rh.royalassassin-第25节

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l　is　done　by　servants；　out　of　sight；　and　one　sees　only　the　results；　the　tidied　chamber；　the　meal　on　the　table。　Perhaps　it　is　because　this　is　such　a　populous　place。〃
　　　　　　　She　paused　a　moment　and　her　eyes　went　afar。　〃In　Jhaampe；　in　winter；　the　hall　and　the　town　itself　grow　quiet。　Snows　fall　thick　and　heavy；　and　great　cold　closes　in　on　the　land。　The　lesser…used　trails　disappear　for　the　winter。　Wheels　are　replaced　by　runners。　Visitors　to　the　city　have　long　gone　home　by　now。　In　the　palace　at　Jhaampe；　there　is　only　the　family；　and　those　who　choose　to　stay　and　help　them。　Not　serve　them；　no；　not　exactly。　You　have　been　to　Jhaampe。　You　know　there　are　no　ones　who　only　serve；　save　for　the　royal　family。　In　Jhaampe；　I　would　rise　early；　to　fetch　the　water　for　the　household　porridge；　and　to　take　my　turn　at　the　stirring　of　the　kettle。　Keera　and　Sennick　and　Jofron　and　I　would　make　the　kitchen　lively　with　talk。　And　all　the　young　ones　dashing　about；　bringing　in　the　firewood　and　setting　out　the　plates　and　talking　of　a　thousand　things。〃　Her　voice　faltered；　and　I　listened　to　the　silence　of　her　loneliness。
　　　　　　　After　a　bit　she　went　on：　〃If　there　was　work　to　be　done；　heavy　or　light；　we　all　joined　in　it。　I　have　helped　to　bend　and　lash　the　branches　for　a　barn。　Even　in　the　deep　of　winter；　I　have　helped　to　clear　snow　and　raise　new　roof　arches　for　a　family　devastated　by　a　fire。　Do　you　think　a　Sacrifice　cannot　hunt　down　a　cranky　old　bear　that　has　turned　to　killing　goats；　or　strain　against　a　rope　to　help　brace　a　bridge　battered　by　floodwaters？〃　She　looked　at　me　with　real　pain　in　her　eyes。
　　　　　　　〃Here；　in　Buckkeep；　we　do　not　risk　our　queens；〃　I　told　her　simply。　〃Another　shoulder　can　brace　a　rope；　we　have　dozens　of　hunters　who　would　vie　for　the　honor　of　dispatching　a　cattle　killer。　We　have　but　one　Queen。　There　are　things　a　Queen　can　do　that　no　other　can。〃
　　　　　　　Behind　us　in　the　room；　her　ladies　had　all　but　forgotten　her。　One　had　summoned　a　page；　and　he　had　returned　with　sweet　cakes　and　steaming　tea　in　a　pot。　They　chatted　together；　warming　their　hands　about　their　teacups。　Briefly　I　looked　at　them；　to　remember　well　what　ladies　had　chosen　to　attend　their　queen。　Kettricken；　I　was　ing　to　see；　might　not　be　the　easiest　of　Queens　to　attend　upon。　Kettricken's　little　maid；　Rosemary；　sat　on　the　floor　by　the　tea…table；　dreamy…eyed；　a　sweet　cake　clasped　in　her　small　hands。　I　suddenly　wished　I　were　eight　years　old　again　and　could　join　her　there。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　what　you　speak　of；〃　Kettricken　said　bluntly。　〃I　am　here　to　bear　an　heir　to　Verity。　It　is　a　duty　I　do　not　avoid；　for　I　do　not　consider　it　a　duty；　but　a　pleasure。　I　only　wish　I　were　sure　my　lord　shared　my　sentiments。　Always　he　is　away　and　about　the　town　on　business。　I　know　where　he　is　today；　down　there；　watching　his　ships　arise　from　planks　and　timbers。　Could　I　not　be　with　him　with　no　danger　to　myself？　Surely；　if　only　I　can　bear　his　heir；　only　he　can　sire　it。　Why　must　I　be　confined　here　while　he　immerses　himself　in　the　task　of　protecting　our　people？　That　is　a　task　I　should　be　sharing　as　Sacrifice　for　the　Six　Duchies。〃
