“Chester?” The guard’s voice was fading. He had actually been fool enough to leave Lady Patience by his post and go looking for his comrade. In a moment I heard the light patter of her slippers outside my door. I felt the touch of her fingers on my hand that gripped the bar. She was not tall enough to look in, and the corridor was so narrow she could not step back where I could see her. But the touch of her hand was as welcome as sunlight.
“Keep watch for him coming back, Lacey,” she directed, then spoke to me. “How are you, really?” She spoke low, pitching her voice for my ears alone.
“Thirsty. Hungry. Cold. In pain.” I saw no point in lying to her. “What is happening in the Keep?”
“Complete disorder. The Buckkeep guards broke up the riot in the Great Hall, but then, outside, there was a brawl between some of the Inlanders that Regal brought in and the Buckkeep guard. Queen Kettricken’s guard drove a wedge between them, and their officers beat their troops back into line. Still, it’s tense. The fighters weren’t all soldiers. Many a guest has a black eye or walks with a limp still. Luckily, no one amongst the guests took serious harm. Blade took about the worst injuries, they say. He went down keeping the Farrow men off you. Cracked his ribs and blacked his eyes, did something to one of his arms. But Burrich says he will be all right. The lines have been drawn, however, and the Dukes walk about bristling at one another like dogs.”
“Burrich?” I asked hoarsely.
“Did not get involved at all,” she said reassuringly. “He’s fine. If being ill-tempered and surly to all is fine. Which, for him, I suppose is normal.”