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ng； I had encountered only the officious Wallace。 Wallace had been most brusque with me； as if I were e simply to pass the time of day； rather than to report after a mission。 He behaved as if the King were the most delicate of invalids and took it upon himself to keep anyone from bothering him。 Wallace； I decided； had not been very well taught as to what the duties of his position were。 He was a most annoying man。 As I talked I was wondering how long it would take Molly to find the wintergreen。 She must know I had meant it for her； it was a taste she had always been greedy for when we were children。
Wallace came to the door and opened it a crack to peer out。 He frowned at discovering me。 He swung the door wider； but filled the opening with his body； as if my glimpsing the King might do him harm。 He gave me no greeting； only demanded； 〃Did not you e before； earlier today？〃
〃Yes。 I did。 At that time you told me King Shrewd slept。 And so I have e again； to make my report。〃 I tried to keep my tone civil。
〃Ah。 It is important； this report？〃
〃I think the King can judge if it is； and send me away if he thinks I waste his time。 I suggest you tell him I am here。〃 I smiled belatedly； trying to soften the sharpness of my tone。
〃The King has little energy。 I try to see that he expends it only where it is needed。〃 He wasn't moving from the door。 I found myself sizing him up； wondering if I could just shoulder past him。 That would create a motion； and if the King were ill； I did not wish that。 Someone tapped on my shoulder； but when I turned to look； no one was there。 Turning back； I found the Fool in front of me； between Wallace and me。
〃Are you his physician； then； to make such judgments？〃 The Fool took up my conversation for me。 〃For surely； you would be an excellent one。 You physick me merely with your looks； and your words dispel your wind as well as mine。 How physicked then must our dear king be； who languishes all day in your presence？〃
The Fool bore a tray covered with a napkin。 I smelled good beef broth and egg bread warm from the oven。 His winter motley of black and white he had made merry with enameled bells and a garland of holly banded his cap。 His fool's scepter was tucked up under his arm。 A rat again。 This one had been set atop the wand as if prancing。 I had observed him holding long conversations with it in front of the Great Hearth； or on the steps before the King's throne。
〃Begone； Fool！ You've been in here twice today already。 The King has already gone to his bed。 He has no need of you。〃 The man spoke sternly。 But Wallace was the one who retreated； without intending to。 I saw he was one of those people who could not meet the Fool's pale eyes； and quailed from the touch of his white hand。
〃Twice shall be thrice； Wall Ass； dear； and your presence replaced with my presents。 Toddle off hence； and tell Regal all your tattling。 If walls have ears； then so must you； for you've already the Wall's Ass。 Such ears are filled to overflowing with the King's business。 You might physick our dear prince while you enlighten him。 For the darkness of his glance； methinks； betokens that his bowels have backed up so far as to blind him。〃
〃Dare you speak so of the Prince？〃 Wallace sputtered。 The Fool was already inside the door and I on his heels。 〃He shall hear of this。〃
〃Speak so？ Speak； sow。 I doubt not that he hears all that you do。 Do not vent your wind at me； Wall Ass dear。 Save that for your prince； who delights in such puffing。 He is at his smokes now； I believe； and you might gust at him and he shall drowse and nod and think you speak wisely and your airs most sweet。〃
The Fool continued his advance as he nattered on； the laden tray like a shield before him。 Wallace gave ground readily； and the Fool forced him back； through the sitting room and into the King's bedchamber。 There the Fool set the tray down at the King's bedside while Wallace retreated to the other door of the chamber。 The Fool's eyes grew brighter。
〃Ah； not abed at all； our king； unless you've hidden him under coverlets； Wall Ass； my sweet。 e out； e out； my king； my Shrewd one。 King Shrewd you are； not king of shrews to hide and creep about the walls and under the bedding。〃 The Fool began to poke so assiduously among the obviously empty bed and coverlets； and to send his rat scepter peeping up among the bed curtains； that I could not contain my laughter。
