Twenty-Seven: Conspiracy

Fitz recruits Patience and Lacey to gain Kettricken a private audience, proposing a staged miscarriage to divert Regal from tormenting King Shrewd. Kettricken agrees to bloodstain her chamber and summon Wallace, refusing his touch or potions. As Regal and Wallace hurry to Kettricken, Fitz persistently knocks at Shrewd’s door, tricks the lone guard, and blinds him with nightmist. Chade hisses from within to leave the latches fast, buying him time with the King.

Fitz retreats to the kitchens to seed normalcy and overhears gossip: the Queen’s rumored loss, and a midnight sighting of the Pocked Man. When axes are ordered to Shrewd’s doors, Fitz slips to the stables, where Molly confronts him. Their argument ends with Fitz revealing he is an assassin; Molly rejects him and declares she is leaving for another’s sake. Shattered, Fitz joins Burrich and the bandaged Fool; they share brandy until Lacey arrives with the slaughtered chicken and news that Shrewd’s doors are being chopped down. Fitz assures them the barred doors delay Regal long enough for Chade’s work.

Seeking solace, Fitz meets Nighteyes in the old hut, wordlessly sharing grief. Back in the keep, Cook reports the men breached both doors only to find Shrewd in unrousable sleep, and she catalogs who will depart to Tradeford. Serene taunts Fitz in the corridor, but he avoids escalation. Summoned to Kettricken, Fitz and the Queen speak in veiled terms about sending for mountain remedies; Kettricken hints she might go herself if needed.

Chade finally admits Fitz to his lair. They assess hiding Shrewd in secret ways and smuggling him out versus Regal’s likely responses. Fitz warns Kettricken may act independently. Chade warms to a disguised overland flight: Burrich to manage beasts, a litter for Shrewd, humble mounts, and coin for inns; the Queen’s conspicuous features to be concealed. They settle on the night after the King‑in‑Waiting ceremony, when Regal must keep Shrewd tractable for appearances. The Fool must remain to help craft omens and rumors that mask a vanished king and missing queen. A birchbark signal will summon Chade as final preparations proceed.