide more accurate information for evaluate cost management and pricing set-up. The ABC system is more applicable to use because the company has various products such as lodging, hot spring and meal serving. Therefore, ABC system can provide more relevant and accurate information to calculate the cost. For the diversify products thus the overhead which indirectly traceable to the product, therefore proportion the overhead of the total cost is very significant. The ABC system more concern on the precise cost assigning and overhead allocation. For instant, the Country Inn fully agree the implemented ABC system is really more benefit and useful costing management. And ABC system can provide more accurate information for pricing decision and make a better decision. Meanwhile, the Country Inn faces on seasonal customer fluctuation unstable, while in winter the hot spring use can hit to the maximum whereas in summer season would drop minimum. Thus, using ABC system can overcome this seasonal issue. The manager can implements ABC system to allocate resources costs based on activity consume and assign the overhead costs to product based on direct labour hour to overcome limitation of TCA system in order to calculate more accurate cost of product and prevent losses. After the Country Inn adopts ABC system, the unit costs of each product in the market segment obviously clear and can provide useful information to assist managers on decision making and cost-volume-profit analysis. Therefore, the Country Inn fully agrees choose the right costing system and define activities well. Case study Four: Automotive manufacturing in American According to Paul Jurek, Bert Bras, Tina Guldberg, Ji, DArcy, Seong-Chan Oh and Stephan Billers Activity-Based Costing applied to automotive manufacturing article was reported the GM adopt activity-based costing to evaluate demand and response offer from local utility company in an American automotive manufacturing industry. General Motors Company known as GM is produces cars trucks and sells services these vehicles is an American multinational automobile, and among the largest auto-producer in the world. In this case study, automotive industrial is a complex, consume large amounts resources and high competitive. Due to the way to increase competitive advantages is implement ABC system to analysis the production and operating cost in order to minimize the expenses due to ABC able to identify the cost in detailing for each production stage and/or material cost. It can assist the operator for selection of material and/or production method, i.e. hours of labour, amount of space, length of melding, efficiency of machinery. Also, ABC able to advise the demand and response for the product and this may help manufacturer to determine the cost allocation for resource, material, marketing plan, etc. In conclusion, ABC system is suitable for huge production industrial even the implement cost is high, because the return in direct and indirect benefit or profit due to of able to identify the cost in detailing and helps to allocate more resources on profitability products. Conclusion As the research from different industries in above, ABC has demonstrated leading to produce more reliable, precise in costing management and cost-volume-profit analysis. Thus, those industries fully agree the ABC system is a more appropriate costing system to implement for the nowadays. Despite, the ABC system cost expensive and consumed most of time, but those companies still willing to adopt ABC sacrificing TCA in order to overcome limitation of TCA. ABC systems identify easily to determine the cost of product, minimize the waste and simultaneous save cost. Therefore, ABC system more appropriate adopt for the company. To conclude, ABC system can provide accurate information for resulting in better decision, strategy planning and forecasting for future development.

My Obsession :: Personal Narrative essay about myself

My Obsession I often wonder about myself: why does this obsession of mine drive me to such an extreme? Why does the right side of my brain surface in such a manner that even I can't understand? Is it out of boredom? Or is it overzealous creativity? What I'm talking about is decorating. Not just normal decorating (I do that well) but outrageous, full-blown theme decorating. Using vibrant colors, with a unique style, I express my whimsical personality. What makes this type of decorating so much fun is that the more outlandish and obscure it is, the more I am driven to take it to its fullest potential. I can't remember how it all started, but it seems to have taken on a life of its own. Perhaps the small lawn sculpture shaped like a cheery Santa triggered the avalanche under which I find myself today. Looking into his electric blue eyes I was put into a hypnotic frenzy. I soon realized this loveable, jolly fellow required companionship on my front lawn. On my next jaunt to the Christmas shop, I found the most adorable reindeer to join my Santa. But wait, I couldn't buy just one; Santa had 8 reindeer. Now they needed a sled to haul, and it had to be big enough for Santa and all of his packages. A beautiful holiday display was finally emerging in front of my house. What a shame that it was only visible during daylight hours. I needed to illuminate this Yuletide scene with lights, lots of lights! I found myself back at "Holiday Central" charging 3,000 of the brightest bulbs General Electric had to offer. I hung blue lights and white lights, chaser lights, and twinkling lights. There were so many lights my electric bill tripled during the month of December. I could have caused a power outage affecting houses and shops within a one-mile radius. This newborn obsession wasn't limited to the holiday season. It seemed to have spilled over like a waterfall into my backyard. A tropical paradise was materializing before my eyes. I fell in love with those tacky pink flamingos often sighted in trailer parks or senior communities. These long-legged birds shade themselves from the searing sun under a pair of plastic palm trees, and occasionally quench their thirst at the tiki bar.

