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〃Kettricken？〃 I ventured the familiarity as I had not for months。 〃Let us go to him now with this idea。 At once。 I will go with you。〃
She spoke hesitantly； not turning to look at me。 〃You do not think it is foolish？〃
I would not lie； I reminded myself。 〃I think that as things stand； we must consider any possible sources of aid。〃 As I spoke the words I found I believed them。 Had not both Chade and the Fool hinted； no； pleaded for this very idea？ Perhaps Verity and I were the ones who were shortsighted。
She took a shuddering breath。 〃We shall do it； then。 But 。。。 you must wait for me outside my chamber。 I wish to fetch several scrolls to show him。 I will be but a short time。〃 She turned to Patience； spoke more loudly。 〃Lady Patience； might I ask you to finish these plants for me as well？ I have something else I wish to attend to。〃
〃Of course； my queen。 I should be pleased to。〃
We left the garden； and I followed her to her chambers。 I waited for more than a short time。 When she emerged； her little maid Rosemary was behind her； insisting on carrying the scrolls for her。 Kettricken had washed the soil from her hands。 And changed her gown； and added scent and dressed her hair and was wearing the jewelry Verity had sent to her when she was pledged to him。 She smiled at me cautiously as I looked at her。 〃My lady queen； I am dazzled；〃 I ventured。
〃You flatter me as wildly as Regal does；〃 she proclaimed； and hastened away down the hall； but a blush warmed her cheeks。
She dresses so just to e to speak to me？
She dresses so to 。。。 attract you。 How could a man so astute at reading men be so ignorant of women？
Perhaps he has had little time ever to learn much of their ways。
I clamped my mind shut on my thoughts and hastened after my queen。 We arrived at Verity's study just in time to see Charim leaving。 He was carrying an armful of laundry。 It seemed odd until we were admitted。 Verity was wearing a soft shirt of pale blue linen； and the mingled scents of lavender and cedar were lively in the air。 It reminded me of a clothes chest。 His hair and beard were freshly smoothed； well I knew that his hair never stayed that way for more than a few minutes。 As Kettricken advanced shyly to curtsy to her lord； I saw Verity as I had not for months。 The summer of Skilling had wasted him again。 The fine shirt belled about his shoulders； and the smoothed hair was as much gray as black now。 There were lines； too； about his eyes and mouth that I had never noticed before。
Do I look so poorly； then？
Not to her； I reminded him。
As Verity took her hand and drew her to sit down beside him on a bench near the fire； she looked at him with a hunger as deep as his Skill drive。 Her fingers clung to his hand； and I looked aside as he lifted her hand to kiss it。 Perhaps Verity was right about a Skill sensitivity。 What Kettricken felt battered at me as roughly as the fury of my crew mates during battle。
I felt a flutter of astonishment from Verity。 Then： Shield yourself； he manded me brusquely； and I was suddenly alone inside my skull。 I stood still a moment； dizzied by the abruptness of his departure。 He really had no idea； I found myself thinking； and felt glad the thought remained private。
〃My lord； I have e to ask a moment or two of your time for 。。。 an idea I have。〃 Kettricken's eyes searched his face as she spoke quietly。
〃Certainly；〃 Verity agreed。 He glanced up at me。 〃FitzChivalry； will you join us？〃
〃If you will； my lord。〃 I took a seat on a stool on the opposite side of the hearth。 Rosemary came and stood at my elbow with her armload of scrolls。 Probably filched from my room by the Fool； I suspected。 But as Kettricken began to talk to Verity she took up the scrolls one by one； in each case to illustrate her argument。 Without exception； they were scrolls that dealt； not with the Elderlings； but with the Mountain Kingdom。 〃King Wisdom； you may recall； was the first of Six Duchies nobility to e to our land 。。。 to the land of the Mountain Kingdom； for anything other than the making of war upon us。 So he is well remembered in our histories。 These scrolls； copied from ones made in his time； deal with his doings and travels in the Mountain Kingdom。 And thus； indirectly； with the Elderlings。〃 She unrolled the last scroll。 Verity and I both leaned forward in amazement。 A map。 Faded with time； poorly copied probably； but a map。 Of the Mountain Kingdom； with passes and trails marked on it。 And a few straggling lines leading into the lands beyond。
