will see that. Now go! Go!'
I dragged on trousers and a tunic, ran for the door barefoot with my hair draggling about my face. I halted there. 'How do I know this? Whence do I say this warning comes?'
Chade hopped up and down in frustration. 'Damn and damn! Tell them anything! Tell Shrewd you had a dream of the Pocked Man scrying it in a pool of water! He at least should understand that! Tell them an Elderling brought you the news! Say anything, but get them to act and now!'
'Right!' I raced off down the hallway, skidded down the steps, and raced down the corridor to King Shrewd's chambers. I hammered on Shrewd's door. At the far end of the hall, Burrich stood beside his chair outside Kettricken's door. He looked at me, drew his short sword, and took a ready stance, eyes darting everywhere. 'Raiders!' I called down the hall to him, not caring who overheard or how they reacted. 'Five Red-Ships in Neatbay! Rouse Her Majesty, tell her they need our aid now!'
Burrich turned without a question to tap on Kettricken's door and be immediately admitted. It did not go so easily for me. Wallace finally opened the door a grudging crack, but would not budge until I suggested he should be the one to race down the stairs and inform Regal of my tidings. I believe it was the prospect of making a dramatic entrance and conferring with the Prince before all the merrymakers that decided him. He left the door unguarded as he hurried to his small antechamber to make himself presentable.
The King's bedchamber was in total darkness and heavy with the reek of Smoke. I took a candle from his sitting room, kindled it at the dwindling fire, and hastened in. In the darkness, I nearly trod upon the Fool, who was curled up like a cur at the King's bedside. I gaped in astonishment. He had not so much as a blanket or cushion for comfort, but huddled on the rug beside the King's bed. He uncurled stiffly, coming awake, and then alarmed in an instant. 'What is it? What's happened?' he demanded.
'Raiders in Neatbay. Five Red-Ships. I have to rouse the King. What are you doing, sleeping here? Are you afraid to go back to your own room anymore?'
He laughed bitterly. 'More like I fear to leave this one, lest I never be allowed in again. The last time Wallace locked me out, it took me an hour of yammering and hammering before the King realized I was missing and demanded to know where I was. The time before that, I slipped in with the breakfast things. The time before that—'
'They seek to separate you from the King?'
He nodded. 'With honey or a whip. This night, Regal offered me a purse with five bits of gold in it, if I would make myself presentable and come down to entertain them. Oh, how he did go on after you had left, over how badly I was missed at the court below, and what a shame it was for me to waste my youth shut away up here. And when I said I found King Shrewd's company more congenial than that of other fools, he flung the teapot at me. Put Wallace in a fair bit of a huff, for he had just brewed up as nasty a mess of herb tea as would make one long for the perfume of farts.'
The Fool had been kindling candles and poking up the fire on the King's hearth as we spoke. Now he drew back one of the heavy bed curtains. 'My liege?' he said as gently as one might speak to a sleeping child. 'FitzChivalry is here with important tidings for you. Will you awaken and hear him?'
At first the King made no response. 'Your Majesty?' the Fool called to him again. He damped a cloth in a bit of cool water and patted the King's face with it. 'King Shrewd?'
'My king, your folk have need of you.' The words tumbled from me in desperation. 'Neatbay is besieged by Red-Ships. Five of them. We must send aid now, or all is lost. Once they have a toehold there—'
'They could close Buck Harbor.' The King's eyes opened as he spoke. He did not move from his prone position, but he squeezed his eyes more tightly shut as if clenching them against pain. 'Fool. A bit of the red wine. Please.' His voice was soft, scarce more than a breath, but it was the voice of my king. My heart surged as if I were an old dog hearing the voice of a returning master.
'What must we do?' I begged of him.
'Every ship we have, down the coast to them. Not just the warships. Roust out the fishing fleet. We fight for our lives now. How dare they come this close, how came they to such boldness! Send horse overland. On their way tonight, within the hour, I say. They may not get there until day after tomorrow, but send them all the same. Put Keen in charge of it.'
My heart flip-flopped in my chest. 'Your Majesty,' I broke in gently. 'Keen is dead. Coming back from the mountains, with Burrich. They were attacked by highwaymen.'
