rh.royalassassin-第144节

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or　those　crimes　alone。〃
　　　　　　　〃King…in…Waiting　Regal。　You　charge　FitzChivalry　killed　King　Shrewd　using　the　Wit；〃　Brawndy　stated。　With　ponderous　logic　he　added；　〃I　have　never　heard　of　such　a　thing　being　possible。　But　if　this　is　so；　then　the　council　has　first　right　to　his　life；　for　he　would　have　killed　the　King　first。　It　would　take　a　convening　of　the　council；　to　decide　his　guilt　or　innocence；　and　to　set　his　sentence。〃
　　　　　　　Regal　sighed　in　exasperation。　〃Then　I　will　convene　the　council。　Let　us　get　it　done　and　have　it　over　with。　It　is　ridiculous　to　delay　my　coronation　for　a　murderer's　execution。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　lord；　a　King's　death　is　never　ridiculous；〃　Duke　Shemshy　of　Shoaks　pointed　out　quietly。　〃And　we　will　have　done　with　one　King　before　we　have　another；　Regal；　King…in…Waiting。　〃
　　　　　　　〃My　father　is　dead　and　buried。　How　much　more　done　with　him　can　you　be？〃　Regal　was　being　reckless。　There　was　nothing　of　grief　or　respect　in　his　retort。
　　　　　　　〃We　will　know　how　he　died；　and　at　whose　hand；〃　Brawndy　of　Beams　told　him。　〃Your　man　Wallace　said　FitzChivalry　killed　the　King。　You；　King…in…Waiting　Regal；　agreed；　saying　he　used　the　Wit　to　do　it。　Many　of　us　believe　that　FitzChivalry　was　singularly　devoted　to　his　king　and　would　not　do　such　a　thing。　And　FitzChivalry　said　the　Skill　users　did。〃　For　the　first　time　Duke　Brawndy　looked　directly　at　me。　I　met　his　eyes　and　spoke　to　him　as　if　we　were　alone。
　　　　　　　〃Justin　and　Serene　killed　him；〃　I　said　quietly。　〃By　treachery；　they　killed　my　king。〃
　　　　　　　〃Silence！　〃　Regal　bawled。　He　lifted　his　hand　as　if　to　strike　me。　I　did　not　flinch。
　　　　　　　〃And　so　I　killed　them；〃　I　continued；　looking　only　at　Brawndy。　〃With　the　King's　knife。　Why　else　would　I　have　chosen　such　a　weapon？〃
　　　　　　　〃Crazy　men　do　strange　things。〃　This　from　Duke　Kelvar　of　Rippon；　while　Regal　strangled；　livid　with　fury。　I　met　Kelvar's　eyes　calmly。　Last　I　had　spoken　with　him　had　been　at　his　own　table；　at　Neatbay。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　crazy；〃　I　asserted　quietly。　〃I　was　no　more　crazy　that　night　than　I　was　the　night　I　wielded　an　ax　outside　the　walls　of　Bayguard。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　may　be　so；〃　Kelvar　affirmed　thoughtfully。　〃It　is　mon　talk　that　he　goes　berserk　when　he　fights。〃
　　　　　　　A　glint　came　into　Regal's　eyes。　〃It　is　mon　talk；　too；　that　he　has　been　seen　with　blood　on　his　mouth　after　he　has　fought。　That　he　bees　one　of　the　animals　that　he　was　raised　with。　He　is　Witted。〃
　　　　　　　Silence　greeted　this　remark。　The　Dukes　exchanged　glances；　and　when　Shemshy　glanced　back　at　me；　there　was　distaste　in　the　look。　Brawndy　finally　answered　Regal。　〃This　is　a　grave　charge　you　level。　Have　you　a　witness？〃
　　　　　　　〃To　blood　on　his　mouth？　Several。〃
　　　　　　　Brawndy　shook　his　head。　〃Any　man　may　finish　a　battle　with　a　bloody　face。　An　ax　is　not　a　tidy　weapon。　I　can　attest　to　that。　No。　It　would　take　more　than　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　let　us　convene　the　council；〃　Regal　repeated　impatiently。　〃Hear　what　Wallace　has　to　say　about　how　my　father　died　and　at　whose　hand。〃
