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f it was Verity attempting better contact； or Justin and Serene prying。 A late…afternoon visit to King Shrewd and the Fool disheartened me further。 The King； wasted to little more than bones； was sitting up and smiling vaguely。 He Skilled feebly toward me as I came in the door； and then greeted me with； 〃Ah； Verity； my lad。 How did your sword lesson go today？〃 The rest of his conversation made as much sense。 Regal appeared almost immediately after I arrived。 He sat on a straight…backed chair； arms crossed on his chest； and looked at me。 No words were exchanged between us。 I could not decide if my silence were cowardice or self…restraint。 I escaped him as soon as I decently could； despite a rebuking look from the Fool。
The Fool himself looked little better than the King。 On so colorless a creature as the Fool； the dark circles under his eyes looked painted on。 His tongue had grown as still as the clappers in his bells。 When King Shrewd died； nothing would stand between the Fool and Regal。 I wondered if there was any way I could aid him。
As if I could aid myself； I reflected sourly。
In the solitude of my room that evening； I drank more than I should of the cheap blackberry brandy that Burrich despised。 I knew I would be sick from it tomorrow。 I didn't care。 Then I lay on my bed； listening to the distant sounds of merriment from the Great Hall。 I wished Molly were there to scold me for being drunk。 The bed was too large； the linens glacier white and cold。 I closed my eyes and sought fort in the pany of a wolf。 Confined as I was to ；the Keep； I had begun to seek his dream pany on a nightly basis； just to have an illusion of freedom。
I came awake just before Chade seized me and shook me。 It was good I had recognized him in that split instant； for otherwise I am sure I would have tried to kill him。 〃Up！〃 he whispered hoarsely。 〃Get up； you sodden fool； you idiot！ Neatbay is under siege。 Five Red…Ships。 I wager they'll leave nothing standing if we delay。 Get up； damn you！〃
I staggered to my feet； the muzziness of drink giving way before the shock of his words。
〃What can we do？〃 I asked stupidly。
〃Tell the King。 Tell Kettricken； tell Regal。 Surely not even Regal can ignore this； it is at our very doorstep。 If the Red…Ships take and hold Neatbay； they will have us bracketed。 No ships will get out of Buck Harbor。 Even Regal 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 es？〃
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 fort； but huddled on the rug beside the King's bed。 He uncurled stiffly； ing 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 e 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 pany 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 e 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。 ing back from the mountains； with Burrich。 They were attacked by highwaymen。〃
The Fool glared at me； and I instantly regretted my interruption。 The mand 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 wele 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 mand 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 profess