rh.royalassassin-第71节

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ace；　amazed　at　how　much　more　alert　I　suddenly　felt。　〃It's　been　like　an　extended　dream；　all　day　。。。　is　this　what　Shrewd　has　been　feeling？〃
　　　　　　　〃I've　no　idea。　Perhaps　not　all　those　burning　herbs　down　there　are　what　I　think　they　are。　It　was　one　of　the　things　I　wanted　to　discuss　with　you　tonight。　How　has　Shrewd　been？　Has　this　e　on　him　suddenly？　How　long　has　Wallace　been　calling　himself　a　healer？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know。〃　I　hung　my　head　in　shame。　I　forced　myself　to　report　to　Chade　just　how　lax　I　had　been　in　his　absence。　And　how　stupid。　When　I　was　finished；　he　did　not　disagree　with　me。
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　he　said　heavily。　〃We　can't　undo；　we　can　only　salvage。　Too　much　is　happening　here　to　sort　at　one　sitting。〃　He　looked　at　me　consideringly。　〃Much　of　what　you　tell　me　does　not　surprise　me。　Forged　ones　converging　still　on　Buckkeep；　the　King's　illness　lingering。　But　King　Shrewd's　health　has　declined　much　more　swiftly　than　I　can　account　for；　and　the　squalor　in　his　rooms　makes　no　sense　to　me。　Unless　。。。〃　He　did　not　finish　the　thought。　〃Perhaps　they　believe　that　Lady　Thyme　was　his　only　defender。　Perhaps　they　think　we　no　longer　care；　perhaps　they　believe　him　an　isolated　old　man；　an　obstacle　to　be　removed。　Your　carelessness　has　drawn　them　out；　at　least。　And　having　drawn　them　out；　perhaps　we　can　cut　them　off。〃　He　sighed。　〃I　thought　I　could　use　Wallace　as　a　tool；　lead　him　subtly　through　the　advice　of　others。　He　has　little　knowledge　of　herbs　of　his　own；　the　man　is　a　dabbler。　But　the　tool　I　left　carelessly　lying　about；　perhaps　another　employs　now。　We　shall　have　to　see。　Still。　There　are　ways　to　stop　this。〃
　　　　　　　I　bit　my　tongue　before　I　could　utter　Regal's　name。　〃How？〃　I　asked　instead。
　　　　　　　Chade　smiled。　〃How　were　you　rendered　ineffective　as　an　assassin　in　the　Mountain　Kingdom？〃
　　　　　　　I　winced　at　the　memory。　〃Regal　revealed　my　purpose　to　Kettricken。　〃
　　　　　　　〃Exactly。　We　shall　shine　a　bit　of　daylight　on　what　goes　on　in　the　King's　chambers。　Eat　while　I　talk。〃
　　　　　　　And　so　I　did；　listening　to　him　as　he　outlined　my　assignments　for　the　next　day；　but　also　noting　what　he　chose　to　feed　me。　The　flavor　of　garlic　predominated；　and　I　knew　his　confidence　in　its　purifying　abilities。　I　wondered　just　what　I　had　ingested；　and　also　how　much　it　colored　my　recollection　of　my　conversation　with　the　Fool。　I　flinched　as　I　recalled　my　brusque　dismissal　of　him。　He　would　be　another　I　would　have　to　seek　out　tomorrow。　Chade　noticed　my　preoccupation。　〃Sometimes；〃　he　observed　obliquely；　〃you　have　to　trust　people　to　understand　you　are　not　perfect。〃
　　　　　　　I　nodded；　then　suddenly　yawned　immensely。　〃Beg　pardon；〃　I　muttered。　My　eyelids　were　suddenly　so　heavy　I　could　barely　keep　my　head　up。　〃You　were　saying？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　no。　Go　to　bed。　Rest。　It's　the　real　healer。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　I　haven't　even　asked　you　where　you've　been。　Or　what　you've　been　doing。　You　move　and　act　as　if　you'd　lost　ten　years　of　age。〃
