rh.royalassassin-第26节

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g　in　what　was　required　of　me；　and　that　there　was　nothing　left　in　my　life　that　was　for　me　alone。
　　　　　　　I　reported　weekly　to　Chade　upon　Kettricken's　progress　in　court　intrigue。　Chade　it　was　who　warned　me　that　suddenly　the　ladies　most　enamored　of　Regal　were　courting　favor　with　Kettricken　as　well。　And　so　I　must　warn　her；　whom　to　treat　courteously；　but　no　more　than　that；　and　whom　to　genuinely　smile　upon。　Sometimes　I　thought　to　myself　that　I　would　rather　be　quietly　killing　for　my　king　than　to　be　so　embroiled　in　all　these　secretive　schemes。　But　then　King　Shrewd　summoned　me。
　　　　　　　The　message　came　very　early　one　morning；　and　I　made　haste　to　dress　myself　to　attend　my　king。　This　was　the　first　time　he　had　summoned　me　to　his　presence　since　I　had　returned　to　Buckkeep。　It　had　made　me　uneasy　to　be　ignored。　Was　he　displeased　with　me；　over　what　had　happened　at　Jhaampe？　Surely　he　would　have　told　me　so　directly。　Still。　Uncertainty　gnawed　me。　I　tried　to　make　great　haste　to　wait　upon　him；　and　yet　to　take　special　care　with　my　appearance。　I　ended　up　doing　poorly　at　both。　My　hair；　shorn　for　fever　when　I　was　in　the　Mountains；　had　grown　back　as　bushy　and　unmanageable　as　Verity's。　Worse；　my　beard　was　beginning　to　bristle　as　well。　Twice　Burrich　had　told　me　that　I　had　better　decide　to　wear　a　beard；　or　to　attend　more　closely　to　my　shaving。　As　my　beard　came　in　as　patchy　as　a　pony's　winter　coat；　I　diligently　cut　my　face　several　times　that　morning；　before　deciding　that　a　bit　of　bristle　would　be　less　noticeable　than　all　the　blood。　I　curried　my　hair　back　from　my　face　and　wished　I　could　bind　it　back　in　a　warrior's　tail。　I　set　into　my　shirt　the　pin　that　Shrewd　had　so　long　ago　given　me　to　mark　me　as　his。　Then　I　hurried　to　attend　my　king。
　　　　　　　As　I　strode　hastily　down　the　hall　to　the　King's　door；　Regal　stepped　abruptly　from　his　own　doorway。　I　halted　not　to　run　into　him；　and　then　felt　trapped　there；　staring　at　him。　I　had　seen　him；　several　times　since　I　had　returned。　But　it　had　always　been　across　a　hall；　or　a　passing　glimpse　of　him　while　I　was　engaged　in　some　task。　Now　we　stood；　scarce　an　arm's　length　apart；　and　stared　at　one　another。　Almost；　we　could　have　been　mistaken　for　brothers；　I　realized　with　shock。　His　hair　was　curlier；　his　features　finer；　his　bearing　more　aristocratic。　His　garments　were　peacock's　feathers　pared　with　my　wren　colors；　I　lacked　silver　at　my　throat　and　on　my　hands。　Still　the　stamp　of　the　Farseers　was　plain　on　us　both。　We　shared　Shrewd's　jaw　and　the　fold　of　his　eyelids　and　the　curve　of　his　lower　lip。　Neither　of　us　would　ever　pare　with　Verity's　widely　muscled　build；　but　I　would　e　closer　than　he　would。　Less　than　a　decade　of　years　separated　our　ages。　Only　his　skin　separated　me　from　his　blood。　I　met　his　eyes　and　wished　I　could　spill　his　guts　upon　the　clean　swept　floor。
　　　　　　　He　smiled；　a　brief　showing　of　white　teeth。　〃Bastard；〃　he　greeted　me　pleasantly。　His　smile　grew　sharper。　〃Or；　that　is；　Master　Fits。　A　fitting　name　you've　taken　to　yourself。〃　His　careful　pronunciation　left　no　room　for　doubting　his　insult。
