rh.royalassassin-第86节

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l　narrower　and　longer　sleeves　of　white　beneath　them。　She　wore　the　jewelry；　that　Verity　had　gifted　her　with；　and　her　long　blond　hair　had　been　intricately　dressed　with　a　net　of　silver　chain　junctured　with　amethysts。　I　halted　at　the　sight　of　them。　Their　faces　were　grave。　They　could　be　going　nowhere　except　to　see　King　Shrewd。
　　　　　　　I　presented　myself　formally；　and　carefully　let　Verity　know　that　King　Shrewd　had　summoned　me。
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　he　told　me　gently。　〃I　summoned　you　to　present　yourself　to　King　Shrewd。　Along　with　Kettricken　and　me。　I　wished　you　witness　for　this。〃
　　　　　　　Relief　flooded　me。　This　was　not　about　Celerity；　then。　〃Witness　for　what；　my　prince？〃　I　managed　to　ask。
　　　　　　　He　looked　at　me　as　if　I　were　daft。　〃I　ask　the　King's　permission　to　leave　on　a　quest。　To　seek　out　the　Elderlings　and　bring　back　the　aid　we　so　desperately　need。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh。〃　I　should　have　noticed　the　quiet　page；　all　in　black；　bearing　an　armful　of　scrolls　and　tablets。　The　boy's　face　was　white　and　stiff。　I　would　wager　he　had　never　before　done　anything　more　formal　for　Verity　than　wax　his　boots。　Rosemary；　freshly　washed　and　clothed　in　Kettricken's　colors；　reminded　me　of　a　scrubbed　purple…and…white　turnip。　I　smiled　at　the　chubby　child；　but　she　returned　my　look　gravely。
　　　　　　　Without　preamble；　Verity　rapped　once　on　King　Shrewd's　door。　〃A　moment！〃　called　a　voice。　Wallace's。　He　opened　the　door　a　crack；　glared　out；　then　realized　that　this　was　Verity　he　was　keeping　out。　He　had　a　moment　of　too　obvious　hesitation　before　he　swung　the　door　wide。
　　　　　　　〃Sir；〃　he　quavered。　〃I　did　not　expect　you。　That　is；　I　was　not　informed　that　the　King　was　to　have…〃
　　　　　　　〃You　are　not　needed　for　this。　You　may　go；　now。〃　Usually　Verity　did　not　dismiss　even　a　page　so　coldly。
　　　　　　　〃But　。。。　the　King　may　have　need　of　me　。。。。〃　The　man's　eyes　shifted　wildly　about。　He　feared　something。
　　　　　　　Verity's　eyes　narrowed。　〃If　he　does；　I　will　see　you　are　summoned。　In　fact；　you　may　wait。　Just　outside　the　door。　Be　there　if　I　call　for　you。〃
　　　　　　　After　an　instant's　pause　Wallace　stepped　outside　the　door　and　stood　beside　it。　We　entered　the　King's　chambers。　Verity　himself　set　hand　to　the　door　and　shut　it。　〃I　do　not　like　that　man；〃　he　observed；　more　than　loudly　enough　to　be　heard　through　the　door。　〃He　is　officiously　subservient；　and　greasily　obsequious。　A　very　poor　bination。〃
　　　　　　　The　King　was　not　in　his　sitting　room。　As　Verity　crossed　it　the　Fool　suddenly　appeared　in　Shrewd's　bedroom　doorway。　He　goggled　at　us；　grinned　in　a　sudden　lift　of　joy；　and　then　made　a　floor…sweeping　bow　to　all　of　us。　〃Sire！　Awaken！　It　is　as　I　have　foretold；　the　minstrels　have　arrived！　〃
　　　　　　　〃Fool；〃　Verity　growled；　but　it　was　good…natured。　He　brushed　past　him；　fending　off　the　Fool's　mocking　attempts　to　kiss　the　hem　of　his　robe。　Kettricken　lifted　a　hand　to　smother　a　smile　and　followed　Verity。　The　Fool　all　but　succeeded　in　tripping　me　with　a　suddenly　stretched…forth　foot。　I　avoided　it；　but　made　a　clumsy　entrance；　nearly　colliding　with　Kettricken。　The　Fool　grinned　and　simpered　at　me；　then　capered　over　to　Shrewd's　bedside。　He　lifted　the　old　man's　hand；　patted　it　with　true　gentleness。　〃Your　Majesty？　Your　Majesty？　You　have　callers。〃
