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my outgrown clothes； left the Keep； and walked down into Buckkeep Town。
The brisk wind off the water blew damp cold like a wet slap in the face。 I pulled my cloak more tightly around myself and tugged up my hood。 I walked briskly； avoiding icy spots on the steep roadway down to town。 I tried not to think； but I found that the brisk pumping of my blood was warming my anger more than my flesh。 My thoughts danced like a reined…in…horse。
When I had first e to Buckkeep Town； it had been a busy； grubby little place。 In the last decade it had grown and adopted a veneer of sophistication； but its roots were only too plain。 The town clung to the cliffs below Buckkeep Castle； and when those cliffs gave way to the rocky beaches； the warehouses and sheds were built out on docks and pilings。 The good deep anchorage that sheltered below Buckkeep attracted merchant vessels and traders。 Farther to the north； where the Buck River met the sea； there were gentler beaches； and the wide river to carry trading barges far inland to the Inland Duchies。 The land closest to the river mouth was susceptible to flooding； and the anchorage unpredictable as the river shifted in its course。 So the folk of Buckkeep Town lived crowded together on the steep cliffs above the harbor like the birds on Egg Bluffs。 It made for narrow； badly cobbled streets that wound back and forth across the steepness as they made their way down to the water。 The houses； shops； and inns clung humbly to the cliff face； endeavoring to offer no resistance to the winds that were almost constant there。 Higher up the cliff face； the more ambitious homes and businesses were of timber； with their foundations cut into the stone of the cliffs themselves。 But I knew little of that stratum。 I had run and played as a child among the humbler shops and sailors inns that fronted almost on the water itself。
By the time I reached this area of Buckkeep Town； I was ironically reflecting that both Molly and I would have been better off had we never bee friends。 I had promised her reputation； and if I continued my attentions； she would most likely bee a target for Regal's malice。 As for myself； the anguish I had felt at believing she had blithely left me for another was but a scratch pared with the bleeding now at knowing she thought I had deceived her。
I came out of my bleak thoughts to realize that my traitorous feet had carried me to the very door of her chandlery。 Now it was a tea…and…herb shop。 Just what Buckkeep Town needed； another tea…and…herb shop。 I wondered what had bee of Molly's beehives。 It gave me a pang to realize that for Molly the sense of dislocation must be ten times … no； a hundred times worse。 I had so easily accepted that Molly had lost her father； and with him her livelihood and her prospects。 So easily accepted the change that made her a servant in the Keep。 A servant。 I clenched my teeth and kept walking。
I wandered the town aimlessly。 Despite my bleak mood； I noticed how much it had changed in the last six months。 Even on this cold winter day； it bustled。 The construction of the ships had brought more folk； and more folk meant more trade。 I stopped in a tavern where Molly； Dirk； Kerry； and I had used to share a bit of brandy now and then。 The cheapest blackberry brandy was usually what we got。 I sat by myself and drank my short beer in silence； but around me tongues wagged and I learned much。 It was not just the ship construction that had bolstered Buckkeep Town's prosperity。 Verity had put out a call for sailors to man his warships。 The call had been amply answered； by men and women from all of the Coastal Duchies。 Some came with a grudge to settle； to avenge those killed or Forged by the Raiders。 Others came for the adventure； and the hope of booty； or simply because in the ravaged villages； they had no other prospects。 Some were from fisher or merchant families； with sea time and water skills。 Others were the former shepherds and farmers of ravaged villages。 It mattered little。
All had e to Buckkeep Town； eager to shed Red…Ship blood。
For now； many were housed in what had once been warehouses。 Hod； the Buckkeep weaponsmaster； was giving them weapons training； winnowing out those she thought might be suitable for Verity's ships。 The others would be offered hire as soldiers。 These were the extra folk that swelled the town and crowded the inns and taverns and eating places。 I heard plaints； too； that some of those who came to man the warships were immigrant Outislanders； displaced from their own land by the very Red…Ships that now menaced our coasts。 They； too； claimed to be eager for revenge； but few Six Duchies folk trusted them； and some businesses in town would not sell to them。 It gave an ugly charged undercurrent to the busy tavern。 There was a snickering discussion of an Outislander who had been beaten on the docks the day before。 No one had called the town patrol。 When the speculation became even uglier； that these Outislanders were all spies and that burning them out would be a wise and sensible precaution； I could no longer stomach it； and left the tavern。 Was there nowhere I could go to be free of suspicions and intrigues； if only for an hour？
I walked alone through the wintry streets。 A storm was blowing up。 The merciless wind prowled the twisting streets； promising snow。 The same angry cold twisted and churned inside me； switching from anger to hatred to frustration and back to anger again； building to an unbearable pressure。 They had no right to do this to me。 I had not been born to be their tool。 I had a right to live my life freely； to be who I was born to be。 Did they think they could bend me to their will； use me however they would； and I would never retaliate？ No。 A time would e。 My time would e。
A man hurried toward me； face shrouded in his hood against the wind。 He glanced up and our eyes met。 He blanched and turned aside； to hurry back the way he had e。 Well； and so he might。 I felt my anger building to an unbearable heat。 The wind whipped at my hair and sought to chill me； but I only strode faster； and felt the strength of my hatred grow hotter。 It lured me and I followed it like the scent of fresh blood。
I turned a corner and found myself in the market。 Threatened by the ing storm； the poorer merchants were packing up their goods from their blankets and mats。 Those with stalls were fastening their shutters。 I strode past them。 People scuttled out of my way。 I brushed past them； not caring how they stared。
I came to the animal vendor's stall； and stood face…to…face with myself。 He was gaunt； with bleak dark eyes。 He glared at me balefully； and the waves of hatred pulsing out from him washed over me in greeting。 Our hearts beat to the same rhythm。 I felt my upper lip twitch； as if to snarl up and bare my pitiful human teeth。 I straightened my features； battered my emotion back under control。 But the caged wolf cub with the dirty gray coat stared up at me； and lifted his black lips to reveal all his teeth。 I hate you。 All of you。 e； e closer。 I'll kill you。 I'll rip out your throat after I hamstring you。 I'll feast on your entrails。 I hate you。
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