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ll of Buckkeep。 I weled her slighting of me； at the same time it rankled； as I did not feel I deserved it。 When the summons came at last； and Brawndy hastened to the King； I hoped that the awkwardness would be over。
I am sure I was not the only one who noticed that Queen Kettricken was not invited to the council。 Neither was I present； being also uninvited。 But it is not often that a Queen is relegated to the same social standing as a bastard nephew。 Kettricken kept her equanimity； and went on showing Brawndy's daughters and Shells a Mountain technique for weaving beads into embroidery work。 I hovered near the table； but doubted that their minds were on their craft any more than mine was。
We had not long to wait。 In less than an hour； Duke Brawndy reappeared in the Great Hall with all the bluster and chill of a storm wind。 To Faith； he said； 〃Pack our things。〃 To Celerity： 〃Tell our guard to be ready to depart within the hour。〃 He gave Queen Kettricken a very stiff bow。 〃My queen； I excuse myself to depart。 As House Farseer will offer no aid； Bearns must now tend to its own。〃
〃Indeed。 I see your need for haste；〃 Kettricken replied gravely。 〃But I shall require that you attend me for but one more meal。 It is not good to depart on a journey on an empty stomach。 Tell me。 Do you enjoy gardens？〃 Her question was addressed to his daughters as much as to Bearns。 They looked to their father。 After a moment he gave a curt nod。
Both the daughters admitted cautiously to Kettricken that they enjoyed gardens。 But their puzzlement was plain。 A garden？ In winter； during a howling storm？ I shared their misgivings； especially as at that moment Kettricken gestured to me。
〃FitzChivalry。 Attend to my wish。 Rosemary； go with Lord FitzChivalry to the kitchens。 Prepare food as he directs you and bring it to the Queen's Garden。 I shall escort our guests there。〃
I widened my eyes at Kettricken desperately。 No。 Not there。 The climb to the tower alone was taxing to many； let alone taking a cup of tea on a storm…lashed tower top。 I could not fathom what she thought she was about。 The smile she returned my anxious look was as open and serene as any I had seen。 Taking Duke Brawndy's arm； she steered him out of the Great Hall； while the daughters trailed behind with the Queen's ladies。 I turned to Rosemary and changed her orders。
〃Go find warm wraps for them； and catch up with them。 I'll take care of the food。〃
The child scampered merrily off while I hastened to the kitchen。 I tersely informed Sara of our sudden need； and she quickly created a platter of warmed pastries and hot mulled wine for me。 〃Take these yourself； and I'll send more with a boy in a bit。〃 I smiled to myself as I took the tray and hurried off toward the Queen's Gardens。 The Queen herself might refer to me as Lord FitzChivalry； but Sara the cook would never think twice of ordering me off with a tray of food。 It was oddly forting。
I took the stairs as quickly as I could； then paused to breathe at the top landing。 I braced myself for the rain and wind； and pushed the door open。 The tower top was as miserable as I had expected it to be。 The Queen's ladies and Brawndy's daughters and Shells were huddled in a bit of shelter offered by two adjoining walls and a stretch of canvas that had been set up as a shady spot last summer。 It broke most of the wind； and diverted a great deal of the freezing rain as well。 There was a small table within its pathetic shelter and here I set the tray of warm food。 Rosemary； snugly bundled； smiled smugly as she snitched a pastry from the edge of the tray。 Lady Modesty presided over serving the food。
As quickly as I could； I secured mugs of warmed wine for the Queen and Duke Brawndy and； on pretext of serving them； joined them。 They were at the very edge of the parapet； looking out over the crenated wall at the open sea below。 The wind had lashed it to white froth； and was flinging seagulls about with a fine disregard for the birds' attempts to fly。 As I approached I could see they were speaking softly； but the roar of the wind frustrated my attempt to eavesdrop。 I wished I had thought to get a cloak for myself。 I was soaked through almost instantly and the wind blew off what heat my body generated by shivering。 I tried to smile past my chattering teeth as I presented them with the wine。
〃Lord FitzChivalry is known to you？〃 she asked Brawndy as they took the wine from me。
〃Indeed； I have had the pleasure of having him at my own table；〃 Brawndy assured her。 Rain dripped off his bushy eyebrows while the wind had set his warrior's tail to flapping。
〃You would not mind； then； if I asked him to join us in our conversation？〃 Despite the rain that soaked her； the Queen spoke calmly； as if we basked in spring sunshine。
I wondered if Kettricken knew that Brawndy would see her request as a veiled mand。
〃I would wele his counsels； if you consider he has wisdom to offer； my queen；〃 Brawndy acquiesced。
〃I had hoped you would。 FitzChivalry。 Fetch yourself some wine； and rejoin us here； please。〃
〃As my queen wishes。〃 I bowed low and hurried off to obey。 My contact with Verity had grown more tenuous with each passing day that he journeyed farther away； but at that moment I could sense his nudging； eager curiosity。 I hastened back to my queen's side。
〃There is no undoing what has been done；〃 the Queen was saying as I returned to them。 〃I grieve that we were not able to protect our folk。 Yet if I cannot undo what the Raiders from the sea have done already； at least； perhaps； I can help to shelter them from the storms to e。 This； I bid you take them； from their queen's hand and heart。〃
I noticed in passing that she made no mention of King Shrewd's evident refusal to act。 I watched her。 She moved leisurely and purposefully at once。 The loose white sleeve that she drew back from her arm was already dripping with cold rain。 She ignored it as she bared her pale arm； to reveal a snaking of gold wire up her arm； with the dark opals of her Mountains caught here and there in its web。 I had seen the dark flash of Mountain opals before； but never ones of this size。 Yet she held out her arm for me to unfasten the catch； and with no hesitation at all； she unwound the treasure from her arm。 From her other sleeve； she drew a small velvet bag。 I held its mouth open as she slid the bracelets into it。 She smiled warmly at Duke Brawndy as she pressed it into his hand。 〃From your king…in…waiting Verity and me；〃 she said quietly。 I barely resisted Verity's impulse in me to fling himself on his knees at the feet of this woman and declare her far too royal for his insignificant love。 Brawndy was left stuttering his amazed thanks and vowing to her that not a penny of its worth would go to waste。 Stout houses would rise once more in Ferry； and the folk there would bless the Queen for the warmth of them。
I suddenly saw the reason for the Queen's Garden as a site。 This was a Queen's gift； not contingent on anything Shrewd or Regal might have to say。 Kettricken's choice of place； and her manner of presenting it to Brawndy； made that clear to him。 She did