rh.royalassassin-第88节

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h　to　convey　a　martial　aspect　to　the　Elderlings。　His　real　mission　was　disclosed　to　few　except　his　panions。　Ostensibly　he　went　to　the　Mountain　Kingdom　to　treat　with　his　queen's　father；　King　Eyod；　about　possible　military　support　against　the　Red…Ships。
　　　　　　　Of　those　he　asked　to　acpany　him；　there　are　several　worth　noting。　Hod；　arms　master　for　Buckkeep；　was　one　of　the　first　he　selected。　Her　grasp　of　tactics　was　not　exceeded　by　any　within　the　realm　and　her　prowess　with　weapons　was　still　remarkable　despite　her　years。　Charim；　Verity's　body　servant；　had　been　with　him　so　long　and　acpanied　him　on　so　many　campaigns；　it　was　unthinkable　to　either　of　them　that　he　be　left　behind。　Chestnut；　brown　as　his　name；　had　been　a　member　of　Verity's　military　guard　for　over　a　decade　of　years。　He　was　missing　an　eye　and　most　of　an　ear；　but　despite　that　seemed　twice　as　alert　as　any　other　man。　Keef　and　Kef；　born　twins；　and　like　Chestnut；　members　of　Verity's　honor　guard　for　years；　went　also。　One　other；　Burrich；　the　master　of　stables　at　Buckkeep；　joined　the　party　of　his　own　accord。　When　his　leaving　Buckkeep　was　protested；　he　pointed　out　that　he　left　an　able　man　in　charge　of　Buckkeep's　stables；　and　that　the　party　would　need　a　man　who　was　knowledgeable　of　animals　in　order　to　get　the　beasts　alive　through　the　Mountains　in　midwinter。　His　abilities　as　a　healer　and　his　experience　as　a　King's　Man　to　Prince　Chivalry　were　also　qualifications　he　pointed　out；　but　this　last　one　was　known　to　but　a　few。
　　　　　　　The　night　before　Verity　was　to　leave；　he　summoned　me　to　his　study。　〃You　don't　approve　of　this；　do　you？　You　think　it's　a　fool's　errand；〃　he　greeted　me。
　　　　　　　I　had　to　smile。　Inadvertently；　he　had　exactly　stated　what　I　thought。　〃I　am　afraid　I　have　serious　doubts；〃　I　agreed　cautiously。
　　　　　　　〃As　do　I。　But　what　else　is　left　to　me？　This；　at　least；　is　a　chance　for　me　to　actually　do　something　myself。　Other　than　sit　in　that　bedamned　tower　and　Skill　myself　to　death。〃
　　　　　　　He　had　painstakingly　recopied　Kettricken's　map　over　the　last　few　days。　As　I　watched　he　rolled　it　carefully　and　slid　it　into　a　leather　case。　The　difference　the　last　week　had　made　in　the　man　amazed　me。　He　was　still　gray；　his　body　still　worn　and　sadly　dwindled　from　too　many　months　of　sitting。　But　he　moved　with　energy；　and　both　he　and　Kettricken　had　graced　the　Great　Hall　every　evening　since　the　decision　had　been　made。　It　had　been　a　pleasure　to　watch　him　eat　with　an　appetite；　and　once　more　linger　over　a　glass　of　wine　while　Mellow　or　another　of　the　minstrels　entertained　us　all。　The　renewed　warmth　between　Kettricken　and　him　was　another　appetite　he　had　recovered。　Her　eyes　seldom　left　her　lord's　countenance　when　they　were　at　table。　While　the　minstrels　entertained；　her　fingers　were　always　resting　on　the　back　of　his　forearm。　She　glowed　in　his　presence　like　a　burning　candle。　Shield　myself　as　I　might；　I　was　all　too　aware　of　how　much　they　enjoyed　their　nights。　I　had　attempted　to　hide　from　their　passions　by　immersing　myself　in　Molly。　I　ended　up　feeling　guilty　that　Molly　was　so　pleased　with　my　renewed　ardor。　How　would　she　feel　if　she　knew　my　appetites　were　not　entirely　my　own？
