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livid marks on his throat and chest； but through barely opened eyes； I could see them fading rapidly。 Soon there was no sign of Nighteyes' attack save the wet stain spreading down the front of Justin's trousers。 His eyes sagged closed。 Serene shook him like a doll。 〃Justin！ Open your eyes。 Justin！〃
〃What are you doing to that man？〃 The Fool's stage voice； expressing outrage and surprise； filled my room。 Behind him； my door stood open wide。 A passing maid； arms full of shirts； peeped in； startled； then stopped to stare。 The little page girl carrying a basket behind her came hurrying to peek around the door's edge。 The Fool set the tray he was carrying down on the floor and came into my room。 〃What is the meaning of this？〃
〃He attacked Justin；〃 Serene sobbed。
Disbelief flooded the Fool's face。 〃Him？ He looks like he could not attack a pillow。 You were the one I saw worrying that boy。 〃
Serene let go of Justin's collar； and he dropped like a rag at her feet。 The Fool looked down at him pityingly。
〃Poor fellow！ Was she trying to force herself on you？〃
〃Don't be ridiculous！〃 Serene was outraged。 〃It was him！〃 She pointed at me。
The Fool looked at me consideringly。 〃This is a grave accusation。 Answer me truthfully； Bastard。 Was she really trying to force herself on you？〃
〃No。〃 My voice came out like I felt。 Sick； exhausted and groggy。 〃I was sleeping。 They came quietly into my room。 Then 。。。〃 I knit my brows； and let my voice trail off。 〃I think I have had too much Smoke this night。〃
〃And I agree！〃 There was fine disdain in the Fool's voice。 〃Such an unseemly show of lust I have seldom seen！〃 The Fool spun suddenly on the peeping page and maid。 〃This shames all of Buckkeep！ To find our own Skilled ones behaving so。 I charge you to speak of this to no one。 Let no gossip about this begin。〃 He turned back suddenly on Serene and Justin。 Serene's face was flooded scarlet； her mouth open in outrage。 Justin pulled himself to a sitting position at her feet and sat； swaying。 He clutched at her skirts like a toddler trying to stand。
〃I do not lust after this man；〃 she said coldly and clearly。 〃Nor did I attack him。〃
〃Well； whatever it is you are doing； it were better done in your own chambers！〃 The Fool cut across her words sternly。 Without another glance at her； he turned； picked up his tray； and bore it off down the hallway。 At the sight of the elfbark tea departing； I could not contain a groan of despair。 Serene spun back to me； lips drawn back in a grimace。
〃I will get to the bottom of this！〃 she snarled at me。
I took a breath。 〃But in your own chambers； please。〃 I managed to lift a hand and point at the open door。 She stormed out； with Justin staggering along in her wake。 The maid and page drew back in distaste from them as they passed。 My chamber door was left standing ajar。 It took a vast effort to rise and go close it。 I felt as if my head were something I balanced on my shoulders。 Once the door was closed； I didn't even try to return to bed； but just slid down the wall to sit with my back to the door。 I felt raw。
My brother。 Are you dying？
No。 But it hurts。
Rest。 I will stand watch。
I cannot explain what happened next。 I let go of something； something I had clutched all my life without being aware of gripping it。 I sank down into soft warm darkness； into a safe place； while a wolf kept watch through my eyes。
CHAPTER TWENTY…TWO
Burrich
LADY PATIENCE； SHE who was queen…in…waiting to Chivalry's king…in…waiting； came originally of inland stock。 Her parents； Lord Oakdell and Lady Averia； were of very minor nobility。 For their daughter to rise in rank to marry a Prince of the realm had to have been a shock to them； especially given their daughter's wayward and； some might say； obtuse nature。 Chivalry's avowed ambition to wed Lady Patience was the cause of his first difference with his father； King Shrewd。 By this marriage； he gained no valuable alliances or political advantages； only a highly eccentric woman whose great love for her husband did not preclude her forthright declaring of unpopular opinions。 Nor did it dissuade her from the single…minded pursuit of any avocation that caught her fleeting fancy。 Her parents preceded her in death； dying in the year of the Blood Plague； and she was childless and presumed barren when her husband； Chivalry； fell to his death from a horse。
I awoke。 Or； at least； I came back to myself。 I was in my bed； surrounded by warmth and gentleness。 I didn't move； but cautiously searched myself for pain。 My head no longer pounded； but I felt tired and achy； stiff as one sometimes is after pain passes。 A shiver went up my back。 Molly was naked beside me； breathing gently against my shoulder。 The fire had burned low； nearly out。 I listened。 It was either very very late； or very early。 The Keep was near silent。
I didn't remember getting here。
I shivered again。 Beside me； Molly stirred。 She pulled closer to me； smiled sleepily。 〃You are so strange sometimes；〃 she breathed。 〃But I love you。〃 She closed her eyes again。
Nighteyes！
I am here。 He was always there。
Suddenly I couldn't ask； I didn't want to know。 I just lay still； feeling sick and sad and sorry for myself。
I tried to rouse you； but you were not ready to e back。 That Other One had drained you。
That 〃Other One〃 is our king。
Your king。 Wolves have no kings。
What did 。。。 I let the thought trail off。 Thank you for guarding me。
He sensed my reservations。 What should I have done？ Turned her away？ She was grieving。
I don't know。 Let us not talk of it。 Molly was sad； and he had forted her？ I didn't even know why she was sad。 Had been sad； l amended； looking at the soft smile on her sleeping face。 I sighed。 Better face it sooner than later。 Besides； I had to send her back to her own room。 It would not do for her to be here when the Keep awoke。
〃Molly？〃 I said gently。
She stirred and opened her eyes。 〃Fitz；〃 she agreed sleepily。
〃For safety's sake； you have to go back to your own room。〃
〃I know。 I shouldn't have e in the first place。〃 She stopped。 〃All those things I said to you a few days ago。 I didn't…〃
I put a finger across her lips。 She smiled past it。 〃You make these new silences 。。。 very interesting。〃 She pushed my hand aside； kissed me warmly。 Then she slid from my bed and began to dress briskly。 I arose； moving more slowly。 She glanced over at me； her face full of love。 〃I'll go alone。 It's safer。 We should not be seen together。〃
〃Someday； that will…〃 I began。 This time she silenced me； small hand on my lips。
〃We will talk of nothing like that now。 Let us leave tonight as it is。 Perfect。〃 She kissed me again； quickly； and slipped from my arms and then out the door。 She shut it silently behind her。 Perfect？
I finished dressing and built up my fire。 I sat down in my chair by the hearth and waited。 It was not long before I was rewarded。 The entrance to Chade's domain opened。 I went up the stairs as quickly as I could manage