　　　　　　　In　the　bed；　Shrewd　stirred　and　took　a　sudden　deep　breath。　〃What's　this？　Who's　here？　Verity？　Pull　back　the　curtains；　Fool；　I　can　scarcely　see　who's　here。　Queen　Kettricken？　What's　all　this？　The　Fitz！　What　is　this　about？〃　His　voice　was　not　strong；　and　there　was　a　querulous　note　to　it；　but　for　all　that；　he　was　better　than　I　had　expected。　As　the　Fool　drew　back　the　bed　curtains　and　propped　pillows　behind　him；　I　found　myself　facing　a　man　who　looked　older　than　Chade。　The　resemblance　between　the　two　seemed　to　bee　more　marked　as　Shrewd　aged。　The　flesh　of　the　King's　face　had　fallen；　to　reveal　the　same　browline　and　cheekbones　as　his　bastard　brother。　The　eyes　beneath　those　brows　were　alert；　but　weary。　He　seemed　better　than　the　last　time　I　had　seen　him。　He　pushed　himself　more　upright　to　confront　us。　〃Well；　what　is　this　about？〃　he　demanded；　his　eyes　scanning　our　circle。
　　　　　　　Verity　bowed　deeply；　formally；　and　Kettricken　echoed　it　with　her　curtsy。　I　did　as　I　knew　was　required：　went　down　on　one　knee　and　stayed　there；　head　bowed。　I　still　managed　to　peek　up　when　Verity　spoke。　〃King　Shrewd。　My　father。　I　e　to　ask　your　permission　for　an　undertaking。〃
　　　　　　　〃Which　is？〃　the　King　asked　testily。
　　　　　　　Verity　lifted　his　eyes　to　meet　his　father's。　〃I　wish　to　leave　Buckkeep　with　a　picked　band　of　men；　to　attempt　to　follow　the　same　path　King　Wisdom　took　so　long　ago。　I　wish　to　journey　this　winter　to　the　Rain　Wilds　beyond　the　Mountain　Kingdom；　to　find　the　Elderlings　and　ask　them　to　keep　the　pledge　they　made　to　our　ancestor。〃
　　　　　　　An　incredulous　look　passed　briefly　over　Shrewd's　face。　He　pushed　himself　upright　in　bed；　swung　his　thin　legs　over　the　side。　〃Fool。　Bring　wine。　Fitz；　get　up　and　help　him。　Kettricken；　dear；　your　arm　if　you　will　to　help　me　to　that　chair　by　the　fire。　Verity；　fetch　the　small　table　by　the　window。　Please。〃
　　　　　　　With　this　handful　of　requests；　Shrewd　popped　the　bubble　of　formality。　Kettricken　helped　him　with　a　familiarity　that　showed　me　she　had　a　genuine　bond　with　the　old　man。　The　Fool　pranced　off　to　the　cupboard　in　the　sitting　room　for　wineglasses；　leaving　me　to　select　a　bottle　of　wine　from　the　small　store　that　Shrewd　kept　in　his　rooms。　The　bottles　were　covered　in　dust；　as　if　he　had　not　tasted　these　wines　for　a　long　time。　I　wondered　suspiciously　what　was　the　source　for　what　Wallace　gave　him。　At　least　the　rest　of　the　room；　I　noted；　was　in　good　order。　Much　better　than　it　had　been　before　Winterfest。　The　Smoke　censers　that　had　so　distressed　me　stood　cold　in　the　corner。　And　tonight　the　King　seemed　to　have　his　wits　still。
　　　　　　　The　Fool　helped　the　King　into　a　thick　woolen　robe　and　knelt　to　slipper　his　feet。　Shrewd　settled　into　his　chair　by　the　fire　and　set　his　wineglass　on　the　table　at　his　elbow。　Older。　Much　older。　But　the　King　I　had　reported　to　so　often　in　my　youth　once　more　held　council　before　me。　Suddenly　I　wished　I　could　be　the　one　speaking　to　him　tonight。　This　sharp…eyed　old　man　might　actually　hear　out　my　reasons　for　wishing　to　wed　Molly。　I　felt　a　new　roiling　of　anger　at　Wallace　for　the　habits　he　had　led　my　king　into。
