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le stick legs against her fat arm as it shook； making little dents with its feet。 The Queen fed it scraps of meat that were better than any Rachel had ever been fed。 Before today； that is； she thought with a smile。
Rachel didn't like the little dog。 It barked a lot； and sometimes when the Queen set it on the floor； it would run over to her and bite her legs with its tiny sharp teeth； and she didn't dare to say anything。 When the dog bit her； the Queen always told it to be careful； not to hurt itself。 She always used a funny； high； sweet voice when she talked to the dog。
While the Queen and her ministers talked about some kind of alliance； Rachel …sat jiggling her legs； knocking her knees together； thinking about her trouble doll。 The wizard stood behind and to the right of the Queen； offering his advice when asked。 He looked grand in his silver robes。 She had never paid much attention to Giller before； he had just been another one of the Queen's important people； always there with her； like her little dog。 People were afraid of him； too； the way she was afraid of the dog。 Now； as she watched him； he seemed like just about the nicest man she had ever seen。
He ignored her through the whole dinner； never once looking her way。 Rachel figured he didn't want to draw attention to her； and make the Princess mad。 That was a good idea。 Princess Violet would be cross if she knew Giller had said he thought Rachel's name was pretty。 The Queen's long hair hung down behind her fancy carved chair； shaking in waves when her important people talked to her and she nodded her head。
When the meal was finished； servers rolled out a cart with the crock she had seen the cooks mixing。 Goblets were filled from a ladle and carried to all the guests。 Everyone seemed to think it was pretty important。
The Queen stood； holding her goblet in the air； and the little dog in her other arm。 〃Lords and ladies； I present you with the drink of enlightenment； that we may see the truth。 This is a very precious modity； few are offered the opportunity of enlightenment。 I have availed myself of it many times； of course； that I might see the truth； the way of Father Rahl； in order to lead my people to the mon good。 Drink up。〃
Some people looked like they didn't want to； but only for a minute。 Then they all drank。 The Queen drank； after she saw that everyone else had； then sat back down with a funny look on her face。 She leaned to a server； whispering。 Rachel started to get worried； the Queen was frowning。 When the Queen frowned； people got their heads chopped off。
The tall cook came out； smiling。 The Queen motioned to him with her finger hooked； to lean closer。 There was sweat on his forehead。 Rachel guessed it was because the kitchen was so hot。 She was sitting behind the Princess； who sat at the left arm of the Queen； so she could hear them talking。
〃This does not taste the same；〃 she said in her mean voice。 She didn't always talk in her mean voice； but when she did； people got scared。
〃Ali； well； Your Majesty； you see； in truth； uh； well； it's not； you see。 Not the same； that is。〃 Her eyebrows lifted and he talked faster。 〃You see； uh； in truth； well； I knew this was a very important dinner。 Yes； I knew； you see； that you wouldn't want anything to go wrong。 You see。 Wouldn't want anyone to fail to be enlightened； to fail to see your brilliance； about all this； uh； business； so； you see； well；〃 he leaned a little closer and lowered his voice to speak confidentially； 〃so I took the liberty of making the drink of enlightenment stronger。 Much stronger； actually； you see。 So no one would fail to see the rightness of what you say。 I assure you； Your Majesty； it is so strong； no one will fail to be enlightened。〃 He leaned even closer； lowered his voice even more。 〃In fact； Your Majesty； it is so strong that anyone who fails to be enlightened； and opposes you after drinking it； well； they could only be a traitor。〃
〃Really；〃 the Queen whispered in' surprise。 〃Well； I thought it was stronger。〃
〃Very perceptive； Your Majesty； very perceptive。 You have a very refined palate。 I knew I wouldn't be able to fool you。〃
〃Indeed。 But are you sure it isn't too powerful？ I can feel the enlightenment sweeping through me already。〃
〃Your Majesty；〃 his eyes shifted among the guests。 〃Where your mandate is concerned； I feared to make it any weaker。〃 His eyebrows lifted up。 〃Lest any traitor go unfound。〃
She smiled at last； and nodded。 〃You are a wise and loyal cook。 From now on； I put you； exclusively； in charge of the drink of enlightenment。〃
〃Thank you； Your Majesty。〃
He bowed a bunch of times and left。 Rachel was glad he didn't get in trouble。
〃Lords and ladies； a special treat。 Tonight； I had the cook prepare the drink of enlightenment extra strong； so none loyal to their queen could fail to see the wisdom of Father Rahl's ways。〃
The people all smiled and nodded how pleased they were about this。 Some told how they could already feel the special insights the drink was giving them。
〃A special treat； lords and ladies； for your entertainment。〃 She snapped her fingers。 〃Bring in the fool。〃
Guards brought in a man； and made him stand in the center of the room； directly in front of the Queen； all the tables around him。 He was big and strong…looking； but he was bound with chains。 The Queen leaned forward。
〃We here have all agreed that an alliance with our ally； Darken Rahl； will bring great benefits to all our people； that we all will profit； together。 That the little people； the workers； the farmers； will benefit the most。 That they will be freed from the oppression of those who would only exploit them for profit； for gold； for greed。 That from now on； we all will be working for the mon good； not individual goals。〃 The Queen frowned。 〃Please tell all these ignorant lords and ladies〃…she swept her hand around the room…〃how it is that you are smarter than they； and why you should be allowed to work only for yourself； instead of your fellow man。〃
The man had an angry look on his face。 Rachel wished he would change it； before he got in trouble。
〃The mon good；〃 he said； sweeping his hand around the room like the Queen had done； except his hands had chains on them。 〃This is what you call the mon good？ All you fine people look to be enjoying the good food； the warm fire。 My children go hungry tonight because most of our crops have been taken； for the mon good； for those who have decided not to bother to work； but to eat the fruit of my labor instead。〃
The people laughed。
〃And you would deny them food； simply because you are fortunate that your crops grew better？〃 the Queen asked。 〃You are a selfish man。〃
〃Their crops would grow better if they would plant seeds in the ground first。〃
〃And so you have so little care for your fellow man； that you therefore would condemn them to starve？〃
〃My family starves！ To feed others； to feed Rahl's army。 To feed you fine lords and ladies； who do nothing but discuss and decide what to do with my crop； how to divide the product of my labor among others。〃
Rachel wished the man