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sels； were a burned and scuttled wreckage spread along the beach。 The tides had played with them since the Raiders had destroyed them。 Blackened buildings and smoldering wreckage fanned out from where they had landed； marking their path like a spreading contagion。 Foxglove stood in her stirrups and pointed out over Neatbay； bining her observations with what she knew of the town and Keep。 〃It's a shallow； sandy bay； all the way out。 So when the tide goes out； it goes way out。 They've drawn their boats up too high。 If we can force them to retreat； we want to do it on a low tide； when their ships are sitting high and dry。 They've cut through the town like a hot knife through butter： I doubt there was much of an effort to defend it； it's not really defensible。 Probably everyone headed for the Keep at the first sight of a red keel。 It looks to me like the Outislanders have battered their way in past the third circle。 But Kelvar should be able to hold them off almost indefinitely now。 The fourth wall is worked stone。 It took years to build。 Bayguard has a good well； and her warehouses should still be fat with grain； this early in winter。 She won't fall unless she falls to treachery。〃 Foxglove stopped gesturing and settled in her saddle again。 〃It makes no sense； this attack；〃 she said more softly。 〃How can the Red…Ships expect to sustain a long siege？ Especially if they are； in turn； attacked by our forces？〃
〃The answer could be that they did not expect anyone to e to Bayguard's aid；〃 Kettricken said succinctly。 〃They have the town to pillage for supplies； and perhaps other ships are expected。〃 She turned to Kerf； motioned him alongside Foxglove。 〃I have no battle experience；〃 she said simply。 〃You two will have to plan this。 I listen now； as a soldier。 What should we do next？〃
I saw Burrich wince。 Such honesty is admirable； but not always good leadership。 I saw Foxglove and Kerf exchange measuring glances。 〃My queen； Kerf has more battle experience than I。 I would accept his mand；〃 Foxglove offered quietly。
Kerf looked down； as if mildly ashamed。 〃Burrich was Chivalry's man。 He has seen far more battles than I have；〃 he observed to his mare's neck。 He looked up suddenly。 〃I mend him to you； my queen。〃
Burrich's face was a struggle of conflicting emotions。 For a moment his eyes lit。 Then I saw a hesitation build。
Heart of the Pack； they will hunt well for you； Nighteyes urged him。
〃Burrich； take mand。 They will fight with heart for you。〃
My skin prickled to hear Queen Kettricken virtually echo Nighteyes' thought。 From where I sat； I could actually see a shiver run over Burrich。 He straightened in his saddle。 〃We have no hope of surprising them in this flat country。 And the three circles they have already gained can bee defenses for them。 We are not a vast force。 What we have most of； my queen； is time。 We can pen them。 They have no access to fresh water。 If Bayguard stands； and we keep the Outislanders trapped where they are； between the third earthwork and the wall； we can simply wait for our ships to arrive。 At that time we can judge if we wish to join an attack on them； or simply starve them out。〃
〃This seems wise to me；〃 the Queen approved。
〃They are fools if they have not left at least a small force with their ships。 Those we will have to contend with immediately。 Then we must set our own guards to the ships； with orders to destroy them if it looks like any of the Outislanders have gotten past us and are trying to escape。 If not； you will have ships to add to King…in…Waiting Verity's fleet。〃
〃This； too； seems sensible。〃 The idea clearly pleased Kettricken。
〃It is tidy； but only if we act swiftly。 They will soon be aware of us； if they are not already。 Certainly they will see the situation as clearly as we have。 We need to get down there； and contain those besieging the Keep and destroy those guarding the ships。〃
Kerf and Foxglove were both nodding。 Burrich looked at them。 〃I want your archers for our circle around the Keep。 We want to contain them there； not get into any close fighting。 Simply pin them down where they are。 Wherever they breached the walls is where they will try to trickle out again。 Guard most heavily there； but watch all along the outer wall。 And for now； do not try to go within the outer wall at all。 Let them scuttle about like crabs in a pot。〃
Terse nods from both captains。 Burrich continued。
〃I want swords for the ships。 Expect the fighting to be nasty。 They'll be defending their only escape routes。 Send a few lesser archers； and have them prepare fire arrows。 If all else fails； burn the ships where they're beached。 But try to take them first。〃
〃The Rurisk ！ 〃 Someone in the back ranks gave a cry。 All heads turned to the water。 There was the Rurisk； rounding the north tooth of Neatbay。 In a moment a second sail appeared。 Behind us； the mounted warriors raised a shout。 But out beyond our ships； anchored in deep water； white as a dead man's belly and her sails as bloated； floated the white ship。 The moment I saw it； an icicle of terror sliced my guts。
〃The white ship！〃 I choked。 Fear sent a shudder through me that was almost like pain。
〃What？〃 Burrich asked； startled。 It was the first word he had spoken to me that day。
〃The white ship！〃 I repeated； and pointed a hand。
〃What？ Where？ That？ That's a fog bank。 Our ships are ing into the harbor over there。〃
I looked。 He was right。 A fog bank； melting in the morning sun even as I watched。 My terror receded like the ghost of mocking laughter。 But the day seemed suddenly chillier； and the sun that had briefly parted the storm clouds a weak and watery thing。 An evil cast lingered on the day； like a bad smell。
〃Split your forces and deploy them now；〃 Burrich said quietly。 〃We don't want our ships to meet any resistance as they e into shore。 Quickly； now。 Fitz。 You're to go with the force that attacks the Red…Ships。 Be there when the Rurisk beaches； and let those on board know what we've decided。 As quickly as those Red…Ships are cleaned out； we shall want all fighters to join us in containing the Outislanders。 I wish there was a way to get word to Duke Kelvar of what we're doing。 I suppose he'll see； soon enough。 Well； let's get going。〃