　　　　　　　Chade　puckered　his　mouth。　‘Is　that　a　pliment？　Never　mind。　Such　questions　would　be　useless　anyway；　so　you　may　save　them　for　another　time；　and　be　frustrated　then　when　I　refuse　to　answer　them。　As　to　my　condition　。。。　well；　the　more　one　forces　one's　body　to　do；　the　more　it　can　do。　It　was　not　an　easy　journey。　Yet　I　believe　it　was　worth　the　hardship。〃　He　held　up　a　halting　hand　as　I　opened　my　mouth。　〃And　that　is　all　I　am　going　to　say。　To　bed；　now；　Fitz。　To　bed。〃
　　　　　　　I　yawned　again　as　I　rose；　and　stretched　until　my　joints　popped。　〃You've　grown　again；〃　Chade　plained　admiringly。　〃At　this　rate；　you'll　even　top　your　father's　height。〃
　　　　　　　〃I've　missed　you；〃　I　mumbled　as　I　headed　toward　the　stair。
　　　　　　　〃And　I　you。　But　we　shall　have　tomorrow　night　for　catching　up。　For　now；　bed　for　you。〃
　　　　　　　I　went　down　his　stairs　with　the　sincere　intention　of　following　his　suggestion。　As　it　always　did；　the　staircase　sealed　itself　moments　after　I　exited　it；　by　a　mechanism　I　had　never　been　able　to　discover。　I　threw　three　more　logs　on　my　dying　fire　and　then　crossed　to　my　bed。　I　sat　down　on　it　to　pull　my　shirt　off。　I　was　exhausted。　But　not　so　tired　that　I　could　not　catch　a　faint　trace　of　Molly's　scent　on　my　own　skin　as　I　pulled　my　shirt　off。　I　sat　a　moment　longer；　holding　my　shirt　in　my　hands。　Then　I　put　it　back　on　and　rose。　I　went　to　my　door　and　slipped　out　into　the　hallway。
　　　　　　　It　was　late；　by　any　other　night's　standard。　Yet　this　was　the　first　night　of　Winterfest。　There　were　many　below　who　would　not　think　of　their　beds　until　dawn　was　on　the　horizon。　Others　who　would　not　find　their　own　beds　at　all　this　night。　I　smiled　suddenly　as　I　realized　I　intended　to　be　part　of　the　latter　group。
　　　　　　　There　were　others　in　the　halls　that　night　and　on　the　staircases。　Most　were　too　inebriated；　or　too　engrossed　in　themselves　to　notice　me。　As　for　the　others；　I　resolved　to　let　Winterfest　be　my　excuse　for　any　questions　asked　of　me　the　next　day。　Still；　I　was　discreet　enough　to　be　sure　the　corridor　was　clear　before　I　tapped　on　her　door。　I　heard　no　reply。　But　as　I　lifted　my　hand　to　tap　again；　the　door　swung　silently　open　into　darkness。
　　　　　　　It　terrified　me。　In　an　instant　I　was　sure　harm　had　e　to　her；　that　someone　had　been　here　and　hurt　her　and　left　her　there　in　the　darkness。　I　sprang　into　the　room；　crying　out　her　name。　The　door　swung　shut　behind　me　and　〃Hush！〃　she　manded。
　　　　　　　I　turned　to　find　her；　but　it　took　a　moment　for　my　eyes　to　adjust　to　the　darkness。　The　light　from　the　hearth　fire　was　the　only　illumination　in　the　room；　and　it　was　to　my　back。　When　my　eyes　did　penetrate　the　darkness；　I　felt　as　if　I　could　not　breathe。
　　　　　　　〃Were　you　expecting　me？〃　I　asked　at　last。
　　　　　　　In　a　little　cat　voice；　she　replied；　〃Only　for　hours。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　thought　you　would　be　at　the　merrymaking　in　the　Great　Hall。〃　Slowly　it　dawned　on　me　that　I　had　not　seen　her　there。
　　　　　　　〃I　knew　I　would　not　be　missed　there。　Except　by　one。　And　I　thought　perhaps　that　one　might　e　seeking　me　here。〃
