rh.royalassassin-第83节

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y　would。　Early　winter　found　him　with　a　fleet　of　five　ships；　two　of　which　had　recently　sustained　severe　damage。　One　intact　was　the　captured　Red…Ship　vessel；　which　had　been　refitted　and　sent　out　with　a　crew　to　assist　in　patrols　and　escorting　of　merchant　vessels。　When　the　winds　of　autumn　finally　arrived；　only　one　of　his　ships'　masters　expressed　enough　confidence　in　his　crew's　skills　and　his　vessel　to　be　willing　to　undertake　a　raid　against　the　Outislander　coasts。　The　other　masters　argued　for　at　least　one　winter　of　practicing　seamanship　along　our　own　rough　coast；　and　another　summer　of　practicing　tactics；　before　undertaking　such　an　ambitious　goal。
　　　　　　　Verity　would　not　send　unwilling　men；　but　neither　did　he　hide　his　disappointment。　He　expressed　it　well　when　he　outfitted　the　one　willing　ship；　for　the　Revenge；　as　the　vessel　had　been　renamed；　was　provisioned　handsomely。　The　master's　hand　picked　crew　were　outfitted　as　well；　in　whatever　armor　they　chose　for　themselves；　and　were　given　new　weapons　of　the　best　craftsmanship　available。　There　was　quite　a　ceremony　at　her　send…off；　with　even　King　Shrewd　in　attendance　despite　his　failing　health。　The　Queen　herself　hung　the　gull's　feathers　from　the　ship's　mast　that　are　said　to　bring　a　vessel　swiftly　and　safely　back　to　her　home　port。　A　great　cheer　arose　as　the　Revenge　set　out；　and　the　health　of　the　captain　and　crew　were　drunk　many　times　over　that　evening。
　　　　　　　A　month　later；　to　Verity's　chagrin；　we　would　receive　word　that　a　vessel　matching　the　Revenge's　description　was　pirating　in　the　calmer　waters　to　the　south　of　the　Six　Duchies　and　bringing　much　misery　to　the　merchants　of　Bingtown　and　the　Chalced　States。　That　was　as　much　news　of　the　captain　and　crew　and　ship　as　ever　came　back　to　Buckkeep。　Some　blamed　it　on　the　Outislanders　among　the　crew；　but　there　were　as　many　good　Six　Duchies　hands　aboard　as　Outislanders；　and　the　captain　had　been　raised　right　in　Buckkeep　Town。　This　was　a　crushing　blow　to　Verity's　pride　and　to　his　leadership　of　his　people。　Some　believe　it　was　then　that　he　decided　to　sacrifice　himself　in　the　hopes　of　finding　a　final　solution。
　　　　　　　I　think　the　Fool　put　her　up　to　it。　Certainly　he　had　spent　a　great　many　hours　in　the　tower…top　garden　with　Kettricken；　and　his　admiration　for　what　she　had　acplished　there　was　unfeigned。　Much　goodwill　can　be　won　with　a　sincere　pliment。　By　the　end　of　the　summer；　not　only　was　she　laughing　at　his　jests　when　he　came　up　to　entertain　her　and　her　ladies；　but　he　had　persuaded　her　to　be　a　frequent　caller　in　the　King's　chambers。　As　queen…in…waiting；　she　was　immune　to　Wallace's　humors。　Kettricken　herself　undertook　to　mix　King　Shrewd　strengthening　tonics；　and　for　a　time　the　King　did　seem　to　rally　under　her　care　and　attention。　I　think　the　Fool　decided　that　he　would　acplish　through　her　what　he　had　been　unable　to　nag　Verity　and　me　into　doing。
