people like me, or Bren or Tilda. History is also neglected—no one is taught Monsea's recent history."
Bitterblue fought down a rising fury. "As usual, I had no idea," she said. "And schooling in the city does fall under Runnemood's jurisdiction. But what can it mean? It almost seems like Runnemood took the policy of forward-thinkingness and ran completely amok with it. Why? What do we know of him? Who could have influenced him?"
Teddy reached into a pocket. "That reminds me, Lady Queen. I made you a list again, in case you lost yours when you were attacked."
"A list?"
"Of lords and ladies who stole most grievously for Leck's sake, Lady Queen. Remember?"
"Oh, yes," said Bitterblue. "Of course. Thank you. And Teddy, anything you can tell me to keep me appraised of the situation in the city will help me, do you understand? I can't see it from my tower," she said. "The truth of the lives of my people is never in any of the papers that cross my desk. Will you help me?"
"Of course, Lady Queen."
"And the crown?" she asked, resting her eyes again on Saf 's hard face.
He shrugged. "I can't find Gray."
"Are you looking?"
"Yes, I'm looking," he said peevishly. "It's not my biggest worry at the moment."
"What worry could be greater?" she snapped at him.
"Oh, I don't know," he said, "perhaps your insane adviser who tried to kill me once and is now loose in the east city somewhere?"
"Find Gray," Bitterblue ordered.
"Of course, Your Royal Majestic Highness."
"Saf," said Teddy quietly. "Think about whether you're being fair when you continue to punish our Sparks."
Saf turned and marched to the hanging, where he glared at the strange-haired lady with his arms crossed. And it took Bitterblue a moment to catch her breath, for she hadn't dreamed she'd ever be allowed to hear that name again.
After a moment, she said, "Will you take a few of the books, then, Teddy?"
"We'll take them all," Teddy said, "every one, Lady Queen. But perhaps only two or three at a time, for Saf is right. I don't want to attract the wrong kinds of attention. I've had enough of fire."
AFTER THEY'D GONE, Bitterblue sat for a few moments with Death's rewritten manuscripts, trying to decide which one to start next. When Death stumped along and waved a reread at her, she said, "What is it about?"
"The artistic process, Lady Queen," he said.
"Why did my father want me to read about the artistic process?"
"How should I know, Lady Queen? He was obsessed with art and his artists. Perhaps he wanted you to be too."
"Obsessed?" she said. "Really?"
"Lady Queen," said Death, "do you walk around the castle with your eyes closed?"
Bitterblue grasped her temples and counted to ten. "Death," she said, "what would you say to my giving a few of these rewrites to a friend who has a printing press?"
Death blinked. "Lady Queen," he said, "these manuscripts, like everything else in this library, are yours with which to do whatever you like." He was silent for a moment. "I can only hope that you'll find yourself wishing to give all of them to this friend."
Bitterblue peered at him. "I would like to keep the transfer secret," she said, "for my friend's sake, at least until Runnemood is found and all this mystery is cleared up. You'll keep the secret, won't you, Death?"
"Of course I will, Lady Queen," said Death, clearly insulted by the question. He dumped the book about the artistic process onto the table and retreated in a huff.
* * * * *
"I'M WORRIED ABOUT Teddy and Saf," Bitterblue said to Helda later. "Would it be unreasonable to ask my Lienid Door Guard to spare a few men to keep an eye out for them?"
"Of course not, Lady Queen," said Helda. "They'd do anything you ask."
"I know they'll do what I order. That doesn't make my order reasonable."
"I meant they'll do it out of loyalty, of course, Lady Queen," Helda chided her, "not obligation. They worry about you and your worries. You realize that they're the reason I've always known about your sneaking out, don't you? They're the ones who always told me."
Bitterblue absorbed this with some embarrassment. "They weren't supposed to have recognized me."
"They've been guarding you for eight years, Lady Queen," said Helda. "Do you really think they haven't learned your stance, your walk, your voice?"
I've walked past them countless times, Bitterblue thought, thinking of them as nothing more than bodies standing beside a door. Liking their presence because they look and