“I do not flee, I leave on a quest. A quest with their benefit as my goal. And I leave behind my queen-in-waiting, to represent me to them while I am gone. I did not have in mind a caravan with minstrels and cooks and embroidered tents, sir. We would be traveling on snowy roads, going into the heart of winter itself. I would take a military contingent, and travel as soldiers do. As I always have.”

“And you think this would impress the Elderlings? If you find them? If they ever existed at all?”

“Legend has it that King Wisdom went on his own. I believe the Elderlings existed, and that he found them. If I fail, I will return, to take up again with my Skilling and my warships. What will we have lost? If I succeed, I bring back a powerful ally.”

“And if you die in the seeking?” Shrewd asked heavily.

Verity opened his mouth to reply. But before he could speak, the sitting-room door was flung open and Regal boiled into the room. His face was flushed. “What goes on here? Why was I not informed of this council?” He shot me a venomous look. Behind him, Wallace peeked in at the door.

Verity permitted himself a small smile. “If you were not informed by your spies, why are you here now? Rebuke them that you did not know sooner, not me.” Wallace’s head jerked back out of sight.

“Father, I demand to know what goes on here!” Regal very nearly stomped his foot. Behind Shrewd, the Fool mimicked Regal’s facial expression. At this, Verity’s page finally smiled, but then his eyes widened and he straightened his face.

King Shrewd addressed Verity instead. “Is there a reason that you wished Prince Regal excluded from this discussion?”

“I did not see that it concerned him.” He paused. “And I wished to be sure the decision reached was exclusively your own.” Verity, faithful to his name.

Regal hackled, his nostrils pinching white, but Shrewd held up a hand to quell him. Again he spoke only to Verity. “Does not concern him? But on whom would fall the mantle of authority while you were gone?”

Verity’s eyes went icy. “My queen-in-waiting would represent my reign, of course. You wear the mantle of authority still, my king.”

“But if you did not return …?”

“I am sure my brother could adapt to that situation at a moment’s notice.” Verity did not bother to mask the dislike in his voice. I knew then how deep the poison of Regal’s treacheries had worked into him. Whatever bond they had ever shared as brothers was eaten away by it. Solely rivals, now. Shrewd heard it, too, I did not doubt. I wondered if he was surprised at all by it. If he was, he covered it well.

As for Regal, his ears had pricked up at the mention of Verity leaving. He now stood as avariciously alert as a dog begging at table. He spoke just a moment too soon to have any ring of sincerity to his voice. “If someone would explain to me where Verity is going, perhaps I could speak for myself as to what I might be ready to assume.”

Verity kept his tongue. Clear-browed and silent, he looked at his father.

“Your brother”—the phrase sounded a bit heavy to my ears—“wishes me to grant him leave for a quest. He wishes to go, and soon, to the Rain Wilds beyond the Mountain Kingdom. To seek out the Elderlings and obtain from them the help once promised us.”

Regal’s eyes went owly. I don’t know if he could not believe in the notion of Elderlings, or if he could not believe the quantity of good fortune he had suddenly been dealt. He licked his lips.

“I, of course, have forbidden it.” Shrewd watched Regal as he said it.

“But why?” Regal demanded. “Surely all courses must be considered….”

“The expense is prohibitive. Did not you report to me, just a short time ago, that the building of the warships and the manning and provisioning of them have all but drained our reserves?”

Regal’s eyes flickered as swiftly as a snake’s tongue. “But I have had the rest of the harvest reports since then, Father. I had not known they would be so good. Funds could be found. Provided he was willing to travel simply.”

Verity breathed out through his nose. “I thank you for your consideration, Regal. I had not realized such decisions were your province.”

“I but advise the King, just as you do,” Regal pointed out hastily.

“You do not think sending an emissary would be the more sensible thing to do?” Shrewd probed. “What would the people think of their king-in-waiting leaving Buckkeep at such a time, and on such an errand?”

“An emissary?” Regal appeared to consider it. “I think not. Not for all we must ask. Do not the legends say that King Wisdom went himself? What do we know of these Elderlings? Do we dare take a chance of sending an underling to offend them? In this, no, I believe the son of the King at least is called for. As for his leaving Buckkeep … well, you are the King, and you are still here. As would his wife be.”