　　　　　　　It　was　a　wintry　fall　evening　when　she　first　broached　the　subject　to　me。　I　was　up　on　the　tower　top　with　her；　helping　her　to　tie　bundles　of　straw　about　the　more　tender　of　the　plants　there；　that　they　might　better　withstand　the　winter　snows。　This　was　something　Patience　had　decreed　must　be　done；　and　she　and　Lacey　were　performing　the　same　task　on　a　bed　of　windbower　plants　behind　me。　She　had　bee　a　frequent　adviser　to　Queen　Kettricken　in　matters　of　growing　things；　albeit　a　very　timid　one。　Little　Rosemary　was　at　my　elbow；　handing　me　twine　as　we　needed　it。　Two　or　three　of　Kettricken's　other　ladies；　well　bundled；　had　stayed；　but　they　were　at　the　other　end　of　the　garden；　talking　quietly　together。　The　others　she　had　dismissed　back　to　their　hearths　when　she　had　noted　them　shivering　and　blowing　on　their　fingers。　My　bare　hands　were　near　numb；　as　were　my　ears；　but　Kettricken　seemed　perfectly　fortable。　As　was　Verity；　tucked　away　somewhere　inside　my　skull。　He　had　insisted　that　I　start　carrying　him　again　after　he　had　discovered　that　once　more　I　was　going　out　after　Forged　ones　alone。　I　scarcely　noticed　his　presence　in　the　back　of　my　mind　anymore。　Yet　I　believe　that　I　felt　him　startle　when　Kettricken　asked　me；　as　she　knotted　a　string　about　a　bundled　plant　I　was　supporting；　what　I　knew　of　the　Elderlings。
　　　　　　　〃Little　enough；　my　lady　queen；〃　I　replied　honestly；　and　once　more　made　a　promise　to　myself　to　go　through　the　long…neglected　manuscripts　and　scrolls。
　　　　　　　〃Why　not？〃　she　demanded。
　　　　　　　〃Well；　little　was　actually　written　about　them。　I　believe　at　one　time　a　knowledge　of　them　was　so　mon　as　not　to　need　writing　down。　And　the　bits　that　are　written　about　them　are　scattered　here　and　there；　not　gathered　in　one　place。　It　would　take　a　scholar　to　track　down　all　the　remnants　。。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃A　scholar　like　the　Fool？〃　she　asked　tartly。　〃He　seems　to　know　more　of　them　than　anyone　else　I　have　asked。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well。　He　is　fond　of　reading；　you　know；　and…〃
　　　　　　　〃Enough　of　the　Fool。　I　wish　to　speak　to　you　of　the　Elderlings；〃　she　said　abruptly。
　　　　　　　I　startled　at　her　tone；　but　found　her　staring；　gray…eyed；　out　over　the　sea　once　more。　She　had　not　intended　either　a　rebuke　or　a　rudeness。　She　was　simply　intent　upon　her　objective。　I　reflected　that　in　my　months　away　she　had　bee　more　certain　of　herself。　More　queenly。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　a　little　bit；〃　I　offered　hesitantly。
　　　　　　　〃As　do　I。　Let　us　see　if　what　each　of　us　knows　agrees。　I　shall　begin。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　wish；　my　queen。〃
　　　　　　　She　cleared　her　throat。　〃Long　ago；　King　Wisdom　was　bitterly　besieged　by　raiders　from　the　sea。　When　all　else　had　failed　him；　and　he　feared　that　the　next　summer　of　kind　weather　would　bring　the　end　of　the　Six　Duchies　and　House　Farseer；　he　resolved　to　spend　the　winter　searching　for　a　legendary　folk。　The　Elderlings。　Do　we　agree　so　far？〃
　　　　　　　〃Mostly。　As　I　have　heard　it；　the　legends　called　them　not　a　folk；　but　near　gods。　And　the　folk　of　the　Six　Duchies　had　always　believed　Wisdom　something　of　a　religious　fanatic；　almost　a　madman　where　such　things　were　concerned。〃