A Mutable Self

Haley Wiedenman English 101 Brit Ashley 4/8/11 When reading â€Å"A Mutable Self†, by Mary Catherine Bateson, I am forced to analyze why I am myself. For several years I have stubbornly believed that I have become myself by myself alone and have not been influenced by the things and people around me. I didn’t want to admit that I am in fact tightly connected to people of my past and they have influenced who I am greatly. Bateson makes it clear in her writing that â€Å"no one –fetus, child, or adult- is independent of the actions and imaginations of others. Though we have the power to alter ourselves, the fact that we do so because the influence of others proves that we can never break the connection of the people who we have been subject to, making us somewhat dependent of those around us. Bateson brings this subject to our attention to spread an awareness of how we come to be under the influence of others. Not only does she inform us of the ways of ourselves b ut also she enlightens the reader of cultures around the globe.Taking in this information has the potential to change readers view and allow them to have a greater understanding of the world around them. In opening this door Bateson is creating a continual awareness that will aid the reader in their daily life though the understanding of themselves and others. On the contrary to popular belief, Bateson has faith that â€Å"the self is learned, yet ironically it often becomes a barrier to learning. The way that I perceive this is that we often are so stubborn with the views of ourselves that we deny any opposing views given by others, which in turn blocks our access to further knowledge. Once we have an idea in our head about a certain thing, it is often difficult to persuade us otherwise. In the works of Bateson she writes a personal story about her visit to an Iranian kindergarten. In her visit the teacher allowed a period for drawing time to the students. At the end of there time the teacher went to each student, collected the drawing pencils, and threw away each of there creations.I come from a home where my first piece of art I brought home remains framed in our living room. So, to me, it is extremely sad that these children are not rewarded for their creative efforts. Instead of a high five and gold star on our artwork, these small children just watch as their masterpieces fall into a trashcan. The difference between Iranian culture and my own is huge. Though I am sure they have there own motives for their ways, I personally am glad I grew up in a home where I was praised for my hard work.Even though I enjoyed reading this essay, I do believe there are a few things Bateson could have done my successfully. Her writing is a bit repetitive, which I suppose is an effective way to make your point clear, however it can also make the reading a bit dull from time to time. Another item she could have improved on is her connection to the reader. Many of her exampl es where of other cultures, and while this may be extremely interesting, it does not relate to the most the people who will be reading this essay.It could have been more triumphant if Bateson would have both related to the common reader and added other cultural insight. Connections between the Essays: 1- The self is ever changing – pg. 252 What is the Self? & pg. 272 A mutable Self 2- People and culture around you shape the self – pg. 261 What is the Self? & pg. 269-270 A Mutable Self Questions 1- Can we disconnect ourselves from our family/community to become independent and find our true selves? (w/ out outside influence) 2- What effect does our childhood have on our lives?

