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〃How is the King？ Will he recover？〃 he called to Wallace。
Wallace immediately came hurrying to Regal's side。 〃He seems to be steadying； Prince Regal。 I do not know what overcame him。 There was no sign of a struggle； but he is as wearied as if he had run a race。 His health will not stand this sort of excitement； my prince。〃
Regal turned an appraising glance on me。 〃What did you do to my father？〃 he growled。
〃I？ Nothing。〃 That at least was truthful。 Whatever had happened； it had been the King's doing and Verity's。 〃We were talking quietly。 Suddenly I felt overwhelmed。 Dizzy。 Weak。 As if I were losing consciousness。〃 I turned my gaze to Wallace。 〃Could it have been the Smoke？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 he conceded unhappily。 He looked nervously at Regal's darkening stare。 〃Well； it seems every day I must make it stronger； for it to have any effect at all。 And still he plains that…〃
〃SILENCE！〃 Regal cut him off with a roar。 He gestured at me as if I were offal。 〃Get him out of here。 Then get back here to tend the King。〃
At that moment Shrewd moaned in his sleep； and I felt again the feathersoft brushing of the Skill against my senses。 My hair hackled。
〃No。 Go to the King now； Wallace。 Fool。 You get the Bastard out of here。 And see that this is not spoken of amongst the servants。 I shall know if I am disobeyed。 Hurry up； now。 My father is not well。〃
I had thought I could rise on my own and depart； but found that I did need the Fool's assistance； at least to stand。 Once I was up on my feet； I teetered along precariously； feeling as if I tottered on stilts。 Walls loomed near and then far； the floor heaved gently beneath me like the deck of a ship when she rides a slow swell。
〃I can manage from here；〃 I told the Fool once we were outside the door。 He shook his head。
〃You are too vulnerable to be left alone just now；〃 he told me quietly； and then linked arms with me； and began some nonsensical discourse。 He put a fine front of camaraderie on helping me up the stairs and to my door。 He waited； chattering on； while I unlatched it and then followed me in。
〃I told you； I am all right；〃 I said with some annoyance。 All I wanted to do was lie down。
〃Are you？ And how is my king？ What did you do to him； back there？〃
〃I did nothing！〃 I gritted out as I sat down on the foot of my bed。 My head was beginning to pound。 Elfbark tea。 That was what I needed just now。 I had none。
〃You did！ You asked his permission； and then you took his hand。 And in the next instant you were both gasping like fish。〃
〃Just an instant？〃 It had felt like hours to me。 I had thought the whole evening spent。
〃No more than three heartbeats。〃
〃Ooh。〃 I put my hands to my temples； tried to push my skull back into one piece。 Why did Burrich have to be gone just now？ I knew he would have elfbark。 The pain demanded I take a chance。 〃Do you have any elfbark？ For tea？〃
〃With me？ No。 But I could go beg some of Lacey。 She keeps a horde of all sorts of herbs。〃
〃Would you？〃
〃What did you do to the King？〃 The trade he offered was plain。
The pressure in my head built； pushing out on my eyes。 〃Nothing；〃 I gasped。 〃And what he did to me is for him to tell。 If he chooses。 Is that plain enough for you？〃
A silence。 〃Perhaps。 Are you really in that much pain？〃
I lay back very slowly on my bed。 Even putting my head down hurt。
〃I'll be back shortly；〃 he offered。 I heard the door of my room open and shut。 I lay still； eyes closed。 Gradually the sense of what I had eavesdropped on formed itself in my mind。 Despite my pain； I sorted information。 Regal had spies。 Or claimed to。 Brawndy was a traitor。 Or so Regal claimed his supposed spies had informed him。 I suspected Brawndy was as much a traitor as Kettricken was。 Oh； the spreading poison。 And the pain。 Suddenly I remembered the pain。 Had not Chade bid me simply to observe as I had been taught to find an answer to my question？ It had been plain before me all the time； if only I had not been so blinded with fears of traitors and plots and poisons。
A disease was eating King Shrewd； gnawing him away from the inside。 He drugged himself against the pain。 In an effort to have some corner of his mind to himself； a place where the pain could not e and rob him。 If someone had just told me of that a few hours ago； I would have scoffed。 Now； lying on my bed； trying to breathe softly because the slightest movement triggered another wave of agony； I could understand。 Pain。 I'd only been enduring this for a few minutes； and I'd already sent the Fool running for elfbark。 Another consideration pushed itself into my mind。 I expected this pain to pass； that by tomorrow I would rise up free from it。 What if I had to face it every moment for the rest of my life； with the certainty that it was devouring what hours were left to me？ No wonder Shrewd kept himself drugged。
