rh.royalassassin-第139节

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e　with。　I　would　always　put　the　Farseers　ahead　of　her。　I　had　dangled　marriage　before　Molly　like　bait；　left　her　with　no　pride　in　herself　nor　belief　in　me。　She　had　hurt　me　by　leaving　me。　What　she　could　not　leave　behind　was　what　I　had　done　to　her　belief　in　herself。　That　she　must　carry　with　her　forever；　a　belief　that　she　had　been　tricked　and　used　by　a　selfish　lying　boy　who　lacked　even　the　courage　to　fight　for　her。
　　　　　　　Can　desolation　be　a　source　of　courage？　Or　was　it　merely　recklessness　and　a　desire　for　self…destruction？　I　went　boldly　back　downstairs　and　went　directly　to　the　King's　chambers。　The　torches　in　the　wall　sconces　outside　his　door　annoyed　me　by　spitting　blue　sparks　as　I　passed。　A　little　too　dramatic；　Chade。　I　wondered　if　he　had　treated　every　candle　and　torch　in　the　Keep。　I　pushed　the　hanging　curtain　aside　and　entered。　No　one　was　there。　Not　in　the　sitting　room；　not　even　in　the　King's　bedchamber。　The　place　had　a　threadbare　look　to　it；　with　all　the　best　things　taken　away　and　carted　off　upriver。　It　reminded　me　of　a　room　in　a　mediocre　inn。　Nothing　left　here　was　worth　stealing；　or　Regal　would　have　left　a　guard　on　the　door。　In　a　strange　way；　it　reminded　me　of　Molly's　room。　Here　there　were　objects　left；　bedding；　garments；　and　the　like。　But　this　was　no　longer　my　king's　room。　I　went　and　stood　by　a　table；　in　the　exact　spot　where　I　had　stood　as　a　young　boy。　Here；　while　Shrewd　breakfasted；　he　had　quizzed　me　astutely　on　my　lessons　each　week；　and　made　me　aware；　every　time　he　spoke　to　me；　that　if　I　was　his　subject；　he　was　also　my　king。　That　man　was　gone；　stripped　from　this　room。　The　clutter　of　an　active　man；　the　boot　trees；　the　blades；　the　scatter　of　scrolls　had　been　replaced　with　censers　for　burning　herbs　and　sticky　cups　of　drug　tea。　King　Shrewd　had　left　this　room　a　long　time　ago。　Tonight　I　would　take　away　a　sick　old　man。
　　　　　　　I　heard　footsteps　and　cursed　myself　for　my　clumsiness。　I　slipped　behind　a　hanging　and　stood　motionless。　I　heard　the　murmur　of　voices　from　the　sitting　room。　Wallace。　That　mocking　reply　would　be　the　Fool。　I　ghosted　from　my　hiding　place　to　stand　just　inside　the　bedchamber　and　peer　through　the　make　shift　curtain。　Kettricken　sat　on　the　couch　beside　the　King；　talking　with　him　softly。　She　looked　weary。　Dark　circles　smudged　beneath　her　eyes；　but　she　smiled　for　the　King。　I　was　pleased　to　hear　him　murmur　a　reply　to　whatever　she　had　asked　him。　Wallace　crouched　on　the　hearth；　adding　sticks　of　wood　to　the　fire　with　excessive　care。　On　the　other　side　of　the　hearth；　Rosemary　had　collapsed　in　a　heap；　her　new　dress　bunched　up　about　her。　As　I　watched　she　yawned　sleepily；　then　heaved　a　sigh　and　straightened　herself　up。　I　pitied　her。　The　long　ceremony　had　left　me　feeling　exactly　the　same　way。　The　Fool　stood　behind　the　King's　chair。　He　suddenly　turned　and　stared　directly　at　me；　as　if　the　curtain　were　no　barrier　at　all。　I　could　see　no　one　else　in　the　room。
　　　　　　　The　Fool　turned　abruptly　back　to　Wallace。　〃Yes；　blow；　Sir　Wallace；　blow　well　and　hot。　Perchance　we　shall　not　need　the　fire　at　all；　with　the　warmth　of　your　breath　to　drive　the　chill　from　the　room。〃
