Magrat stood and stared at the wilting posy in her hands. She ran her fingers through her hair and a shower of wilted petals fell out.
She felt that an important moment had been allowed to slip out of her grasp as fast as a greased pig in a narrow passageway.
She felt an overpowering urge to curse. She knew a great many curses. Goodie Whemper had been really imaginative in that department; even the creatures of the forest used to go past her cottage at a dead run.
She couldn't find a single one that fully expressed her feelings.
'Oh, bugger,' she said.
It was a full moon again that night, and most unusually all three witches arrived at the standing stone early; it was so embarrassed by this that it went and hid in some gorse bushes.
'Greebo hasn't been home for two days/ said Nanny Ogg, as soon as she arrived. 'It's not like him. I can't find him anywhere.'
'Cats can look after themselves,' said Granny Weatherwax. 'Countries can't. I have intelligence to report. Light the fire, Magrat.'
'Mmm?'
'I said, light the fire, Magrat.'
'Mmm? Oh. Yes.'
The two old women watched her drift vaguely across the moorland, tugging absently at dried-up whin clumps. Magrat seemed to have her mind on something.
'Doesn't seem to be her normal self,' said Nanny Ogg.
'Yes. Could be an improvement,' said Granny shortly, and sat down on a rock. 'She should of got it lit before we arrived. It's her job.'
'She means well,' said Nanny Ogg, studying Magrat's back reflectively.
'I used to mean well when I was a girl, but that didn't stop the sharp end of Goodie Filter's tongue. Youngest witch serves her time, you know how it is. We had it tougher, too. Look at her. Doesn't even wear the pointy hat. How's anyone going to know?'
'You got something on your mind, Esme?' said Nanny.
Granny nodded gloomily.
'Had a visit yesterday,' she said.
'Me too.'
Despite her worries, Granny was slightly annoyed at this. 'Who from?' she said.
'The mayor of Lancre and a bunch of burghers. They're not happy about the king. They want a king they can trust.'
'I wouldn't trust any king a burgher could trust,' said Granny.
'Yes, but it's not good for anyone, all this taxing and killing folk. The new sergeant they've got is a keen man when it comes to setting fire to cottages, too. Old Verence used to do it too, mind, but . . . well . . .'
'I know, I know. It was more personal,' said Granny. 'You felt he meant it. People like to feel they're valued.'
'This Felmet hates the kingdom,' Nanny went on. 'They all say it. They say when they go to talk to him he just stares at them and giggles and rubs his hand and twitches a bit.'
Granny scratched her chin. 'The old king used to shout at them and kick them out of the castle, mind. He used to say he didn't have no time for shopkeepers and such,' she added, with a note of personal approval.
'But he was always very gracious about it,' said Nanny Ogg. 'And he—'
'The kingdom is worried,' said Granny.
'Yes, I already said.'