Royal Assassin

“As swift as that? Of course not. We would have to hide him here, for days or perhaps weeks before a place was made ready. And then he must be smuggled out of the Keep. It would mean finding men who can be bribed, and knowing when they are on the gate. Unfortunately, men that can be bribed to do a thing can be bribed to speak of it later. Unless they had accidents.” He looked at me.

“Let that not be a concern. There is another way out of Buckkeep,” I told him, thinking of my wolf’s way. “We have another problem also, and that is Kettricken. She will act on her own if she does not soon know we have a plan. Her own thoughts have taken her in the same direction as yours. Tonight she proposed herself taking Shrewd to the Mountains for safety.”

“A pregnant woman and a sick old man in midwinter? Ridiculous.” Chade paused. “But. It would never be expected. They would never look for them on that road. And with all the flow of folk that Regal has created going up the Buck River, one more woman and her ailing father would scarcely be marked.”

“It’s still ridiculous,” I protested. I did not like the sparks of interest I had seen kindle in Chade’s eyes. “Who could go with them?”

“Burrich. It would save him from drinking himself to death from boredom, and he could manage their animals for them. And likely much else they would need. Would he go?”

“You know he would,” I said unwillingly. “But Shrewd would never survive such a trip.”

“He is more likely to survive such a trip than to survive going with Regal. That which eats at him will continue to devour his life, wherever he is.” He frowned more darkly.

“But why it eats at him so much more swiftly these days is beyond me to say.”

“The cold. The privation. It will not help him.”

“There are inns for part of the way. I can find some coin for them yet. Shrewd looks so little like he used to, we almost need not fear him being recognized. The Queen would be trickier. There are few women with her coloring and height. Still, clothed heavily, we could increase her girth. Hood her hair, and—”

“You cannot be serious.”

“Tomorrow night,” he replied. “We must do something by tomorrow night. For that is when the sleeping potion I gave Shrewd will wear off. Another attempt will probably not be made on the Queen until she is on her way to Tradeford. But once Regal has her in his power, well, so many accidents can happen on a journey. A slip from a barge into a freezing river, a runaway horse, a meal of bad meat. If his assassin is half as good as we are, he’ll succeed.”

“Regal’s assassin?”

Chade gave me a pitying look. “You don’t suppose our prince is up to spreading grease and lampblack on steps himself, do you? Who do you think it is?”

“Serene.” The name popped to my lips.

“Then most obviously it is not her. No, we will find it to be some mouse of a man with a pleasant demeanor and a settled life. If we ever find him out at all. Ah, well, set it aside for now. Though there’s nothing quite as challenging as stalking another assassin.”

“Will,” I said quietly.

“Will what?” he asked.

I told him of Will, quickly and quietly. As he listened his eyes widened.

“It would be brilliant,” he said admiringly. “A Skilled assassin. It’s a wonder no one thought of it before.”

“Perhaps Shrewd did,” I said quietly. “But perhaps his assassin failed to learn . . .”

Chade leaned back in his chair. “I wonder,” he said speculatively. “Shrewd is closemouthed enough to have such an idea, and keep it even from me. But I doubt, myself, that Will is any more than a spy, just now. A formidable one, and no mistaking that. You must be especially vigilant. But I do not think we need fear him as an assassin.” He cleared his throat. “Ah, well. The urgency for speed becomes ever plainer. The escape must be made from the King’s room. You must find a way to draw the watchers all off again.”

“During the King-in-Waiting ceremony—”

“No. We dare not wait that long. Tomorrow night. No later than that. You need not keep them occupied long. Just a few minutes will be all I will need.”

“We must wait! Otherwise, the whole plot is impossible. By tomorrow night, you wish me to have the Queen and Burrich prepared, which means telling them you exist. And Burrich will have to see to horses and supplies—”

“Plug horses. Nothing fine. They would be noticed too quickly. And a litter for the King.”

“Plug horses we have in plenty, for they are all that is left. But it will stick in Burrich’s craw for his King and Queen to ride them.”

“And a mule for himself. They are to be humble folk, with scarce the coin to journey inland. We have no wish to attract highwaymen.”

I snorted to think of Burrich astride a mule. “It cannot be done,” I said quietly. “The time is too short. It must be done the night of the King-in-Waiting ceremony. All will be down at the feasting.”