It took up the entire wall. Just as it had when it hung on the wall of my childhood bedroom, it struck me as nightmarish. And the old man knew that full well. Despite how weak I was, his rough jest brought a smile to my face. Still I protested, “But this chamber should be kept as the humble room of a serving man. Except for the size and lack of windows, you have fitted it out as if for a prince.”
Kettricken sighed. “Chade too rebuked me for that, but I refused to listen. Bad enough that you must be ill in such a small and gloomy chamber. I will not leave it pauperish and cold as well.”
“But your chamber is simple and sparse, in the Mountain fashion. I don’t—”
“When you are well enough to have visitors, then you may have it all taken away if you wish. But for now, I will have you comfortable. In the Six Duchies style.” She spoke with asperity, then sighed. “As usual, a lie has explained it away. Lord Golden rewards his serving man for loyalty. So. Tolerate it.”
And there was no arguing with her tone. She propped me up with pillows and I ate the sodden bread. I could have eaten more, but she took the empty bowl from me and told me to take my recovery slowly. And then I was suddenly tired. I lay back, overcome with weariness yet astounded there was no pain. And I suddenly realized that I was on my back. My face must have changed, for Kettricken anxiously asked me if I was all right.
I rolled to my side and reached a cautious hand to my back. “There is no pain,” I told her.
There were no bandages.
I felt the smooth flesh, and then the knobs of my spine and my ribs that stuck out like a starved dog’s. I started to tremble, and my teeth to chatter. Kettricken pulled blankets closer around me. “The wound is completely gone.” I rattled out the words.
“Yes,” she agreed. “The flesh is closed and sound. Of the sword thrust, there is no sign. It is one reason we have kept visitors away from you. Surely they would wonder at that, and also wonder why you are thin and wasted as from a weeks-long illness.” She paused then, and I thought she would say more, but she did not. She smiled at me tenderly. “Don’t be concerned about anything right now. You need to rest, Fitz, not to worry. Rest, and eat, and soon you’ll be up and about.” My queen touched my whiskery cheek and then smoothed back my hair.
A thousand questions suddenly crowded my mind. “Does Hap know I’m all right? Has he come to see me; is he worried?”
“Hush. You are not all right, not yet. He has come here, but we judged it best not to let him see you. Lord Golden has spoken with him, assuring him that you will recover and are receiving the best of care. He told him how grateful he was for how Tom Badgerlock had attempted to defend his treasure at such a cost to himself, and made Hap promise that if he had any need while you are recuperating, he would let Golden know of it. And a woman named Jinna has come to visit, but also been turned aside.”
I understood the wisdom of it. Both Hap and Jinna would have been astounded at my present appearance, but I hoped my boy had not been made too anxious. And then, as if a gate had been opened, all my other questions assaulted me. “Were there other Piebalds, beside Laudwine and Padget? And Henja. I saw Henja there, and I do not think it was coincidence. And, I got the impression that Civil’s mother was living under a threat. Chade should send someone to aid her. And there is a spy still, the one who took Thick to see Laudwine, Chade must—”
“You must rest,” she said firmly. “Others are dealing with all of that just now.” She stood fluidly. It only took two steps to cross my tiny room. She blew out all the candles save one, and she took that one from the holder. I became aware that my queen was in a nightrobe and wrapper. Her hair hung in a thick gold braid down her back.
“It’s night,” I said stupidly.
“Yes. Very late at night. Go to sleep now, Fitz.”
“What are you doing here so late at night?”
“Watching you sleep.”
That didn’t make sense. She had deliberately waked me. “But the milk and the bread?”
“I had my page fetch them for me, telling him I could not sleep. Because, in truth, I could not. And then I brought them here, for you.” She sounded almost defensive. “There is a good amidst all this evil that has befallen you. It has made me recall vividly just how much I owe you, and how much I value you.” She looked down at me for a moment. “If I lost you,” she said unwillingly, “I would lose the only one who knows the whole of my story. The only one who looks at me and knows all I went through with my king.”
