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houting and blood； metal and fire。 Waves of emotions pounded against me as all around me soldiers and Raiders fought to the death。 Early on； someone set fire to the tent。 Its towering blaze lit the battle scene like a stage。 I remember seeing Kettricken； robe looped up and knotted； fighting bare…legged and barefoot on the frozen ground。 She held her ridiculously long Mountain sword in a two handed grip。 Her grace made a deadly dance of the battle that would have distracted me at any other time。
Outislanders continued to appear。 At one point I was sure I heard Verity shouting mands； but could not make sense of any of them。 Nighteyes appeared from time to time； fighting always at the edge of the light； a low sudden weight of fur and teeth； hamstringing with a slash； adding his weight to change a Raider's charge to a stumble。 Burrich and Foxglove fought back…to…back at one point when things were going poorly for us。 I was part of the circle that protected the Queen。 At least； I thought I was； until I realized she was actually fighting beside me。
At some time I dropped my sword to snatch up a fallen Raider's ax。 I picked my blade up the next day from the frozen ground； crusted with mud and blood。 But at the moment I did not even hesitate to discard Verity's gift for a more savagely effective weapon。 While we were fighting there was only the now to consider。 When at last the tide of the battle turned； I did not consider the wisdom of it； but pursued and hunted scattered enemy through the night…black fire…stinking wreckage of Neatbay village。
Here； indeed； Nighteyes and I hunted very well together。 I stood toe to toe with my final kill； ax against ax； while Nighteyes snarled and savaged his way past a smaller man's sword。 He finished his but seconds before I dropped my man。
That final slaughtering held for me a wild and savage joy。 I did not know where Nighteyes left off and I began； only that we had won and we both still lived。 Afterward we went to find water together。 We drank deep from a munal well's bucket； and I laved the blood from my hands and face。 Then we sank down and put our backs to the brick well to watch the sun rise beyond the thick ground mist。 Nighteyes leaned warm against me； and we did not even think。
I suppose I dozed a bit； for I was jostled alert as he quickly left me。 I looked up to see what had startled him； only to discover a frightened Neatbay girl staring at me。 The early sun struck glints off her red hair。 A bucket was in her hand。 I stood and grinned； lifting my ax in greeting； but she sheered off like a frightened rabbit among the ruined buildings。 I stretched； then made my way back through the trailing fog to where the Queen's tent had been。 As I walked； images of last night's wolf hunting came back to me。 The memories were too sharp； too red and black； and I pushed them down deep in my mind。 Was this what Burrich had meant by his warning？
Even by the light of day； it was still difficult to understand all that had happened。 The earth around the blackened remains of the Queen's shelter was trampled into mud。 Here the fighting had been heaviest。 Here was where most of the enemy had fallen。 Some bodies had been dragged aside and tumbled into a heap。 Others still lay where they had fallen。 I avoided looking at them。 It is one thing to kill in fear and anger。 It is another thing to consider one's handiwork by the chill gray light of morning。
That the Outislanders had tried to break through our siege was understandable。 They had； perhaps； had a chance of making it as far as their ships and reclaiming one or two of them。 That the attack seemed to focus on the Queen's tent was least prehensible。 Once clear of the earthworks； why had not they seized their chance for survival and headed for the beach？
〃Perhaps；〃 observed Burrich； gritting his teeth as I probed the angry swelling on his leg； 〃they did not hope to escape at all。 It is their Outislander way； to decide to die； and then to attempt to do as much damage before doing so。 So they attacked here； hoping to kill our queen。〃
I had discovered Burrich； limping about the battleground。 He did not say he had been looking for my body。 His relief at seeing me was evidence enough of that。
〃How did they know it was the Queen in that tent？〃 I pondered。 〃We flew no banners； we issued no challenges。 How did they know she was here？ There。 Is that any better？〃 I checked the bandage for snugness。
〃It's dry and it's clean and the wrapping seems to help the pain。 I don't suppose we can do much more than that。 I suspect that whenever I work that leg hard； I'm going to have the swelling and heat in it。〃 He spoke as dispassionately as if he discussed a horse's bad leg。 〃At least it stayed closed。 They did seem to make straight for the Queen's tent； didn't they？〃
〃Like bees to honey；〃 I observed tiredly。 〃The Queen is in Bayguard？〃
〃Of course。 Everyone is。 You should have heard the cheer when they opened the gates to us。 Queen Kettricken walked in； her skirts still bundled to one side； her drawn blade still dripping。 Duke Kelvar went down on his knees to kiss her hand。 But Lady Grace looked at her； and said； ‘Oh； my dear； I shall have a bath drawn for you at once。〃
〃Now there is the stuff they make songs of；〃 I said； and we laughed。 〃But not all are up at the Keep。 I saw a girl just now； ing for water； down in the ruins。〃
〃Well； up at the Keep they are rejoicing。 There will be some who will have small heart for that。 Foxglove was wrong。 The folk of Neatbay did not yield easily before the Red…Ships。 Many； many died before the Neatbay folk retreated to the Keep。〃
〃Does anything strike you as odd about that？〃
〃That folk should defend themselves？ No。 It is…〃
〃Does not it seem to you that there were too many Outislanders here？ More than five ships' worth？〃
Burrich halted。 He looked back to the scattered bodies。 〃Perhaps those other ships had left them here； and then gone out on patrol 。。。。〃
〃That is not their way。 I suspect a larger ship； transporting a sizable force of men。〃
〃Where？〃
〃Gone now。 I think I glimpsed it； going into that fog bank。〃
We fell silent。 Burrich showed me to where he had tethered Ruddy and Sooty and we rode together up to Bayguard。 The great doors of the Keep stood wide open； and a bination of Buckkeep soldiers and Bayguard folk mingled there。 We were greeted with a shout of wele； and offered brimming cups of mead before we were even dismounted。 Boys begged to take our horses for us； and to my surprise； Burrich let them。 Within the hall was genuine rejoicing that would have put any of Regal's revels to shame。 All of Bayguard had been thrown open for us。 Ewers and basins of warm scented water had been set out in the Great Hall for us to refresh ourselves； and tables were heavy with food； none of it hard bread or salt fish。
We remained three days at Neatbay。 During this time our dead were buried； and the bodies of the Outislanders burned。 Buckkeep soldiers and Queen's guard fell in alongside the people of Neatbay to assist in the repairs to Bayguard's fortifications and in salva