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that some people； like some animals； were totally unaware of my reaching out toward them。 I might have quested farther into her mind； except that I was so relieved at not finding any hostility that I feared to stir any。 So I stood small and still before her inspection。
〃Boy； what are you called？〃 she demanded suddenly。
Again。 〃Fitz。〃
She frowned at my soft words。 I drew myself up straighter and spoke louder。 〃Fitz is what Burrich calls me。〃
She flinched slightly。 〃He would。 Calls a bitch a bitch； and a bastard a bastard； does Burrich。 Well 。。。 I suppose I see his reasons。 Fitz you are； and Fitz you'll be called by me as well。 Now。 I shall show you why the pole you selected was too long for you； and too thick。 And then you shall select another。〃
And she did； and I did； and she took me slowly through an exercise that seemed infinitely plex then； but by the end of the week was no more difficult than braiding my horse's mane。 We finished just as the rest of her students came trooping in。 There were four of them； all within a year or two of my age； but all more experienced than I。 It made for an awkwardness； as there were now an odd number of students； and no one particularly wanted the new one as a sparring partner。
Somehow I survived the day； though the memory of how fades into a blessedly vague haze。 I remember how sore I was when she finally dismissed us； how the others raced up the path and back to the keep while I trailed dismally behind them； berating myself for ever ing to the King's attention。 It was a long climb to the keep； and the hall was crowded and noisy。 I was too weary to eat much。 Stew and bread； I think； were all I had； and I had left the table and was limping toward the door； thinking only of the warmth and quiet of the stables； when Brant again accosted me。
〃Your chamber is ready；〃 was all he said。
I shot a desperate look at Burrich； but he was engaged in conversation with the man next to him。 He didn't notice my plea at all。 So once more I found myself following Brant； this time up a wide flight of stone steps； into a part of the keep I had never explored。
We paused on a landing and he took up a candelabra from a table there and kindled its tapers。 〃Royal family lives down this wing；〃 he casually informed me。 〃The King has a bedroom big as the stable at the end of this hallway。〃 I nodded； blindly believing all he told me； though I later found that an errand boy such as Brant would never have penetrated the royal wing。 That would be for more important lackeys。 Up another flight he took me and again paused。 〃Visitors get rooms here；〃 he said； gesturing with the light； so that the wind of his motion set the flames to streaming。 〃Important ones； that is。〃
And up another flight we went； the steps perceptibly narrowing from the first two。 At the next landing we paused again； and I looked with dread up an even narrower and steeper flight of steps。 But Brant did not take me that way。 Instead we went down this new wing； three doors down； and then he slid a latch on a plank door and shouldered it open。 It swung heavily and not smoothly。 〃Room hasn't been used in a while；〃 he observed cheerily。 〃But now it's yours and you're wele to it。〃 And with that he set the candelabra down on a chest； plucked one candle from it； and left。 He pulled the heavy door closed behind him as he went； leaving me in the semidarkness of a large and unfamiliar room。
Somehow I refrained from running after him or opening the door。 Instead； I took up the candelabra and lit the wall sconces。 Two other sets of candles set the shadows writhing back into the corners。 There was a fireplace with a pitiful effort at a fire in it。 I poked it up a bit； more for light than for heat； and set to exploring my new quarters。
It was a simple square room with a single window。 Stone walls； of the same stone as that under my feet； were softened only by a tapestry hung on one wall。 I held my candle high to study it； but could not illuminate much。 I could make out a gleaming and winged creature of some sort； and a kingly personage in supplication before it。 I was later informed it was King Wisdom being befriended by the Elderling。 At the time it seemed menacing to me。 I turned aside from it。