〃One of these paths； marked here； must lead to the Elderlings。 For I know the trails of the Mountains； and these are not trade routes； nor do they go to any village I know。 Nor do they lie in conjunction with the trails as I know them now to be。 These are older roads and paths。 And why else would they be marked here； save that they go where King Wisdom went？〃
〃Can it be that simple？〃 Verity rose quickly； to return with a branch of candles to light the map better。 He smoothed the vellum lovingly with his hands and leaned close over it。
〃There are several paths marked that go off into the Rain Wilds。 If that is what all this green represents。 None seem to have anything marked at the end。 How would we know which one？〃 I objected。
〃Perhaps they all go to the Elderlings；〃 Kettricken ventured。 〃Why should they reside in but one place？〃
〃No！〃 Verity straightened up。 〃Two at least have something marked at the end。 Or had something。 The damned ink has faded。 But there was something there。 I intend to find out what。〃
Even Kettricken looked astonished at the enthusiasm in his voice。 I was shocked。 I had expected him to heather out politely； not to endorse her plan wholeheartedly。
He rose suddenly； paced a quick turn around the room。 The Skill energy radiated off him like heat from a hearth。 〃The full storms of winter are upon the coast now。 Or will be； any day now。 If I leave quickly； in the next few days； I can be to the Mountain Kingdom while the passes can still be used。 I can force my way through to 。。。 whatever is there。 And return by spring。 Perhaps with the help we need。〃
I was speechless。 Kettricken made it worse。
〃My lord； I had not intended that you should go。 You should remain here。 I must go。 I know the Mountains； I was born to their ways。 You might not survive there。 In this； I should be Sacrifice。〃
It was a relief to see Verity as dumbfounded as I was。 Perhaps； having heard it from her lips； he would now realize how impossible it was。 He shook his head slowly。 He took both her hands in his and looked solemnly at her。 〃My queen…in…waiting。〃 He sighed。 〃I must do this。 I。 In so many other ways I have failed the Six Duchies。 And you。 When first you came here to be queen； I had no patience with your talk of Sacrifice。 I thought it a girl's idealistic notion。 But it is not。 We do not speak it here； but it is what is felt。 It is what I learned from my parents。 To put the Six Duchies always ahead of myself。 I have tried to do that。 But now I see that always I have sent others in my place。 I sat and Skilled； it is true； and you have an inkling what it has cost me。 But it has been sailors and soldiers who I have sent out to put down their lives for the Six Duchies。 My own nephew； even； doing the crude and bloody work for me。 And despite those I have sent to be sacrificed； our coast is still not safe。 Now it es to this last chance； to this hard thing。 Shall I send my queen to do it for me？〃
〃Perhaps 。。。〃 Kettricken's voice had gone husky with uncertainty。 She looked down at the fire as she suggested； 〃Perhaps we might go together？〃
Verity considered。 He actually earnestly considered it； and I saw Kettricken realize he had taken her request seriously。 She began to smile； but it faded as he slowly shook his head。 〃I dare not；〃 he said quietly。 〃Someone must remain here。 Someone I trust。 King Shrewd is 。。。 my father is not well。 I fear for him。 For his health。 With myself away； and my father ill； there must be someone to stand in my stead。〃
She looked aside。 〃I would rather go with you；〃 she said fiercely。
I averted my eyes as he reached and took her chin in his fingers and lifted her face so he might see her eyes。 〃I know；〃 he said evenly。 〃That is the sacrifice I must ask you to make。 To stay here； when you would rather go。 To be alone； yet again。 For the sake of the Six Duchies。〃
Something went out of her。 Her shoulders sagged as she bowed her head to his will。 As Verity gathered her to him I rose silently。 I took Rosemary with me and we left them alone。
I was in my room； poring belatedly over the scrolls and tablets there； when the page came to my door that afternoon。 〃You are summoned to the King's chambers； in the hour after dinner；〃 was the only message he gave me。 Dismay rolled over me。 It had been two weeks since my last visit to his chamber。 I did not wish to confront the King again。 If he were summoning me to say that he expected me to begin courting Celerity； I did not know what I would do or say。 I feared I would lose control of myself。 Resolutely I unrolled one of the El