rh.royalassassin-第110章

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before　the　fire　on　the　main　hearth。　I　said　doubtless　it　had　crawled　into　the　firewood　to　shelter　for　the　winter　and　e　in　with　a　log。　The　warmth　would　have　brought　it　to　life。　She　just　shook　her　head　and　said　she　had　never　heard　of　the　like；　but　that　it　boded　evil。　She　told　me　again　of　the　Pocked　Man　by　the　well；　but　in　her　story；　he　had　been　drinking　from　the　bucket；　and　when　he　lowered　it　from　his　spotted　face；　the　water　that　ran　down　his　chin　was　red　as　blood。　She　was　making　the　kitchen　boys　bring　water　from　the　well　in　the　washing　courts　for　all　the　cooking。　She'd　have　no　one　dropping　dead　at　her　table。
　　　　　　　On　that　cheerful　note；　I　left　the　kitchen；　with　a　couple　of　sweet　cakes　I　had　light…fingered　from　a　tray。　I　had　not　gotten　far　before　a　page　stood　before　me。　〃FitzChivalry；　son　of　Chivalry？〃　he　addressed　me　cautiously。
　　　　　　　His　wider　cheekbones　marked　him　as　probably　being　Bearns　stock；　and　when　I　looked　for　it；　I　found　the　yellow　flower　that　was　the　Bearns　sigil　sewn　to　his　patched　jerkin。　For　a　boy　of　his　height；　he　was　wretchedly　thin。　I　nodded　gravely。
　　　　　　　〃My　master；　Duke　Brawndy　of　Bearns；　desires　that　you　wait　upon　him　as　soon　as　you　handily　may。〃　He　spoke　the　words　carefully。　I　doubted　he　had　been　a　page　long。
　　　　　　　〃That　would　be　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　shall　I　show　you　to　him？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　can　find　my　way。　Here。　I　should　not　take　these　up　there　with　me。〃　I　handed　him　the　sweet　cakes；　and　he　received　them　doubtfully。
　　　　　　　〃Shall　I　save　them　for　you；　sir？〃　he　asked　seriously；　and　it　smote　me　to　see　a　boy　put　such　a　high　value　on　food。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　you　would　eat　them　for　me；　and　if　they　suit　you；　you　might　go　in　the　kitchens　and　tell　our　cook　Sara　what　you　think　of　her　work。〃
　　　　　　　No　matter　how　busy　it　was　in　there；　I　knew　a　pliment　from　a　skinny　boy　would　win　him　at　least　a　bowl　of　stew。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　sir！〃　His　face　lit　at　my　orders　and　he　hastened　away　from　me；　half　of　one　cake　already　in　his　mouth。
　　　　　　　The　lesser　guest　rooms　were　those　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　Great　Hall　from　the　King's　rooms。　They　were　considered　lesser；　I　suppose；　mostly　because　their　windows　faced　onto　the　mountains　rather　than　the　sea；　and　hence　the　rooms　were　gloomier。　But　the　chambers　were　no　smaller；　nor　less　handsome　in　any　other　way。
　　　　　　　Save　that　the　last　time　I　had　been　admitted　to　one；　it　had　been　decently　furnished。　Bearns　guards　admitted　me　to　a　sitting　room　that　offered　only　three　chairs　in　which　to　sit　and　a　bare　rickety　table　in　the　middle。　Faith　greeted　me；　neutrally　formal；　and　then　went　to　let　Duke　Brawndy　know　I　was　there。　The　tapestries　and　hangings　that　had　once　warmed　the　walls　and　given　color　to　the　stone　chamber　were　gone。　It　was　as　cheery　as　a　dungeon；　save　that　a　warm　fire　on　the　hearth　brightened　it。　I　remained　standing　in　the　center　of　the　room　until　Duke　Brawndy　emerged　from　his　bedchamber　to　greet　me。　He　invited　me　to　be　seated；　and　awkwardly　we　drew　two　of　the　chairs　closer　to　the　hearth。　There　should　have　been　breads　and　pastries　upon　the　table；　there　should　have　been　kettles　and　mugs　and　brewing　herbs　for　tea；　and　bottles　of　wine　in　these　rooms　to　wele　Buckkeep's　guests。　It　pained　me　that　there　were　not。　Faith　hovered　in　the　background　like　a　hunting　hawk。　I　could　not　help　but　wonder　where　Celerity　was。
　　　　　　　We　exchanged　a　few　minor　pleasantries；　and　then　Brawndy　plunged　into　his　topic　like　a　draft　horse　into　a　snowdrift。　〃I　understand　King　Shrewd　is　ill；　too　ill　to　see　any　of　his　dukes。　Regal；　of　course；　is　much　too　busy　with　preparations　for　tomorrow。〃　The　sarcasm　was　heavy　as　thick　cream。　〃So　I　wished　to　visit　Her　Majesty　Queen　Kettricken；〃　he　announced　ponderously。　〃For　as　you　know；　she　has　been　most　courteous　to　me　in　the　past。　But　at　her　door；　her　ladies　told　me　she　was　not　well　and　should　not　have　visitors。　I　have　heard　a　rumor　that　she　was　with　child；　and　that　now；　in　her　grief　and　her　foolishness　at　riding　to　Rippon's　defense；　she　has　lost　it。　Is　this　so？〃
