rh.royalassassin-第95节

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to　keep　it　intact。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　think　King　Shrewd　can　even　keep　himself　intact；　Chade。　Have　you　seen　him　of　late？〃
　　　　　　　Chade's　mouth　went　to　a　flat　line。　〃Yes。〃　He　bit　the　word　off：　〃I　see　him　when　no　one　else　does。　I　tell　you　that　he　is　not　the　feeble　idiot　you　seem　to　believe　he　is。〃
　　　　　　　I　shook　my　head　slowly。　〃If　you　had　seen　him　tonight；　Chade；　you　would　share　my　anxiety。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　makes　you　so　sure　I　did　not？〃　Chade　was　nettled　now。　I　had　no　wish　to　anger　the　old　man。　But　it　seemed　to　be　going　all　wrong；　no　matter　how　I　spoke。　I　forced　myself　to　keep　silent　now。　Instead　of　speaking；　I　took　another　sip　of　my　wine。　I　stared　into　the　fire。
　　　　　　　〃Are　the　rumors　about　the　Near　Islands　true？〃　I　asked　at　last。　My　voice　was　my　own　again。
　　　　　　　Chade　sighed　and　rubbed　at　his　eyes　with　his　knuckly　hands。　〃As　in　all　rumors；　there　is　a　germ　of　truth。　It　may　be　true　that　the　Raiders　have　established　a　base　there。　We　are　not　certain。　We　have　certainly　not　ceded　the　Near　Islands　to　them。　As　you　observed；　once　they　had　the　Near　Islands；　they　would　raid　our　coast　winter　and　summer。〃
　　　　　　　〃Prince　Regal　seemed　to　believe　that　they　could　be　bought　off：　That　perhaps　those　islands　and　a　bit　of　Bearns's　coast　were　what　they　were　truly　after。〃　It　was　an　effort；　but　I　kept　my　voice　respectful　as　I　spoke　of　Regal。
　　　　　　　〃Many　men　hope　that　by　saying　a　thing　they　can　make　it　so；〃　Chade　said　neutrally。　〃Even　when　they　must　know　better；〃　he　added　as　a　darker　afterthought。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　think　the　Raiders　want？〃　I　asked。
　　　　　　　He　stared　past　me　into　the　fire。　〃Now；　there　is　a　puzzle。　What　do　the　Raiders　want？　It　is　how　our　minds　work；　Fitz。　We　think　they　attack　us　because　they　want　something　from　us。　But　surely；　if　they　wanted　something；　by　now　they　would　have　demanded　it。　They　know　the　damage　they　do　to　us。　They　must　know　that　we　would　at　least　consider　their　demands。　But　they　ask　for　nothing。　They　simply　go　on　raiding。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　make　no　sense。〃　I　finished　the　thought　for　him。'
　　　　　　　〃Not　the　way　we　see　sense；〃　he　corrected　me。　〃But　what　if　our　basic　assumption　is　wrong？〃
　　　　　　　I　just　stared　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃What　if　they　don't　want　anything；　except　what　they　already　have？　A　nation　of　victims。　Towns　to　raid；　villages　to　torch；　people　to　torture。　What　if　that　is　their　entire　aim？〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　insane；〃　I　said　slowly。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps。　But　what　if　it　is　so？〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　nothing　will　stop　them。　Except　destroying　them。〃
　　　　　　　He　nodded　slowly。　〃Follow　that　thought。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　don't　have　enough　ships　to　even　slow　them　down。〃　I　considered　a　moment。　〃We　had　best　all　hope　the　myths　about　the　Elderlings　are　true。　Because　it　seems　to　me　they；　or　something　like　them；　is　our　only　hope。〃
　　　　　　　Chade　nodded　slowly。　〃Exactly。　So　you　see　why　I　approve　of　Verity's　course。〃