　　　　　　　〃Men　of　passion　and　vision　are　often　seen　as　mad；〃　she　calmly　informed　me。　〃I　shall　continue。　He　left　his　castle　one　fall；　with　no　more　information　than　that　the　Elderlings　resided　in　the　Rain　Wilds　beyond　the　tallest　mountains　of　the　Mountain　Kingdom。　Somehow；　he　found　them；　and　he　won　their　alliance。　He　returned　to　Buckkeep；　and　together　they　drove　the　raiders　and　invaders　away　from　the　coasts　of　the　Six　Duchies。　Peace　and　trade　were　reestablished。　And　the　Elderlings　swore　to　him　that　if　they　were　ever　needed　again；　they　would　return。　Do　we　still　agree？〃
　　　　　　　〃As　before；　mostly。　I　have　heard　many　minstrels　say　that　the　ending　is　a　standard　one　in　tales　of　heroes　and　quests。　Always；　they　promise　that　if　ever　they　are　needed　again；　they　will　return。　Some　even　pledge　to　return　from　beyond　the　grave　if　they　must。〃
　　　　　　　〃Actually；〃　Patience　suddenly　observed；　rocking　back　on　her　heels；　〃Wisdom　himself　never　returned　to　Buckkeep。　The　Elderlings　came　to　his　daughter；　Princess　Mindful；　and　it　was　to　her　they　offered　allegiance。〃
　　　　　　　〃Whence　do　you　have　that　knowledge？〃　Kettricken　demanded。
　　　　　　　Patience　shrugged。　〃An　old　minstrel　my　father　used　to　have　always　sang　it　that　way。〃　Unconcerned；　she　went　back　to　knotting　twine　about　a　straw…bundled　plant。
　　　　　　　Kettricken　considered　a　moment。　The　wind　teased　loose　a　long　lock　of　her　hair　and　blew　it　across　her　face　like　a　net。　She　looked　at　me　through　the　pale　web。　〃It　doesn't　matter　what　the　tales　say　about　their　returning。　If　a　King　once　sought　them；　and　they　gave　aid；　do　you　not　think　they　might　do　so　again；　if　a　King　again　beseeched　them？　Or　a　Queen？〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps；〃　I　said　grudgingly。　Privately　I　wondered　if　the　Queen　longed　for　her　homeland　and　would　make　any　excuse　for　a　visit　there。　Folk　were　beginning　to　talk　about　her　lack　of　pregnancy。　While　many　ladies　attended　her　now；　she　really　had　no　favorites　that　were　genuinely　her　friends。　Lonely；　I　suspected。　〃I　think　。。。〃　I　began　gently；　pausing　to　consider　how　to　frame　a　discouraging　reply。
　　　　　　　Tell　her　she　should　e　to　me　and　speak　of　it。　I　wish　to　know　more　of　what　she　has　gleaned。　Verity's　thought　quivered　with　excitement。　It　unsettled　me。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　you　should　take　your　idea　to　the　King…in…Waiting　and　discuss　it　with　him；〃　I　dutifully　suggested　to　her。
　　　　　　　She　was　silent　a　long　time。　When　she　spoke；　her　voice　was　pitched　very　low；　for　my　ears　alone。　〃I　think　not。　He　will　consider　it　another　one　of　my　foolishnesses。　He　will　listen　for　a　bit；　and　then　begin　to　look　at　the　maps　on　the　wall；　or　move　things　about　on　his　table　as　he　waits　for　me　to　finish　so　he　can　smile　and　nod　and　send　me　on　my　way。　Again。〃　Her　voice　hoarsened　on　the　last　word。　She　brushed　the　hair　back　from　her　face；　then　brushed　at　her　eyes　again。　She　turned　from　me　to　look　out　over　the　sea　again；　as　distant　as　Verity　when　he　Skilled。
　　　　　　　She's　crying？
　　　　　　　I　could　not　conceal　from　Verity　my　annoyance　that　this　surprised　him。
　　　　　　　Bring　her　to　me。　Now；　at　once！
　　　　　　　〃My　queen？〃
　　　　　　　〃A　moment。〃　Kettricken　looked　aside　from　me。　With　her　face　away　from　me；　she　pretended　to　be　scratching　her　nose。　I　knew　she　brushed　at　tears。
　　　　　　　〃Kettricken？〃　I　ventured　the　familiarity　as　I　had　not　for　months。　〃Let　us　go　to　him　now　with　this　idea。　At　once。　I　will　go　with　you。〃
　　　　　　　She　spoke　hesitantly；　not　turning　to　l