Fool’s Quest

“Yet so it was. The school had prospered, and in turn the city had prospered, for there was a trade now in the searching of prophecies to give advice to merchants and would-be brides and builders of sailing ships. From far and near they came, to pay a fee in the hope of getting an audience with the Head Servant, and then to tell their tale to him. And if he judged them worthy, they could buy a license for a day or three or twenty, and cross the causeway to the White Island. There, one of the acolyte Servants would be put to researching the prophecies to see if any pertained to that particular venture or wedding or voyage.

“But I am getting ahead of myself.”

I clenched my teeth and then let him win. “Actually, you’ve gone backward in your telling, as you well know. Fool, I desperately want to hear this story, but I must not be late to my audience.”

“As you wish.”

I had taken four steps when he added, “I only hope I am not too weary later to tell you the rest.”

“Fool! Why are you being like this?”

“Do you really want to know?” The old lilt of mockery was back in his voice.

“Yes.”

He spoke more softly and soberly than he had before. “Because I know it makes you feel better when I mock you.”

I turned to look back at him, denial on my lips. But some trick of the firelight showed him to me as he was. Not at all like my friend of old. He looked like a badly carved puppet of himself, something as battered and ragged as a beloved old toy. The light touched the scars on his face, the gray-painted eyes, and the straw-thatch of hair on his skull. I couldn’t utter a word.

“Fitz, we both know I teeter on a knife’s edge. It’s not if I will fall, but when. You are keeping me balanced there and alive. But when it happens, as I fear it must, it will not be your fault. Nor mine. Neither of us could have steered this fate.”

“I’ll stay if you want me to.” I threw aside all thoughts of courtesy to Kettricken and duty to Chade. Kettricken would understand, and Chade would have to live with it.

“No. No, thank you. Suddenly I am feeling ready to sleep.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I promised him.

His eyes had closed, and perhaps he already slept. I left quietly.

Chapter Six The Witted