“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.”

“Anything that must be done, can be done,” Chade asserted. He sat thoughtfully a moment. “Perhaps you have a point. Regal cannot have the King incapacitated for the ceremony. If he is not there, not one of the Coastal Dukes will give it any credence. Regal will have to allow Shrewd his pain herbs, to keep him tractable, if nothing else. Very well, then. The night after tomorrow. And if you absolutely must speak to me tomorrow, put some bitterbark on your hearthfire. Not a lot, I have no wish to be smoked out. But a generous handful. I will open the way.”

“The Fool will want to go with the King.” I reminded myself slowly.

“He cannot,” Chade said decisively. “There is no disguising him. He would only increase the danger. Besides, it is necessary he stay. We will need his help to prepare for this disappearance.”

“I do not think that will change his mind.”

“Leave the Fool to me. I can show him that his King’s life depends on his getting away from here cleanly. An ‘atmosphere’ must be created, in which the King and Queen’s disappearance is not seen as … ah, well. Leave that part to me. I will discourage them from smashing walls. The Queen’s role is easy. All she need do is retire early from the ceremony, and declare that she wishes to sleep long, and send her attendants away. She should leave word she does not wish to be disturbed until she summons them. If all goes well, we should be able to give Shrewd and Kettricken most of the night hours to gain some distance.” He smiled at me kindly. “Well. I think that is as much planning as we can do. No, no, I know nothing is fixed. It is better this way. We are more flexible. Now go get what sleep you can, boy. You’ve a busy day tomorrow. And I’ve much to do right now. I must mix enough medicines to take King Shrewd all the way to the Mountains. And package them clearly. Burrich reads, does he not?”