rh.royalassassin-第11节

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　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　think　of　Hands？〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　a　good　lad；〃　Burrich　said　grudgingly。
　　　　　　　〃He's　more　than　that。　You　chose　him　to　stay　in　the　Mountain　Kingdom　and　ride　home　with　us；　when　you　sent　all　the　others　back　with　the　main　caravan。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　needed　someone　steady。　At　that　time　you　were　。。。　very　ill。　And　I　wasn't　much　better；　truth　to　tell。〃　He　lifted　a　hand　to　a　streak　of　white　in　his　dark　hair；　testimony　to　the　blow　that　had　nearly　killed　him。
　　　　　　　〃How　did　you　e　to　choose　him？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't；　really。　He　came　to　me。　Somehow　he　found　where　they'd　housed　us；　and　then　talked　his　way　past　Jonqui。　I　was　still　bandaged　up　and　scarce　able　to　make　my　eyes　focus。　I　felt　him　standing　there　more　than　saw　him。　I　asked　him　what　he　wanted；　and　he　told　me　that　I　needed　to　put　someone　in　charge；　because　with　me　sick　and　Cob　gone；　the　stable　help　were　getting　sloppy。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　that　impressed　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　got　to　the　point。　No　idle　questions　about　me；　or　you；　or　what　was　going　on。　He　had　found　the　thing　he　could　do　and　e　to　do　it。　I　like　that　in　a　man。　Knowing　what　he　can　do；　and　doing　it。　So　I　put　him　in　charge。　He　managed　it　well。　I　kept　him　when　I　sent　the　others　home　because　I　knew　I　might　need　a　man　who　could　do　that。　And　also　to　see　for　myself　what　he　was。　Was　he　all　ambition；　or　was　there　a　genuine　understanding　of　what　a　man　owes　a　beast　when　he　claims　to　own　him？　Did　he　want　power　over　those　under　him；　or　the　well…being　of　his　animals？〃
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　think　of　him　now？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　so　young　as　I　once　was。　I　think　there　still　may　be　a　good　stablemaster　in　Buckkeep　stables　when　I　can　no　longer　manage　an　ill…tempered　stallion。　Not　that　I　expect　to　step　down　soon。　There　is　still　much　he　needs　to　be　taught。　But　we　are　both　still　young　enough；　him　to　learn　and　me　to　teach。　There　is　a　satisfaction　in　that。〃
　　　　　　　I　nodded。　Once；　I　supposed；　he　had　planned　that　spot　for　me。　Now　we　both　knew　it　would　never　be。
　　　　　　　He　turned　to　go。　〃Burrich；〃　I　said　quietly。　He　paused。　〃No　one　can　replace　you。　Thank　you。　For　all　you've　done　these　last　few　months。　I　owe　you　my　life。　Not　just　that　you　saved　me　from　death。　But　you　gave　me　my　life；　and　who　I　am。　Ever　since　I　was　six。　Chivalry　was　my　father；　I　know。　But　I　never　met　him。　You've　fathered　me　day　in　and　day　out；　over　a　lot　of　years。　I　didn't　always　appreciate…〃
　　　　　　　Burrich　snorted　and　opened　the　door。　〃Save　speeches　like　that　for　when　one　of　us　is　dying。　Go　report；　and　then　go　to　bed。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　sir；〃　I　heard　myself　say；　and　knew　that　he　smiled　even　as　I　did。　He　shouldered　the　door　open　and　bore　Hands's　dinner　out　to　the　stables　for　him。　He　was　home　there。
　　　　　　　And　this；　here；　was　my　home。　Time　I　dealt　with　that。　I　took　a　moment　to　straighten　my　damp　clothing　and　run　a　hand　through　my　hair。　I　cleared　our　dishes　from　the　table　and　then　folded　my　wet　smock　over　my　arm。