Wallace leaned back against the inner door； as if to guard it from us； but at that instant it opened from within； and he all but tumbled into the King's arms。 He sat down heavily on the floor。 〃Mind him！〃 the Fool observed to me。 〃See how he seeks to put himself in my place before the King's feet； and to play the fool with his clumsy pratfalls。 Such a man deserves the title Fool； but not the post！〃
Shrewd stood there； robed as for rest； a frown of vexation on his face。 He looked down in puzzlement at Wallace on the floor； and up at the Fool and me waiting for him； and then dismissed whatever the situation was。 He spoke to Wallace as he scrabbled to his feet。 〃This steam does me no good at all； Wallace。 It but makes my head ache all the more； and leaves a foul taste in my mouth as well。 Take it away； and tell Regal I think his new herb might drive flies away；but not sickness。 Take it away now； before it stinks up this room as well。 Ah； Fool； you are here。 And Fitz； you have finally e to report as well。 e in； sit down。 Wallace； do you hear me？ Remove that wretched pot！ No； do not bring it through here； take it out the other way。〃 And with a wave of his hand； Shrewd swatted the man away as if he had been an annoying fly。
Shrewd shut the door to his bathing room firmly； as if to keep the stink from spreading into his bedchamber； and came to take a straight…backed chair by the fire。 In a moment the Fool had drawn a table up beside it； the cloth covering the food had bee a tablecloth； and he had set out food for the King as prettily as any serving maid could have done。 Silverware and a napkin appeared； a sleight of hand that had even Shrewd smiling； and then the Fool folded himself up on the hearth； knees nearly to his ears； chin cupped in his long…fingered hands； pale skin and hair picking up red tones from the fire's dancing flames。 His every move was as graceful as a dancer's and the pose he struck now was artful as well as ical。 The King reached down to smooth his flying hair as if the Fool were a kitten。
〃I told you I was not hungry； Fool。〃
〃That you did。 But you did not tell me not to bring food。〃
〃And if I had？〃
〃Then I should tell you this is not food； but a steaming pot such as Wall Ass afflicts you with； to fill your nostrils with a scent at least more pleasing than his。 And this be not bread； but a plaster for your tongue； which you should apply at once。〃
〃Ah。〃 King Shrewd drew his table a bit closer and took up a spoonful of the soup。 Barley shouldered against bits of carrot and meat in it。 Shrewd tasted； and then began to eat。
〃Am I not at least as good a physician as Wall Ass？〃 the Fool purred； well pleased with himself。
〃Well you know Wallace is not a physician； but simply my servant。〃
〃Well I know it； and well do you； but Wall Ass knows it not； and hence you are not well。〃
〃Enough of your nattering。 Step up； Fitz； don't stand there grinning like a simpleton。 What have you to tell me？〃
I glanced at the Fool； and then decided I would insult neither King nor Fool by asking if I could report freely in front of him。 So I did； a simple report； with no mention of my more clandestine actions other than their results。 Shrewd listened gravely； and at the end he had no ment； other than to rebuke me mildly for poor manners at the Duke's table。 He then asked if Duke Brawndy of Bearns seemed well and content with the peace in his Duchy。 I replied that he had when I left。 Shrewd nodded。 Then he requested the scrolls I had copied。 These I took out and displayed for him； and was rewarded by a pliment on the gracefulness of my handiwork。 He told me to take them to Verity's map room； and be sure Verity knew of them。 He asked if I had viewed the Elderling's relic。 I described it to him in detail。 And all the while the Fool perched on the hearthstones and watched us silent as an owl。 King Shrewd ate his soup and bread under the Fool's watchful eyes as I read the scroll aloud to him。 When I was finished； he sighed and leaned back in his chair。 〃So； let's see this scrollwork of yours；〃 he manded； and puzzled； I surrendered it to him。 Once more he looked it over carefully； then re…rolled it。 As he gave it back to me he said； 〃You've a graceful way with a pen； boy。 Well lettered and well done。 Take it to Verity's map room； and see that he knows of it。〃
〃Of course； my king。〃 I faltered； confused。 I did not understand his motive in repeating himself； and was unsure if he were waiting for some other response from me。 But the Fool was rising； and I caught from him something less than a glance； not quite the lift of an eyebrow； not quite the turn of a lip； but enough to bid me to silence。 The Fool gathered up the dishes； all the while maki