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y； I sat down in a chair by my hearth to doze until Chade summoned me。
I came out of a light doze to a tapping at my door。 〃Who is it？〃 I called。
〃Rosemary。 The Queen wishes to see you。〃
By the time I had undone the latches and catches； the child was gone。 She was only a girl； but it still unnerved me to have such a message vocalized through a door。 I groomed myself hastily and then hurried down to the Queen's chambers。 I noted in passing the wreckage that had once been the oak door to Shrewd's room。 A bulky guard stood in the gap； an Inlander； not a man I knew。
Queen Kettricken was reclining on a couch near her hearth。 Several knots of her ladies gossiped in different corners of the room； but the Queen herself was alone。 Her eyes were closed。 She looked so utterly worn that I wondered if Rosemary's message had been an error。 But Lady Hopeful ushered me to the Queen's side and fetched me a low stool to perch upon。 She offered me a cup of tea and I accepted。 As soon as Lady Hopeful departed to brew it； Kettricken opened her eyes。 〃What next？〃 she asked in so low a voice that I had to lean closer to hear it。
I looked askance at her。
〃Shrewd sleeps now。 He cannot sleep forever。 Whatever was given him will wear off； and when it does； we are back to where we were。〃
〃The King…in…Waiting ceremony approaches。 Perhaps the Prince will be busied with that。 No doubt there are new clothes to be sewn and tried upon him； and all the other details he glories in。 It may keep him from the King。〃
〃After that？〃
Lady Hopeful was back with my cup of tea。 I took it with murmured thanks； and as she pulled up a chair beside us； Queen Kettricken smiled weakly and asked if she might have one also。 I was almost shamed by how swiftly Lady Hopeful leaped to do her bidding。
〃I do not know；〃 I murmured in reply to her earlier question。
〃I do。 The King would be safe in my Mountains。 He would be honored and protected； and perhaps Jonqui would know of…oh； thank you； Hopeful。〃 Queen Kettricken took the proffered cup and sipped at it as Lady Hopeful settled herself。
I smiled at Kettricken； and chose my words carefully； trusting her to read my meaning。 〃But it is so far to the Mountains； my queen； and the weather so hard this time of year。 By the time a courier got through to seek your mother's remedy； it would be nigh on to spring。 There are other places that might offer the same cure for your troubles。 Bearns or Rippon； perhaps； might offer if we asked。 The worthy Dukes of those provinces can deny you nothing； you know。〃
〃I know；〃 Kettricken smiled wearily。 〃But they have such problems of their own just now； I hesitate to ask anything more of them。 Besides； the root we call livelong grows only in the Mountains。 A determined courier could travel there； I think。〃 She sipped again at her tea。
〃Who to send with such a request； ah； that would be the hardest question；〃 I pointed out。 Surely she could see the difficulties of sending a sick old man off on a journey to the Mountains in winter。 He could not go alone。 〃The man that went would have to be very trustworthy and strong of will。〃
〃Such a man sounds like a woman to me；〃 Kettricken quipped； and Hopeful laughed merrily； more to see the Queen's mood lightened than at the witticism。 Kettricken paused with her cup at her lips。 〃Perhaps I should have to go myself； to see the thing done right；〃 she added； and smiled when my eyes widened。 But the look she gave me was serious。
There followed some light talk； and a recipe of mostly fictitious herbs from Kettricken that I promised to do my best to find for her。 I believed I took her meaning。 When I excused myself and went back to my room； I wondered how I would keep her from acting before Chade could。 It was a pretty puzzle。
I had scarcely refastened all my door catches and bars before I felt a draft up my back。 I turned to find the entry to Chade's realm standing ajar。 I climbed the stairs wearily。 I longed to sleep； but knew that once I lay down； I would be unable to close my eyes。
The smell of food enticed me as I entered Chade's chamber； and I was suddenly aware I was hungry。 Chade was already at the small table he had set out。 〃Sit down and eat；〃 he told me tersely。 〃We must plot together。〃
I was two bites into a meat pie when he asked me softly； 〃How long do you think we might keep King Shrewd here； in these chambers； undetected？〃
I chewed and swallowed。 〃I've never been able to find a way into this chamber；〃 I pointed out quietly。
〃Oh； but they do exist。 And as food and other necessities must go in and out of them； there are some few who are aware of them； without knowing exactly what they know。 My warren connects to rooms in the Keep which are regularly stocked with supplies for me。 But my life was much simpler when food and linens were supplied for Lady Thyme。〃
〃How will you fare after Regal is gone to Tradeford？〃 I asked。
〃Likely not as well as I have。 Some tasks will be done out of habit； if those with the habits remain； no doubt。 But as food bees scarcer some will wonder why they store supplies of it in a disused part of the Keep。 But we were speaking of Shrewd's fort； not mine。〃
〃It depends on how Shrewd disappeared。 If Regal thought he had left the Keep by ordinary means； you might keep him hidden here for some time。 But if Regal knows he is within Buckkeep still； he will stop at nothing。 I suspect his first order would be to put men with hammers to work on the walls of the King's bedchamber。〃
〃Direct； but effective；〃 Chade concurred。
〃Have you found a safe place for him； at Bearns or Rippon？〃
〃As swift as that？ Of course not。 We would have to hide him here； for days or perhaps weeks before a place was made ready。 And then he must be smuggled out of the Keep。 It would mean finding men who can be bribed； and knowing when they are on the gate。 Unfortunately； men that can be bribed to do a thing can be bribed to speak of it later。 Unless they had accidents。〃 He looked at me。
〃Let that not be a concern。 There is another way out of Buckkeep；〃 I told him； thinking of my wolf's way。 〃We have another problem also； and that is Kettricken。 She will act on her own if she does not soon know we have a plan。 Her own thoughts have taken her in the same direction as yours。 Tonight she proposed herself taking Shrewd to the Mountains for safety。〃
〃A pregnant woman and a sick old man in midwinter？ Ridiculous。〃 Chade paused。 〃But。 It would never be expected。 They would never look for them on that road。 And with all the flow of folk that Regal has created going up the Buck River； one more woman and her ailing father would scarcely be marked。〃
〃It's still ridiculous；〃 I protested。 I did not like the sparks of interest I had seen kindle in Chade's eyes。 〃Who could go with them？〃
〃Burrich。 It would save him from drinking himself to death from boredom； and he could manage their animals for them。 And likely much else they would need。 Would he go？〃
〃You know he would；〃 I said unwillingly。 〃But Shrewd would never survive such a trip。〃