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ch in front of me。 I chased her； but she was as fleet as she had ever been。 Her hair blew back off her shoulders； and she only laughed when I called out to her to wait； wait。 I awoke feeling strangely glad that she had outrun me； and with the dream scent of lavender still in my mind。
We expected to be well greeted at Buckkeep。 The ships； given the kinder weather； should have made land before us； to give tidings of our success。 So we were not surprised to see a contingent of Regal's guard ing forth to meet us。 What did seem strange was that after they sighted us； they continued to walk their horses。 Not a man yelled； or waved a greeting。 Instead they came toward us silent and sober as ghosts。 I think Burrich and I saw at the same time the baton the lead man carried； the small polished stick that betokened serious tidings。
He turned to me as we watched them approach。 Dread was written large on his face。 〃King Shrewd has died？〃 he suggested softly。
I felt no surprise； only a gaping loss in me。 A frightened boy inside me gasped that now no one and nothing could stand between me and Regal。 In another part； I wondered what it would have been like to call him 〃Grandfather〃 instead of 〃my king。〃 But those selfish parts were small pared with what it meant to this King's Man。 Shrewd had shaped me； made me what I was； for good or ill。 He had picked up my life one day； a boy playing under a table in the Great Hall； and set his stamp upon it。 His decision that I must read and write； must be able to wield a sword or disperse a poison。 It seemed to me that with his passing； I must take responsibility for my own acts now。 It was a strangely frightening thought。
All had bee aware of the lead man's burden。 We halted on the road。 Like a curtain parting； Kettricken's guard opened to allow him to approach her。 A terrible silence held as he handed her the baton； and then the small scroll。 The red sealing wax flaked away from her nail。 I watched it fall to the muddy road。 Slowly she opened the scroll and read it。 Something went out of her in that reading。 Her hand fell to her side。 She let the scroll follow the wax to the mud； a thing done with； a thing she never wished to peruse again。 She did not faint； nor cry out。 Her eyes looked afar； and she set her hand gently atop her belly。 And in that motion； I knew it was not Shrewd who was dead； but Verity。
I reached for him。 Somewhere； surely somewhere； coiled small inside me； a spark of a link； the tiniest thread of a connection 。。。 no。 I did not even know when it had vanished。 I recalled that whenever I fought； I was likely to break my link with him。 It did not help。 I recalled now what had seemed just an oddity on the night of the battle。 I had thought I had heard Verity's voice； crying out； issuing orders that made no sense。 I could not recall one individual word of what he might have shouted。 But now it seemed to me that they had been battle orders； orders to scatter； to seek cover perhaps； or 。。。 but I could not recall anything with certainty。 I looked over at Burrich； to find the question in his eyes。 I had to shrug。 〃I don't know；〃 I said quietly。 His brow furrowed as he considered this。
Queen…in…Waiting Kettricken sat very still on her horse。 No one moved to touch her； no one spoke a word。 I glanced at Burrich； met his eyes。 I saw fatalistic resignation there。 This was the second time he had seen a King…in…Waiting fall before ascending the throne。 After a long silence； Kettricken turned in her saddle。 She surveyed her guard； and the mounted soldiers who followed her。 〃Prince Regal has had tidings that King…in…Waiting Verity is dead。〃 She did not raise her voice； but her clear words carried。 Merriment faded； and the triumph went out of many an eye。 She gave it a few moments to settle in。 Then she nudged her horse to a walk； and we followed her back to Buckkeep。
We approached the gate unchallenged。 The soldiers on watch looked up at us as we passed。 One made a sketchy salute to the Queen。 She did not notice it。 Burrich's scowl deepened； but he said nothing。
Within the castle courtyard； it seemed an ordinary day。 Stable help came to take the horses while other servants and folk moved about on the ordinary business of the Keep。 Somehow the very familiarity of it rattled against my nerves like stones。 Verity was dead。 It did not seem right that life should go on in such a workaday fashion。
Burrich had helped Kettricken to dismount into a cluster of her ladies。 A part of me noted the look on Foxglove's face as Kettricken was hustled away by court ladies who were exclaiming over how worn she looked； was she well； amid exclamations of sympathy； regret； and sorrow。 A twinge of jealousy passed over the face of the captain of the Queen's guard。 Foxglove was but a soldier； sworn to protect her queen。 She could not； at this time； follow her into the Keep； no matter how much she cared about her queen。 Kettricken was in the care of her court ladies now。 But I knew Burrich would not stand guard alone before Kettricken's door tonight。
The solicitous murmuring of her ladies on Kettricken's behalf was enough to let me know that the rumor of her pregnancy had been spread。 I wonder if it had yet been shared with Regal。 I was well aware that some gossip circulated almost entirely through the women before being mon knowledge。 I suddenly wanted very badly to know if Regal knew that Kettricken carried the heir to the throne。 I handed Sooty's reins to Hands； thanked him； and promised to tell him all later。 But as I headed for the Keep Burrich's hand fell on my shoulder。
〃A word with you。 Now。〃
Sometimes he treated me almost as if I were a Prince； sometimes as less than a stable boy。 These words now were no request。 Hands gave me Sooty's reins back with a wry smile and vanished to see to other animals。 I followed Burrich as he led Ruddy into the stables。 He had no problem finding an empty stall for Ruddy near Sooty's regular stall。 There were only too many stalls available。 We both began matter…of…factly to work on the horses。 The old familiarity of that routine； seeing to a horse while Burrich worked nearby； was forting。 Our end of the stable was relatively quiet； but he waited until no one was about before asking； 〃Is it true？〃
〃I don't know； exactly。 My link with him is gone。 It had been faint before we went to Neatbay； and I always have a problem maintaining my link to Verity when I get into a fight。 He says I put my guard up so strongly against those around me that I wall him out。〃
〃I don't understand any of that； but I knew of that problem。 Are you sure that is when you lost him？〃
So I told him； about a vague sense of Verity during the battle； and the possibility that he had been under attack at the same time。 Burrich nodded impatiently。
〃But can't you Skill out to him； now that things are calm？ Renew the link？〃
I took an instant； pushed down my own seething frustration。 〃No。 I can't。 I don't have the Skill that way。〃
Burrich frowned。 〃Look。 We know that messages have gone awry lately。 How do we know that this one hasn't been invented？〃
〃We don't； I suppose。 Though it i