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in the pathetic shelter of the alder copse。 He would have blanketed the horses； no doubt； but that would do little against the sleet that now fell steadily。 He had given me the name of the smithy where Sooty and Ruddy had been taken。 Somehow I must find a way to keep up the man's weekly bribes； and to check on them often to be sure they were well cared for。 This he had made me promise to entrust to no one else。 Would the Queen be able to retire alone to her room？ And again and again； how was I to empty King Shrewd's room that Chade might spirit him away？
A mutter of wonder broke me from my reverie。 I glanced toward the dais where everyone seemed to be staring。 There was a brief flickering； and for an instant one of the white tapers burning there flickered blue。 Then another spat a spark； and burned blue for an instant。 There was another mutter； but the wayward candles settled after that to burning evenly and well。 Neither Kettricken nor King Shrewd appeared to notice anything amiss； but the Fool sat up and shook Ratsy at the errant candles in rebuke。
At length Regal did appear； resplendent in red velvet and white silk。 A little maid walked before him； swinging a censer of sandalwood incense。 Regal smiled upon all as he advanced leisurely toward the throne； meeting many an eye and nodding many an acknowledgment on his way to that high seat。 I am sure it did not go off so finely as Regal had planned。 King Shrewd faltered and then looked puzzled over the scroll that had been given him to read。 At length Kettricken took it from his shaky hands； and he smiled up at her as she read aloud the words that must have cut her to the heart。 It was a careful listing of the children that King Shrewd had sired； including a daughter who had died in infancy； by the order of their births； and then by order of their deaths； all leading up to Regal as sole survivor and legitimate heir。 She did not hesitate at Verity's name； but read aloud the brief statement 〃Lost to misfortune while on a quest to the Mountain Kingdom〃 … as if it were an ingredient list。 Of the child she carried； no mention was made。 A child as yet unborn was an heir； but not a King…in…Waiting。
The child could not step forward to claim that title until he or she was at least sixteen。
Kettricken had taken from Verity's chest the simple silver circlet with the blue gem that was crown for a King…in…Waiting； and the pendant of gold and emerald in the shape of a leaping buck。 These she passed first to King Shrewd； who looked down at them as if bewildered。 He made no move to bestow them upon Regal。 At length Regal reached for them； and Shrewd allowed him to take them out of his hands。 And so Regal set the crown upon his own head； and slipped the pendant about his own neck； and stood before us all； the new King…in…Waiting of the Six Duchies。
Chade's timing was slightly off。 The candles did not seriously begin to flicker blue until the Dukes were wending their ways forward to pledge once more to House Farseer。 Regal tried to ignore this phenomenon； until the muttering of the folk threatened to drown out Duke Ram of Tilth's oath。 Then Regal turned and casually pinched out the offending candle。 I admired his aplomb； especially when a second candle almost immediately went blue； and he repeated the gesture。 I myself thought it was a bit too much of a portent when a torch set in a sconce by the main door suddenly whooshed out a blue flame and a foul stench before it guttered dark。 All eyes had turned to watch it。 Regal waited it out； but I saw the clench of his jaw and the tiny vein that throbbed on his temple。
I do not know how he had planned to end his ceremony； but he brought it to a rather abrupt close after that。 At his curt signal； minstrels struck up abruptly； while at another nod the doors opened and men bore in table boards already laden； while boys hastened after them with the trestles to set them upon。 At least for this feast he had spared nothing； and the well…prepared meats and pastries were weled by all。 If there seemed to be something of a shortage of bread； no one thought to plain of it。 Cloths and tables had been set in the Lesser Hall for the grand folk； and thither I saw Kettricken slowly escorting King Shrewd while the Fool and Rosemary trailed after them。 For those of us with lesser rank； there were simpler but plentiful foods to hand and a cleared floor for dancing。
