Eight: The Queen Awakes

At dawn, Buckkeep readies for a vengeful hunt of Forged ones. Verity, exhausted and conflicted, confesses to Fitz that Kettricken foresaw the mob and sought his counsel, while he feels unfit to rule. In the courtyard, Kettricken addresses the armed crowd, forbidding boasting and ornaments, and reframes the day as a solemn task: clean, merciful kills, retrieval of bodies, and full funeral honors, followed by vengeance on the Red Ships. She leads the sortie herself, with Burrich presenting Softstep in mourning tack.

Verity and Fitz witness the transformation of morale; Regal arrives enraged and insults Kettricken. Verity, newly steadied by pride, strikes Regal and sends Fitz to see Kettricken’s orders fulfilled. Throughout the day, the keep prepares wagons, pyre, and mourning halls. Noblewomen join the work. By evening, the hunt returns with bodies; Kettricken, blood-spattered and weary, personally washes faces and closes eyes while Fitz bears water and Verity records names. Fitz recognizes the dead street-boy Kerry.

A funeral pyre is built. Verity reads a roll that honors both known and unknown dead; Kettricken lights the pyre, vowing they will not be forgotten. Soldiers cut mourning locks, and the keep holds vigil. King Shrewd descends to preside briefly; the Fool stands silent beside him. Verity reiterates Kettricken’s call to grieve, then prepare vengeance, and leaves with Kettricken on his arm as Regal sulks.

Later, Chade summons Fitz, exulting in Kettricken’s instinctive statecraft. Their talk is cut short when Slink the weasel vomits up tainted sausage from a gift basket for “Lady Thyme.” Chade identifies varta poison and concludes the wine is safe; the attempt heightens alarm. He refuses treasonous accusations but orders Fitz to quietly guard Patience, Molly, Lacey, and to warn Burrich. Chade hints he must travel soon.

Shaken, Fitz goes to ensure Molly’s safety. Startled, she nearly stabs him before he blurts his fears and, finally, his love. Molly laughs at his tangled confession, then openly returns his love. They kiss, while a distant wolf’s joyous howl echoes across the night.