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all alone。 We talked about it then； that someone should get permission to form up a guard for her。 But none of us really knew how to approach it。 We knew it was needed； but no one else seemed to be paying much attention 。。。 but then last week； at the gate； I heard you got pretty hot about how she'd gone out； on foot and alone； and no one at her back。 Well； you did！ I was in the other room； and I heard！〃
I bit back my protest； nodded curtly； and Whistle went on： 〃So。 Well； we just did。 Those of us who felt we wanted to wear the purple and white just said so。 It was a pretty even split。 It was time to take in some new blood anyway； most of Verity's guard was getting a bit long in the tooth。 And soft； from too much time in the Keep。 So we re…formed； giving rank to some who should have made it long ago； if there'd been any openings to fill； and taking in some recruits to fill in where needed。 It all worked out perfectly。 These newers will give us something to hone our skills on while we teach them。 The Queen will have her own guard； when she wants one。 Or needs one。〃
〃I see。〃 I was beginning to get an uneasy feeling。 〃And what was the favor you wanted of me？〃
〃Explain it to Verity。 Tell the Queen she has a guard。〃 She said the words simply and quietly。
〃This walks close to disloyalty；〃 I said just as simply。 〃Soldiers of Verity's own guard； setting aside his colors to take on his queen's 。。。〃
〃Some might see it that way。 Some might speak it that way。〃 Her eyes met mine squarely； and the smile was gone from her face。 〃But you know it is not。 It's a needed thing。 Your 。。。 Chivalry would have seen it； would have had a guard for her before she even arrived here。 But King…in…Waiting Verity 。。。 well； this is no disloyalty to him。 We've served him well； because we love him。 Still do。 This is those who've always watched his back； falling back and re…forming to watch his back even better。 That's all。 He's got a good Queen； is what we think。 We don't want to see him lose her。 That was all。 We don't think any the less of our King…in…waiting。 You know that。〃
I did。 But still。 I looked away from her plea； shook my head； and tried to think。 Why me？ a part of me demanded angrily。 Then I knew； that in the moment I'd lost my temper and berated the guard for not protecting their queen； I'd volunteered for this。 Burrich had warned me about not remembering my place。 〃I will speak to King…in…Waiting Verity。 And to the Queen； if he approves this。〃
Whistle flashed her smile again。 〃We knew you'd do it for us。 Thanks； Fitz。〃
As quickly she was spinning away from me； stave at the ready as she danced threateningly toward her partner； who gave ground grudgingly。 With a sigh； I turned away from the courtyard。 I had thought Molly would be fetching water at this time。 I'd hoped for a glimpse of her。 But she was not； and I left feeling disappointed。 I knew I should not play at such games； but some days I could not resist the temptation。 I left the courtyard。
The last few days had bee a special sort of self…torture for me。 I refused to allow myself to see Molly again； but could not resist shadowing her。 So I was in the kitchen but a moment after she had left； fancying I could still catch the trace of her perfume in the air。 Or I stationed myself in the Great Hall of an evening； and tried to be where I could watch her without being noticed。 No matter what amusement was offered； minstrel or poet or puppeteer； or just folk talking and working on their handicrafts； my eyes would be drawn always to wherever Molly might be。 She looked so sober and demure in her dark blue skirts and blouse； and she had never a glance for me。 Always she spoke with the other Keep women； or on the rare evenings when Patience chose to descend； she sat beside her and attended to her with a focus of attention that denied I even existed。 Sometimes I thought my brief encounter with her had been a dream。 But at night I could go back to my room and take out the shirt I had hidden in the bottom of my clothes chest； and if I held it close to my face； I fancied I could still smell the faint trace of her perfume upon it。 And so I endured。
A number of days had passed since we had burned the Forged ones on their funeral pyre。 In addition to the formation of the Queen's guard； other changes were afoot within and without the Keep。 Two other master boat builders； unsummoned； had e to volunteer their skills for the building of the ships。 Verity had been delighted。 But even more so had Queen Kettricken been approved； for it was to her that they presented themselves； saying that they desired to be of service。 Their apprentices came with them； to swell the ranks of those working in the shipyards。 Now the lamps burned both before dawn and after the sun's setting； and work proceeded at a breakneck pace。 So Verity was away all the more； and Kettricken； when I called on her； was more subdued than ever。 I tempted her with books or outings to no avail。 She spent most of her time sitting near idly at her loom； growing more pale and listless with every passing day。 Her dark mood infected those ladies who attended her； so that to visit her room was as cheery as keeping a deathwatch。
I had not expected to find Verity in his study； and was not disappointed。 He was down at the boat sheds； as always。 I left word with Charim to ask that I be summoned whenever Verity might have the time to see me。 Then； with a resolve to keep myself busy and to do as Chade had suggested； I returned to my room。 I took both dice and tally sticks with me； and headed for the Queen's chambers。
I had resolved to teach her some of the games of chance that the lords and ladies were fond of； in the hopes that she might expand her circle of entertainments。 I also hoped； with less expectations； that such games might draw her to socialize more widely and to depend less on my panionship。 Her bleak mood was beginning to burden me with its oppressiveness； so that I often heartily wished to be away from her。
〃Teach her to cheat first。 Only； just tell her that's how the game is played。 Tell her the rules permit deception。 A bit of sleight of hand； easily taught； and she could clean Regal's pockets for him a time or two before he dared suspect her。 And then what could he do？ Accuse Buckkeep's lady of cheating at dice？〃
The Fool； of course。 At my elbow； panionably pacing alongside me； his rat scepter jouncing lightly on his shoulder。 I did not startle physically； but he knew that once more； he had taken me by surprise。 His amusement shone in his eyes。
〃I think our queen…in…waiting might take it amiss if I so misinformed her。 Why do you not e with me instead； to brighten her spirits a bit？ I shall set aside the dice； and you can juggle for her；〃 I suggested。
〃Juggle for her？ Why； Fitz； that is all I do； all day long； and you see it as but my foolery。 You see my work and deem it play； while I see you work so earnestly at playing games you have not yourself devised。 Take a Fool's advice on this。 Teach the lady not dice； but riddles； and you will both be the wiser。〃
〃Riddles？ That's a Bingtown game； is it not？〃
〃'Twere one p