　　　　　　　Accustomed　as　I　had　bee　to　Mountain　forthrightness　in　my　time　there；　I　was　still　shocked　at　how　bluntly　she　spoke。　It　made　me　overbold　in　my　reply。　I　found　myself　rising　to　lean　past　her　and　pull　the　shutters　tight　over　the　drafty　window。　I　took　advantage　of　the　closeness　to　whisper　fiercely；　〃If　you　think　that　is　the　only　duty　that　our　queens　bear；　you　are　gravely　mistaken；　my　lady。　To　speak　as　plainly　as　you　have；　you　neglect　your　duties　to　your　ladies；　who　are　here　this　day　only　to　attend　upon　you　and　converse　with　you。　Think。　Could　they　not　be　doing　this　same　needlework　in　the　coziness　of　their　own　chambers；　or　in　the　pany　of　Mistress　Hasty？　You　sigh　after　what　you　perceive　as　a　more　important　task；　but　before　you　is　a　task　the　King　himself　cannot　do。　You　are　here　to　do　it。　Rebuild　the　court　at　Buckkeep。　Make　it　a　desirable　and　attractive　place　to　be。　Encourage　his　lord　and　ladies　to　vie　for　his　attention；　make　them　eager　to　support　him　in　his　endeavors。　It　has　been　long　since　there　was　a　congenial　Queen　in　this　castle。　Instead　of　looking　down　at　a　ship　that　other　hands　are　more　capable　of　building；　take　up　the　task　you　are　given；　and　suit　yourself　to　it。
　　　　　　　I　finished　redraping　the　tapestry　that　covered　the　shutters　and　helped　to　seal　out　the　cold　of　the　sea　storms。　I　then　stepped　back　and　met　my　queen's　eyes。　To　my　chagrin；　she　was　as　chastened　as　if　she　were　a　milkmaid。　Tears　stood　in　her　pale　eyes；　and　her　cheeks　were　as　red　as　if　I　had　slapped　her。　I　glanced　at　her　ladies；　who　were　still　taking　tea　and　chatting。　Rosemary；　unwatched；　was　taking　the　opportunity　to　poke　at　the　tarts　carefully　to　see　what　was　inside　them。　No　one　appeared　to　have　noticed　anything　amiss。　But　I　was　learning　rapidly　how　adept　court　ladies　were　at　such　dissimulation；　and　feared　speculation　as　to　what　the　Bastard　might　have　said　to　the　Queen…in…Waiting　to　bring　tears　to　her　eyes。
　　　　　　　I　cursed　my　clumsiness；　and　reminded　myself　that　however　tall　Kettricken　might　be；　she　was　not　much　older　than　myself；　and　in　a　foreign　place　alone。　I　should　not　have　spoken　to　her；　but　should　instead　have　presented　the　problem　to　Chade；　and　let　him　manipulate　someone　into　explaining　it　to　her。　Then　it　dawned　on　me　that　he　had　already　selected　someone　to　explain　such　things　to　her。　I　met　her　eyes　again　and　ventured　a　nervous　smile。　Quickly　she　followed　my　glance　to　the　ladies；　and　as　swiftly　returned　decorum　to　her　face。　My　heart　surged　with　pride　in　her。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　suggest？〃　she　asked　quietly。
　　　　　　　〃I　suggest；〃　I　said　humbly；　〃that　I　am　ashamed　at　how　boldly　I　have　spoken　to　my　queen。　I　ask　her　forgiveness。　But　I　suggest；　also；　that　she　show　these　two　loyal　ladies　some　especial　mark　of　royal　favor；　to　reward　them　for　their　faithfulness。〃
　　　　　　　She　nodded　her　prehension。　〃And　that　favor　might　be？〃　she　asked　softly。
　　　　　　　〃A　private　gathering　with　their　queen　in　her　personal　chambers；　perhaps　for　a　special　minstrel　or　puppeteer。　It　matters　not　what　entertainment　you　provide；　only　that　those　who　have　not　chosen　to　attend　you　as　faithfully　be　excluded。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　sounds　like　something　Regal　would　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃Probably。　He　is　very　adept　at　creating　lackeys　and　hangers…on。　But　he　would　do　it　spitefully；　to　punish　those　who　had　not　danced　attendance　upon　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　I？〃