　　　　　　　Wallace　did　not　rise　from　his　crouch；　but　turned　to　glare　at　the　Fool　over　his　shoulder。　〃Bring　me　some　wood；　would　you？　Not　a　stick　of　this　will　catch。　The　flame　runs　along　it　well；　but　the　wood　does　not　burn。　I　need　hot　water　if　I　am　to　make　the　King　his　sleeping　tea。〃
　　　　　　　〃Would　I　bring　wood？　Wood？　Would　I？　Wooden　am　I　not；　fair　Wallace。　Nor　would　I　burn；　no　matter　how　closely　you　huffed　and　puffed　upon　me。　Guards！　Ho；　guards！　Enter；　and　bring　with　you　wood；　if　you　would！〃　The　Fool　leaped　up　from　his　place　behind　the　King　and　capered　to　the　door；　where　he　made　a　great　show　of　attempting　to　treat　the　curtain　as　if　it　were　a　proper　door。　At　last　he　thrust　his　head　out　into　the　hall　and　called　loudly　again　for　the　guards。　He　drew　his　head　back　in　after　a　moment　and　returned　to　the　room　with　a　dejected　air。　〃No　guards；　no　wood。　Poor　Wallace。〃　He　gravely　studied　the　man。　Wallace　was　on　his　hands　and　knees；　poking　angrily　at　the　fire。　〃Perhaps　were　you　to　turn；　bow　to　stern；　and　blow　thus　upon　the　fire；　the　flames　might　dance　more　merrily　for　you。　Fore　to　aft；　to　create　a　draft；　brave　Wallace。〃
　　　　　　　One　of　the　candles　that　lit　the　room　suddenly　spat　blue　sparks。　All；　even　the　Fool；　flinched　to　its　hissing；　while　Wallace　lumbered　to　his　feet。　I　would　not　have　thought　him　a　superstitious　man；　but　there　was　a　brief　wildness　in　his　eyes　that　spoke　well　of　how　little　he　liked　this　omen。　〃The　fire　simply　will　not　burn；〃　he　announced；　and　then　as　if　realizing　the　significance　of　what　he　said；　he　paused；　mouth　agape。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　witched；〃　said　the　Fool　benignly。　On　the　hearth；　little　Rosemary　drew　her　knees　up　under　her　chin　and　looked　about　with　round　eyes。　All　trace　of　sleepiness　was　gone　from　her。
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　there　no　guards？〃　Wallace　demanded　angrily。　He　strode　to　the　door　of　the　room　and　peered　out　into　the　hallway。　〃The　torches　burn　blue；　every　one　of　them！〃　he　gasped。　He　drew　his　head　back　in；　looked　about　wildly。　〃Rosemary。　Run　and　fetch　the　guards。　They　said　they　would　follow　us　shortly。〃
　　　　　　　Rosemary　shook　her　head　and　refused　to　budge。　She　hugged　her　knees　tightly。
　　　　　　　〃Guards　would　follow　us？　Wood　follow　us？　Followed　by　wood？　Now　that's　a　knotty　subject！　Would　wooden　guards　burn？〃
　　　　　　　〃Stop　your　nattering！〃　Wallace　snapped　at　the　Fool。　〃Go　fetch　the　guards。〃
　　　　　　　〃Go　fetch？　First　he　thinks　I　am　wood；　now　that　I　am　his　little　pet　dog。　Ah！　Go　fetch　the　wood；　the　stick　you　mean。　Where's　the　stick？〃　And　the　Fool　began　to　bark　like　a　feist　and　frolic　about　the　room　as　if　in　search　of　a　thrown　stick。
　　　　　　　〃Go　fetch　the　guards！〃　Wallace　all　but　howled。
　　　　　　　The　Queen　spoke　firmly。　〃Fool。　Wallace。　Enough。　You　weary　us　with　your　antics；　and　Wallace；　you　are　frightening　Rosemary。　Go　and　fetch　the　guards　yourself；　if　you　are　so　set　on　having　them　here。　As　for　me；　I　would　have　a　little　peace。　I　am　weary。　Soon　I　must　retire。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　queen；　there　is　something　ill　afoot　this　night；〃　Wallace　insisted。　He　glanced　about　him　warily。　〃I　am　not　a　man　swayed　by　chance　omens；　but　of　late　there　have　been　too　many　to　ignore。　I　shall　go　fetch　the　guards；　since　the　Fool　here　lacks　the　courage…〃