　　　　　　　〃Prince　Regal；〃　I　replied；　and　let　my　tone　make　the　words　mean　the　same　as　his。　I　waited　with　an　icy　patience　I　had　not　known　I　owned。　He　had　to　strike　me　first。
　　　　　　　For　a　time　we　held　our　positions；　eyes　locked。　Then　he　glanced　down；　to　flick　imaginary　dust　from　his　sleeve。　He　strode　past　me。　I　did　not　step　aside　for　him。　He　did　not　jostle　me　as　once　he　would　have。　I　took　a　breath　and　walked　on。
　　　　　　　I　did　not　know　the　guardsman　at　the　door；　but　he　waved　me　into　the　King's　chamber。　I　sighed　and　set　myself　another　task。　I　would　learn　names　and　faces　again。　Now　that　the　court　was　swelling　with　folk　e　to　see　the　new　Queen；　I　found　myself　being　recognized　by　people　I　didn't　know。　〃That'd　be　the　Bastard；　by　the　look　of　him；〃　I'd　heard　a　bacon　monger　say　to　his　apprentice　the　other　day　outside　the　kitchen　doors。　It　made　me　feel　vulnerable。　Things　were　changing　too　fast　for　me。
　　　　　　　King　Shrewd's　chamber　shocked　me。　I　had　expected　to　find　the　windows　ajar　to　the　brisk　winter　air；　to　find　Shrewd　up　and　dressed　and　alert　at　table；　as　keen　as　a　captain　receiving　reports　from　his　lieutenants。　Always　he　had　been　so；　a　sharp　old　man；　strict　with　himself；　an　early　riser；　shrewd　as　his　name。　But　he　was　not　in　his　sitting　room　at　all。　I　ventured　to　the　entry　of　his　bedchamber；　peered　within　the　open　door。
　　　　　　　Inside；　the　room　was　half　in　shadow　still。　A　servant　rattled　cups　and　plates　at　a　small　table　drawn　up　by　the　great　curtained　bed。　He　glanced　at　me；　then　away；　evidently　thinking　I　was　a　serving　boy。　The　air　was　still　and　musty；　as　if　the　room　were　disused　or　had　not　been　aired　in　a　long　time。　I　waited　a　time　for　the　servant　to　let　King　Shrewd　know　I　had　e。　When　he　continued　to　ignore　me；　I　advanced　warily　to　the　edge　of　the　bed。
　　　　　　　〃My　king？〃　I　made　bold　to　address　him　when　he　did　not　speak。　〃I　have　e　as　you　bid　me。〃
　　　　　　　Shrewd　was　sitting　up　in　the　curtained　shadows　of　his　bed；　well　propped　with　cushions。　He　opened　his　eyes　when　I　spoke。
　　　　　　　〃Who　。。。　ah。　Fitz。　Sit；　then。　Wallace；　bring　him　a　chair。　A　cup　and　plate；　too。〃　As　the　servant　moved　to　his　bidding　King　Shrewd　confided　to　me；　〃I　do　miss　Cheffers。　With　me　for　so　many　years；　and　I　never　had　to　tell　him　anymore　what　I　wanted　done。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　remember　him；　my　lord。　Where　is　he；　then？〃
　　　　　　　〃A　cough　took　him。　He　caught　it　in　the　fall；　and　it　never　left　him。　It　slowly　wore　him　away；　until　he　couldn't　take　a　breath　without　wheezing。〃
　　　　　　　I　recalled　the　servant。　He　had　not　been　a　young　man；　but　not　so　old　either。　I　was　surprised　to　hear　of　his　death。　I　stood　silently；　wordless；　while　Wallace　brought　the　chair　and　a　plate　and　cup　for　me。　He　frowned　disapprovingly　as　I　seated　myself；　but　I　ignored　it。　He　would　soon　enough　learn　that　King　Shrewd　designed　his　own　protocol。　〃And　you；　my　king？　Are　you　well？　I　cannot　recall　that　I　ever　knew　you　to　keep　to　your　bed　in　the　morning？〃