　　　　　　　The　three　Dukes　exchanged　glances。　Their　eyes　came　back　to　me；　considering。　Duke　Brawndy　led　the　coast　now。　I　was　certain　of　it　when　he　was　the　one　who　spoke。　〃King…in…Waiting　Regal。　Let　us　speak　plainly。　You　have　accused　FitzChivalry；　son　of　Chivalry；　of　using　the　Wit；　the　Beast　magic；　to　slay　King　Shrewd。　This　is　indeed　a　grave　charge。　To　satisfy　us　of　it；　we　ask　that　you　prove　to　us　that　not　only　is　he　Witted；　but　that　he　can　use　it　to　do　injury　to　another。　All　of　us　were　witness　that　there　were　no　marks　on　King　Shrewd's　body；　no　sign　of　a　death　struggle　at　all。　Had　not　you　raised　this　cry　of　treachery；　we　might　have　accepted　that　he　had　died　of　his　years。　Some；　even；　have　whispered　that　you　but　seek　an　excuse　to　be　rid　of　FitzChivalry。　I　know　you　have　heard　these　rumors；　I　speak　them　aloud　that　we　may　confront　them。〃　Brawndy　paused；　as　if　debating　with　himself。　He　glanced　once　more　at　his　peers。　When　neither　Kelvar　nor　Shemshy　gave　sign　of　dissension；　he　cleared　his　throat　and　continued。
　　　　　　　〃We　have　a　proposal；　King…in…Waiting　Regal。　Prove　to　us；　sir；　that　FitzChivalry　is　Witted；　and　that　he　used　that　Wit　to　kill　King　Shrewd；　and　we　will　let　you　put　him　to　death　as　you　see　fit。　We　will　witness　your　coronation　as　king　of　the　Six　Duchies。　Further；　we　will　accept　Lord　Bright　as　your　presence　in　Buckkeep　and　allow　you　to　retire　your　court　to　Tradeford。〃
　　　　　　　Triumph　gleamed　briefly　on　Regal's　face。　Then　suspicion　masked　it。　〃And　if；　Duke　Brawndy；　I　do　not　prove　this　to　your　satisfaction？〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　FitzChivalry　lives；〃　Brawndy　calmly　decreed。　〃And　you　give　him　stewardship　of　Buckkeep　and　the　forces　of　Buck　in　your　absence。〃　All　three　Coastal　Dukes　lifted　their　eyes　to　meet　Regal's。
　　　　　　　〃This　is　treason　and　treachery！〃　Regal　hissed。
　　　　　　　Shemshy's　hand　almost　went　to　his　sword。　Kelvar　reddened　but　said　nothing。　The　tension　in　the　line　of　men　behind　them　tightened　a　notch。　Only　Brawndy　remained　unmoved。　〃My　lord；　do　you　bring　more　charges？〃　he　asked　calmly。　〃Again；　we　will　demand　them　proved。　It　could　further　delay　your　coronation。〃
　　　　　　　After　a　moment　of　their　stony　eyes　and　silence；　Regal　said　quietly；　〃I　spoke　in　haste；　my　dukes。　These　are　trying　times　for　me。　Bereft　of　my　father's　guidance　so　suddenly；　bereaved　of　my　brother；　our　lady　queen　and　the　child　she　carries　gone　missing　。。。　These　surely　are　enough　cause　to　drive　any　man　to　hasty　statements。　I　。。。　very　well。　I　will　acquiesce　to　this　。。。　bargain　you　set　before　me。　I　will　prove　FitzChivalry　Witted；　or　I　will　set　him　free。　Does　that　satisfy　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　my　king…in…waiting；〃　Brawndy　said　quietly。　〃Such　were　not　the　terms　we　set。　If　innocent；　FitzChivalry　will　be　set　in　mand　of　Buckkeep。　If　you　prove　him　guilty；　we　shall　accept　Bright。　Those　were　our　terms。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　the　deaths　of　Justin　and　Serene；　valuable　servants　and　coterie　members？　Those　deaths　at　least　we　know　we　may　put　at　his　door。　He　has　admitted　as　much。〃　The　look　Regal　turned　on　me　should　have　killed　me　right　there。　How　deeply　he　must　have　regretted　charging　me　with　murdering　Shrewd。　But　for　Wallace's　wild　accusations　and　Regal's　backing　of　them；　he　could　have　demanded　me　drowned　for　Justin's　death。　That；　as　everyone　had　witnessed；　was　my　doing。　Ironically；　his　own　desire　to　vilify　me　was　what　was　staving　off　my　execution。
