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； as he thought of them。 Chade he remembered well； chiefly for a fat beef bone bestowed on Nighteyes at their parting。
Did they speak to one another？
Overly much。 I left them yipping to one another。
Try as I might； that was really all he had for me。 It was enough that I knew the plans had changed drastically and at the last minute。 Odd。 I had been willing to lay down my life for Kettricken； but at the last accounting； I was not sure how I felt about giving up my horse。 Then I recalled I would probably never ride a horse again； save the one that carried me to the hanging tree。 At least Sooty had gone with someone I cared about。 And Ruddy。 Why those two horses？ And only those two？ Had Burrich been unable to get others out of the stable？ Was that why he had not gone？
The quill hurts； Nighteyes reminded me。 I cannot eat for the pain。
I wish I could e to help you； but I cannot。 You must ask Heart of the Pack。
Cannot you ask him to do it？ He does not push you。
I smiled to myself。 He did once。 It was enough； I learned from it。 But if you go to him； asking for help； he will not repel you。
Cannot you ask him to help me？
I cannot speak to him as we speak。 And he is too far away for me to yip at him。
I will try； then； Nighteyes said doubtfully。
I let him go。 I thought of trying to make him understand my situation。 I decided against it。 There was nothing he could do； it would only distress him。 Nighteyes would tell Burrich I had sent him； Burrich would know I was still alive。 There was little else to convey that he would not already know。
A long slow time passed then。 I measured it in the small ways I could。 The torch Regal had left burned out。 The guard changed。 Someone came and put food and water through my door。 I had not asked for it。 I wondered if that meant a very long time had passed since I had last eaten。 The guard changed again。 These were a chatty pair； a man and a woman。 But they spoke in low voices； and all I heard were the murmurs； and the laughter。 Some sort of a ribald flirtation between the two； I surmised。 Interrupted by someone's arrival。
The friendly chatter suddenly ceased。 Low murmurs； in a very respectful tone。 My stomach roiled cold inside me。 Quietly I came to my feet； crept to my door。 I peered through the doors toward the guards' station。
He came like a shadow down the hall。 Silently。 Not furtive。 He was so unobtrusive； he did not need to worry about being furtive。 This was Skill as I had never seen it used before。 I felt the hairs on the back of my neck hackle when Will stopped outside the door and looked in at me。 He did not speak and I dared not。 Even looking at him was giving him too much of an opening to myself。 Yet I feared to look away。 The Skill shimmered around him like an aura of awareness。 I coiled deep inside myself； tighter and tighter； pulling back everything I felt or thought； slamming my walls up as swiftly as I could； but knowing； somehow； that even those walls told him much about me。 Even my defenses were a way for this one to read me。 Even as my mouth and throat went dry with fear； a question hovered。 Where had he been？ What had been so important to Regal that he had set Will upon it rather than using him to secure the crown？
White ship。
The answer came to me from deep within me； founded on a connection so deep I could not unearth it。 But I did not doubt it。 I looked at him； considering him in conjunction with the white ship。 He frowned。 I felt an increase in the tension between us； a pressing of the Skill against my boundaries。 He did not scrabble or pluck at me like Serene and Justin had。 More I could pare it。 to an engagement of blades； where one tests the strength of his opponent's attack。 I balanced myself against him； knowing that if I wavered； if for one instant I did not hold him out； he would slip past my guard and skewer my soul。 His eyes widened and surprised me with a brief look of uncertainty。 But he followed it with a smile as weling as a shark's maw。
〃Ah；〃 he sighed out。 He seemed pleased。 He stepped back from my door； stretched like a lazy cat。 〃They have underestimated you。 I shall not make that mistake。 Well I know the advantages one gains when your rival undervalues you。〃 Then he left； neither abruptly nor slowly； but like smoke drifts away on a breeze。 Here； and then gone。
After he was gone； I went back to my slab and sat。 I took a deep breath and sighed it out to still the quivering inside me。 I felt I had passed through a trial； and that this time； at least； I had held my own。 I leaned back against the cold stone wall and glanced once more at my door。
