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h to convey a martial aspect to the Elderlings。 His real mission was disclosed to few except his panions。 Ostensibly he went to the Mountain Kingdom to treat with his queen's father； King Eyod； about possible military support against the Red…Ships。
Of those he asked to acpany him； there are several worth noting。 Hod； arms master for Buckkeep； was one of the first he selected。 Her grasp of tactics was not exceeded by any within the realm and her prowess with weapons was still remarkable despite her years。 Charim； Verity's body servant； had been with him so long and acpanied him on so many campaigns； it was unthinkable to either of them that he be left behind。 Chestnut； brown as his name； had been a member of Verity's military guard for over a decade of years。 He was missing an eye and most of an ear； but despite that seemed twice as alert as any other man。 Keef and Kef； born twins； and like Chestnut； members of Verity's honor guard for years； went also。 One other； Burrich； the master of stables at Buckkeep； joined the party of his own accord。 When his leaving Buckkeep was protested； he pointed out that he left an able man in charge of Buckkeep's stables； and that the party would need a man who was knowledgeable of animals in order to get the beasts alive through the Mountains in midwinter。 His abilities as a healer and his experience as a King's Man to Prince Chivalry were also qualifications he pointed out； but this last one was known to but a few。
The night before Verity was to leave； he summoned me to his study。 〃You don't approve of this； do you？ You think it's a fool's errand；〃 he greeted me。
I had to smile。 Inadvertently； he had exactly stated what I thought。 〃I am afraid I have serious doubts；〃 I agreed cautiously。
〃As do I。 But what else is left to me？ This； at least； is a chance for me to actually do something myself。 Other than sit in that bedamned tower and Skill myself to death。〃
He had painstakingly recopied Kettricken's map over the last few days。 As I watched he rolled it carefully and slid it into a leather case。 The difference the last week had made in the man amazed me。 He was still gray； his body still worn and sadly dwindled from too many months of sitting。 But he moved with energy； and both he and Kettricken had graced the Great Hall every evening since the decision had been made。 It had been a pleasure to watch him eat with an appetite； and once more linger over a glass of wine while Mellow or another of the minstrels entertained us all。 The renewed warmth between Kettricken and him was another appetite he had recovered。 Her eyes seldom left her lord's countenance when they were at table。 While the minstrels entertained； her fingers were always resting on the back of his forearm。 She glowed in his presence like a burning candle。 Shield myself as I might； I was all too aware of how much they enjoyed their nights。 I had attempted to hide from their passions by immersing myself in Molly。 I ended up feeling guilty that Molly was so pleased with my renewed ardor。 How would she feel if she knew my appetites were not entirely my own？
The Skill。 I had been warned of its powers and pitfalls； of how it might call to a man and drain him of everything except a hunger for its use。 This was one trap I had never been warned about。 In some ways； I was looking forward to Verity leaving so I could call my soul my own again。
〃What you do in that tower is not a lesser task。 If folk could but understand how you burn yourself for them 。。。〃
〃As you understand only too well。 We've grown close this summer； boy。 Closer than I'd ever have thought possible。 Closer than any man has been to me since your father died。〃
Closer even than you might suspect； my prince。 But I did not utter those words。 〃We have。〃
〃I've a favor to ask you。 Two； actually。〃
〃You know that I won't refuse you。〃
〃Never say that so easily。 The first is that you look after my lady。 She has grown wiser in Buckkeep ways； but she is still far too trusting。 Keep her safe until I return。〃
〃That is always yours without asking； my prince。〃
〃And the other。〃 He took a breath； sighed it out。 〃I wish to try to stay here as well。 In your mind。 For as long as I can。〃
〃My prince。〃 I hesitated。 He was right。 This was not a thing I wished to grant him。 But I had already said I would。 I knew that for the sake of the kingdom； it was a wise thing to do。 But for myself？ Already I had felt the boundaries of my self eroding before Verity's strong presence。 We were not talking about a contact of hours now； or days； but of weeks and likely months。 I wondered if this was what happened to coterie members； if eventually they ceased having separate lives。 〃What of your coterie？〃 I asked quietly。
