* Alec [[spoiler: Campion of Tremontaine]] outmaneuvering Ferris during Richard's trial.
* Alec [[spoiler:becoming Duke Tremontaine and all of Riverside parading him up the Hill]] in ''The Duke of Riverside.''
* Richard St. Vier seeing right through [[spoiler:Diane's lies and attempts to manipulate him]] and refusing to be used by her in ''Swordspoint.'' Also, when he [[spoiler:kills Horn for kidnapping Alec]] even though he knew it would lead to his death.
* Almost everything Katherine does, but especially calling out [[spoiler: Artemisia's]] rapist and then defeating his swordsman in ''The Privilege of the Sword.''
* Jessica, outmaneuvering [[spoiler:Ysaud, Galing and the Serpent Chancellor,]] as well as freeing her brother, Theron from an unwanted marriage, in ''The Fall of the Kings.'' She gets to annoy Katherine, sleep with [[spoiler:Ysaud, who's quite beautiful]] and make a big theatrical spectacle of everything as well, which is just icing on the cake.