“I don’t understand any of that, but I knew of that problem. Are you sure that is when you lost him?”

So I told him, about a vague sense of Verity during the battle, and the possibility that he had been under attack at the same time. Burrich nodded impatiently.

“But can’t you Skill out to him, now that things are calm? Renew the link?”

I took an instant, pushed down my own seething frustration. “No. I can’t. I don’t have the Skill that way.”

Burrich frowned. “Look. We know that messages have gone awry lately. How do we know that this one hasn’t been invented?”

“We don’t, I suppose. Though it is hard to believe that even Regal would be so bold as to say Verity was dead if he was not.”

“There is nothing I believe him incapable of,” Burrich said quietly.

I straightened up from cleaning the mud out of Sooty’s hooves. Burrich was leaning on the door of Ruddy’s stall, staring off into distance. The white streak in his hair was a vivid reminder of just how ruthless Regal could be. He had ordered Burrich killed as casually as one might swat an annoying fly. It had never seemed to give Regal a moment’s concern that he had not stayed dead. He had no fear of retribution from a stablemaster or a bastard.

“So. What would he say when Verity came back?” I asked quietly.

“Once he was king, he could see that Verity never came back. The man who sits on the throne of the Six Duchies can do away with people who are inconvenient.” Burrich did not look directly at me as he said this, and I tried to let the barb go by me. It was true. Once Regal was in power, I had no doubt there would be assassins ready to do his bidding. Perhaps there already were some. That thought put a queer chill up me.

“If we want definite word that Verity is still alive, our only choice is to send someone to find him, and to come back with tidings of him.” I considered Burrich.

“Assuming the messenger managed to survive, it would still take too long. Once Regal is in power, the word of a messenger is nothing to him. The bearer of such tidings would not dare speak them aloud. We need proof that Verity is alive, proof that King Shrewd will accept, and we need it before Regal comes into power. That one would not be king-in-waiting long.”

“King Shrewd and Kettricken’s child still stand between him and the throne,” I protested.

“That location has proven unhealthy for full-grown, strong men. I doubt an ailing old man or an unborn child will find it any luckier a place to be.” Burrich shook his head and set that thought aside. “So. You cannot Skill to him. Who can?”

“Any of the coterie.”

“Pah. I have faith in none of them.”

“King Shrewd might be able to,” I suggested hesitantly. “If he took strength from me.”

“Even if your link with Verity is broken?” Burrich asked intently.

I shrugged and shook my head. “I don’t know. That is why I said ‘might.’”

He ran a final hand down Ruddy’s newly sleek coat. “It will have to be tried,” he said decisively. “And the sooner the better. Kettricken must not be left to fret and grieve if there is no cause for it. She might lose the child of it.” He sighed and looked at me. “Go get some rest. Plan on visiting the King tonight. Once I see you go in, I will see that there are witnesses to whatever King Shrewd finds out.”

“Burrich,” I protested, “there are too many uncertainties. I do not even know that the King will be awake tonight, or able to Skill, or that he will if I ask it. If we do this, Regal, and all else, will know that I am a King’s Man in the Skill sense. And—”

“Sorry, boy.” Burrich spoke abruptly, almost callously. “There is more at stake here than your well-being. Not that I do not care about you. But I think you will be safer if Regal thinks you can Skill, and all know Verity is alive, than if all believe Verity is dead and Regal thinks it timely to be rid of you. We must try tonight. Perhaps we shall not succeed. But we must try.”

“I hope you can get some elfbark somewhere,” I grumbled to him.

“Are you developing a fondness for that? Be wary.” But then he grinned. “I am sure I can get some.”

I returned the grin, and then was shocked at myself. I didn’t believe Verity was dead. That was what I admitted to myself with that grin. I did not believe my king-in-waiting was dead, and I was about to stand toe to toe with Prince Regal and prove it was so. The only way that could have been more satisfying would be if I could do it with an ax in my hands. Yet.