Thorn Queen Chapter Fourteen

â€Å"You!† Even with her hands bound, Jasmine didn't hesitate to attack me. She came tearing across the room, face filled with fury. I'm not sure if her intent was to kick me or simply throw herself at me, but she never even got close. My guards were on her in a flash, hauling her back. Magic started to flare around her, but one of the guards countered it with some weak nullifying magic. Her iron cuffs made magic hard to use, but the human in her gave her greater resistance. I turned on all of them incredulously. â€Å"That's not the missing girl. That's my sister! How could you not know that? She was Aeson's mistress!† It was Rurik who answered. â€Å"A lot of the guard has changed since Aeson's time. Many here came as a gift from King Dorian.† It was true. Dorian had warned that even though I'd won the Thorn Land fair and square, many of those who had served Aeson would have a hard time shaking that loyalty. Rurik had consequently sifted through the servants and guards, getting rid of those he didn't think could be trusted. â€Å"Still,† I said. â€Å"Someone should have known. Where the hell is Shaya?† â€Å"She is away, tending to administrative errands,† said the guard who'd been so excited initially. Now he seemed deeply embarrassed and upset. Jasmine, meanwhile, hadn't ceased in her struggles to break free of the guards. Without her magic, she wasn't much of a threat and seemed to realize using it was futile right now. She stood average height for a girl her age, but her build was slim, and she always seemed a little too skinny. Maybe that just ran in our family. Her eyes were large and blue-gray, reminiscent of storm clouds. â€Å"You can't hold me here, Eugenie!† she screamed. â€Å"I'm going to break free and kill you. Then I will be the one to bear our father's heir!† â€Å"Jesus Christ,† I muttered. â€Å"The song remains the same.† To be honest, I was actually kind of surprised Jasmine wasn't already pregnant and took it as a positive sign that she was still referring to it as a future event. The prophecy that loomed over both of us said that Storm King's daughter's son would be the one to lead the battle to conquer humanity. It hadn't specified which daughter, and apparently, Jasmine was still hell-bent on beating me to it. â€Å"It's going to happen,† Jasmine continued. â€Å"You can't stop it.† â€Å"Are you out of your mind?† I demanded. â€Å"You're fifteen! You have no business even talking about getting pregnant, let alone conquering the human world. You were raised there, for God's sake. Do you know how much Wil misses you?† â€Å"I hate them,† she spat. With the angry look in her eyes, I expected to hear thunder rumbling somewhere. â€Å"I hate them all. Even him. I never belonged there. This is my world.† â€Å"Not if I pack you up and send you to Catholic boarding school somewhere,† I mused, rather entertained by the idea. â€Å"They'd never be able to hold me.† â€Å"I was joking. Geez, doesn't sarcasm run in the family?† â€Å"You'll never be able to hold me either. Your men got lucky, and you know it. I've been dodging them for weeks, each time they thought they had me.† I rolled my eyes at her smug attitude, secretly wondering what the hell I was going to do with her now. I'd spent all this time hunting her and had almost gotten used to the idea that she was gone for good. Now that we had her, I was at a bit of a loss. Never would I have guessed that my guards would inadvertently stumble across her while looking for Moria. In the midst of my puzzling, Jasmine's words suddenly replayed through my mind. â€Å"My guys have never found you before,† I said. â€Å"Believe me, we've been looking.† Jasmine stared at me like I was crazy, which was something, considering that she was the one who needed to be on medication. â€Å"They almost got me last week. Maybe they were just too embarrassed about how I nearly drowned them with a tidal wave to tell you.† I shot a questioning look to Rurik, who shook his head. I turned back to her. â€Å"Those weren't my guys.† A strange thought suddenly occurred to me. â€Å"Were they human?† â€Å"No, of course not.† â€Å"Are you sure?† Jasmine gave me a narrow-eyed look. â€Å"I know the difference between humans and shining ones. You're the one who's in denial, trying to act like you're all-human.