〃What of them？〃 he retorted。 〃I leave them in place； in the watchtowers and on my ships for now。 Whatever messages they must send； they can send to Serene。 In my absence； she will take them to Shrewd。 If there is anything they feel I must know； they can Skill me。〃 He paused。 〃There will be other sorts of information that I would seek through you。 Things I would prefer kept private。〃
Tidings of his queen； I thought to myself。 How Regal would employ his powers in his brother's absence。 Gossip and intrigues。 In one sense； trifling things。 In another； the detail that secured Verity's position。 I wished for the thousandth time that I could Skill reliably of my own accord。 If I had had that ability； Verity would not have needed to ask this of me。 I would have been able to reach out to him at any time。 But as matters stood； the touch…imposed Skill bond we had used over the summer was our only resource。 Through it； he could be aware of what went on at Buckkeep when he chose to； and I could receive instructions from him。 I hesitated； but already knew that I would accede。 From loyalty to him and to the Six Duchies； I told myself。 Not from any Skill hunger in myself。 I looked up at him。 〃I will do it。〃
〃Knowing well that this is how it begins；〃 he said。 It was not a question。 Already； this was how accurately we could read one another。 He did not wait for my answer。 〃I will be as inconspicuous as I can；〃 he promised。 I walked to him。 He lifted a hand and touched my shoulder。 Verity was with me again； as he had not consciously been since the day in his study when he had bid me to shield myself。
The day of the departure was fine； crisply cold； but the skies were clear blue。 Verity； true to his word； had kept his expedition to a minimum。 Riders had been dispatched the morning after the council to precede him on his route and arrange supplies and lodgings in the towns where he would pass。 This would allow him to travel swiftly and lightly through much of the Six Duchies。
As his expedition set off that chill morning I alone of the crowd did not bid Verity farewell。 He nestled inside my mind； small and silent as a seed waiting for spring。 As unnoticed； almost； as Nighteyes。 Kettricken had chosen to watch the departure from the frosty walls of the Queen's Garden。 She had said her farewells to him earlier； and chosen this spot so that if she wept； none would take it amiss。 I stood at her side and endured the resonance of what she and Verity had e to share in the last week。 I was both glad for her and heartsick that what she had so recently found must so quickly be taken from her。 Horses and men； pack animals and banners finally passed behind a shoulder of hills and out of our sight。 Then I felt that which sent a chill up my spine。 She Wit…quested after him。 Very faintly； it was true； but enough that somewhere in my heart； Nighteyes sat up； eyes aflame； and asked； What's this？
Nothing。 Nothing to do with us； anyway。 I added； We hunt together soon； my brother； as we have not for too long。
For a few days after the cavalcade's departure； I almost had my own life again。 I had dreaded Burrich's leaving with Verity。 I understood what drove him to follow his king…in…waiting； but felt unfortably exposed with them both gone。 That told me much about myself that I really did not want to know。 But the other side of that coin was that with Burrich gone and Verity's presence inside me coiled tight； Nighteyes and I were finally free to use the Wit as openly as we wished。 Almost every dawn I was with him； miles from the Keep。 On the days when we sought Forged ones； I rode Sooty； but she did not ever feel pletely fortable around the wolf。 After a time there seemed far fewer of them； and no more ing into the area。 We began to be able to hunt game for ourselves。 For that； I went afoot； for we hunted more panionably that way。 Nighteyes approved of my physical improvement over the summer。 That winter； for the first time since Regal had poisoned me； I felt I had the full use of my body and strength again。 The vigorous mornings of hunting and the deep hours of the night with Molly would have been enough life for any man。 There is something pletely satisfying about simple things such as these。
I suppose I wanted my life to be always this simple and plete。 I tried to ignore things I knew were dangerous。 The continued fine weather； I told myself； would assure Verity a fine start