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〃Obviously。 I shall have her select a better one for you； and do a bit of fancywork on the hilt and scabbard。 Would that do it？〃
〃I think so；〃 I said awkwardly。
〃Well。 Let's back to bed； shall we？ And I shall be able to sleep now； won't I？〃 There was no mistaking the amusement in his voice now。 My cheeks burned anew。
〃Sir。 I have to ask。。。。〃 I fumbled the hard words out。 〃Do you know who I was dreaming about？〃
He shook his head slowly。 〃Do not fear you have promised her honor。 I know only that she wears blue skirts； but you see them as red。 And that you love her with an ardency that is appropriate to youth。 Do not struggle to stop loving her。 Only to stop Skilling it about at night。 I am not the only one open to such Skilling； though I believe I am the only one who would recognize your signature on the dream so plain。 Still； be cautious。 Galen's coterie is not without Skill； even if they use it clumsily and with little strength。 A man can be undone when his enemies learn what is dearest to him from his Skill dreams。 Keep your guard up。〃 He gave an inadvertent chuckle。 〃And hope your Lady Red…Skirts has no Skill in her blood； for if she does at all； she must have heard you all these many nights。〃
And having put that unsettling thought into my head； he dismissed me back to my chambers and bed。 I did not sleep again that night。
CHAPTER EIGHT
The Queen Awakes
Oh； some folk ride to the wild…boar hunt
Or for elk they nock their arrows
But my love rode with the Vixen Queen
To lay to rest our sorrows。
She did not dream of fame that day
Nor fear what pain might find her。
She rode to heal her people's hearts
And my love rode behind her。
…〃The Vixen Queen's Hunt〃
The whole Keep was astir early the next day。 There was a fevered； almost festival air in the courtyard as Verity's personal guard and every warrior who had no scheduled duties that day massed for a hunt。 Tracking hounds bayed restively； while the pull…down dogs with their massive jaws and barrel chests huffed excitedly and tested their restraints。 Bets were already being set on who would hunt the most successfully。 Horses pawed the earth； bowstrings were checked； while pages ran helter…skelter everywhere。 Inside the kitchen； half the cooking staff was busy putting up packages of food for the hunters to take with them。 Soldiers young and old； male and female； strutted and laughed aloud； bragging of past confrontations； paring weapons； building spirit for the hunt。 I had seen this a hundred times； before a winter hunt for elk； or bear。 But now there was an edge to it； a rank smell of bloodlust on the air。 I heard snatches of conversations； words that made me queasy：
〃。。。 no mercy for that dung 。。。〃； 〃。。。 cowards and traitors； to dare to attack the Queen 。。。〃； 〃。。。 shall pay dearly。 They don't deserve a swift death 。。。。〃 I ducked hastily back into the kitchen； threaded my way through an area busy as a stirred anthill。 Here； too； I heard the same sorts of sentiments voiced； the same craving for revenge。
I found Verity in his map room。 I could tell he had washed and dressed himself afresh this day； but he wore last night as plainly as a dirty robe。 He was attired for a day inside； among his papers。 I tapped lightly at the door； although it stood ajar。 He sat in a chair before the fire； his back to me。 He nodded； but did not look up at me as I entered。 For all his stillness； there was a charged air to the room； the gathering of a storm。 A tray of breakfast rested on a table beside his chair； untouched。 I came and stood quietly beside him； almost certain I had been Skilled here。 As the silence grew longer I wondered if Verity himself knew why。 At length I decided to speak。
〃My prince。 You do not ride with your guard today？〃 I ventured。
It was as if I had opened a floodgate。 He turned to look at me； the lines in his face had been graven deeper overnight。 He looked haggard； sickened。 〃I do not。 I dare not。 How could I countenance such a thing； this hunting down of our own folk and kin！ And yet what is my alternative？ To hide and mope within the Keep walls while others go out to avenge this insult to my queen…in…waiting！ I dare not forbid my men to uphold their honor。 So I must behave as if I am unaware of what goes on in the courtyard。 As if I am a simpleton； or a laggard； or a coward。 There will be a ballad written about this day； I doubt it not。 What shall it be called？ ‘Verity's Massacre of the Witless'？ Or ‘Queen Kettricken's Sacrifice of the Forged'？〃 His voice rose on every word； and before he was half…done； I had stepped to the door and shut it firmly。 I looked about the room as he ranted； wondering who else besides myself was hearing these words。
〃Did you sleep at all； my prince？〃 I asked when he had run down。
He smiled with bleak amusement。 〃Well you know what put an end to my first attempt at rest。 My second was less 。。。 engaging。 My lady came to my chamber。〃
I felt my ears begin to warm。 Whatever he was about to tell me； I did not want to hear it。 I had no wish to know what had passed between them last night。 Quarrel or amendment； I wanted to know nothing of it。 Verity was merciless。
〃Not weeping； as you might think she would。 Not for fort。 Not to be held against night fears； or reassured of my regard。 But sword stiff as a rebuked sergeant； to stand at the foot of the bed and beg my pardon for her transgressions。 Whiter than chalk and hard as oak 。。。〃 His voice trailed off； as if he realized he betrayed too much of himself。 〃She foresaw this hunting mob； not I。 She came to me in the middle of the night； asking what must we do。 I had no answer for her； any more than I do now…〃
〃At least she foresaw this；〃 I ventured； hoping to bring some respite from his anger for Kettricken。
〃And I did not；〃 he said heavily。 〃She did。 Chivalry would have。 Oh； Chivalry would have known it would happen from the moment she went missing； and would have had all sorts of contingency plans。 But I did not。 I thought only to bring her swiftly home； and hope not too many heard of it。 As if such a thing could be！ And so today I think to myself that if ever the crown does e to rest on my brow； it will be in a most unworthy place。〃
This was a Prince Verity I had never seen before； a man with his confidence in tatters。 I finally saw how poor a match Kettricken was for him。 It was not her fault。 She was strong； and raised to rule。 Verity often said himself he had been raised as a second son。 The right sort of woman would have steadied him like a sea anchor； helped him rise to assume his kingship。 A woman who had e weeping to his bed； to be cuddled and reassured； would have let him arise certain he was a man and fit to be a King。 Kettricken's discipline and restraint made him doubt his own strength。 My prince was human； I suddenly perceived。 It was not reassuring。
〃You should at least e out and speak to them；〃 I ventured。
〃And say what？ ‘Good hunting'？ No。 But you go； boy。 Go and watch and bring me word of what is happening。 Go now。 And shut my door。 I have no desire to see anyone else until you return with word of what goes on。〃
I turned and did as he bid me。 As I left the Great Hall and went down the passage to the courtyard； I encountered Regal。 He was seldom up and about this early； and he looked as if his arising this morning had been no choice of his。 His clothing and hair were well arranged； but all the tiny primping touches were missing： no earring； no carefully folded and pinned silk at his throat； and the only jewelry was his signet ring。 His hair was bed； but not scented and curled。 And his eyes were networked in red。 Fury rode him。 As I sought to pass him he seized me and jerked me to face him。 That； at least； was his intention。 I did not resist； but merely laxed my muscles。 And found； to my delight and amazement； that he could not move me。 He turned to face me； eyes blazing； and found out that he must look up； ever so slightly； to glare at me eye to eye。 I had grown and put on weight。 I had known that； but had never considered this delightful side effect。 I stopped the