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fortunate remark was conveyed somehow to Mistress Hasty； who soundly scolded all the chamberlains and serving folk who had not somehow managed to spread the thin cheer left at Buckkeep to include the lesser guest rooms。 There was a plaint among the lesser servants that an order had e down to keep expenses for those guests to a minimum； but no one could be found who would admit to giving such an order； or even to passing it down。 And so the day had gone； so that I had been altogether relieved to isolate myself in Verity's tower。
But I dared not miss the King…in…Waiting ceremony； for too much would have been inferred from that。 And so I stood； an unfortable victim of a shirt with overfull sleeves and some very itchy leggings； patiently awaiting Regal's entrance。 My mind was not on his pomp and ceremony； rather it whirled with questions and worries of my own。 I fretted over whether Burrich had been able to smuggle out the horses and litter。 It was dark now。 He was probably sitting outside in this storm； in the pathetic shelter of the alder copse。 He would have blanketed the horses； no doubt； but that would do little against the sleet that now fell steadily。 He had given me the name of the smithy where Sooty and Ruddy had been taken。 Somehow I must find a way to keep up the man's weekly bribes； and to check on them often to be sure they were well cared for。 This he had made me promise to entrust to no one else。 Would the Queen be able to retire alone to her room？ And again and again； how was I to empty King Shrewd's room that Chade might spirit him away？
A mutter of wonder broke me from my reverie。 I glanced toward the dais where everyone seemed to be staring。 There was a brief flickering； and for an instant one of the white tapers burning there flickered blue。 Then another spat a spark； and burned blue for an instant。 There was another mutter； but the wayward candles settled after that to burning evenly and well。 Neither Kettricken nor King Shrewd appeared to notice anything amiss； but the Fool sat up and shook Ratsy at the errant candles in rebuke。
At length Regal did appear； resplendent in red velvet and white silk。 A little maid walked before him； swinging a censer of sandalwood incense。 Regal smiled upon all as he advanced leisurely toward the throne； meeting many an eye and nodding many an acknowledgment on his way to that high seat。 I am sure it did not go off so finely as Regal had planned。 King Shrewd faltered and then looked puzzled over the scroll that had been given him to read。 At length Kettricken took it from his shaky hands； and he smiled up at her as she read aloud the words that must have cut her to the heart。 It was a careful listing of the children that King Shrewd had sired； including a daughter who had died in infancy； by the order of their births； and then by order of their deaths； all leading up to Regal as sole survivor and legitimate heir。 She did not hesitate at Verity's name； but read aloud the brief statement 〃Lost to misfortune while on a quest to the Mountain Kingdom〃 … as if it were an ingredient list。 Of the child she carried； no mention was made。 A child as yet unborn was an heir； but not a King…in…Waiting。
The child could not step forward to claim that title until he or she was at least sixteen。
Kettricken had taken from Verity's chest the simple silver circlet with the blue gem that was crown for a King…in…Waiting； and the pendant of gold and emerald in the shape of a leaping buck。 These she passed first to King Shrewd； who looked down at them as if bewildered。 He made no move to bestow them upon Regal。 At length Regal reached for them； and Shrewd allowed him to take them out of his hands。 And so Regal set the crown upon his own head； and slipped the pendant about his own neck； and stood before us all； the new King…in…Waiting of the Six Duchies。
Chade's timing was slightly off。 The candles did not seriously begin to flicker blue until the Dukes were wending their ways forward to pledge once more to House Farseer。 Regal tried to ignore this phenomenon； until the muttering of the folk threatened to drown out Duke Ram of Tilth's oath。 Then Regal turned and casually pinched out the offending candle。 I admired his aplomb； especially when a second candle almost immediately went blue； and he repeated the gesture。 I myself thought it was a bit too much of a portent when a torch set in a sconce by the main door suddenly whooshed out a blue flame and a foul stench before it guttered dark。 All eyes had turned to watch it。 Regal waited it out； but I saw the clench of his jaw and the tiny vein that throbbed on his temple。
I do not know how he had planned to end his ceremony； but he brought it to a rather abrupt close after that。 At his curt signal； minstrels struck up abruptly； while at another nod the doors opened and men bore in table boards already laden； while boys hastened after them with the trestles to set them upon。 At least for this feast he had spared nothing； and the well…prepared meats and pastries were weled by all。 If there seemed to be something of a shortage of bread； no one thought to plain of it。 Cloths and tables had been set in the Lesser Hall for the grand folk； and thither I saw Kettricken slowly escorting King Shrewd while the Fool and Rosemary trailed after them。 For those of us with lesser rank； there were simpler but plentiful foods to hand and a cleared floor for dancing。
I had planned to make myself a hearty meal at the feasting； but again and again I was accosted by men who clapped my shoulder too firmly or women who met my eyes too knowingly。 The Coastal Dukes were at table with the other high nobles； ostensibly breaking bread with Regal and cementing their new relationship to him。 I had been told that all three Coastal Dukes would know I concurred with their plan。 It was unnerving to find evidence that this was known among the lesser nobility as well。 Celerity made no overt claim upon me as escort； but made me nervously aware of myself by following me about as mutely as a hound。 I could not turn but I found her a half…dozen steps away。 Plainly she wished me to speak to her； but I did not trust my wits to find suitable words。 I almost broke when a lesser noble from Shoaks casually asked me if I thought any of the warships would be harbored as far south as False Bay。
With a sinking heart； I suddenly realized my error。 None of them feared Regal。 They saw no danger； only a spoiled popinjay of a boy who wished to wear fine clothes and a circlet and claim a title to himself。 They believed he would go away and they could ignore him。 I knew better。
I knew what Regal was capable of； in search of power； or on a whim； or simply because he believed he could get away with it。 He would leave Buckkeep。 He did not want it。 But if he thought I did； he would do everything within his power to see that I did not get it。 I was supposed to be dumped here； like a stray； left to starve or be raided。 Not ascend to power on the wreckage he had left。
If I were not very careful； they would get me killed。 Or worse； if there was anything Regal could devise that he saw as worse。
Twice I tried to slip away； and each ti