　　　　　　　〃And　you；　my　Queen…in…Waiting；　you　do　it　as　a　reward　to　those　who　have。　With　no　thought　of　punishing　those　who　have　not；　but　only　of　enjoying　the　pany　of　those　who　obviously　reciprocate　that　feeling。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　see。　And　the　minstrel？〃
　　　　　　　〃Mellow。　He　has　a　most　gallant　way　of　singing　to　every　lady　in　the　room。〃
　　　　　　　〃Will　you　see　if　he　is　free　this　evening？〃
　　　　　　　〃My　lady。〃　I　had　to　smile。　〃You　are　the　Queen…in…Waiting。　You　honor　him　to　request　his　presence。　He　will　never　be　too　busy　to　attend　upon　you。〃
　　　　　　　She　sighed　again；　but　it　was　a　smaller　sigh。　She　nodded　her　dismissal　of　me　and　rose　to　advance　smiling　upon　her　ladies；　begging　them　to　excuse　her　wandering　thoughts　this　morning；　and　then　asking　if　they　might　also　attend　her　this　evening　in　her　own　chambers。　I　watched　them　exchange　glances　and　smile；　and　knew　we　had　done　well。　I　noted　their　names　to　myself　Lady　Hopeful　and　Lady　Modesty。　I　bowed　my　way　out　of　the　room；　my　departure　scarcely　noticed。
　　　　　　　So　I　came　to　be　adviser　to　Kettricken。　It　was　not　a　role　I　relished；　to　be　panion　and　instructor；　to　be　the　whisperer　that　told　her　what　steps　she　next　must　dance。　In　truth；　it　was　an　unfortable　task。　I　felt　I　diminished　her　by　my　chiding；　and　that　I　corrupted　her；　teaching　her　the　spidery　ways　of　power　in　the　web　of　the　court。　She　was　right。　These　were　Regal's　tricks。　If　she　worked　them　with　higher　ideals　and　kinder　ways　than　Regal　did；　my　intentions　were　selfish　enough　for　both　of　us。　I　wanted　her　to　gather　power　into　her　hands；　and　with　it　bind　the　throne　firmly　to　Verity　in　the　minds　of　one　and　all。
　　　　　　　Early　each　evening；　I　was　expected　to　call　on　Lady　Patience。　She　and　Lacey　both　took　these　visits　quite　seriously。　Patience　considered　me　pletely　at　her　disposal；　as　if　I　were　her　page　still；　and　thought　nothing　of　requiring　me　to　copy　some　ancient　scroll　for　her　onto　her　precious　reed　paper；　or　to　demand　that　I　show　her　my　improvement　in　playing　the　sea　pipes。　She　always　took　me　to　task　for　not　showing　enough　effort　in　that　area；　and　would　spend　the　better　part　of　an　hour　confusing　me　whilst　attempting　to　instruct　me　in　it。　I　tried　to　be　tractable　and　polite；　but　felt　entrapped　in　their　conspiracy　to　keep　me　from　seeing　Molly。　I　knew　the　wisdom　of　Patience's　course；　but　wisdom　does　not　allay　loneliness。　Despite　their　efforts　to　keep　me　from　her；　I　saw　Molly　everywhere。　Oh；　not　her　person；　no；　but　in　the　scent　of　the　fat　bayberry　candle　burning　so　sweetly；　in　the　cloak　left　draped　over　a　chair；　even　the　honey　in　the　honey　cakes　tasted　of　Molly　to　me。　Will　you　think　me　a　fool　that　I　sat　close　by　the　candle　and　smelled　its　scent；　or　took　the　chair　that　I　might　lean　against　her　snow　damped　cloak　as　I　sat？　Sometimes　I　felt　as　Kettricken　did；　that　I　was　drowning　in　what　was　required　of　me；　and　that　there　was　nothing　left　in　my　life　that　was　for　me　alone。