There was some milling about； some conferring between Kerf and Foxglove； but in a surprisingly short time I found myself riding behind Foxglove with a contingent of warriors。 I had my sword； but what I really missed was the ax I had bee so fortable with over the summer。
Nothing was as tidy as was planned。 We encountered Outislanders in the wreckage of the town； long before we reached the beach。 They were moving back toward their ships and were hampered with a coffle of prisoners。 We attacked the Raiders。 Some stood and fought； and some abandoned their prisoners and ran before our horses。 Our troops were soon scattered throughout the still…smoldering buildings and debris scattered streets of Neatbay。 Some of our force stayed to cut the ropes on the prisoners and help them as best they could。 Foxglove swore at the delay； for the Raiders that had fled would warn the ship guards。 Swiftly she split our force； leaving a handful of soldiers to help the battered townsfolk。 The smells of dead bodies and rain on charred timbers brought back my memories of Forge with a vividness that almost unmanned me。 There were bodies everywhere； far more than we had expected to find。 Somewhere I sensed a wolf prowling through the ruins； and took fort from him。
Foxglove cursed us all with surprising skill； and then organized those she kept with her into a wedge。 We swept down on the Red…Ships in time to see one being launched into the retreating tide。 There was little we could do about that； but we were in time to prevent a second ship from getting off。 We killed those ones with surprising alacrity。 There were not many； only a skeleton rowing crew。 We even managed to kill them before they could slay most of their captives who lay bound on the thwarts of the ships。 We suspected that the ship that got off had been similarly laden。 And hence； I surmised to myself； not initially planning to engage the Rurisk or any of the ships that now converged on the one that had eluded us。
But the Red…Ships had been outward bound with hostages。 To where？ To a ghost ship that only I had glimpsed？ Even to think of the white ship brought a shudder over me and a pressure in my head like the beginning of pain。 Perhaps they had intended to drown their hostages； or to Forge them； however that was done。 I was not in a position to give it great thought then； but I saved the knowledge for Chade。 Each of the three remaining beached ships had a contingent of warriors； and they fought as desperately as Burrich had predicted they would。 One ship was set afire by an； overzealous archer； but the others were taken intact。
We had secured all the ships by the time the Rurisk was beached。 There was time now to lift my head and to look out over Neatbay。 No sign of the white ship。 Perhaps it had been only a cloud bank。 Behind the Rurisk came the Constance； and behind them a flotilla of fishing vessels and even a couple of merchant ships。 Most of them had to anchor out in the shallow harbor； but the men aboard them were ferried swiftly ashore。 The warship crews waited for their captains to hear word of what went on； but those from the fishing vessels and merchant ships swept past us and headed directly for the besieged Keep。
The trained crews from the warships soon over took them； and by the time we reached the outer walls of the Keep； there was an attitude of cooperation； if not any real organization。 The prisoners we had freed were weak from lack of food and water； but recovered quickly and were indispensable in giving us intimate knowledge of the outer earthworks。 By afternoon； our siege of the besiegers was in place。 With difficulty； Burrich persuaded all involved that at least one of our warships should remain fully manned and on alert； in the water。 His premonition was proven correct the next morning； when two more Red…Ships sailed around the northern point of the bay。 The Rurisk ran them off； but they fled too easily for us to take any satisfaction in it。 All knew they would simply find an undefended village to raid farther up the coast。 Several of the fishing vessels belatedly gave chase； though there was little chance of them catching the oared vessels of the Raiders。
By the second day of waiting； we were beginning to be bored and unfortable。 The weather had turned foul again。 The hard bread was starting to taste of mold； the dried fish was no longer pletely dry。 To cheer us； Duke Kelvar had added the Buck flag of the Six Duchies to his own pennon flying over Bayguard to acknowledge us。 But like us； he had chosen a waiting strategy。 The Outislanders were penned。 They had not attempted to break out past us； nor to advance closer to the Keep。 All was still and waiting。
〃You don't listen to warnings。 You never have。〃 Burrich spoke quietly to me。
Night had fallen。 It was the first time since our arrival that we had had more than a few moments together。 He sat on a log； his injured leg stretched straight in front of him。 I crouched by the fire； trying to warm my hands。 We were outside a temporary shelter set up for the Queen； tending a very smoky fire。 Burrich had wanted her to settle in one of the few intact buildings left in Neatbay； but she had refused； insisting on staying close to her warriors。 Her guard came and went freely； in her shelter and at her fire。 Burrich frowned over their familiarity； but also approved her loyalty。 〃Your father； too； was like that；〃 he observed suddenly as two of Kettricken's guard emerged from her shelter and went to relieve others still on watch。
〃Didn't take warnings？〃 I asked in surprise。
Burrich shook his head。 〃No。 Always his soldiers； ing and going； at all hours。 I've always wondered when he found the privacy to create you。〃
I must have looked shocked； for Burrich suddenly flushed as well。 〃Sorry。 I'm tired and my leg is 。。。 unfortable。 I wasn't thinking what I was saying。〃
I found a smile unexpectedly。 〃It's all