　　　　　　　As　I　made　my　way　from　the　kitchen　to　the　hall；　and　then　to　the　Great　Hall；　I　was　mystified　by　what　I　saw。　Did　the　tapestries　glow　more　brightly　than　they　once　had？　Had　the　strewing　herbs　always　smelled　so　sweet；　the　carved　woodwork　by　each　doorway　always　gleamed　so　warmly？　Briefly　I　put　it　down　to　my　relief　at　finally　being　home。　But　when　I　paused　at　the　foot　of　the　great　stair　to　take　up　a　candle　to　light　my　way　up　to　my　chamber；　I　noticed　that　the　table　there　was　not　bespattered　with　wax；　and　more；　that　an　embroidered　cloth　graced　it。
　　　　　　　Kettricken。
　　　　　　　There　was　a　Queen　at　Buckkeep　now。　I　found　myself　smiling　foolishly。　So。　This　great　fortress　castle　had　had　a　going…over　in　my　absence。　Had　Verity　bestirred　himself　and　his　folk　before　her　arrival；　or　had　Kettricken　herself　demanded　this　vast　scrubbing　out？　It　would　be　interesting　to　find　out。
　　　　　　　As　I　climbed　the　great　staircase　I　noticed　other　things。　The　ancient　soot　marks　above　each　sconce　were　gone。　Not　even　the　corners　of　the　steps　held　dust。　There　were　no　cobwebs。　The　candelabra　at　each　landing　were　full　and　bright　with　candles。　And　a　rack　at　each　landing　held　blades；　ready　for　defense。　So　this　was　what　it　meant　to　have　a　Queen　in　residence。　But　even　when　Shrewd's　queen　had　been　alive；　I　didn't　recall　that　Buckkeep　had　looked　or　smelled　so　clean　or　been　so　brightly　lit。
　　　　　　　The　guard　at　King　Shrewd's　door　was　a　dour…faced　veteran　I　had　known　since　I　was　six。　A　silent　man；　he　peered　at　me　closely；　then　recognized　me。　He　allowed　me　a　brief　smile　as　he　asked；　〃Anything　critical　to　report；　Fitz？〃
　　　　　　　〃Only　that　I'm　back；〃　I　said；　and　he　nodded　sagely。　He　was　used　to　my　ing　and　going　here；　often　at　some　very　odd　hours；　but　he　was　not　a　man　to　make　assumptions　or　draw　conclusions；　or　even　speak　to　those　who　might。　So　he　stepped　quietly　inside　the　King's　chamber；　to　pass　the　word　to　someone　that　Fitz　was　here。　In　a　moment　the　word　came　back　that　the　King　would　summon　me　at　his　convenience；　but　also　that　he　was　glad　I　was　safe。　I　stepped　quietly　away　from　his　door；　making　more　of　his　message　than　if　those　words　had　e　from　any　other　man。　Shrewd　never　mouthed　polite　nothings。
　　　　　　　Farther　down　the　same　corridor　were　Verity's　chambers。　Here　again　I　was　recognized；　but　when　I　requested　the　man　let　Verity　know　I　was　back　and　wished　to　report；　he　replied　only　that　Prince　Verity　was　not　within　his　chamber。
　　　　　　　〃In　his　tower；　then？〃　I　asked；　wondering　what　he　would　be　watching　for　at　this　time　of　year。　Winter　storms　kept　our　coast　safe　from　Raiders　for　at　least　these　few　months　of　the　year。
　　　　　　　A　slow　smile　stole　over　the　guard's　face。　When　he　saw　my　puzzled　glance；　it　became　a　grin。　〃Prince　Verity　is　not　in　his　chambers　just　now；〃　he　repeated。　And　then　added：　〃I　shall　see　that　he　gets　your　message　as　soon　as　he　awakes　in　the　morning。〃
　　　　　　　For　a　moment　longer　I　stood；　stupid　as　a　post。　Then　I　turned　and　walked　quietly　away。　I　felt　a　sort　of　wonder。　This；　too；　was　what　it　meant　for　there　to　be　a　Queen　in　Buckkeep。
