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Rachel the Dragon； the Hayholt's Mistress of Chambermaids； lifted her bundle of wet linens higher on her shoulders； trying to find the balance least trying to her aching back。 It was useless； of course： there would be no ending to the pain until God the Father gathered her up to Heaven。
Rachel was feeling distinctly un…Dragonlike。 The chambermaids who had given her the name long ago； when the force of Rachel's will had been all that stood between the age…old Hayholt and the tides of decay； would have been surprised to see her as she was now…a bent； plaining old woman。 She was surprised herself。 A chance reflection in a silver serving tray one recent morning had shown her a gaunt…faced harridan with dark…circled eyes。 It had been many a long year since she had thought much about her looks； but still； this seemed a shocking transformation。
Had it been only four months since Simon died？ It felt like years。 That had been the day when she felt things beginning to slip away from her。 She had always lorded over the Hayholt's vast household like a tyrant river…captain； but despite her young charges' whispered plaints； the work had always gotten done。 Mutinous talk had never bothered Rachel much； in any case： she knew that life was but a long struggle against disorder； and that disorder was the inevitable winner。 Rather than leading her to accept the futility of her role； however； this knowledge instead had whipped Rachel on to greater resistance。 Her parents' fierce northern Aedonite faith had taught her that the more hopeless the struggle； the more crucial it was to struggle valiantly。 But some of the life had leaked out of her when Simon died in the smoking inferno that had been Doctor Morgenes' chambers。
Not that he had been a well…behaved boy…no； far from it。 Simon had been willful and disobedient； a woolgatherer and a mooncalf。 He had； however； brought a certain irritating liveliness to Rachel's life。 She would have even weled the sputtering rages into which he provoked her…if only he were still here。
In fact； it was still hard to believe he was dead。 Nothing could have survived the firing of the Doctor's quarters…caused when some of Morgenes' devilish potions had caught flame； or so members of the king's Erkynguards had informed her。 The fused wreckage and shattered beams made it impossible to suppose anyone in the room could have lived for more than a few moments。 But she could not feel that he was really dead。 She had been almost a mother to the boy； had she not？ Raised him…with the help of her chambermaids； of course…since his first hour； when his mother had died in childbirth despite all Doctor Morgenes' attempts to save her。 So shouldn't Rachel know if he was truly gone？ Shouldn't she feel the final severing of the cord that had bound her to that stupid； addle…pated； gawky boy？
Oh； merciful Rhiap； she thought； are you crying again； old woman？ Your brains have gone soft as sweetmeats。
Rachel knew of other domestics who had lost actual birth…children and still talked about them as if they were alive； so why should she feel any differently about Simon？ It didn't change anything。 The boy was undeniably dead； killed by his love for hanging about with that mad alchemist Morgenes； and that was that。
But things had certainly seemed to go wrong since then。 A cloud had descended on her beloved Hayholt； a fog of disfort that crept into every corner。 The battle against untidiness and dirt had swung against her； being lately a thoroughgoing rout。 All this； despite the fact that the castle seemed emptier than it had any time she could remember…at least at night。 In daylight； when the clouded sun shone through the high windows and lit the gardens and mons； the Hayholt was still a knot of activity。 In fact； with the Thrithings mercenaries and South Islanders now flooding in to replace the soldiers Elias had lost at Naglimund； the castle's environs were noisier than ever。 Several of her girls； frightened by the scarred； tattooed Thrithings…men and their rough manners； had left the Hayholt entirely to live with country relatives。 To Rachel's disgust and increasing dismay； despite the hordes of hungry mendicants roaming Erchester and camped around the walls of the Hayholt itself； it was almost impossible to replace the departing chambermaids。
But Rachel knew that it was not just the castle's wild new inhabitants that made it hard to find new girls。 Crowded with brawling soldiers and disdainful nobles as it was during the light of day； by night the Hayholt seemed as uninhabited as the graveyard beyond Erchester's walls。 Echoes and strange voices floated through the corridors。 Footfalls sounded where no one walked。 Rachel and her remaining wards now locked themselves in at night。 Rachel told them it was to keep out the drunken soldiery； but she and her chambermaids both knew that the carefully…checked door bolt and shared prayers before retiring did not e from fear of anything as easy to name as a besotted Thrithings…man。
Even stranger…although she would never； never admit it to her Blessed…Rhiap…preserve…them charges…Rachel had found herself lost a few times in recent weeks； wandering in corridors she did not recognize。 Rachel herself； she who had bestrode this castle as confidently as any ruler for decades； now lost in her own home。 This was either madness or the folly of age； or some demon's curse。
Rachel thumped down the sack of wet sheets and leaned against a wall。 A trio of older priests eddied around her in their passage； talking heatedly in Nabbanai。 They gave her no more of a glance than they would a dog dead in the road。 She stared after them as she fought to catch her breath。 To think that at her age； after all her years of service； she should be carrying around sodden bed linens like the lowliest downstairs maid！ But it had to be done。 Someone had to carry on the fight。
Yes； things had been going wrong ever since the day Simon died； and did not look to get better soon。 She frowned and hoisted her burden once more。
Rachel had finished hanging out the wet bedding。 Watching the linen flap m the late…afternoon breeze； she marveled at such cool weather Tiyagar…month； the middle of summer； and still the days were as cold as early spring。 It was certainly better than the deadly drought that had ended last year； but even so； she felt herself longing for the hot days and warm nights that were the yearly summer's due。 Her joints hurt and chill mornings only made the hurting worse。 The dampness seemed to slip stealthily into her very bones。
She crossed back across the mons； wondering where her helpers had gotten to。 Having a sit…down and a giggling conversation； no doubt； while the Mistress of Chambermaids labored like a yeoman。 Rachel was sore； but there was enough strength still in her good right arm to sting a few girls into service。
It was too bad； she reflected as she made her way slowly around the Outer Bailey； that there wasn't somebody who could take a strong hand to this castle。 Elias had seemed like the type after blessed old King John had died； but Rachel had been sorely disappointed。 The apple； she thought； had fallen quite a bit farther from th