　　　　　　　The　Skill。　I　had　been　warned　of　its　powers　and　pitfalls；　of　how　it　might　call　to　a　man　and　drain　him　of　everything　except　a　hunger　for　its　use。　This　was　one　trap　I　had　never　been　warned　about。　In　some　ways；　I　was　looking　forward　to　Verity　leaving　so　I　could　call　my　soul　my　own　again。
　　　　　　　〃What　you　do　in　that　tower　is　not　a　lesser　task。　If　folk　could　but　understand　how　you　burn　yourself　for　them　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　understand　only　too　well。　We've　grown　close　this　summer；　boy。　Closer　than　I'd　ever　have　thought　possible。　Closer　than　any　man　has　been　to　me　since　your　father　died。〃
　　　　　　　Closer　even　than　you　might　suspect；　my　prince。　But　I　did　not　utter　those　words。　〃We　have。〃
　　　　　　　〃I've　a　favor　to　ask　you。　Two；　actually。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　know　that　I　won't　refuse　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Never　say　that　so　easily。　The　first　is　that　you　look　after　my　lady。　She　has　grown　wiser　in　Buckkeep　ways；　but　she　is　still　far　too　trusting。　Keep　her　safe　until　I　return。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　always　yours　without　asking；　my　prince。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　the　other。〃　He　took　a　breath；　sighed　it　out。　〃I　wish　to　try　to　stay　here　as　well。　In　your　mind。　For　as　long　as　I　can。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　prince。〃　I　hesitated。　He　was　right。　This　was　not　a　thing　I　wished　to　grant　him。　But　I　had　already　said　I　would。　I　knew　that　for　the　sake　of　the　kingdom；　it　was　a　wise　thing　to　do。　But　for　myself？　Already　I　had　felt　the　boundaries　of　my　self　eroding　before　Verity's　strong　presence。　We　were　not　talking　about　a　contact　of　hours　now；　or　days；　but　of　weeks　and　likely　months。　I　wondered　if　this　was　what　happened　to　coterie　members；　if　eventually　they　ceased　having　separate　lives。　〃What　of　your　coterie？〃　I　asked　quietly。
　　　　　　　〃What　of　them？〃　he　retorted。　〃I　leave　them　in　place；　in　the　watchtowers　and　on　my　ships　for　now。　Whatever　messages　they　must　send；　they　can　send　to　Serene。　In　my　absence；　she　will　take　them　to　Shrewd。　If　there　is　anything　they　feel　I　must　know；　they　can　Skill　me。〃　He　paused。　〃There　will　be　other　sorts　of　information　that　I　would　seek　through　you。　Things　I　would　prefer　kept　private。〃
　　　　　　　Tidings　of　his　queen；　I　thought　to　myself。　How　Regal　would　employ　his　powers　in　his　brother's　absence。　Gossip　and　intrigues。　In　one　sense；　trifling　things。　In　another；　the　detail　that　secured　Verity's　position。　I　wished　for　the　thousandth　time　that　I　could　Skill　reliably　of　my　own　accord。　If　I　had　had　that　ability；　Verity　would　not　have　needed　to　ask　this　of　me。　I　would　have　been　able　to　reach　out　to　him　at　any　time。　But　as　matters　stood；　the　touch…imposed　Skill　bond　we　had　used　over　the　summer　was　our　only　resource。　Through　it；　he　could　be　aware　of　what　went　on　at　Buckkeep　when　he　chose　to；　and　I　could　receive　instructions　from　him。　I　hesitated；　but　already　knew　that　I　would　accede。　From　loyalty　to　him　and　to　the　Six　Duchies；　I　told　myself。　Not　from　any　Skill　hunger　in　myself。　I　looked　up　at　him。　〃I　will　do　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Knowing　well　that　this　is　how　it　begins；〃　he　said。　It　was　not　a　question。　Already；　this　was　how　accurately　we　could　read　one　another。　He　did　not　wait　for　my　answer。　〃I　will　be　as　inconspicuous　as　I　can；〃　he　promised。　I　walked　to　him。　He　lifted　a　hand　and　touched　my　shoulder。　Verity　was　with　me　again；　as　he　had　not　consciously　been　since　the　day　in　his　study　when　he　had　bid　me　to　shield　myself。
