Assassin’s Fate

Was it the next day we had a ceremony to mourn my father? I burned a lock of my hair, for Nettle said I could not spare more than that. Was it that first day when I was presented to the king and queen? The days were tangled and confused, like a neglected yarn basket. Every day there was someone I must meet, and a meal to share and people telling me formally how sad they were that my father was dead. There was a private meeting with Lady Kettricken, who had taken to her bed as soon as she heard of my father’s death and had not emerged from her room since. She was pale and rather old. She gave me a very sad smile and said, ‘Look at those golden curls. I wonder if Verity could have given me a little girl like you? If we had had more time.’ That seemed very awkward to me.

I was taken to see Lady Shine. ‘I am sorry for your loss.’ I told her in front of the maids attending her and Lady Simmer, who followed me about. ‘And I for yours,’ she replied. And what else was there to say? I do not think we even wanted to look at one another. Neither of us wanted to speak of what had happened to us and after a time I excused myself, saying I was still very weary. And that obligation was done. At meals we nodded to one another in passing.

One morning, I asked to see Per and was told I did not have time that day, but was assured that he was being honoured and had been given a matched pair of black horses, from Buckkeep’s best stock, and offered a good position in the stables. When I asked if he had the care of Pris, Lady Simmer did not know, but said she would make certain that Pris was given over to his care, if that was important to me. It was.

Nettle and Riddle tried to have a quiet dinner with me but the baby and the baby’s nurse and two of Nettle’s ladies, and Lady Simmer and one of Riddle’s men could not be excluded, and so I sat very straight and we talked of how nice the blackberry tart was. Later, when only the nurse was there, Nettle told me that soon I would become one of the queen’s ladies, but I should not fear, for Queen Elliania was actually very kind and Nettle was determined to see that I learned everything that she, unfortunately, had not been taught. To that end there would be a special tutor for me. ‘Lant?’ I asked, and I did not know if I hoped or dreaded that.

‘Lord FitzVigilant has other duties, I am afraid. But Scribe Diligent has taught many a noble child, and will school you in deportment and protocol as well as numbers and letters.’

I nodded to that and glanced at Riddle to see pity and worry in his eyes.

Beginning the next day, there were hours when I must be with my tutor, and more hours when I must attend the queen. I must learn the names of every duke and duchess, and their children, and the colours of their houses, and to know their heraldry. Every evening meal had to be taken downstairs in the dining hall, sitting to the left of Riddle and Nettle.

Daily I spent part of the morning attending the queen. I had been warned to sit very straight, and embroider or knit or weave, as she did, and listen to the chatter of her ladies. They put me in a place next to Lady Shine. We both kept too busy to speak to one another. But on the third day, Queen Elliania bade us continue with our work while she took more rest. The moment the door closed behind her, I felt like a flung bread crust in a flock of chickens.

‘Such pretty golden curls, Lady Bee. Will you allow your hair to grow now?’

‘Is it true you were kept as a slave in Chalced?’ That question came in a scandalized whisper.

‘I have not seen before that stitch you used on the pansies. Can you teach it to me?’

‘Lord FitzVigilant tells us that you are the bravest little girl he has ever met. Such a charming man! Do you think that you and he would like to join Lady Clement and me for gaming one evening?’

‘We have heard so little of your adventures,’ Lady Fecund smiled avariciously. ‘It makes me shudder to think of a little girl like you and poor dear Lady Shine in the clutches of such monsters!’

Lady Violet, with a sideways glance at Shun, added, ‘Lady Shine has told us almost nothing about the day that Withywoods was attacked. You must have been terrified! Chalcedeans, we are told, have no respect for the women when they raid and loot. And they had her for many days. And nights.’

I glanced at Shun. Her chin quivered once and then she clenched her teeth. ‘It was a difficult time I do not wish to speak about,’ she said stiffly. I knew then that she was not well liked in this room and that Lady Violet would shame her, if she could. Lady Violet was lovely but not as beautiful as Shun with her green eyes and curling hair, nor was her figure as good. I was beginning to learn about such things at court.

Lady Violet pecked at me. ‘But surely little Bee could tell us some tales! However did you manage to buy your lives, in the hands of such ruthless men?’ She said it as if there were a nasty secret she could wheedle out of me.