Someone had made a perfunctory effort at freshening the room。 There was a scattering of clean reeds and herbs on the floor； and the feather bed had a fat； freshly shaken look to it。 The two blankets on it were good wool。 The bed curtains had been pulled back and the chest and bench that were the other furnishings had been dusted。 To my inexperienced eyes； it was a rich room indeed。 A real bed； with coverings and hangings about it； and a bench with a cushion to it； and a chest to put things in were more furniture than I could recall having to myself before。 That they were for my exclusive use made them larger somehow。 There was also the fireplace； that I boldly added another piece of wood to； and the window； with an oak seat before it； shuttered now against the night air； but probably looking out over the sea。
The chest was a simple one； cornered with brass fittings。 The outside of it was dark； but when I opened it； the interior was light…colored and fragrant。 Inside the chest I found my limited wardrobe； brought up from the stables。 Two nightshirts had been added to it； and a woolen blanket was rolled up in the corner of the chest。 That was all。 I took out a nightshirt and closed the chest。
I set the nightshirt down on the bed and then clambered up myself。 It was early to be thinking of sleep； but my body ached and there seemed nothing else for me to do。 Down in the stable room； by now Burrich would be sitting and drinking and mending harness or whatever。 There would be a fire in the hearth； and the muffled sounds of horses as they shifted in their stalls below。 The room would smell of leather and oil and Burrich himself； not dank stone and dust。 I pulled the nightshirt over my head and nudged my clothes to the foot of the bed。 I nestled into the feather bed； it was cool and my skin stood up in goose bumps。 Slowly my body heat warmed it and I began to relax。 It had been a full and strenuous day。 Every muscle I possessed seemed to be both aching and tired。 I knew I should rise once more； to put the candles out； but I could not summon the energy。 Nor the willpower to blow them out and let a deeper darkness flood the chamber。 So I drowsed； halflidded eyes watching the struggling flames of the small hearth fire。 I idly wished for something else； for any situation that was neither this forsaken chamber nor the tenseness of Burrich's room。 For a restfulness that perhaps I had once known somewhere else but could no longer recall。 And so I drowsed into oblivion。
CHAPTER FOUR
Apprenticeship
A STORY IS TOLD OF King Victor； he who conquered the inland territories that became eventually the Duchy of Farrow。 Very shortly after adding the lands of Sandsedge to his rulings； he sent for the woman who would； had Victor not conquered her land； have been the Queen of Sandsedge。 She traveled to Buckkeep in much trepidation； fearing to go； but fearing more the consequences to her people if she appealed to them to hide her。 When she arrived； she was both amazed and somewhat chagrined that Victor intended to use her not as a servant but as a tutor to his children； that they might learn both the language and customs of her folk。 When she asked him why he chose to have them learn of her folk's ways； he replied； 〃A ruler must be of all his people； for one can only rule what one knows。〃 Later she became the willing wife of his eldest son and took the name Queen Graciousness at her coronation。
I awoke to sunlight in my face。 Someone had entered my chamber and opened the window shutters to the day。 A basin； cloth； and jug of water had been left on top of the chest。 I was grateful for them； but not even washing my face refreshed me。 Sleep had left me sodden and I recall feeling uneasy that someone could enter my chamber and move freely about without awakening me。
As I had guessed； the window looked out over the sea； but I didn't have much time to devote to the view。 A glance at the sun told me that I had overslept。 I flung on my clothes and hastened down to the stables without pausing for breakfast。
But Burrich had little time for me that morning。 〃Get back up to the keep；〃 he advised me。 〃Mistress Hasty already sent Brant down here to look for you。 She's to measure you for clothing。 Best go find her quickly； she lives up to her name； and won't appreciate your upsetting her morning routine。〃
My trot back up to the keep reawakened all my aches of the day before。 Much as I dreaded seeking out this Mistress Hasty and being measured for clothing I was certain I didn't need； I was relieved not to be on horseback again this morning。
After querying my way up from the kitchens； I finally found Mistress Hasty in a room several doors down from my bedchamber。 I paused shyly in the door and peered in。 Three tall windows were flooding the room with sunlight and a mild salt breeze。 Baskets of yam and dyed wool were stacked against one