　　　　　　　〃Because　it's　our　only　hope　of　survival。〃
　　　　　　　We　sat　for　a　long　time　together；　staring　into　the　fire　silently。　When　I　finally　returned　to　my　bed　that　night；　I　was　assailed　by　nightmares　of　Verity　attacked　and　battling　for　his　life　while　I　stood　by　and　watched。　I　could　not　kill　any　of　his　attackers；　for　my　king　had　not　said　I　could。
　　　　　　　Twelve　days　later；　Duke　Brawndy　of　Bearns　arrived。　He　came　down　the　coast　road；　at　the　head　of　enough　men　to　be　impressive　without　being　an　open　threat。　He　had　mustered　as　much　pomp　and　panoply　as　his　dukedom　could　afford。　His　daughters　rode　at　his　side；　save　for　the　eldest；　who　had　remained　behind　to　do　all　that　could　be　done　for　Ferry。　I　spent　most　of　the　early　afternoon　in　the　stables；　and　then　in　the　guardroom；　listening　to　the　talk　of　the　lesser　members　of　his　entourage。　Hands　acquitted　himself　well　at　seeing　that　there　was　space　and　care　for　their　beasts；　and　as　always；　our　kitchens　and　barracks　made　themselves　hospitable　places。　Still；　there　was　plenty　of　hard　talk　among　the　folk　from　Bearns。　They　spoke　bluntly　of　what　they　had　seen　at　Ferry；　and　how　their　summons　for　help　had　gone　unheeded。　It　shamed　our　soldiers　that　there　was　little　they　could　say　to　defend　what　King　Shrewd　had　apparently　done。　And　when　a　soldier　cannot　defend　what　his　leader　has　done；　he　must　either　agree　with　the　criticism　or　find　another　area　in　which　to　disagree。　So　there　were　fistfights　between　Bearns　men　and　Buckkeep　troops；　isolated　incidents　for　the　most　part；　and　over　trivial　differences。　But　such　things　did　not　usually　happen　under　the　discipline　at　Buckkeep；　and　so　they　were　all　the　more　unsettling。　It　underscored　to　me　the　confusion　among　our　own　troops。
　　　　　　　I　dressed　carefully　for　dinner　that　evening；　unsure　as　to　who　I　might　encounter　or　what　might　be　expected　of　me。　I　had　glimpsed　Celerity　twice　that　day；　and　each　time　slipped　away　before　I　could　be　noticed。　I　expected　she　would　be　my　dinner　partner；　and　dreaded　it。　Now　was　no　time　to　give　anyone　from　Bearns　any　sort　of　affront；　but　I　did　not　wish　to　encourage　her。　I　could　have　saved　my　worrying。　I　found　myself　seated　far　down　the　table；　among　the　lesser　nobility；　and　the　younger　ones　at　that。　I　spent　an　unfortable　evening　as　a　minor　novelty。　Several　of　the　girls　at　the　table　attempted　to　be　flirtatious。　This　was　a　new　experience　for　me　and　not　one　I　relished。　It　made　me　realize　just　how　great　an　influx　of　folk　had　swollen　the　Buckkeep　court　that　winter。　Most　of　them　were　from　the　Inland　Duchies；　sniffing　after　scraps　from　Regal's　plate；　but　as　these　young　women　plainly　indicated；　they　would　be　happy　to　court　political　influence　wherever　they　could。　The　effort　to　follow　their　attempts　at　witty　banter　and　respond　on　a　level　of　at　least　moderate　politeness　made　it　nearly　impossible　for　me　to　give　any　attention　to　what　was　going　on　at　the　High　Table。　King　Shrewd　was　there；　seated　between　Queen…in…Waiting　Kettricken　and　Prince　Regal。　Duke　Brawndy　and　his　daughters　Celerity　and　Faith　were　seated　closest　to　them。　The　rest　of　the　table　was　filled　with　Regal's　pets。　Duke　Ram　of　Tilth　and　his　Lady　Placid；　and　their　two　sons　were　the　most　noteworthy。　Regal's　cousin　Lord　Bright　was　there　as　well；　the　young　heir　to　the　Duke　of　Farrow　was　new　to　court。