　　　　　　　King　Shrewd　made　an　impatient　noise。　〃It　is　most　annoying。　Not　a　sickness　really。　Just　a　giddiness；　a　sort　of　dizziness　that　sweeps　down　upon　me　if　I　move　swiftly。　Every　morning　I　think　it　gone；　but　when　I　try　to　rise；　the　very　stones　of　Buckkeep　rock　under　me。　So　I　keep　to　my　bed；　and　eat　and　drink　a　bit；　and　then　rise　slowly。　By　midday　I　am　myself。　I　think　it　has　something　to　do　with　the　winter　cold；　though　the　healer　says　it　may　be　from　an　old　sword　cut；　taken　when　I　was　not　much　older　than　you　are　now。　See；　I　bear　the　scar　still；　though　I　thought　the　damage　long　healed。〃　King　Shrewd　leaned　forward　in　his　curtained　bed；　lifting　with　one　shaky　hand　a　sheaf　of　his　graying　hair　from　his　left　temple。　I　saw　the　pucker　of　the　old　scar　and　nodded。
　　　　　　　〃But；　enough。　I　did　not　summon　you　for　consultations　about　my　health。　I　suspect　you　guess　why　you　are　here？〃
　　　　　　　〃You　would　like　a　plete　report　of　the　events　at　Jhaampe？〃　I　guessed。　I　glanced　about　for　the　servant；　saw　Wallace　hovering　near。　Cheffers　would　have　departed　to　allow　Shrewd　and　me　to　talk　freely。　I　wondered　how　plainly　I　dared　speak　before　this　new　man。
　　　　　　　But　Shrewd　waved　it　aside。　〃It　is　done；　boy；〃　he　said　heavily。　〃Verity　and　I　have　consulted。　Now　we　let　it　go。　I　do　not　think　there　is　much　you　could　tell　me　that　I　do　not　know；　or　guess　already。　Verity　and　I　have　spoken　at　length。　I　。。。　regret　。。。　some　things。　But。　Here　we　are；　and　here　is　always　the　place　we　must　start　from。　Eh？〃
　　　　　　　Words　swelled　in　my　throat；　nearly　choking　me。　Regal；　I　wanted　to　say　to　him。　Your　son　who　tried　to　kill　me；　your　bastard　grandson。　Did　you　speak　at　length　with　him；　also？　And　was　it　before　or　after　you　put　me　into　his　power？　But；　as　clearly　as　if　Chade　or　Verity　had　spoken　to　me；　I　knew　suddenly　I　had　no　right　to　question　my　king。　Not　even　to　ask　if　he　had　given　my　life　over　to　his　youngest　son。　I　clenched　my　jaws　and　held　my　words　unuttered。
　　　　　　　Shrewd　met　my　eyes。　His　eyes　flickered　to　Wallace。　〃Wallace。　Take　yourself　to　the　kitchens　for　a　bit。　Or　wherever　you　wish　that　is　not　here。〃　Wallace　looked　displeased；　but　he　turned　with　a　sniff　and　departed。　He　left　the　door　ajar　behind　him。　At　a　sign　from　Shrewd；　I　arose　and　shut　it。　I　returned　to　my　seat。
　　　　　　　〃FitzChivalry；〃　he　said　gravely。　〃This　will　not　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃Sir。〃　I　met　his　eyes　for　a　moment；　then　looked　down。
　　　　　　　He　spoke　heavily。　〃Sometimes；　ambitious　young　men　do　foolish　things。　When　they　are　shown　the　error　of　their　ways；　they　apologize。〃　I　looked　up　suddenly；　wondering　if　he　expected　an　apology　from　me。　But　he　went　on。　〃I　have　been　tendered　such　an　apology。　I　have　accepted　it。　Now　we　go　on。　In　this；　trust　me；〃　he　said；　and　he　spoke　gently　but　it　was　not　a　request。　〃Least　said　is　soonest　mended。〃
　　　　　　　I　leaned　back　in　my　chair。　I　took　a　breath；　sighed　it　carefully　out。　In　a　moment　I　had　mastered　myself。　I　looked　up　at　my　king　with　an　open　face。　〃May　I　ask　why　you　have　called　me；　my　king？〃
　　　　　　　〃An　unpleasantness；〃　he　said　distastefully。　〃Duke　Brawndy　of　Bearns　thinks　I　should　resolve　it。　He　fears　what　may　follow　if　I　do　not。　He　does　not　think　it　。。。　political　to　take　direct　action　himself。　So　I　have　granted　the　request；　but　grudgingly。　Have　not　we　enough　to　face　with　the　Raiders　at　our　doorstep；　without　internal　strife？　Still。　They　have　the　right　to　ask