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n alongside the people of Neatbay to assist in the repairs to Bayguard's fortifications and in salvaging what was left of Neatbay Town。 I made a few quiet inquiries。 I found that the watchtower signal had been lit as soon as the ships were sighted； but that the Red…Ships had made extinguishing it one of their first goals。 What of their coterie member？ I asked。 Kelvar looked at me in surprise。 Burl had been recalled weeks ago； for some essential duty inland。 He had gone to Tradeford； Kelvar believed。
The day after the battle； reinforcements arrived from South Cove。 They had not seen the signal fire； but the messengers sent out on horse had gotten through to them。 I was present when Kettricken mended Duke Kelvar for his foresight in setting up a relay of horse for such messages； and sent her thanks also to Duke Shemshy of Shoaks for his response。 She suggested they divide the captured Red…Ships； that they need no longer wait for warships to arrive； but could dispatch their own； for mutual defense。 This was a sumptuous gift； and it was received in an awed silence。 When Duke Kelvar recovered himself； he rose to offer a toast to his queen and to the unborn Farseer heir。 So swiftly had the rumor bee general knowledge。 Queen Kettricken colored prettily； but managed her thanks well。
Those brief days of victory were a healing balm to us all。 We had fought； and fought well。 Neatbay would rebuild； and the Outislanders had no hold in Bayguard。 For a brief time it seemed possible that we could win free of them entirely。
Before we had left Neatbay； the songs were already being sung； about a Queen with her skirts bundled up standing bold against the Red…Ships； and of the child in her womb who was a warrior before birth。 That the Queen would risk not only herself but the heir to the throne for Rippon Duchy was not lost upon any of them。 First Duke Brawndy of Bearns； and now Kelvar of Rippon； I thought to myself。 Kettricken was doing well at winning the Duchies' loyalty。
I had my moments at Neatbay； both warming and chilling。 For Lady Grace； on seeing me in the Great Hall； recognized me and came to speak to me。 〃So；〃 she had said after greeting me quietly； 〃my kitchen dog boy has the blood of kings in him。 No wonder you advised me so well； those years ago。〃 She had grown well into being a lady and a Duchess。 Her feist dog still went everywhere with her； but now he ran about at her heels； and this change pleased me almost as much as her easy carriage of her title and her obvious affection for her duke。
〃We have both changed much； Lady Grace；〃 I replied； and she accepted the pliment I intended。 The last time I had seen her had been when I had traveled here with Verity。 She had not then been so fortable being a Duchess。 I had met her in the kitchens； when her dog had been choking on a bone。 I had persuaded her then that her duke's coin was better spent on watchtowers than jewelry for her。 Back then； she had been very new to being a Duchess。 Now she seemed never to have been anything else。
〃Not a dog boy anymore？〃 she asked with a wry smile。
〃Dog boy？ Man wolf！〃 observed someone。 I turned to see who had spoken； but the hall was crowded and no face seemed turned to watch us。 I shrugged as if the remark were of no consequence； and Lady Grace appeared not to have even heard it。 She presented me with a token of her favor before I left。 It still makes me smile to think on it： a tiny pin in the shape of a fish's bones。 〃I had this made； to remind me 。。。 I should like you to have it now。〃 She herself seldom wore jewelry anymore； she told me。 She handed it to me on a balcony； on a dark evening when the lights of Duke Kelvar's watchtowers glittered like diamonds against the black sky。
CHAPTER TWENTY…FIVE
Buckkeep
TRADEFORD CASTLE ON the Vin River was one of the traditional residences of the ruling family of Farrow。 This was the place where Queen Desire had spent her childhood； and here she returned with her son Regal during the summers of his childhood。 The town of Tradeford is a lively place； a center for merce in the heart of orchard…and…grain country。 The Vin River is a sleepily navigable water； making travel easy and pleasant。 Queen Desire had always insisted it was superior to Buckkeep in every regard and would have served much better as a seat for the royal family。
The trip back to Buckkeep was eventful only in small ways。 Kettricken was worn and tired by the time we were to return。 Although she tried not to show it； it was evident in the circles under her eyes and the set of her mouth。 Duke Kelvar furnished her with a litter for the trip home； but a brief ride in it showed her that its swaying only made her more nauseated。 She returned it with thanks and rode home astride her mare。
Our second night on the road home； Foxglove came to our fire and told Burrich she thought she had seen a wolf； several times that day。 Burrich shrugged indifferently and assured her it was probably just curious； and was no threat to us。 After she left； Burrich turned to me and said； 〃That's going to happen once too often。〃
〃What？〃
〃A wolf； seen in your vicinity。 Fitz； have a care。 There were rumors； back when you killed those Forged ones。 There were tracks all about； and the marks on those men were never made by any blade。 Someone told me they saw a wolf prowling Neatbay the night of the battle。 I even heard a wild tale about a wolf who changed into a man when the battle was over。 There were tracks in the mud outside the Queen's very tent from that night； as well for you that everyone was so tired and in so much of a hurry to dispose of the dead。 There were a few there that did not die at a man's hand。〃
A few？ Fa！
Burrich's face contorted in anger。 〃That will cease。 Now。〃
You are strong； Heart of the Pack； but
The thought was broken and I heard a sudden yelp of surprise from off in the brush。 Several of the horses startled and looked in that direction。 I myself was staring at Burrich。 He had repelled at Nighteyes； fiercely and from a distance。
Luckily for you； from a distance； for the strength of that 。。。 I began to warn Nighteyes。
Burrich's gaze swung to me。 〃I said； that will cease！ Now！〃 He looked aside from me in disgust。 〃I'd rather you rode with your hand in your pants than that you did that constantly in my presence。 It offends me。〃
I could think of nothing to say。 Years of living together had taught me that he would not be argued out of his feelings about the Wit。 He knew I was bonded to Nighteyes。 That he would still tolerate my presence was as far as he could unbend。 I need not constantly remind him that the wolf and I shared minds。 I bowed my head in assent。 That night； for the first time in a long time； my dreams were my own。
I dreamed of Molly。 She wore red skirts again； and crouched on the beach； cutting sheel from the stones with her belt knife and eating them rave。 She looked up at me and smiled。 I came closer。 She leaped up and ran barefoot down the beach in front of me。 I chased her； but she was as fleet as she had ever been。 Her hair blew back off h