　　　　　　　I　stood　motionless　and　looked　at　her。　She　wore　a　wreath　of　holly　atop　the　tumble　of　her　hair。　That　was　all。　And　she　stood　against　the　door；　wanting　me　to　look　at　her。　How　can　I　explain　the　line　that　had　been　crossed？　Before　we　had　ventured　into；　this　together；　exploring　and　inquisitive。　But　this　was　different。　This　was　a　woman's　frank　invitation。　Can　there　be　anything　so　pelling　as　the　knowledge　that　a　woman　desires　you？　It　overwhelmed　me　and　blessed　me　and　somehow　redeemed　me　from　every　stupid　thing　I　had　ever　done。
　　　　　　　Winterfest。
　　　　　　　The　heart　of　night's　secret。
　　　　　　　Yes。
　　　　　　　She　shook　me　awake　before　dawn；　and　put　me　out　of　her　rooms。　The　farewell　kiss　that　she　gave　me　before　shooing　me　out　the　door　was　such　that　I　stood　in　the　hall　trying　to　persuade　myself　that　dawn　was　not　all　that　close。　After　a　few　moments　I　recalled　that　discretion　was　called　for；　and　wiped　the　foolish　smile　off　my　face。　I　straightened　my　rumpled　shirt　and　headed　for　the　stairs。
　　　　　　　Once　inside　my　room；　an　almost　dizzying　weariness　overtook　me。　How　long　had　it　been　since　I　had　had　a　full　night's　sleep？　I　sat　down　on　my　bed　and　dragged　my　shirt　off。　I　dropped　it　to　the　floor。　I　fell　back　onto　the　bed　and　closed　my　eyes。
　　　　　　　A　soft　tap　at　my　door　jerked　me　upright。　I　crossed　the　room　swiftly；　smiling　to　myself。　I　was　still　smiling　as　I　swung　the　door　wide。
　　　　　　　〃Good；　you're　up！　And　almost　dressed。　I　was　afraid　from　the　way　you　looked　last　night　that　I'd　be　dragging　you　out　of　your　bed　by　the　scruff　of　your　neck。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　Burrich；　freshly　washed　and　brushed。　The　lines　across　his　forehead　were　the　only　visible　signs　of　the　last　night's　revelry。　From　my　years　of　sharing　quarters　with　him；　I　knew　that　no　matter　how　fierce　a　hangover　he　might　have；　he　would　still　rise　to　face　his　duties。　I　sighed。　No　good　asking　quarter；　for　none　would　be　given。　Instead　I　went　to　my　clothes　chest　and　found　a　clean　shirt。　I　put　it　on　as　I　followed　him　to　Verity's　tower。
　　　　　　　There　is　an　odd　threshold；　physical　as　well　as　mental。　There　have　been　but　a　few　times　in　my　life　that　I　have　been　pushed　over　it；　but　each　time　an　extraordinary　thing　happened。　That　morning　was　one　of　those　times。　After　an　hour　or　so　had　passed；　I　stood　in　Verity's　tower　room；　shirtless　and　sweating。　The　tower　windows　were　open　to　the　winter　wind；　but　I　felt　no　chill。　The　padded　ax　Burrich　had　given　me　was　but　a　little　lighter　than　the　world　itself；　and　the　weight　of　Verity's　presence　in　my　mind　felt　as　if　it　were　forcing　my　brain　out　my　eyes。　I　could　no　longer　keep　my　ax　up　to　guard　myself。　Burrich　came　at　me　again；　and　I　made　no　more　than　a　token　defense。　He　batted　it　aside　with　ease；　then　came　in　swiftly；　one；　two　blows；　not　hard；　but　not　softly　either。　〃And　you're　dead；〃　he　told　me；　and　stood　back。　He　let　the　head　of　his　ax　sag　to　the　floor　and　stood　leaning　on　it　and　breathing。　I　let　my　own　ax　thud　headfirst　to　the　floor。　Useless。
　　　　　　　Within　my　mind；　Verity　was　very　still。　I　glanced　over　to　where　he　sat　staring　out　the　window　across　the　sea　to　the　horizon。　The　morning　light　was　harsh　on　the　lines　in　his　face　and　the　gray　in　his　hair。　His　shoulders　were　slumped　forward。　His　posture　mirrored　what　I　felt。　I　closed　my　eyes　a　moment；　too　weary　to　do　anything　anymore。　And　suddenly　we　meshed。　I　saw　to　the　horizons　of　our　fixture。　We　were　a　country　besieged　by　a　ravenous　enemy　w