yarrr, ye scurvy boy-king, halt ye whinin'

But although she began it, she could not frame the question she wanted to ask. Jerott said, "It began eighteen months ago, Lady Culter. He has tried to end his life twice. Once Archie brought him back. Now I have done the same. We have interfered in what doesn't concern us. He belongs to himself and is at his own disposal. Or else what are we?"

Richard Crawford, his brother's wrist in his hand, laid it down gently and turned to him. "We are," he said, "at least no less than the animals. We are members of a race, and of a kingdom, and of a family. The world has borrowed his strength often enough: can we not lend him ours when he needs it? What can be done? What is wrong?"

..."My lord," said Nostradamus. "You have heard. He has long sought this gateway, and at Dourlans he found it. He is not going to come back now, for me, for you or for anyone. This time he has found the boatman, and the boatman has taken him over."

from Checkmate by Dorothy Dunnett