The Fool glared at me, and I instantly regretted my interruption. The command faded from King Shrewd' s voice. Uncertainly, he said, 'Keen is dead?'
I took a breath. 'Yes, Your Majesty. But there is Red. Kerf is also a good man.'
The King took the wine the Fool proffered. He sipped, and seemed to draw strength with it. 'Kerf. Give it to Kerf, then.' A shade of the confidence came back. I bit my tongue against saying that what horse we had left was not worth sending. Doubtless the folk of Neatbay would welcome whoever came to reinforce them.
King Shrewd considered. 'What is the word from South Cove? Have they sent out warriors and ships?'
'Your Majesty, there is no word from there as yet.' This was not a lie.
'What goes on here?' The shouting began before he even reached the bedchamber. It was Regal, puffy with drink and fury. 'Wallace!' He pointed an accusing finger at me. 'Get him out of here. Get help to do it if you need it. You needn't be gentle!'
Wallace had not far to look. Two of Regal's brawny inland guardsmen had followed him up from the feasting. I was lifted off my feet; Regal had chosen burly men for this duty. I looked about for the Fool, for any ally, but the Fool had vanished. I caught a glimpse of a pale hand vanishing under the bed and resolutely looked away. I did not blame him. There was nothing he could do for me by staying except be thrown out with me.
'My father, has he disturbed your rest with his wild tales? And you so ill?' Regal bent solicitously over the bed.
They had me almost to the door when the King spoke. His voice was not loud, but command was in it. 'Stand where you are,' King Shrewd ordered the guards. He still was prone in his bed, but he turned his eyes to Regal. 'Neatbay is besieged,' King Shrewd said firmly. 'We must send aid.'
Regal shook his head sadly. 'It is just another of the Bastard's ploys, to upset you and steal rest from you. There has been no call for help, no message of any kind.'
One of the guards was very professional in his grip. The other seemed intent on dislocating my shoulder even if I refused to struggle against him. I carefully memorized his face while trying not to show the pain.
'You need not have troubled yourself, Regal. I will discover the truth or the lie here.' Queen Kettricken had paused to dress. Short white fur jacket, purple trousers and boots. Her long Mountain sword was at her side and Burrich stood in the door, holding a heavy-hooded riding cloak and gloves. She spoke as one would to a spoiled child. 'Go back to your guests. I will ride to Neatbay.'
'I forbid it!' Regal's voice rang out strangely shrill. Stillness suddenly flooded the room.
Queen Kettricken pointed out quietly what everyone in the room already knew. 'A Prince does not forbid the Queen-in-Waiting. I ride tonight.'
Regal's face purpled. 'This is a hoax, a plot of the Bastard's to throw Buckkeep into an uproar, and instill fear in the folk. There has been no word of an attack on Neatbay.'
'Silence!' The King spat out the word. Everyone in the room froze. 'FitzChivalry? Damn it, release that man. FitzChivalry, stand before me. Report. Whence came your news?'
I tugged my jerkin square again and smoothed my hair back. As I went to stand before my king I was painfully aware of my bare feet and tousled hair. I took a breath and threw it all away. 'In my sleep I had a vision, sire. Of the Pocked Man, scrying in a pool of water. He showed me the Red-Ships at Neatbay.'
I dared emphasize no word. I stood firm before them. One of the guardsmen snorted in disbelief. Burrich's jaw dropped open and his eyes widened. Kettricken merely looked confused. On the bed, King Shrewd closed his eyes and breathed out slowly.
'He's drunk,' Regal declared. 'Get him out of here.' I had never heard so much satisfaction in Regal's voice. His guards reacted swiftly to seize me again.
'As…' — the King drew a deep breath in, obviously fighting pain — 'I commanded.' He found a bit of strength. 'As I commanded. Go now. NOW!'
I jerked my arms free from the astonished guards. 'Yes, Your Majesty,' I said into the silence. I spoke clearly for the benefit of all. 'That is, all warships dispatched to Neatbay, and as many of the fishing fleet as can be