Will's half…lidded eyes bored into me。
I leaped up so suddenly the scabbed…over injury on my leg tore open afresh。 I glared at my window。 Nothing。 He was gone。 Heart hammering； I forced myself to go to the tiny window and peer out it。 No one was there； that I could see。 He was gone。 But I could not make myself believe he was gone。
I limped back to my seat and sat down again； gathering Brawndy's cloak about me。 I stared at my window； looking for motion； for some change in the shadowy light from the guard's torch； for anything to indicate that Will lurked outside my door。 There was nothing。 I longed to quest out； Wit and Skill； to see if I could feel him out there。 I dared not。 I could not venture out of myself without leaving a way for another to push in。
I set my guards about my thoughts and； a few moments later； reset them。 The harder I tried to calm myself； the fiercer my panic became when it rose。 I had been fearing physical torture。 Now the sour fear sweat trickled down my ribs and the sides of my face as I considered all that Will could do to me if he got past my walls。 Once he got inside my head； I would stand before all the Dukes and tell in detail how I had killed King Shrewd。 Regal had invented for me something worse than merely dying。 I could go to my death a self…proclaimed coward and traitor as well。 I would cower at Regal's feet and beg his forgiveness before all。
I think the time that passed was a night。 I slept for none of it； save to doze off and then wake with a start from a dream of eyes at my window。 I dared not even reach out to Nighteyes for fort； and I hoped he would not try to reach me with thoughts。 I came out of such a doze with a start； thinking I had heard footsteps down the hall。 My eyes were sandy； my head ached with my vigilance； and my muscles were knotted from tension。 I stayed where I was on the bench； conserving every bit of strength that I had。
The door was flung open。 A guard thrust a torch into my cell； then cautiously followed it。 Two other guards followed。 〃You。 On your feet！〃 barked the one with the torch。 Farrow was in his accent。
I saw no point in refusing to obey。 I stood up； letting Brawndy's cloak fall back on the bench。 Their leader made a curt gesture； and I fell in between the two guards。 There were four others outside my cell； waiting。 Regal was taking no chances。 None of them were men I knew。 They all wore the colors of Regal's guard。 I could tell their orders by the looks on their faces。 I gave them no excuses。 They took me down the hall a short ways； past the deserted guard post； to the larger chamber that served once as a guardroom。 It had been cleared of furniture； save for a fortable chair。 Every sconce boasted a torch； making the room painfully bright to my light deprived eyes。 The guards left me standing in the middle of the room and joined others lining the walls。 Habit more than hope made me assess my situation。 I counted fourteen guards。 Surely that was an excess； even for me。 Both doors to the chamber were closed。 We waited。
Waiting； standing； in a brightly lit room surrounded by hostile men can be underestimated as a form of torture。 I tried to stand quietly； to shift my weight unobtrusively。 I rapidly grew tired。 It was frightening to discover how quickly starvation and inactivity had weakened me。 I felt almost a sense of relief when the door finally opened。 Regal entered； followed by Will。 Will was quietly remonstrating with him。
〃。。。 unnecessary。 Another night or so would be all I required。〃
〃I prefer this；〃 Regal said acidly。
Will bowed his head in silent assent。 Regal was seated； and Will took a position behind his left shoulder。 Regal considered me for a moment； then leaned back negligently in his chair。 He cocked his head to one side and breathed out through his nose。 He lifted a finger； indicated a man。 〃Bolt。 You。 I want nothing broken。 When we have what we want； I'll want to make him presentable once more。 You understand。〃
Bolt nodded briefly。 He stripped off his winter cloak and let it fall； pulled off his shirt as well。 The other men watched stony…eyed。 From some long…ago discussion with Chade； a small bit of advice came to mind。 〃You can hold out longer under torture if you focus on what you will say rather than what you won't。 I've heard of men repeating the same phrase； over and over； long past the point where they could hear the questions anymore。 By focusing on what you will say； you make it less likely you'll say that whic