　　　　　　　〃You　will　have　every　chance　to　prove　him　Witted　and　the　killer　of　your　father。　For　those　crimes；　only；　will　we　let　you　hang　him。　As　to　the　others　。。。　he　claims　they　were　the　killers　of　the　King。　If　he　is　not　the　guilty　one；　we　are　willing　to　accept　that　those　he　killed　died　justly。〃
　　　　　　　〃This　is　intolerable！〃　Regal　spat。
　　　　　　　〃My　lord；　those　are　our　terms；〃　Brawndy　returned　calmly。
　　　　　　　〃And　if　I　refuse　them？〃　Regal　flared　angrily。
　　　　　　　Brawndy　shrugged。　〃The　skies　are　clear；　my　lord。　Raider　weather；　for　those　of　us　with　coasts。　We　must　disperse　to　our　own　Keeps；　to　guard　our　coasts　as　well　we　may。　Without　the　convening　of　the　full　council；　you　cannot　crown　yourself　king；　nor　lawfully　appoint　a　man　to　hold　Buck　in　your　stead。　You　must　winter　at　Buckkeep；　my　lord；　and　confront　the　sea　pirates　even　as　we　do。〃　。
　　　　　　　〃You　ring　me　'round　with　traditions　and　petty　laws；　all　to　force　me　to　your　will。　Am　I　your　king　or　am　I　not？〃　Regal　demanded　bluntly。
　　　　　　　〃You　are　not　our　king。〃　Brawndy　pointed　it　out　quietly　but　firmly。　〃You　are　our　king…in…waiting。　And　likely　to　continue　waiting　until　these　charges　and　this　issue　is　resolved。〃
　　　　　　　The　blackness　of　Regal's　glare　plainly　showed　how　little　this　was　to　his　liking。　〃Very　well；〃　he　said　flatly；　all　too　quickly。　〃I　suppose　I　must　submit　to　this　。。。　bargaining。　Remember　that　you　have　decreed　it　must　be　this　way；　not　I。〃　He　turned　and　looked　at　me。　I　knew　then　that　he　would　not　keep　his　word；　I　knew　I　would　die　in　this　cell。　That　sick　and　sudden　knowledge　of　my　own　death　blackened　the　edges　of　my　vision；　set　me　swaying　on　my　feet。　I　felt　I　had　taken　two　steps　back　from　life。　A　coldness　crept　up　inside　me。
　　　　　　　〃Then　we　are　agreed；〃　Brawndy　said　smoothly。　He　turned　his　eyes　back　to　me；　and　frowned。　Something　of　what　I　was　feeling　must　have　showed　on　my　face；　for　he　asked　quickly；　〃FitzChivalry。　Are　you　fairly　treated　here？　Do　they　feed　you？〃　As　he　asked　this　he　unfastened　the　brooch　at　his　shoulder。　His　cloak　was　much　worn；　but　of　wool；　and　when　he　threw　it　to　me；　the　weight　of　it　knocked　me　back　against　the　wall。
　　　　　　　I　clutched　the　cloak；　warm　still　with　his　body　heat；　gratefully。　〃Water。　Bread；〃　I　said　briefly。　I　looked　down　at　the　heavy　wool　garment。　〃Thank　you；〃　I　said　more　quietly。
　　　　　　　〃It's　better　than　many　have！〃　Regal　retorted　angrily。　〃Times　are　hard；〃　he　added　lamely。　As　if　those　he　spoke　to　did　not　know　that　better　than　he　did。
　　　　　　　Brawndy　regarded　me　for　a　few　moments。　I　said　nothing。　Finally　he　swung　a　cold　look　to　Regal。　〃Too　hard　to　at　least　give　him　some　straw　to　sleep　on；　instead　of　a　slab　of　stone？〃
　　　　　　　Regal　returned　his　glare。　Brawndy　did　not　quail。　〃We　will　need　proof　of　his　guilt；　King…in…Waiting　Regal；　before　we　will　countenance　his　execution。　In　the　meantime　we　expect　you　to　keep　him　alive。〃
　　　　　　　〃At　least　give　him　marching　rations；〃　Kelvar　advised。　〃No　one　will　say　you　have　pampered　him　with　those；　and　we　shall　have　a　live　man；　either