† I doubted she would say that if she had any idea what I'd been contending with here lately. Her obnoxious adolescent attitude aside, I was thinking again about what she'd said. She'd spoken of nearly being caught†¦by whom? I thought back to my meeting with Moria and her babbling about the Red Snake Man. I'd made a huge leap about Art being responsible for kidnapping her and the others. Again, I slowed down my racing mind to think of other options. It was possible that Moria's red snake was something entirely different. Or, maybe she'd just run into him here. Like all shamans, he probably crossed over every now and then. Maybe she'd seen the tattoo then. Or, perhaps most likely, was my earlier notion that Art had simply banished her back. All of that seemed more plausible. Yet was it enough to cause Moria such terror? That was the repeated question with no answer. And now here was Jasmine, also talking about abduction. It seemed too much of a coincidence that that would happen while other young girls were disappearing. â€Å"Were they brigands?† I asked Jasmine. â€Å"Like†¦sort of rough and dirty types?† â€Å"They were guards or some other kind of fighter,† she said. â€Å"Stop trying to act like you had nothing to do with it. I know the difference between a bunch of gross beggars and trained soldiers.† â€Å"Yeah, yeah, you're a freaking genius,† I muttered. â€Å"That's not hard, compared to you.† â€Å"Oh, look at that. Sarcasm is in the genes.† When I was younger, I'd hated being an only child and had longed for siblings. I'd never in my wildest dreams imagined this was what I'd end up with. â€Å"What did these guys look like? Were they in uniform?† My guards' uniforms were mismatched. They all had leather armor, but Dorian's recruits wore the green of his army while mine had blue left over from Aeson. Some just wore whatever color tunics they wanted. â€Å"I'm not telling you anything else,† she said. â€Å"Now let me go!† There was almost a whine to her command, making her seem very much her age and less like someone literally set on world domination. Of course, there was no way I was letting her out of this place, not when she was clearly willing to spread her legs for anyone who might help fulfill our deranged father's grand plans. Then, staring at her young face, a new thought occurred to me. I was always so concerned about her wanting to get pregnant that I never paid much attention to the idea of her facing the same risks I did. My queenly status had given me some reprieve, but there were still plenty of Otherworldly guys not above raping me. Jasmine had to be facing the same thing, the target of anyone who wanted to be the father of Storm King's heir. These soldiers she was talking about might have had no connection at all to Moria's abductors-if she had been abducted. Fuck. This was all hurting my brain. I needed to talk to Roland and Art before jumping to any more conclusions. And in the meantime, this was all good reason to keep Jasmine under lock and key. â€Å"Sorry,† I told her. â€Å"You aren't going anywhere. You'll be lucky if I don't break out the Depo-Provera and fill your cell full of abstinence propaganda.† â€Å"Cell? You are not locking me in any cell.† Her lips were puffed into a pout. Again, she seemed so much like any ordinary surly teen that I nearly laughed. She looked more like a girl who'd been grounded from texting than one who aspired to be an all-powerful fairy queen. When I didn't respond, the impact seemed to truly hit her. â€Å"You can't†¦you can't do that! Do you know who I am? I'm a princess. I'm Storm King's daughter! My son is going to rule the worlds.† I shook my head. â€Å"No, you're a self-absorbed brat in serious need of discipline and counseling.† â€Å"You can't do that!† â€Å"I can†¦or did you forget who I am? I'm the big sister who rules a kingdom and isn't going to let you jump all over this prophecy.† â€Å"You can't lock me up forever,† she warned. â€Å"She's right,† a voice behind me said. I turned and saw Ysabel hovering near the doorway. She didn't look terrified of me anymore, but she no longer bore that cocky arrogance. She looked cool and aloof. â€Å"You can't lock her up forever,† continued Ysabel. â€Å"You should kill her.† â€Å"What?† Both Jasmine and I spoke at the same time. Ysabel seemed perfectly blase about it all. â€Å"She's your greatest rival to bearing Storm King's grandson. So long as she lives, she always will be an obstacle. The only way you'll be free and retain your power is if she's gone.