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〃Well； at least it's not likely to be poisonous to him。 Right now； it's just the bone。 But if he gets it down； it's still likely to kill him。〃
She gasped。 〃No； it can't！ He mustn't die。 He'll be fine。 He just has an upset stomach。 I just fed him too much。 He'll be fine！ What do you know about it anyway； kitchen boy？〃
I watched the feist go through another round of almost convulsive retching。 Nothing came up but yellow bile。 〃I'm not a kitchen boy。 I'm a dog boy。 Verity's own dog boy； if you must know。 And if we don't help this little mutt； he's going to die。 Very soon。〃
She watched； her face a mixture of awe and horror； as I gripped her little pet firmly。 I'm trying to help。 He didn't believe me。 I prized his jaws open and forced my two fingers down his gullet。 The feist gagged even more fiercely and pawed at me frantically with his front paws。 His claws needed cutting； too。 With the tips of my fingers I could feel the bone。 I twiddled my fingers against it and felt it move。 But it was wedged sideways in the little beast's throat。 The dog gave a strangled howl and struggled frantically in my arms。 I let him go。 〃Well。 He's not going to get rid of that without some help；〃 I observed。
I left her wailing and sniveling over him。 At least she didn't snatch him up and squeeze him。 I got myself a handful of butter from the keg and plopped it into my stew bowl。 Now I needed something hooked； or sharply curved； but not too large。 I rattled through bins and finally came up with a curved hook of metal with a handle on it。 Possibly it was used to lift hot pots off the fire。
〃Sit down；〃 I told the maid。
She gaped at me； and then sat obediently on the bench I'd pointed to。
〃Now hold him firmly； between your knees。 And don't let him go； no matter how he claws and wiggles or yelps。 And hold on to his front feet so he doesn't claw me to ribbons while I'm doing this。 Understand？〃
She took a deep breath； then gulped and nodded。 Tears were streaming down her face。 I set the dog on her lap and put her hands on him。
〃Hold tight；〃 I told her。 I scooped up a gobbet of butter。 〃I'm going to use the fat to grease things up。 Then I've got to force his jaws open； and hook the bone and jerk it out。 Are you ready？〃
She nodded。 The tears had stopped flowing and her lips were set。 I was glad to see she had some strength to her。 I nodded back。
Getting the butter down was the easy part。 It blocked his throat； though； and his panic increased； pounding at my self…control with his waves of terror。 I had no time to be gentle as I forced his jaws open and then put the hook down his throat。 I hoped I wouldn't snag his flesh。 But if I did； well； he would die anyway。 I turned the tool in his throat as he wiggled and yelped and pissed all over his mistress。 The hook caught on the bone and I pulled； evenly and firmly。
It came up in a welter of froth and bile and blood。 A nasty little bone； not a fishbone at all； but the partial breastbone of a small bird。 I flipped it onto the table。 〃And he shouldn't have poultry bones either；〃 I told her severely。
I don't think she even heard me。 Doggy was wheezing gratefully on her lap。 I picked up the dish of water and held it out to him。 He sniffed it； lapped a bit； and then curled up； exhausted。 She picked him up and cradled him in her arms； her head bent over his。
〃There's something I want from you；〃 I began。
〃Anything。〃 She spoke into his fur。 〃Ask； and it's yours。〃
〃First； stop giving him your food。 Give him only red meat and boiled grain for a while。 And for a dog that size； no more than you can cup in your hand。 And don't carry him everywhere。 Make him run about； to give him some muscle and wear down his nails。 And wash him。 He smells foul； coat and breath； from too rich food。 Or he won't live but another year or two。〃
She looked up； stricken。 Her hand went up to her mouth。 And something in her motion； so like her self…conscious touching of her jewelry at dinner； suddenly made me realize who I was scolding。 Lady Grace。 And I had made her dog piss on her night robe。
Something in my face must have given me away。 She smiled delightedly and held her doggy closer。 〃I'll do as you suggest； dog boy。 But for yourself？ Is there nothing you'd ask as reward？〃
She thought I'd ask for a coin or ring or even a position with her household。 Instead； as steadily as I could； I looked at her and said； 〃Please； Lady Grace。 I ask that you ask your lord to man Watch Island's tower with the best of his men； to put an end to the strife between Rippon and Shoaks Duchies。〃
〃What？〃
That single…word question told me volumes about her。 The accent and inflection hadn't been learned as Lady Grace。
〃Ask your lord to man his towers well。 Please。〃
〃Why does a dog boy care about such things？〃
Her question was too blunt。 Wherever Kelvar had found her； she hadn't been highborn； or wealthy before this。 Her delight when I recognized her； the way she had brought her dog down to the familiar fort of a kitchen； by herself； wrapped in her blanket； told of a mon girl elevated too quickly and too far above her previous station。 She was lonely； and uncertain； and uneducated as to what was expected of her。 Worse； she knew that she was ignorant； and that knowledge ate at her and soured her pleasures with fear。 If she did not learn how to be a duchess before her youth and beauty faded； only years of loneliness and ridicule could await her。 She needed a mentor； someone secret； like Chade。 She needed the advice I could give her； right now。 But I had to go carefully； for she would not accept advice from a dog boy。 Only a mon girl might do that； and the only thing she knew about herself right now was that she was no longer a mon girl； but a duchess。
