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CHAPTER TEN
Fool's Errand
IN TIMES OF peace； the teaching of the Skill was restricted to those of royal blood； to keep the magic more exclusive and reduce the chance of it being turned against the King。 Thus； when Galen became apprentice to Skill Master Solicity； his duties consisted of assisting in pleting the training of Chivalry and Verity。 No others were receiving instruction at that time。 Regal； a delicate child； was judged by his mother to be too sickly to withstand the rigors of the Skill training。 Thus； after Solicity's untimely death； Galen came to the title of Skill Master； but had few duties。 Some； at least； felt that the time he had served as apprentice to Solicity was insufficient to be the full training of a Skill Master。 Others have averred that he never possessed the Skill strength necessary to be a true Skill Master。 In any case； during those years he had no opportunity to prove himself； and disprove his critics。 There were no young Princes or Princesses to train during the years that Galen was Skill Master。
It was only with the Red…Ship raids that it was decided that the circle of those trained in the Skill must be expanded。 A proper coterie had not existed for years。 Tradition tells us that in previous troubles with the Outislanders； it was not unusual for three； or even four coteries to exist。 These usually consisted of six to eight members； mutually chosen； well suited to be bonded among themselves； and with at least one member possessing a strong amity with the reigning monarch。 This key member reported directly to the monarch all that his coterie members relayed to him； if they were a messaging； or information…gathering coterie。 Other coteries existed to pool strength and extend to the monarch their Skilling resources as he might need them。 The key members in these coteries were often referred to as a King's or Queen's Man or Woman。 Very rarely； such a one existed independent of any coterie or training； but simply as one who had such an affinity for the monarch that strength could be tapped； usually by a physical touch。 From this key member； the monarch could draw endurance as needed to sustain a Skilling effort。 By custom； a coterie was named after its key member。 Thus we have legendary examples such as Crossfire's coterie。
Galen chose to ignore all tradition in the creation of his first and only coterie。 Galen's coterie came to be named after the Skill Master who fashioned it； and retained that name even after his death。 Rather than creating a pool of Skilled ones and letting a coterie emerge from it； Galen himself selected those who would be members of it。 The coterie lacked the internal bonding of the legendary groups； and their truest affinity was to the Skill Master rather than to the King。 Thus； the key member； initially August； reported to Galen fully as often as he reported to King Shrewd or； King…in…Waiting Verity。 With the death of Galen and the blasting of August's Skill sense； Serene rose to be key member of Galen's coterie。 The other surviving members of the group were Justin； Will； Carrod； and Burl。
By night I ran as a wolf。
The first time I thought it a singularly vivid dream。 The wide stretch of white snow with the inky tree shadows spilled on it； the elusive scents on the cold wind； the ridiculous fun of bounding and digging after shrews that ventured out of their winter burrows。 I awoke clear…minded and good…tempered。
But the next night I dreamed again so vividly。 I awoke knowing that when I blocked from Verity and hence myself my dreams of Molly； I left myself wide to the wolf's night thoughts。 Here was a whole realm where not Verity nor any Skilled one could follow me。 It was a world bereft of court intrigues or plotting； of worries and plans。 My wolf lived in the present。 I found his mind clean of the cluttering detail of memories。 From day to day； he carried only that necessary to his survival。 He did not remember how many shrews he had killed two nights ago； but only larger things； such as which game trails yielded the most rabbits to chase or where the spring ran swift enough that it never iced over。
This； then； was when and how I first showed him how to hunt。 We did not do so well at first。 I still arose very early each morning to take him food as needed。 I told myself that it was but a small corner of my life that I kept for myself。 It was as the wolf had said； not a thing I did； but something I was。 Besides； I promised myself； I would not let this joining bee a full bond。 Soon； very soon； he would be able to hunt for himself； and I would send him away to be free。 Sometimes I told myself that I only permitted him into my dreams that I might teach him to hunt； the sooner to set him free。 I refused to consider what Burrich would think of such a thing。
I returned from one of my early…morning expeditions to find two soldiers sparring with one another in the kitchen yard。 They had staves and were good…naturedly insulting one another as they huffed and shifted and traded whacks in the cold clear air。 The man I did not know at all； and for a moment I thought both were strangers。 Then the woman of the pair caught sight of me。 〃Ho！ FitzChivalry。 A word with you！〃 she called； but without retiring her stave。
I stared at her； trying to place her。 Her opponent missed a parry and she clipped him sharply with her stave。 As he hopped she danced back and laughed aloud； an unmistakable high…pitched whinny。 〃Whistle？〃 I asked incredulously。
The woman I had just addressed flashed her famous gaptoothed smile； caught her partner's stave a ringing blow； and danced back again。 〃Yes？〃 she asked breathlessly。 Her sparring partner； seeing her occupied； courteously lowered his stave。 Whistle immediately darted hers at him。 With so much skill he almost looked lazy； his stave leaped up to counter hers。 Again she laughed and held up her hand to ask a truce。
〃Yes；〃 she repeated； this time turning to me。 〃I've e 。。。 that is； I've been chosen to e and ask a favor of you。〃
I gestured at the clothes she wore。 〃I don't understand。 You've left Verity's guard？〃
She gave a tiny shrug； but I could see the question delighted her。 〃But not to go far。 Queen's guard。 Vixen badge。 See？〃 She tugged the front of the short white jacket she wore to hold the fabric taut。 Good sensible woolen homespun； I saw； and saw； too； the embroidered snarling white fox on a purple background。 The purple matched the purple of her heavy woolen trousers。 The loose pants cuff had been tucked into knee boots。 Her partner's garb matched hers。 Queen's guard。 In light of Kettricken's adventure； the uniform made sense。
〃Verity decided she needed a guard of her own？〃 I asked delightedly。
The smile faded a bit from Whistle's face。 〃Not exactly；〃 she hedged； and then straightened as if reporting to me。 〃We decided she needed a Queen's guard。 Me and some of the others that rode with her the other day。 We got to talking about 。。。 everything； later。 About how she handled herself out there。 And back here。 And how she came here； all alone。 We talked about it then； that someone should get permission to