I had planned to make myself a hearty meal at the feasting； but again and again I was accosted by men who clapped my shoulder too firmly or women who met my eyes too knowingly。 The Coastal Dukes were at table with the other high nobles； ostensibly breaking bread with Regal and cementing their new relationship to him。 I had been told that all three Coastal Dukes would know I concurred with their plan。 It was unnerving to find evidence that this was known among the lesser nobility as well。 Celerity made no overt claim upon me as escort； but made me nervously aware of myself by following me about as mutely as a hound。 I could not turn but I found her a half…dozen steps away。 Plainly she wished me to speak to her； but I did not trust my wits to find suitable words。 I almost broke when a lesser noble from Shoaks casually asked me if I thought any of the warships would be harbored as far south as False Bay。
With a sinking heart； I suddenly realized my error。 None of them feared Regal。 They saw no danger； only a spoiled popinjay of a boy who wished to wear fine clothes and a circlet and claim a title to himself。 They believed he would go away and they could ignore him。 I knew better。
I knew what Regal was capable of； in search of power； or on a whim； or simply because he believed he could get away with it。 He would leave Buckkeep。 He did not want it。 But if he thought I did； he would do everything within his power to see that I did not get it。 I was supposed to be dumped here； like a stray； left to starve or be raided。 Not ascend to power on the wreckage he had left。
If I were not very careful； they would get me killed。 Or worse； if there was anything Regal could devise that he saw as worse。
Twice I tried to slip away； and each time was cornered by someone who wanted a quiet moment of talk with me。 I finally pleaded a headache and openly announced I was seeking my bed。 Then I must be resigned to at least a dozen folk hastening to wish me good night before I retired。 Just as I thought I was free Celerity touched a shy hand to mine and wished me good night in such a dispirited voice that I knew that I had hurt her feelings。 That； I think； rattled me more than anything else that evening。 I thanked her and； in my most cowardly act of that night； dared to kiss her fingertips。 The resurgence of light in her eyes shamed me。 I fled up the stairs。 As I climbed them I wondered how Verity had ever stood this sort of thing； or my father。 If I had ever thought or dreamed of being a real Prince instead of a bastard； I abandoned the dream that night。 It was entirely too public a profession。 With a sinking heart； I realized that this was how life would be for me until Verity returned。 The illusion of power clung to me now； and too many would be dazzled by it。
I went to my own chamber and； with great relief； changed into sensible clothes。 As I tugged on my shirt I felt the tiny bulge of Wallace's poison； still sewn into my cuff。 Perhaps； I reflected bitterly； it would bring me luck。 I left my room and then mitted possibly my most foolish act of the evening。 I went up to Molly's chamber。 The servants' hall was empty； the corridor but dimly lit with two wavering torches。 I tapped at her door。 There was no reply。 I tried the latch softly； but it was not fastened。 The door swung open at my touch。
Darkness。 Emptiness。 The small hearth held no fire。 I found a bit of a candle and kindled it at a torch。 Then I went back in her room and shut the door。 I stood there while the devastation finally became real。 It was all too Molly。 The stripped bed； the hearth swept clean； but with a small stack of wood set ready for a fire for the next resident： Those were the touches that told me she had tidied herself out of the room。 Not a ribbon； not a taper； not even a scrap of wicking remained of the woman who had lived a servant's life here。 The ewer set upside down in the basin to keep the dust out。 I sat in her chair before the cold hearth； I opened her clothing chest and peered within。 But it was not her chair； or hearth； or chest。 These were just objects she had touched in the brief time she had been here。
Molly was gone。
She wasn't ing back。
I had held myself together by refusing to think of her。 This empty room jerked the blindfold from my eyes。 I looked into myself and despised what I saw。 I wished I could call back the kiss I had placed on Celerity's fingertips。 Balm for a girl's wounded pride； or the lure to bind her and her father to me？ I no longer knew which it had been。 Neither could be justified。 Both were wrong； if I believed at all in the love I had pledged to Molly。 That one act was proof I was guilty of all she had charged me with。 I would always put the Farseers ahead of her。 I had dangled marriage before Molly like bait；