　　　　　　　From　where　I　sat；　I　could　see　little；　and　hear　even　less。　I　felt　Verity's　churning　frustration　at　the　situation；　but　there　was　nothing　I　could　do　about　it。　The　King　looked　more　weary　than　dazed　that　evening；　which　I　took　to　be　positive。　Kettricken；　seated　beside　him；　was　near　colorless　save　for　two　spots　of　pink　on　her　cheeks。　She　did　not　seem　to　be　eating　much；　and　seemed　graver　and　more　silent　than　usual。　Prince　Regal；　in　contrast；　was　both　social　and　merry。　With　Duke　Ram　and　Lady　Placid　and　their　boys。　He　did　not　quite　ignore　Brawndy　and　his　daughters；　but　his　merriment　clearly　grated　on　the　visitors'　mood。
　　　　　　　Duke　Brawndy　was　a　large　man；　and　well　muscled　even　in　his　old　age。　Shocks　of　white　hair　in　his　black　warrior's　tail　attested　to　old　battle　injuries；　as　did　a　hand　missing　a　few　fingers。　His　daughters　sat　just　downtable　from　him；　indigo…eyed　women　whose　high　cheekbones　told　of　his　late　queen's　Near　Island　ancestry。　Faith　and　Celerity　wore　their　hair　cut　short　and　sleek　in　the　northern　style。　The　quick　ways　they　turned　their　heads　to　observe　everyone　at　the　table　reminded　me　of　hawks　on　a　wrist。　These　were　not　the　gentled　nobility　of　the　Inland　Duchies　that　Regal　was　used　to　dealing　with。　Of　all　the　Six　Duchies；　the　folk　of　Bearns　came　closest　to　being　warriors　still。
　　　　　　　Regal　was　courting　disaster　to　make　light　of　their　grievances。　I　knew　they　would　not　expect　to　discuss　Raiders　at　the　table；　but　his　festive　tone　was　pletely　at　odds　with　their　mission　here。　I　wondered　if　he　knew　how　badly　he　offended　them。　Kettricken　obviously　did。　More　than　once　I　saw　her　clench　her　jaw；　or　cast　her　eyes　downward　at　one　of　Regal's　witticisms。　He　was　drinking　too　heavily　as　well；　and　it　began　to　show　in　his　extravagant　hand　gestures；　and　the　loudness　of　his　laughter。　I　wished　desperately　I　could　hear　what　he　was　finding　so　humorous　in　his　own　words。　；
　　　　　　　Dinner　seemed　interminable。　Celerity　rapidly　located　me　at　table。　After　that；　I　was　hard　put　to　avoid　the　measuring　looks　she　sent　my　way。　I　nodded　affably　to　her　the　first　time　our　eyes　locked；　I　could　tell　she　was　puzzled　by　where　I　had　been　seated。　I　dared　not　ignore　every　look　she　sent　my　way。　Regal　was　offensive　enough　without　my　appearing　to　snub　Bearns's　daughter　as　well。　I　felt　I　teetered　on　a　fence。　I　was　grateful　when　King　Shrewd　rose　and　Queen　Kettricken　insisted　on　taking　his　arm　to　help　him　from　the　room。　Regal　frowned　a　trifle　drunkenly　to　see　the　party　disperse　so　soon；　but　made　no　effort　to　persuade　Duke　Brawndy　and　his　daughters　to　stay　at　table。　They　excused　themselves　rather　stiffly　as　soon　as　Shrewd　had　departed。　I　likewise　made　excuse　of　a　headache　and　left　my　giggling　panions　for　the　solitude　of　my　room。　As　I　opened　my　door　and　went　into　my　bedchamber；　I　felt　myself　the　most　powerless　person　in　the　Keep。　Nameless　the　dog　boy　indeed。
　　　　　　　〃I　see　dinner　was　absolutely　fascinating　for　you；〃　the　Fool　observed。　I　sighed。　I　didn't　ask　how　he　had　gotten　in。　No　point　to　asking　questions　that　would　not　be　answered。　He　was　sitting　on　my　hearth；　silhouetted　against　the　dancing　flames　of　a　small　fire　he　had　kindled　there。　There　was　a　peculiar　stilln