　　　　　　　But　this　was　not　my　time。　Despite　the　King's　informality；　Verity　and　Kettricken　were　strung　tight　as　bowstrings。　The　Fool　and　I　brought　chairs　that　they　might　be　seated　to　either　side　of　Shrewd。　I　stood　behind　Verity　and　waited。
　　　　　　　〃Tell　it　simply；〃　Shrewd　requested　of　Verity；　and　he　did。　Kettricken's　scrolls　were　unfurled　one　at　a　time；　and　Verity　read　aloud　the　pertinent　passages。　The　old　map　was　studied　at　length。　Shrewd　did　nothing　but　ask　questions　at　first；　making　no　ments　or　judgments　until　he　was　sure　he　had　from　them　every　scrap　of　information。　The　Fool　stood　at　his　elbow；　alternately　beaming　at　me　and　making　terrible　faces　at　Verity's　page　in　an　attempt　to　make　the　petrified　boy　at　least　smile。　I　think　it　more　likely　he　frightened　the　lad。　Rosemary　forgot　entirely　where　she　was　and　wandered　off　to　toy　with　the　tassels　on　the　bed　curtains。
　　　　　　　When　Verity　had　finished　speaking；　and　Kettricken　had　added　her　ments；　the　King　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　He　drained　the　bit　of　wine　that　was　still　in　his　glass；　then　held　it　out　to　the　Fool　to　refill。　He　took　a　sip；　sighed；　then　shook　his　head。　〃No。　There　is　too　much　of　pecksies　and　nursery　tales　to　this　for　you　to　undertake　it　right　now；　Verity。　You　have　shown　me　enough　to　make　me　believe　it　worth　our　while　to　send　an　emissary　there。　A　man　of　your　choosing；　with　a　fitting　entourage；　gifts；　and　letters　from　you　and　me　to　confirm　he　is　there　at　our　behest。　But　yourself；　the　King…in…Waiting？　No。　We　have　not　the　resources　to　spare　just　now。　Regal　was　at　me　earlier　today；　going　over　the　costs　of　the　new　ships　being　built；　and　the　fortifying　of　the　towers　on　Antler　Island。　Money　is　being　scarce。　And　it　might　not　make　the　folk　feel　safe　to　have　you　leave　the　city。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　flee；　I　leave　on　a　quest。　A　quest　with　their　benefit　as　my　goal。　And　I　leave　behind　my　queen…in…waiting；　to　represent　me　to　them　while　I　am　gone。　I　did　not　have　in　mind　a　caravan　with　minstrels　and　cooks　and　embroidered　tents；　sir。　We　would　be　traveling　on　snowy　roads；　going　into　the　heart　of　winter　itself。　I　would　take　a　military　contingent；　and　travel　as　soldiers　do。　As　I　always　have。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　you　think　this　would　impress　the　Elderlings？　If　you　find　them？　If　they　ever　existed　at　all？〃
　　　　　　　〃Legend　has　it　that　King　Wisdom　went　on　his　own。　I　believe　the　Elderlings　existed；　and　that　he　found　them。　If　I　fail；　I　will　return；　to　take　up　again　with　my　Skilling　and　my　warships。　What　will　we　have　lost？　If　I　succeed；　I　bring　back　a　powerful　ally。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　if　you　die　in　the　seeking？〃　Shrewd　asked　heavily。
　　　　　　　Verity　opened　his　mouth　to　reply。　But　before　he　could　speak；　the　sitting　room　door　was　flung　open　and　Regal　boiled　into　the　room。　His　face　was　flushed。　〃What　goes　on　here？　Why　was　I　not　informed　of　this　council？〃　He　shot　me　a　venomous　look。　Behind　him；　Wallace　peeked　in　at　the　door。
　　　　　　　Verity　permitted　himself　a　small　smile。　〃If　you　were　not　informed　by　your　spies；　why　are　you　here　now？　Rebuke　them　that　you　did　not　know　so