I heard my door open and close quietly。 When I did not hear the Fool begin to make tea； I forced my eyes open。 Justin and Serene stood inside the doors of my room。 They stood frozen； as if in the lair of a savage beast。 When I shifted my head slightly to look at them； Serene's lips actually drew back as if she snarled。 Within me； Nighteyes snarled back。 The tempo of my heart suddenly increased。 Danger here。 I tried to loosen my muscles； to be ready to take any action。 But the pain bludgeoning my head bade me only be still； be still。 〃I didn't hear your knock；〃 I managed to say。 Each word was edged in red as my voice echoed in my skull。
〃I didn't knock；〃 Serene said harshly。 Her clearly spoken words were as painful to me as a clubbing。 I prayed she didn't know how much power she had over me just then。 I prayed for the Fool to e back。 I tried to appear nonchalant； as if I kept to my bed only because I considered Serene's visit so unimportant。
〃Did you need something from me？〃 I sounded brusque。 In reality； each word cost too much effort to waste even one。
〃Need？ Never；〃 Serene scoffed。
Skill nudged me。 Clumsily。 Justin； prodding at me。 I could not repress the shudder that went through me。 My king's use of me had left my mind as raw as a bleeding wound。 Justin's awkward Skilling was like having cat's claws rake my brain。
Shield yourself。 Verity was a whisper。 I made an effort to set my guards； but could not find enough of myself to do it。 Serene was smiling。
Justin was pushing into my mind like a hand shoving into a pudding。 My senses jumbled suddenly。 He smelled foul in my head； he was a terrible rotten greenish yellow and sounded like spurs jingling。 Shield； Verity pleaded。 He sounded desperate； weak； and I knew he was trying very hard to hold the tattered pieces of myself together for me。 He's going to kill you with sheer stupidity。 He doesn't even know what he's doing。
Help me！
From Verity； nothing。 Our link was fading like perfume in the wind as my strength dwindled。
WE ARE PACK！
Justin slammed back against the door of my room so hard his head bounced。 It was more than repelling。 I had no word for what Nighteyes did from within Justin's own mind。 It was a hybrid magic； Nighteyes using the Wit through a bridge the Skill had created。 He attacked Justin's body from within Justin's mind。 Justin's hands flew to his throat； fighting jaws he could not seize。 Claws shredded skin and raised red welts on the skin beneath Justin's fine tunic。 Serene screamed； a sword of a sound slashing through me； and flung herself on Justin； trying to help him。
Don't kill。 Don't kill！ DON'T KILL！
Nighteyes finally heard me。 He dropped Justin； flinging him aside like a rat。 He came and stood astraddle me； guarding me。 Almost I could hear his panting breath； feel the warmth of his hide。 I had no energy to question what had happened。 I curled myself into a puppy； sheltered beneath him。 I knew no one could get through Nighteyes' defense of me。
〃What was that？ What was that？ What was that？〃 Serene was screaming hysterically。 She had Justin by the shirtfront and had dragged him to his feet。 There were livid marks on his throat and chest； but through barely opened eyes； I could see them fading rapidly。 Soon there was no sign of Nighteyes' attack save the wet stain spreading down the front of Justin's trousers。 His eyes sagged closed。 Serene shook him like a doll。 〃Justin！ Open your eyes。 Justin！〃
〃What are you doing to that man？〃 The Fool's stage voice； expressing outrage and surprise； filled my room。 Behind him； my door stood open wide。 A passing maid； arms full of shirts； peeped in； startled； then stopped to stare。 The little page girl carrying a basket behind her came hurrying to peek around the door's edge。 The Fool set the tray he was carrying down on the floor and came into my room。 〃What is the meaning of this？〃
〃He attacked Justin；〃 Serene sobbed。
Disbelief flooded the Fool's face。 〃Him？ He looks like he could not attack a pillow。 You were the one I saw worrying that boy。 〃
Serene let go of Justin's collar； and he dropped like a rag at her feet。 The Fool looked down at him pityingly。
〃Poor fellow！ Was s