　　　　　　　〃He　clamors　and　weeps　for　the　guards　to　e　guard　him　from　wood　that　will　not　burn；　but　I；　I　am　the　one　who　lacks　courage？　Ah；　me！〃
　　　　　　　〃Fool；　peace；　please！〃　The　Queen's　plea　seemed　genuine。　〃Wallace。　Go　bring；　not　guards；　but　simply　different　wood。　Our　king　wishes　not　this　motion；　but　simply　rest。　Go　now。　Go。〃
　　　　　　　Wallace　hovered　at　the　door；　plainly　reluctant　to　brave　the　blue　light　of　the　corridor　alone。
　　　　　　　The　Fool　simpered　at　him。　〃Shall　I　e　with；　to　hold　your　hand；　brave　Wallace？〃
　　　　　　　That　at　last　sent　him　striding　from　the　room。　As　his　footsteps　faded；　the　Fool　once　more　looked　toward　my　hiding　place；　his　invitation　plain。　〃My　queen；〃　I　said　softly；　and　a　quickly　indrawn　breath　was　the　only　sign　that　I　startled　her　as　I　stepped　out　of　the　King's　bedchamber。　〃If　you　wished　to　retire；　the　Fool　and　I　could　see　the　King　to　his　bed。　I　know　you　are　weary　and　that　you　wished　to　rest　early　this　night。〃　From　the　hearth；　Rosemary　regarded　me　with　round　eyes。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　I　shall；〃　said　Kettricken；　rising　with　surprising　alacrity。　〃e；　Rosemary。　Good　night；　my　king。〃
　　　　　　　She　swept　from　the　room；　with　Rosemary　practically　trotting　at　her　heels。　The　child　gave　us　many　a　backward　glance。　As　soon　as　the　door　curtain　fell　behind　them；　I　was　at　the　King's　side。　〃My　king；　it　is　time；〃　I　told　him　gently。　〃I　shall　keep　watch　here　as　you　go。　Is　there　anything　special　you　wished　to　take　with　you？〃
　　　　　　　He　swallowed；　then　focused　his　eyes　on　me。　〃No。　No；　there　is　nothing　here　for　me。　Nothing　to　leave　behind；　and　nothing　to　stay　for。〃　He　closed　his　eyes；　spoke　softly。　〃I　have　changed　my　mind；　Fitz。　I　think　I　shall　stay　here；　and　die　in　my　own　bed　this　night。〃
　　　　　　　The　Fool　and　I　were　both　struck　dumb　for　an　instant。
　　　　　　　〃Ah；　no！〃　the　Fool　cried　softly；　while　I　said；　〃My　king；　you　are　but　tired。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　the　only　thing　I　shall　get　is　more　tired。〃　There　was　a　strange　lucidity　in　his　eyes。　The　boy　King　I　had　touched　briefly　when　we　Skilled　together　looked　out　at　me　from　that　painracked　body。　〃My　body　fails　me。　My　son　has　bee　a　serpent。　Regal　knows　his　brother　lives。　He　knows　the　crown　he　wears　is　not　rightfully　his。　I　did　not　think　he　would　。。。　I　thought　at　the　last；　he　would　think　better　。。。。〃　Tears　welled　in　his　ancient　eyes。　I　had　thought　to　save　my　king　from　a　disloyal　Prince。　I　should　have　known　there　was　no　saving　a　father　from　the　betrayal　of　a　son。　He　reached　a　hand　toward　me；　a　hand　gone　from　a　muscled　sword　holder　to　a　gaunt　and　yellowed　claw。　〃I　would　say　farewell　to　Verity。　I　would　have　him　know；　from　me；　that　I　did　not　countenance　any　of　this。　Let　me　at　least　keep　that　much　faith　with　the　son　who　kept　faith　with　me。〃　He　pointed　to　a　spot　by　his　feet。　〃e；　Fitz。　Take　me　to　him。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　no　refusing　that　mand。　I　did　not　hesitate。　I　came　and　knelt　before　him。　The　Fool　stood　behind　him；　tears　cutting　gray　paths　through　the　black…and…white　paint　on　his　face。　〃No；〃　he　whispered　urgently。　〃My　king；　rise；　let　us　go　into　hiding。　There　you