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o spectacularly at it。 He snubbed me at every opportunity。 I bit my tongue and did my best not to encounter him。 The close quarters of the ship made that difficult。 It was not a fortable situation。
After great debate； with himself and me； Verity placed Carrod aboard the Constance； Burl at the Neatbay Tower； and sent Will far north； to the Red Tower up in Bearns that manded such a wide view of the sea as well as the surrounding countryside。 Once he had arranged their tokens on his maps； it made a reality of the pathetic thinness of our defenses。 〃It reminds me of the old folktale of the beggar who had but a hat to cover his nakedness；〃 I told Verity。 He smiled without humor。
〃Would that I could move my ships as swiftly as he did his hat；〃 he wished grimly。
Two of the ships Verity set to duty as roving patrol vessels。 Two he kept in reserve； one docked at Buckkeep； and that was the Rurisk； while the Stag anchored in South Cove。 It was a pitifully small fleet to protect the Six Duchies' straggling coastline。 A second set of ships was being constructed； but it was not expected they would be finished soon。 The best of the seasoned wood had been used in the first four vessels； and his shipwrights cautioned him he would be wiser。 to wait than to attempt to use green wood。 It chafed him； but he listened to them。
Early spring saw us practicing drills。 The coterie members； Verity privately told me； functioned almost as well as carrier pigeons at relaying simple messages。 His situation with me was a more frustrating one。 For his own reasons； he had chosen not to disclose to anyone his training of me in the Skill。 I believe he was enjoying the advantages of being able to go with me and observe and listen undetected to the everyday life of Buckkeep Town。 I understood that the Rurisk's master had been given word that I was to be heeded if I requested a sudden change in course or announced that we were required at a certain location immediately。 I fear he saw this mostly as Verity's indulgence of his bastard nephew； but in this he followed his orders。
Then； one early spring morning； we reported to our ship for yet another practice。 We functioned well as a crew now in maneuvering our ship。 This exercise was to have us rendezvous with the Constance at an undisclosed location。 It was a Skill exercise that so far we had not succeeded at。 We were resigned to a frustrating day； save for Justin； who was stonily intent on succeeding。 Arms crossed on his chest； dressed all in dark blue （I believe he thought the blue robe made him appear more Skilled）； he stood on the dock and stared out into the thick fog that blanketed the ocean。 I was forced to pass him as I put a keg of water aboard。 。
〃To you； Bastard； it's an opaque blanket。 But to me； all is as clear as a mirror。〃
〃How unfortunate for you；〃 I said kindly； ignoring his use of the word 〃bastard。〃 I had all but forgotten how much sting could be put into a word。 〃I'd rather see the fog than your face of a morning。〃 Petty； but satisfying。 I had the additional satisfaction of watching his robe bind about his legs as he boarded。 I was sensibly dressed； in snug leggings； an undershirt of soft cotton； and a leather jerkin over that。 I had considered some sort of mail； but Burrich had shook his head over it。 〃Better to die cleanly from a weapon's wound than fall overboard and drown；〃 he'd advised me。
Verity had quirked a smile at that。 〃Let's not burden him with too much overconfidence；〃 he suggested wryly； and even Burrich had smiled。 After a moment。
So I had abandoned any thought of mail or armor。 At any rate； today would be a rowing day； and what I wore was fortable for that。 No shoulder seams to strain against； no sleeves to catch on my forearms。 I was inordinately proud of the chest and shoulders I was developing。 Even Molly had expressed an astonished approval。 I settled into my seat and rolled my shoulders； smiling as I thought of her。 I'd had far too little time with her lately。 Well； only time would cure that。 Summer brought the Raiders。 As the long fair days came on I'd have even less time with her。 Autumn could not e too soon for me。
We settled in； a full plement of rowers and warriors。 At some moment； as ropes were cast off and the steersman took his post and the oars began their steady beat； we became one animal。 It was a phenomenon I had noted before。 Perhaps I was more sensitized to it； nerves abraded clean by my Skill sharing with Verity。 Perhaps it was that all the men and women onboard shared a single purpose； and that for most of them it was vengeance。 Whatever it was； it lent a unity to us that I had never sensed before in a group of folk。 Perhaps； I thought； this was a shadow of what it was to belong to a coterie。 I felt a pang of regret； of opportunities lost。
You are my coterie。 Verity； like a whisper behind me。 And somewhere； from the distant hills； something less than a sigh。 Are we not pack？
I do have you； I thought back to them。 Then I settled in and paid attention to what I was doing。 Oars and backs dipped and rose in unison and the Rurisk went nosing boldly out into the fog。 Our sail hung limp。 In a moment we were a world unto ourselves。 Sounds of water； of the rhythmic unity of our breathing as we rowed。 A few of the fighters spoke softly among themselves； their words and thoughts muffled by the mist。 Up in the bow； Justin stood beside the master； staring out into the fog。 His brow was lined； his eyes distant； and I knew he reached for Carrod aboard the Constance。 Almost idly； I reached out； too； to see if I could sense what he Skilled。
Stop that！ warned Verity； and I drew back feeling as if he slapped my hand。 I'm not ready for anyone to have suspicions about you yet。
There was a lot behind that warning； more than I could devote myself to just now。 As if what I had begun to do were actually a very dangerous action。 I wondered what he feared； but I concentrated on the steady rhythm of my rowing； and let my eyes stare into the infinite gray。 Most of that morning passed in a mist。 Several times Justin asked the master to have the steersman change his course。 It made little difference that I could see； save in the texture of the rowing。 All of the inside of a fog bank looks much the same。 The steady physical effort； the lack of anything to focus on put me into a waking dream about nothing。
The cries of the young watchman broke my trance。 〃 'Ware treachery！〃 he cried out； his shrill voice deepening as blood engulfed it。 〃We are attacked！〃
I leaped up from my rowing bench； staring wildly all about。 Fog。 Only my oar dangling and skipping on the surface of the water； while my fellow oarsmen glared at me for breaking the rhythm。 〃You； Fitz！ What ails you？〃 the master demanded。 Justin stood at his side； clear…browed and self…righteous。
〃I 。。。 my back cramped。 Sorry。〃 I stooped to my oar again。
〃Kelpy； relieve him。 Stretch and move about a bit； boy； then take your oar back；〃 the mate directed in his thick accent。
〃Aye； sir。〃 I acknowledged his order and stood to let Kelpy have my bench and oar。 It did feel good to pause。 My shoulders cracked when I rolled them。 But I was ashamed； too； to take a rest when the others did not。 I rubbed my eyes and gave my head a rattle； wondering what nightmare had seized me so firmly。 What watchman？ Where？
Antler Island。 They came in under the fog's cover。 No town there； but the signal tower。 I think they intend to slaughter the watchers； and then do their best to destroy the towers。 A brilliant strategy。 Antler Island is one of our first lines of defense。 The outer tower watches the sea； the inner tower passes on the signals to both Buckkeep and Neatbay。 Verity's thoughts； almost calm with the same steadiness that seizes one as a weapon is brought to the ready。 Then； after a moment： The single…minded slug is so intent on reaching Carrod； he won't let me through。 Fitz。 Go to the master。 Tell him Antler Island。 If you get into the channel； the current will practically fly you to the cove where the tower is。 The Raiders are there already； but they'll have to beat against the current to get out again。 Go no