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rn border was the pass that led to the headwaters of the great Rain River that meandered through the Rain Wilds。 Every soldier among us had heard the old tales of the abandoned treasure temples on the banks of that river； of the tall carved gods who presided still over their holy springs； and of the flake gold that sparkled in the lesser streams。 Perhaps a mountain princess； then？
Each possibility was debated with far more political savvy and sophistication than Galen would have believed these simple soldiers capable of manding。 I rose from their midst feeling ashamed of how I had dismissed them； in so short a time Galen had brought me to think of them as ignorant sword wielders； men of brawn with no brain at all。 I had lived among them all my life。 I should have known better。 No； I had known better。 But my hunger to set myself higher； to prove beyond doubt my right to that royal magic had made me willing to accept any nonsense he might choose to present me。 Something clicked within me； as if the key piece to a wood puzzle had suddenly slid into place。 I had been bribed with the offer of knowledge as another man might have been bribed with coins。
I did not think very well of myself as I climbed the stairs to my room。 I lay down to sleep with the resolve that I would not let Galen deceive me any longer； nor persuade me to deceive myself。 I also resolved most firmly that I would learn the Skill； no matter how painful or difficult it might be。
And so dark and early the next morning I plunged fully back into my lessons and routine。 I attended Galen's； every word； I pushed myself to do each exercise； physical or mental； to the extreme of my ability。 But as the week； and then the month； wore painfully on； I felt like a dog with his meat suspended just beyond the reach of his jaws。 For the others； something was obviously happening。 A network of shared thought was building between them； a munication that had them turning to one another before they spoke； that let them perform the shared physical exercises as one being。 Sullenly； resentfully； they took turns being partnered with me； but from them I felt nothing； and from me they shuddered and pulled back； plaining to Galen that the force I exerted toward them was either like a whisper or a battering ram。
I watched in near despair as they danced in pairs； sharing control of one another's muscles； or as one walked blindfolded the maze of the coals； guided by the eyes of his seated partner。 Sometimes I knew I had the Skill。 I could feel it building within me； unfolding like a growing seed； but it was a thing I could not seem to direct or control。 One moment it was within me； booming like a tide against rock cliffs； and the next it was gone and all within me was dry deserted sand。 At its strength； I could pel August to stand； to bow； to walk。 The next he would stand glaring at me； daring me to contact him at all。
And no one seemed able to reach inside me。 〃Drop your guard； put down your walls；〃 Galen would angrily order me as he stood before me； vainly trying to convey to me the simplest direction or suggestion。 I felt the barest brush of his Skill against me。 But I could no more allow him inside my mind than I could stand placent while a man slid a sword between my ribs。 Try as I might to pel myself； I shied from his touch； physical or mental； and the touches of my classmates I could not feel at all。
Daily they advanced； while I watched and struggled to master the barest basics。 A day came when August looked at a page； and across the rooftop； his partner read it aloud； while another set of two pairs played a chess game in which those who manded the moves could not physically see the board at all。 And Galen was well pleased with all of them； save me。 Each day he dismissed us after a touch； a touch I seldom felt。 And each day I was the last free to go； and he coldly reminded me that he wasted his time on a bastard only because the King manded him to do so。
Spring was ing on and Smithy grown from a puppy to a dog。 Sooty dropped her foal while I was at my lessons； a fine filly sired by Verity's stallion。 I saw Molly once； and we walked together near wordlessly through the market。 There was a new stall set up； with a rough man selling birds and animals； all captured wild and caged by him。 He had crows； and sparrows； and a swallow； and one young fox so weak with worms he could scarcely stand。 Death would free him sooner than any buyer； and even if I had had the coin for him； he had reached a state where the worm medicines would only poison him as well as his parasites。 It sickened me； and so I stood； questing toward the birds with suggestions of how picking at a certain bright bit of metal might unpin the doors of their cages。 But Molly thought I stared at the poor beasts themselves； and I felt her grow cooler and farther from me than ever she had been before。 As we walked her home Smithy whined beggingly for her attention； and so won from her a cuddle and a pat before we left。 I envied him the ability to whine so well。 My own seemed to go unheard。
With spring in the air； all in the seaport braced； for soon it would be raiding weather。 I ate with the guards every night now and listened well to all the rumors。 Forged ones had bee robbers all along our highways； and the stories of their depravities and depredations were all the tavern talk now。 As predators； they were more devoid of decency and mercy than any wild animal could be。 It was easy to forget they had ever been human； and to hate them with a venom like nothing else。
The fear of being Forged increased proportionately。 Markets carried candy…dipped beads of poison for mothers to give their children in the event the family was captured by raiders。 There were rumors that some seacoast villagers had packed up all their belongings in carts and moved inland； forsaking their traditional occupations as fishers and traders to bee farmers and hunters away from the threat of the sea。 Certainly the population of beggars within the city was swelling。 A Forged one came into Buckkeep Town itself and walked the streets； as untouchable as a madman as he helped himself to whatever he wanted from the market stalls。 Before a second day had passed； he had disappeared； and dark whispers said to watch for his body to wash up on the beach。 Other rumors said a wife had been found for Verity among the mountain folk。 Some said it was to secure our access to the passes； others that we could not afford a potential enemy at our backs when all along our seacoast we must fear the Red…Ships。。 And there were yet other rumors； no； the barest whispers； too brief and fragmented to be rumors； that all was not well with Prince Verity。 Tired and sick said some； and others sniggered about a nervous and weary bridegroom。 A few sneered that he had taken to drink and was only seen by day when his headache was worst。
I found my concern over these last rumors to be deeper than I would have expected。 None of the royals had ever paid much mind to me； at least not in a personal way。 Shrewd saw to my education and fort and had long ago bought my loyalty； so that now I was his without even giving thought to any al