† I started to protest that I didn't want to beat Jasmine to the prophecy. Then, I realized that part didn't matter. It was Jasmine's own desire for getting pregnant that was the problem, and Ysabel was right to a certain extent. As long as Jasmine was around, I wouldn't have any peace. I slowly shook my head. â€Å"I'm not killing my own sister. But I am double-binding her. Somebody get another set of iron cuffs.† I saw a few guards flinch. Even with as little iron as the cuffs had, that was still more than most gentry could comfortably handle. Doubling it would stunt her magic even more, but that human blood was still going to give us trouble. â€Å"I want her cell guarded at all times,† I told Rurik. â€Å"With more than you usually would post. And make sure you've got guards that can actually use magic.† Someone had returned with the second set of cuffs by then, causing Jasmine to start up a new round of shrieks and protests. Rurik gave me a nod and then said in a low voice, â€Å"If I could speak to your majesty in private?† I arched an eyebrow. Rurik always obeyed me but rarely bothered with formalities or respect, which didn't bother me. In public, though, he always used my titles, and I wondered what was on his mind. We stepped out of the room, past a disapproving Ysabel, and came to a halt a little ways down the hall. â€Å"Keeping the girl locked and under guard might not be the best idea,† he said. I groaned. â€Å"Don't tell me you think I should kill her too.† He shrugged. â€Å"Dorian would tell you to. But if you insist on keeping her here, then get that demon of yours to guard her.† For a moment, I thought of the fire demons. Then, I realized he was using a more generalized term. â€Å"You mean Volusian?† â€Å"I'm not saying they'd do it†¦.† Rurik hesitated. â€Å"But I'm not saying they wouldn't either. A lot of those guards might be tempted by the thought of fathering the heir, and if she offered†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Good God. She's fifteen.† â€Å"Old enough. It didn't stop Aeson, and if she convinced one of the guards, her age wouldn't matter. I'm guessing your, uh, friend wouldn't be so easily swayed.† Volusian swayed by sex? Hardly. Particularly if he was under my commands. â€Å"Fine. I'll summon him.† Volusian would also stop any magic she could muster. â€Å"You might also consider finding a potion master to create a tincture of nightshade.† â€Å"A what?† â€Å"It's a drink that will inhibit her from using her magic.† â€Å"Isn't nightshade poisonous?† â€Å"Not to shining ones. Not if mixed with the right ingredients. With her human blood, it will, ah, leave her a little†¦disoriented. But it won't kill her.† â€Å"I'm not going to keep her in a drugged stupor.† I started to return to the room and then paused to give Rurik a canny look. â€Å"Why warn me? I remember a time when you wanted to father the heir. Why not take your own shot?† â€Å"With her?† Rurik snorted. â€Å"I still wouldn't hesitate to beget Storm King's grandson-but she's not the one. The heir's mother should be a warrior, and unfortunately, that only leaves you.† â€Å"You're never getting near my bed, Rurik.† â€Å"Yes, I've deduced as much. But I would still support Storm King's grandson and would be nearly as happy for my lord the Oak King to father him.† â€Å"Dorian? That's the only other alternative as far as you're concerned?† Rurik's expression seemed to wonder that there could be any question. â€Å"Who else?† I shook my head and left him, off to order the imprisonment of my sister. Before setting Volusian on permanent guard duty, I had one brief task for him. He wasn't very happy about it, not that that came as any real surprise. â€Å"My mistress, as usual, is intent on furthering my eternal torment.† â€Å"I don't really see how watching a teenage girl is that bad-for you, anyway. It's going to be a lot harder on her.† â€Å"I am a being of considerable power. I cannot die. If you insist on enslaving me, you should use my abilities to bring nations to their knees.† Volusian's red eyes narrowed ever so slightly. â€Å"Instead, my mistress dispatches me to supervise children and deliver love notes.† â€Å"It's not a love note! Just ask him, okay?† Volusian blinked once and then vanished. While he couldn't teleport, exactly, he could travel much faster than human or gentry. After Jasmine's capture and Moria implicating Art, I wanted nothing more than to sit down with Kiyo. I needed to talk this out. I wasn't used to this sort of turmoil and indecision in my life. I longed for the days when my job had simply been to go out, find the monster, and get rid of it. It had been a lot easier than this sort of deliberation. Kiyo, to my knowledge, was with Maiwenn, and I'd dispatched Volusian to see if Kiyo would come to me later. It was the closest I could get to making a phone call in the Otherworld-but still far from it, seeing that it took Volusian about twenty minutes to get back to me. â€Å"You see?