　　　　　　　The　day　of　the　departure　was　fine；　crisply　cold；　but　the　skies　were　clear　blue。　Verity；　true　to　his　word；　had　kept　his　expedition　to　a　minimum。　Riders　had　been　dispatched　the　morning　after　the　council　to　precede　him　on　his　route　and　arrange　supplies　and　lodgings　in　the　towns　where　he　would　pass。　This　would　allow　him　to　travel　swiftly　and　lightly　through　much　of　the　Six　Duchies。
　　　　　　　As　his　expedition　set　off　that　chill　morning　I　alone　of　the　crowd　did　not　bid　Verity　farewell。　He　nestled　inside　my　mind；　small　and　silent　as　a　seed　waiting　for　spring。　As　unnoticed；　almost；　as　Nighteyes。　Kettricken　had　chosen　to　watch　the　departure　from　the　frosty　walls　of　the　Queen's　Garden。　She　had　said　her　farewells　to　him　earlier；　and　chosen　this　spot　so　that　if　she　wept；　none　would　take　it　amiss。　I　stood　at　her　side　and　endured　the　resonance　of　what　she　and　Verity　had　e　to　share　in　the　last　week。　I　was　both　glad　for　her　and　heartsick　that　what　she　had　so　recently　found　must　so　quickly　be　taken　from　her。　Horses　and　men；　pack　animals　and　banners　finally　passed　behind　a　shoulder　of　hills　and　out　of　our　sight。　Then　I　felt　that　which　sent　a　chill　up　my　spine。　She　Wit…quested　after　him。　Very　faintly；　it　was　true；　but　enough　that　somewhere　in　my　heart；　Nighteyes　sat　up；　eyes　aflame；　and　asked；　What's　this？
　　　　　　　Nothing。　Nothing　to　do　with　us；　anyway。　I　added；　We　hunt　together　soon；　my　brother；　as　we　have　not　for　too　long。
　　　　　　　For　a　few　days　after　the　cavalcade's　departure；　I　almost　had　my　own　life　again。　I　had　dreaded　Burrich's　leaving　with　Verity。　I　understood　what　drove　him　to　follow　his　king…in…waiting；　but　felt　unfortably　exposed　with　them　both　gone。　That　told　me　much　about　myself　that　I　really　did　not　want　to　know。　But　the　other　side　of　that　coin　was　that　with　Burrich　gone　and　Verity's　presence　inside　me　coiled　tight；　Nighteyes　and　I　were　finally　free　to　use　the　Wit　as　openly　as　we　wished。　Almost　every　dawn　I　was　with　him；　miles　from　the　Keep。　On　the　days　when　we　sought　Forged　ones；　I　rode　Sooty；　but　she　did　not　ever　feel　pletely　fortable　around　the　wolf。　After　a　time　there　seemed　far　fewer　of　them；　and　no　more　ing　into　the　area。　We　began　to　be　able　to　hunt　game　for　ourselves。　For　that；　I　went　afoot；　for　we　hunted　more　panionably　that　way。　Nighteyes　approved　of　my　physical　improvement　over　the　summer。　That　winter；　for　the　first　time　since　Regal　had　poisoned　me；　I　felt　I　had　the　full　use　of　my　body　and　strength　again。　The　vigorous　mornings　of　hunting　and　the　deep　hours　of　the　night　with　Molly　would　have　been　enough　life　for　any　man。　There　is　something　pletely　satisfying　about　simple　things　such　as　these。
　　　　　　　I　suppose　I　wanted　my　life　to　be　always　this　simple　and　plete。　I　tried　to　ignore　things　I　knew　were　dangerous。　The　continued　fine　weather；　I　told　myself；　would　assure　Verity　a　fine　start