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s hand lifted； as if it had a life of its own。 It crossed the small space to me； rested on my shoulder。 For a moment； that was all。 Just the weight of my king's hand on my shoulder。 King Shrewd shifted slightly in his chair。 He took a breath through his nostrils。 I closed my eyes and we plunged into the black river again。 Once more I faced the desperate young man trapped in King Shrewd's dying body。 We tumbled together in the sweeping current of the world。 〃There's no one here。 No one here but us anymore。〃 Shrewd sounded lonely。
I couldn't find myself。 I had no body； no tongue here。 He held me under with him in the rush and the roar。 I could hardly think at all； let alone remember what little of the Skill lessons I had retained from Galen's harsh instruction。 It was like trying to recite a memorized speech while being throttled。 I gave up。 I gave it all up。 Then from somewhere； like a feather floating in a breeze； or a mote dancing in a sunbeam； came Verity's voice telling me； 〃Being open is simply not being closed。〃
The whole world was a spaceless place； all things inside of all other things。 I did not say his name aloud or think of his face。 Verity was there； had always been right there； and joining him was effortless。 You live！
Of course。 But you won't； spilling all over like this。 You're pouring out everything you have in one gush。 Regulate your strength。 Be precise。 He steadied me； shaped me back into myself； then gasped in recognition。
Father！
Verity pushed at me roughly。 Get back！ Let go of him； he hasn't the strength for this。 You're draining him； you idiot！ Let go！
It was like being repelled； but rougher。 When I found myself and opened my eyes； I was sprawled on my side before the fireplace。 My face was unfortably close to it。 I rolled over； groaning； and saw the King。 His lips were puffing in and out with each breath； and there was a bluish cast to his skin。 Burrich and Kettricken and the Fool were a helpless circle standing about him。 〃Do 。。。 something！〃 I gasped up at them。
〃What？〃 demanded the Fool； believing I knew。
I floundered about in my mind； came up with the only remedy I could recall。 〃Elfbark；〃 I croaked。 The edges of the room kept turning black。 I shut my eyes and listened to them panicking about。 Slowly I understood what I had done。 I had Skilled。
I had tapped my king's strength to do it。
〃You will be the death of kings；〃 the Fool had told me。 A prophecy or a shrewd guess？ A Shrewd guess。 Tears came to my eyes
I smelled elfbark tea。 Plain strong elfbark； no ginger or mint to disguise it。 I pried my eyes open a crack。
〃It's too hot！〃 hissed the Fool。
〃It cools quickly in the spoon；〃 Burrich insisted； and ladled some into the King's mouth。 He took it in； but I did not see him swallow。 With the casual expertise of years in the stables； Burrich tugged gently at the King's lower jaw and then stroked his throat。 He ladled another spoonful into his slack mouth。 Not much was happening。
Kettricken came to crouch by me。 She lifted my head to her knee； put a hot cup to my mouth。 I sucked at it； too hot； I didn't care； I sucked in air with it； noisily。 I swallowed it； fought choking against its bitterness。 The darkness receded。 The cup came back； I sipped again。 It was strong enough to near numb my tongue。 I looked up at Kettricken； found her eyes。 I managed a tiny nod。
〃He lives？〃 she asked softly。
〃Yes。〃 It was all I could manage。
〃He lives！〃 She cried it out aloud to the others； joy in her voice。
〃My father！〃 Regal shouted the words。 He stood swaying in the door； face red with drink and anger。 Behind him I glimpsed his guard； and little Rosemary peeping around the corner； wide…eyed。 Somehow she managed to slip past the men； to race to Kettricken and clutch at her skirts。 For an instant our tableau held。
Then Regal swept into the room； ranting； demanding； questioning； but giving no one a chance to speak。 Kettricken kept a protective crouch beside me； or I swear Regal's guards would have had me again。 Above me； in his chair； the King had a bit of color again in his face。 Burrich put another spoonful of tea to his lips； and I was relieved to see him sip at it。
Regal was not。 〃What are you giving him？ Stop that！ I won't have my father poisoned by a stable hand！〃
〃The King had another attack； my prince；〃 the Fool said suddenly。 His voice cut through the chaos in the room； made a hole that became a silence。 〃Elfbark tea is a mon restorative。 I am sure that even Wallace has heard of it。〃
The Prince was drunk。 He was not sure if he was being mocked or conciliated。 He glared at the Fool； who smiled benignly back。
〃Oh。〃 He said it grudgingly； not really wishing to be mollified。 〃Well； what； then； of him？〃 He gestured at me in anger。
〃Drunk。〃 Kettricken stood up； letting my head drop to the floor with a convincing thump。 Flashes of light marred my vision。 There was only disgust in her voice。 〃Stablemaster。 Get him out of here。 You should have stopped him before he got this far。 Next time； see that you use your judgment when he has none of his own。〃
〃Our stablemaster is well…known for having his own taste for the cup； lady queen。 I suspect they have been at it together。〃 Regal sneered。
〃The news of Verity's death hit him hard；〃 Burrich said simply。 He was true to himself； offering an explanation； but no excuse。 He took hold of my shirtfront； jerked me from the floor。 With no effort at playacting； I swayed on my feet until he gripped me more firmly。 I caught a passing glimpse of the Fool hastily spooning another dose of elfbark into the King。 I prayed no one would interrupt him。 As Burrich ushered me roughly out of the room； I heard Queen Kettricken rebuking Regal； saying he should be below with his guests； and promising that she and the Fool could get the King to bed。 As we were going up the stairs I heard Regal and his guard going down。 He was still muttering and then ranting； plaining that he was not stupid； he could tell a plot when he saw one。 It worried me； but I was fairly certain he had no real idea of what had been going on。
At my door； I was well enough to work my latches。 Burrich followed me in。 〃If I had a dog that was sick as often as you are； I'd put it down；〃 he observed kindly。 〃Do you need more elfbark？〃
〃It wouldn't hurt me any。 But in a gentler dose。 Do you have any ginger or mint or rose hips？〃
He gave me a look。 I sat on my chair while he poked at the pathetic embers in my fireplace until he got them to glow。 He built up a fire； put water in the kettle； and set it to heat。 He found a pot and put in the flaked elfbark； then found a mug and wiped the dust out of it。 He set the things out ready； then looked about himself。 Something like disgust was on his face。 〃Why do you live like this？〃 he demanded。
〃Like what？〃
〃In so bare a room； with so little care for it？ I've seen winter…quarter tents that were homier than this room。 It's as if you've never expected to stay here more than a night or two longer。〃
I shrugged。 〃I've never given it much thought。〃
There was a silence for a bit。 〃You should；〃 he said unwillingly。 〃And you should think about how often you're hurt； or sick。〃
〃This； what happened tonight； this couldn't be helped。〃
〃You knew what it would do to you； but you went ahead with it anyway；〃 he pointed out。
〃I had to。〃 I watched him pour steaming water over the elfbark in the pot。
〃Did you？ It seemed to me the Fool had a pretty convincing argument against it。 Yet you went ahead。 You and King Shrewd； both of you。〃
〃So。〃
〃I know a bit about the Skill；〃 Burrich said quietly。 〃I was king's man to Chivalry。 Not often； and it did not leave me as bad as you are now； save for once or twice。 But I've felt the excitement of it； the…〃 He groped for words； sighed。 〃The pletion of it。 The oneness with the world。 Chivalry once spoke to me about it。 A man can get addicted； he said。 So that he looks for excuses to Skill； and then finally he is absorbed into it。〃 He added after a moment； 〃It is not unlike the rush of b