† I said when he appeared in my bedroom. â€Å"That wasn't so bad.† â€Å"The kitsune says he will come to you in two hours,† Volusian said in his flat voice, not deigning to acknowledge my comment. Two hours. Well, it was better than nothing. I sighed. â€Å"Okay. Thanks.† Volusian simply stared. My gratitude meant nothing to him. â€Å"Alright. Go watch Jasmine then. Don't let her escape, and for God's sake, don't let her get pregnant.† â€Å"For how long?† â€Å"Until I say so,† I snapped. The malice radiated off Volusian, but my mastery of him would not let him disobey. Demeaning task or not, he had no choice. He vanished. Once alone, I lay back on my bed, hoping two hours would go by quickly. Like everything else among gentry royalty, the bed I'd inherited was plush and luxurious, with a thick down mattress. The covers were heavy brocade and almost never needed in this weather-but they felt great to lie against. It wasn't quite sunset outside, but the light was fading, casting long shadows onto the room's heavy stone walls. I'd need to light torches soon. A knock at the door forced me upright. â€Å"Yeah?† It was Nia. She gave a polite curtsey. â€Å"Your majesty, you have a guest.† For a glorious moment, I thought it was Kiyo. Then: no. It was too soon. And Nia wouldn't have announced him. Everyone around here knew enough to let him in by now. â€Å"Who?† â€Å"Prince Leith of the Rowan Land.† â€Å"Leith?† I said, certain I'd misheard. â€Å"I just saw him, like, six hours ago.† Nia shook her head helplessly. â€Å"He's here, that's all I know.† I swung my legs over the bed's edge and stood up, slipping my socked feet into short leather boots. Leith? What was he doing here? A flash of panic went through me. Had something gone wrong in Westoria? If so, wouldn't my own people have told me? They'd taken him to my parlor, where he sat on the edge of one of the satin-lined chairs. He sprang up at my approach, hurrying over to catch my hands in his. He leaned down and kissed them. â€Å"Your majesty. Thank you for seeing me so unexpectedly. I'm sure I'm interrupting all sorts of important things.† â€Å"Not so much,† I said, withdrawing my hands. â€Å"And you should really just call me Eugenie now. What's up? Is there a problem?† Around here, who knew what could go wrong? Famine, flood, locusts†¦ â€Å"A problem with-oh, no. Everything in Westoria is great. We made amazing progress today.† I relaxed. â€Å"Good. I was worried.† Leith shook his head, eager to reassure me. â€Å"No, no problems there. I just†¦well, I know this is strange, but I just had to come see you. That is, I had to ask you something. I feel like an idiot, though.† I frowned. â€Å"You can ask me anything. What's going on? Are you okay?† â€Å"Oh, yes.† His embarrassment grew. â€Å"But after today†¦I just had to hear something from you.† â€Å"Okay, ask.† â€Å"Are you involved with the Oak King?† â€Å"Involved with†¦what, you mean romantically? With Dorian? No!† Leith's face shone like the sun. â€Å"You mean it? When I saw you together today. The way he spoke†¦and the way you two interacted†¦well, I thought for sure the rumors were true.† â€Å"What rumors?† I asked warily. â€Å"That you were still lovers.† â€Å"Where are you hearing these rumors?† â€Å"Pretty much everywhere.† â€Å"Well, the answer is no. Absolutely not.† â€Å"Really?† â€Å"Really.† Leith exhaled with palpable relief. He reached for my hand, and I stepped back, putting space between us. The rapture on his face made me uneasy. â€Å"Then there's still a chance.† â€Å"A chance for what?† I asked. â€Å"You and me.† â€Å"You and-oh, Leith, no.† It was just like everyone had said. â€Å"I like you-you're really great-but there isn't going to be anything happening with you and me.† â€Å"But†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He moved forward again, and again, I moved away. â€Å"But you keep wanting to see me and have asked me to be a part of your kingdom. I just assumed†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"No, no†¦Leith, I'm involved with someone already†¦you know, Kiyo? The kitsune? We're together.† He frowned and was still too close to my personal space. â€Å"I didn't think it was a serious romance. I thought he was just a†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Fling?