to spend such focused time with a person who was liable, at unexpected moments, to bring Runnemood sharply to her mind. Rood's unassuming personality could not have been more different, but the timbre of his voice was similar, especially when he began to feel confident about a thing. So was his face, from certain angles. She glanced at her empty windows now and then, trying to absorb how a man who'd sat in those windows so many times could have been capable of stabbing people to death in their sleep and trying to kill her.
WHEN NOON CAME and Smit had not yet arrived, Bitterblue decided to go looking for him herself.
The barracks of the Monsean Guard were just west of the great courtyard, on the castle's first level. Bitterblue swept in.
"Where is Captain Smit?" she demanded of a tense young man who sat at a desk inside the door. He gawked at her, leapt up, then shuffled her through another door into an office. Bitterblue found herself staring at Captain Smit, who was leaning across an extraordinarily tidy desk and talking to Thiel.
Both men rose hastily. "Forgive me, Lady Queen," said Thiel in embarrassment. "I was just leaving." And Thiel faded from the room before she was even able to gather how she felt about finding him there.
"I hope he's not interfering," said Bitterblue to Smit. "He's no longer my adviser. As such, he has no power to compel you to do anything, Captain Smit."
"On the contrary, Lady Queen," said Captain Smit, bowing neatly. "He was not interfering or commanding, merely answering some questions I had about how Runnemood spent his time. Or rather, trying to answer, Lady Queen. One problem I'm coming up against is that Runnemood was highly secretive and told conflicting stories about where he was going at any given time."
"I see," said Bitterblue. "And your reason for not reporting to me this morning?"
"What?" said Captain Smit, glancing at the clock on his desk;
then startling her by pounding on the top of it with his fist. "I'm dreadfully sorry, Lady Queen," he said in vexation. "My clock keeps stopping. As it happens, I've little to report, but that's no excuse, of course. We've made no progress in the search for Runnemood, nor have I managed to learn anything about any connections he may have had with the individuals on your list. But we've only just begun, Lady Queen. Please don't lose hope; perhaps I'll have something to report to you tomorrow."
IN THE GREAT courtyard, Bitterblue paused to glare at a shrubbery of a bird, bright with autumn leaves. She was clenching her one good fist, hard.
Going to the fountain, she sat on the cold edge, trying to work out what she was so frustrated about.
I suppose this is part of being a queen, she thought. And part of being injured, and part of Saf not wanting me around, and part of everyone knowing where, and who, I am all the time: I must sit and wait while other people run around investigating things, then come back and give me reports. I'm stuck here, waiting, while everyone else has adventures.
I don't like it.
"Lady Queen?"
She looked up to find Giddon standing over her, snowflakes melting in his hair and on his coat. "Giddon! Po was just saying this morning that you should be back soon. I'm so pleased to see you."
"Lady Queen," he said gravely, running a hand through wet hair. "What happened to your arm?"
"Oh, that. Runnemood tried to kill me," she said.
He stared at her in amazement. "Runnemood, your own adviser?"
"There's a lot going on, Giddon," she said, smiling. "My city
friend stole my crown. Po's inventing a flying machine. I've dismissed Thiel and discovered that my mother's embroidery is all ciphered messages."
"I wasn't even gone three weeks!"
"Po's been sick, you know."
"I'm sorry to hear that," he said, with no expression.
"Don't be an ass. He's actually been quite unwell."
"Oh?" Now Giddon was looking uncomfortable. "What do you mean, Lady Queen?"
"What do you mean, what do I mean?"
"I mean, is he all right?"
"He's a bit better now."
"Is he—he's not in danger, Lady Queen?"
"He'll be fine, Giddon," she said, relieved to hear the touch of anxiety in his voice. "I've a list of names to give you. Where are you going first? I'll walk with you."
GIDDON WAS HUNGRY. Bitterblue was racked with shivers from the cold air and moisture of the fountain, and wanted to hear about Piper's tunnel and Estill. And so he invited her to join him for