The unicorn said quietly, “This one is real. This is the harpy Celaeno.”

Schmendrick’s face had gone the color of oatmeal. “The old woman caught her by chance,” he whispered, “asleep, as she took you. But it was an ill fortune, and they both know it."

- The Last Unicorn, Peter S Beagle

LOL, your timing is excellent. I just downloaded Anne Bishop's Lake Silence to re-read!

And then five years later they elected another one just like him, and really it was amazing how intelligent people kept on making the same mistakes."

Terry Pratchett, Small Gods
4/4

Immediately after he was elected, of course, it was obvious to everyone that he was a criminal madman and totally out of touch with the view of the ordinary philosopher in the street looking for a towel. 3/

Every five years someone was elected to be Tyrant, provided he could prove that he was honest, intelligent, sensible, and trustworthy. 2/