　　　　　　　I　climbed　another　two　flights　of　stairs；　and　went　down　the　hall　to　my　own　chamber。　It　smelled　stale；　and　there　was　no　fire　in　the　hearth。　It　was　cold　with　disuse；　and　dusty。　No　touch　of　a　woman's　hand　here。　It　seemed　as　bare　and　colorless　as　a　cell。　But　it　was　still　warmer　than　a　tent　in　the　snow；　and　the　feather　bed　was　as　soft　and　deep　as　I　remembered　it。　I　shed　my　travel…stained　garments　as　I　walked　toward　it。　I　fell　into　it　and　sleep。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　THREE
　　　　　　　Renewing　Ties
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　THE　OLDEST　REFERENCE　to　the　Elderlings　in　the　Buckkeep　library　is　a　battered　scroll。　Vague　discolorations　upon　the　vellum　suggest　that　it　came　from　a　parti…colored　beast；　one　mottled　in　a　way　unfamiliar　to　any　of　our　hunters。　The　lettering　ink　is　one　derived　from　squid　ink　and　bell　root。　It　has　stood　the　test　of　time　well；　much　better　than　the　colored　inks　that　originally　supplied　illustrations　and　illuminations　for　the　text。　These　have　not　only　faded　and　bled；　but　in　many　places　have　drawn　the　attentions　of　some　mite　that　has　gnawed　and　stiffened　the　once…supple　parchment；　making　parts　of　the　scroll　too　brittle　to　unroll。
　　　　　　　Unfortunately；　the　damage　was　concentrated　most　at　the　innermost　parts　of　the　scroll；　which　deal　with　portions　of　King　Wisdom's　quest　that　were　not　recorded　elsewhere。　From　these　fragmented　remains；　one　can　glean　that　sore　need　drove　him　to　seek　the　homeland　of　the　Elderlings。　His　troubles　are　familiar　ones；　ships　raided　his　coastline　mercilessly。　Tatters　hint　that　he　rode　off　toward　the　Mountain　Kingdom。　We　don't　know　why　he　suspected　that　way　would　lead　him　to　the　home　of　the　mythical　Elderlings。　Unfortunately　the　final　stages　of　his　journey　and　his　encounter　with　the　Elderlings　seem　to　have　been　richly　illustrated；　for　here　the　parchment　is　reduced　to　a　lacy　web　of　tantalizing　word　bits　and　body　parts。　We　do　not　know　anything　of　this　first　encounter。　Nor　have　we　even　an　inkling　as　to　how　he　induced　the　Elderlings　to　bee　his　allies。　Many　songs；　rich　in　metaphor；　tell　how　the　Elderlings　descended；　like　〃storms；　〃　like　〃tidal　waves；　〃　like　〃vengeance　gone　gold；　〃　and　〃wrath　embodied　in　flesh　of　stone〃　to　drive　the　Raiders　away　from　our　shores。　Legends　also　tell　that　they　swore　to　Wisdom　that　if　ever　the　Six　Duchies　had　need　of　their　aid；　they　would　rise　again　to　our　defense。　One　may　conjecture；　many　have；　and　the　variety　of　legends　that　surround　this　alliance　are　proof　of　that。　But　King　Wisdom's　scribe's　recounting　of　the　event　has　been　lost　to　mildew　and　worms　forever。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　My　chamber　had　a　single　tall　window　that　looked　out　over　the　sea。　In　winter　a　wooden　shutter　closed　out　the　storm　winds；　and　a　tapestry　hung　over　that　gave　my　room　an　illusion　of　cozy　warmth。　So　I　awakened　to　darkness；　and　for　a　time　lay　quietly　finding　myself。　Gradually　the　subtle　sounds　of　the　Keep　filtered　in　to　me。　Morning　sounds。　Very　early　morning　sounds。　Home；　I　realized。　Buckkeep。　And　in　the　next　instant；　〃Molly；〃　I　said　aloud　to　the　darkness。　My　body　was　weary　and　aching　still。　But　not　exhausted。　I　clambered　from　my　bed　into　the　chill　of　my　room。
　　　　　　　I　stumbled　to　my　long…disused　hearth　and　kindled　a　small　fire。　I　needed　to　bring　up　more　firewood　soon。　The　dancing　flames　lent　the　room　a　fickle　yellow　light。　I　took　clothing　from　the　chest　at　the　foot　of　my　bed；　only　to