〃I had a dream；〃 I said； suddenly inspired。 〃So clear。 Like a vision。 Or a warning。 It woke me and I felt I must e to the kitchen。〃 I let my eyes unfocus。 Her eyes went wide。 I had her。 〃I dreamed of a woman； who spoke wise words and turned three strong men into a united wall that the Red…Ship Raiders could not breach。 She stood before them； and jewels were in her hands； and she said； 'Let the watchtowers shine brighter than the gems in these rings。 Let the vigilant soldiers who man them encircle our coast as these pearls used to encircle my neck。 Let the keeps be strengthened anew against those who threaten our people。 For I would be glad to walk plain in the sight of both King and moner； and let the defenses that guard our people bee the jewels of our land。' And the King and his dukes were astounded at her wise heart and noble ways。 But her people loved her best of all； for they knew she loved them better than gold or silver。〃
It was awkward； not near as cleverly spoken as I had hoped to make it。 But it caught her fancy。 I could see her imagining herself standing straight and noble before the King…in…Waiting and astonishing him with her sacrifice。 I sensed in her the burning desire to distinguish herself； to be spoken of admiringly by the people she had e from。 Perhaps she had once been a milkmaid or a kitchen wench； and was still perceived as such by those who knew her。 This would show them she was now a duchess in more than name。 Lord Shemshy and his entourage would carry word of her deed back to Shoaks Duchy。 Minstrels would celebrate her words in song。 And her husband for once would be surprised by her。 Let him see her as someone who cared for the land and folk； rather than the pretty little thing he had snared with his title。 Almost I could see the thoughts parade through her mind。 Her eyes had gone distant and she wore an abstract smile。
〃Good night； dog boy；〃 she said softly； and glided from the kitchen； her dog cuddled against her breast。 She wore the blanket around her shoulders as if it were a cloak of ermine。 She would play her role tomorrow very well。 I grinned suddenly； wondering if I had acplished my mission without poison。 Not that I had really investigated whether or not Kelvar was guilty of treason； but I had a feeling that I had chopped the root of the problem。 I was willing to bet that the watchtowers would be well manned before the week was out。
I made my way back up to my bed。 I had pilfered a loaf of fresh bread from the kitchen and this I offered to the guards who readmitted me to Verity's bedchamber。 In some distant part of Bayguard someone brayed out the hour。 I didn't pay much attention。 I burrowed back into my bedding； my belly satisfied and my spirit anticipating the spectacle that Lady Grace would present tomorrow。 As I dozed off I was wagering with myself that she would wear something straight and simple and white； and that her hair would be unbound。
I never got to find out。 It seemed but moments later that I was shaken awake。 I opened my eyes to find Charim crouched over me。 A dim light from a lit candle made elongated shadows on the chamber walls。 〃Wake up； Fitz；〃 he whispered hoarsely。 〃A runner's e to the keep； from Lady Thyme。 She requires you immediately。 Your horse is being made ready。〃
〃Me？〃 I asked stupidly。
〃Of course。 I've laid out clothes for you。 Dress quietly。 Verity is still asleep。〃
〃What does she need me for？〃
〃Why； I don't know。 The message wasn't specific。 Perhaps she's taken ill。 Fitz。 The runner said only that she required you immediately。 I suppose you'll find out when you get there。〃
That was slim fort。 But it was enough to stir curiosity in me； and in any case； I had to go。 I didn't know exactly what relation Lady Thyme was to the King； but she was far above me in importance。 I didn't dare ignore her mand。 I dressed quickly by candlelight and left my room for the second time that night。 Hands had Sooty saddled and ready； along with a ribald jest or two about my summons。 I suggested how he might amuse himself the rest of the night and then left。 I was waved out of the keep and through the fortifications by guards who had been advised of my ing。
I turned wrong twice in the town。 It all appeared different by night； and I had not paid much attention to where I had been going earlier。 At last I found the inn yard。 A worried innkeeper was awake and had a light in the window。 〃She's been groaning and calling for you for most of an hour now； sirrah；〃 she told me anxiously。 〃I fear it's serious； but she will let no one in but you。〃
I hurried down the hall to her door。 I tapped cautiously； half expecting her shrill voice to tell me to go away and stop bothering her。 Instead； a quavering voice called out； 〃Oh； Fitz； is that finally you？ Hurry in； boy。 I need you。
I took a deep breath and lifted the latch。 I went into the semidarkness of the stuffy room； holding my breath against the various smells that assaulted my nostrils。 Death stench could hardly be worse than this； I thought to myself。
Heavy hangings draped the bed。 The only light in the room came from a single candle guttering in its holder。 I picked it up and ventured closer to the bed。 〃Lady Thyme？〃 I asked softly。 〃What's wrong？〃
〃Boy。〃 The voice came quietly from a dark corner of the room。
〃Chade；〃 I said； and instantly felt more foolish than I care to remember。
〃There's no time to explain all the reasons。 Don't feel bad； boy。 Lady Thyme has fooled many folk in her time； and will continue to。 At least I hope so。 Now。 Trust me and don't ask questions。 Just do what I tell you。 First； go to the innkeeper。 Tell her that Lady Thyme has had one of her attacks and must rest quietly for a few days。 Tell her on no account to disturb her。 Her great…granddaughter will be ing in to care for her…〃
〃Who…〃
〃It's been arranged already。 And her great…granddaughter will be bringing in food for her and everything else she needs。 Just emphasize that Lady Thyme needs quiet and to be left alone。 Go and do that now。〃
And I did； and I appeared jolted enough that I was very convincing。 The innkeeper promised me that she would let no one so much as tap on a door； for she would be most reluctant to lose Lady Thyme's good opinion of her inn and her trade。 By which I surmised that Lady Thyme paid her generously indeed。
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