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ked slowly among us as he spoke； wending his way in and out of our rows； and I saw many a rolling eye and intake of breath as he passed。 Then； for the first time that day； he ventured over to the women's corner of the court。
〃Some；〃 he cautioned us as he strolled； 〃think themselves above rules。 They think themselves worthy of special attention and indulgences。 Such illusions of superiority must be driven from you before you can learn anything。 It is hardly worthy of my time for me to have to teach these lessons to such laggards and dolts as need them。 It is a shame that they have even found their way into our gathering。 But they are among us； and I will honor the will of my king； and attempt to teach them。 Even though there is only one way I know to waken such lazy minds。〃
To Merry he gave two quick cuts with the quirt。 But Serene he shoved down onto one knee and struck four times。 To my shame； I stood there with the rest； as each cut fell； and hoped only that she would not cry out and bring more punishment on herself。
But Serene rose； swayed once； and then stood again； still； looking out over the heads of the girls before her。 I breathed a sigh of relief。 But then Galen was back； circling like a shark around a fishing boat； speaking now of those who thought themselves too good to share the discipline of the group； of ones who indulged in meat in plenty while the rest limited ourselves to wholesome grains and pure foods。 I wondered uneasily who had been so foolish as to visit the kitchen after hours。
Then I felt the hot lick of the whip on my shoulders。 If I had thought he was using the lash to his full capability before； he proved me wrong now。
〃You thought to deceive me。 You thought I would never know if Cook saved her precious pet a plate of tidbits； didn't you？ But I know all that happens in Buckkeep。 Don't deceive yourself about that。〃
It dawned on me that he was speaking of the meat scraps I'd taken up to Smithy。
〃That food wasn't for me；〃 I protested； and then could have bitten my tongue out。
His eyes glittered coldly。 〃You'd lie to save yourself a little just pain。 You'll never master the Skill。 You'll never be worthy of it。 But the King has manded that I try to teach； and so I will try。 Despite you or your low birth。〃
In humiliation I took the welts he dealt me。 He berated me as each fell； telling the others that the old rules against teaching the Skill to a bastard had been to prevent just such a thing as this。
Afterward； I stood； silent and shamed； as he went down the rows； dealing a perfunctory swat with the quirt to each of my fellows； explaining as he did so that we all must pay for the failures of the individuals。 It did not matter that this statement made no sense； or that the whip fell lightly pared with what Galen had just inflicted on me。 It was the idea that they were all paying for my transgression。 I had never felt so shamed in my life。
Then he released us； to go down to another cheerless meal； much the same as yesterday's。 This time no one spoke on the stairs or at the meal。 And afterward； I went straight up to my room。
Meat soon； I promised the hungry pup that waited for me。 Despite my aching back and muscles； I forced myself to clean up the room； scrubbing up Smithy's messes and then making a trip for fresh strewing reeds。 Smithy was a bit sulky at being left alone all day； and I was troubled when I realized I had no idea how long this miserable training would last。
I waited until late； when all ordinary folk of the keep were in their beds； before venturing down to get Smithy's food for him。 I dreaded that Galen would find out； but what else was I to do？ I was halfway down the big staircase when I saw the glimmering of a single candle being borne toward me。 I shrank against the wall； suddenly sure it was Galen。 But it was the Fool who came toward me； glowing as white and pale as the wax candle he carried。 In his other hand was a pail of food and a beaker of water balanced atop it。 Soundlessly he waved me back to my room。
Once inside； the door shut； he turned on me。 〃I can take care of the pup for you；〃 he told me dryly。 〃But I can't take care of you。 Use your head； boy。 What can you possibly learn from what he's doing to you？〃
I shrugged； then winced。 〃It's just to toughen us。 I don't think it will go on much longer before he gets down to actually teaching us。 I can take it。〃 Then： 〃Wait；〃 I said as he fed bits of meat to Smithy from the pail。 〃How do you know what Galen's been putting us through？〃
〃Ah； that would be telling；〃 he said blithely。 〃And I can't do that。 Tell； that is。〃 He dumped the rest of the pail out for Smithy； replenished his water； and stood。
〃I'll feed the puppy；〃 he told me。 〃I'll even try to take him outside for a bit each day。 But I won't clean up his messes。〃 He paused at the door。 〃That's where I draw the line。 You'd better decide where you will draw the line。 And soon。 Very soon。 The danger is greater than you know。〃
And then he was gone； taking his candle and warnings with him。 I lay down and fell asleep to the sounds of Smithy worrying a bone and making puppy growls to himself。
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The Witness Stones
The SKILL； AT ITS Simplest； is the bridging of thought from person to person。 It can be used a number of ways。 During battle； for instance； a mander can relay simple information and mands directly to those officers under him； if those officers have been trained to receive it。 One powerfully Skilled can use his talent to influence even untrained minds or the minds of his enemies； inspiring them with fear or confusion or doubt。 Men so talented are rare。 But； if incredibly gifted with the Skill； a man can aspire to speak directly to the Elderlings； those who are below only the gods themselves。 Few have ever dared to do so； and of those who did； even fewer attained what they asked。 For it is said； one may ask of the Elderlings； but what they answer may not be the question you ask； but the one you should have asked。 And the answer to that question may be one a man cannot hear and live。
For when one speaks to the Elderlings； then is the sweetness of using the Skill strongest and most perilous。 And this is the thing that every practitioner of the Skill； weak or strong； must always guard against。 For in using the Skill； the user feels a keenness of fife； an uplifting of being； that can distract a man from taking his next breath。 pelling is this feeling； even in the mon uses of the Skill； and addictive to any not hardened of purpose。 But the intensity of this exultation when speaking to the Elderlings is a thing for which we have no parison。 Both senses and sense may be blasted forever from a man who uses the Skill to speak to an Elderling。 Such a man dies raving； but it is also true he dies raving of his joy。
The Fool was right。 I had no idea of the peril I faced。 I plunged on doggedly。 I have no heart to detail the weeks that followed。 Suffice to say that with each day； Galen had us more under his sway； and that he also became more cruel and manipulative。 Some few pupi