† I suggested. â€Å"Yes. I mean, someone like you couldn't take him as a true consort.† I sighed. â€Å"Why does everyone say that? I love Kiyo. We're together. We're going to be together for a very long time.† Leith's earlier joy was rapidly giving way to distress. â€Å"But†¦I mean, with my background and the way we get along, we're a perfect match. Admit it: you are usually happy to see me.† â€Å"Of course I am. But that's because I want to be your friend, not encourage you romantically. I like you-like hanging out with you. But that's it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I led you on.† â€Å"It has to be more than friendship. I know it is for me.† He sighed. â€Å"I've never been able to talk to someone so easily. It feels natural.† â€Å"That's because you guys always make everything so†¦exaggerated. There are probably a dozen girls you could sit down with and have great conversations with if you just got rid of the formality.† â€Å"No.† The grief on his face was killing me. â€Å"It's something about you. I just can't help it. I'm falling more and more in love with you every day.† â€Å"You barely know me! You can't love me.† â€Å"I do,† he said in a low voice, and some of that glowing passion returned. â€Å"From the moment I saw you. Mother had said you'd be a suitable match politically, but even if that weren't true, I'd still love you. I've never met anyone like you, Eugenie. So brave and beautiful†¦I'd want to be with you even if we weren't ruling a kingdom together.† â€Å"Leith,† I said, trying hard to make my voice stern. God-dammit. Why couldn't he have been an annoying jerk like most of my other would-be suitors? Why did he have to be a nice guy? With great effort, I tried to let him down easy instead of in my usual harsh way. â€Å"I meant it: I like you. But that's it. I value your help and your friendship, but I'm not leaving Kiyo.† â€Å"But I love you.† It was weak and plaintive. I shook my head. â€Å"I'm sorry.† His face fell, and he turned away, wrapped in despair. He started to walk toward the door and then abruptly turned, eyes alight once more. â€Å"If things end between you and the kitsune†¦then I'd be next in line, right?† â€Å"Next in line? Er, well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Why couldn't I just lie and say yes? Or why not use a â€Å"I don't want to ruin our friendship† kind of crap line? â€Å"I don't think so, Leith. I just don't think I could ever feel that way about you.† Leith stared at me wide-eyed for several moments, and then at last, his features tightened. â€Å"I see. I'm sorry to have taken your time, your majesty. Your workers in Westoria understand my task and should no longer require my help.† He gave a small, polite bow and then hurried out the door. â€Å"Leith†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I took a few steps forward, my stomach sinking. I felt horrible. I knew he'd had a crush on me, but I hadn't thought it was much more than the usual Otherworldly attractions I experienced. His face at the end there had broken my heart. I hadn't wanted to hurt him, particularly after all he'd done for me. Dejected, I returned to my bedroom and ordered wine sent up. It arrived in a jewel-encrusted pitcher, complete with a heavy golden goblet. Had to love gentry room service. I declined any requests to see anyone until Kiyo arrived. I sat down on the floor, leaning against the bed and wondering how much of the wine I could get through before he arrived. To my surprise, all of it. I had no clock there but was pretty sure more than two hours had passed. I'd drunk goblet after goblet, thinking about Jasmine, Leith, and Art-and finding no resolution for any of them. I was staring at the bottom of the empty pitcher, pondering the time, when I heard a soft knock at my door. Finally! I stood up and felt the world sway around me. I gripped the bed for support. â€Å"Kiyo?† But it wasn't him. It was Shaya. Like Rurik, she'd dropped a lot of formalities and didn't bother with a curtsey. Her face was troubled, and I saw her clever eyes assess me and my drunkenness in a matter of seconds. â€Å"I'm sorry to bother you†¦but a messenger just arrived from the Willow Land.† The anger I'd been kindling against Kiyo's tardiness ran cold. â€Å"Oh my God. Is he okay?† Shaya hesitated and then gave a swift nod. â€Å"As far as I know, he's fine. It's Queen Maiwenn everyone's concerned about†¦she's gone into labor.†