Story set on the world of Winter, which was explored in more detail in The Left Hand of Darkness. A political faction has kidnapped the young King Argaven of Karhide and mindformed her, intending to use her as a tool for their interests. Not knowing what subconscious orders they have planted in her mind, Argaven seeks a way to avoid betraying her country.

This story was written before it became clear that the inhabitants of Gethen were androgynous. In later printings of the story, Le Guin has revised it slightly to use the feminine pronoun and emphasize the gender ambiguity.

Published in The Wind's Twelve Quarters.