　　　　　　　I　took　a　breath；　studied　fair　words　for　my　response。　〃Our　king　is；　as　you　say；　very　ill。　I　do　not　think　you　shall　see　him；　save　at　the　ceremony。　Our　queen　is　likewise　indisposed；　but　I　am　sure　that　if　she　had　been　told　you　were　at　her　door　yourself；　you　would　have　been　admitted。　She　has　not　lost　the　child。　She　rode　to　the　defense　of　Neatbay　for　the　same　reasons　she　has　gifted　you　with　opals；　for　fear　that　if　she　did　not　act；　no　other　would。　Nor　was　it　her　actions　at　Neatbay　that　threatened　her　child；　but　a　fall　down　a　tower　stair　here　at　Buckkeep。　And　the　child　was　only　threatened；　not　lost；　though　our　queen　was　sorely　bruised。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　see。〃　He　sat　back　in　his　chair　and　pondered　for　a　bit。　The　silence　took　root　between　us　and　grew　while　I　waited。　At　last　he　leaned　forward　and　motioned　me　to　do　the　same。　When　our　heads　were　close　together；　he　asked　quietly；　〃FitzChivalry；　have　you　any　ambitions？〃
　　　　　　　This　was　the　moment。　King　Shrewd　had　predicted　it　years　ago；　and　Chade　more　recently。　When　I　made　no　immediate　answer；　Brawndy　went　on　as　if　each　word　were　a　stone　he　shaped　before　handing　it　to　me。　〃The　heir　to　the　Farseer　throne　is　a　babe　as　yet　unborn。　Once　Regal　has　declared　himself　King…in…Waiting；　do　you　think　he　will　wait　long　to　claim　the　throne？　We　do　not。　For　although　these　words　e　from　my　lips；　I　speak　for　Rippon　and　Shoaks　Duchies　as　well。　Shrewd　has　bee　old；　and　feeble。　A　King　in　name　only。　We　have　had　a　taste　of　what　kind　of　king　Regal　would　be。　What　should　we　suffer　while　Regal　holds　title　until　Verity's　child　es　of　age？　Not　that　I　expect　the　child　will　manage　to　be　born；　let　alone　mount　the　throne。〃　He　paused；　cleared　his　throat；　and　looked　at　me　earnestly。　Faith　stood　by　the　door　as　if　guarding　our　talk。　I　kept　my　silence。
　　　　　　　〃You're　a　man　we　know；　a　son　of　a　man　we　knew。　You　bear　his　looks　and　almost　his　name。　You've　as　much　a　right　to　call　yourself　royal　as　many　who　have　worn　the　crown。〃　He　paused　again。　Waiting。
　　　　　　　Again　I　kept　silent。　It　was　not；　I　told　myself；　a　temptation。　I　would　simply　hear　him　out。　That　was　all。　He　had　said　nothing；　as　yet；　that　suggested　I　would　betray　my　king。
　　　　　　　He　floundered　for　words；　then　looked　up　and　met　my　eyes。　〃Times　are　difficult。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　are；〃　I　agreed　quietly。
　　　　　　　He　looked　down　at　his　hands。　They　were　worn　hands；　hands　that　bore　the　small　scars　and　roughness　of　a　man　who　did　things　with　them。　His　shirt　was　freshly　washed　and　mended；　but　it　was　not　a　new　garment　made　especially　for　this　occasion。　Times　might　be　hard　in　Buckkeep；　but　they　were　harder　in　Bearns。　Quietly　he　said　it。　〃If　you　saw　fit　to　oppose　Regal；　to　declare　yourself　king…in…waiting　in　his　stead；　Bearns　and　Rippon　and　Shoaks　would　support　you。　It　is　my　belief　that　Queen　Kettricken　would　support　you　as　well；　and　that　Buck　would　follow　her。〃　He　looked　up　at　me　again。　〃We　have　talked　much　of　this。　We　believe　Verity's　child　would　stand　a　better　chance　of　gaining　the　throne　with　you　as　regent　than　with　Regal。〃
　　　　　　　So。　They　had　dismissed　Shrewd　already。　〃Why　not　follow　Kettricken？〃　I　asked　carefully。
　　　　　　　He　looked　into　the　flames。　〃It's　a　hard　thing　to　say；　after　she　has　shown　herself　so　true。　But　she　is　foreign…born；　and　in　some　ways　untried。　It　is　not　that　we　doubt　her；　we　do　not。　Nor　would　we　be　setting　her　aside。　Queen　she　is；　and　would　remain；　and　her　child　to　reign　after　her。　But　in　these　times；　we　need　both　king…in…waiting　and　queen。〃
　　　　　　　A　question　bubbled　in　me。　A　demon　wanted　me　to　ask；　〃And　if；　when　the　child　es　of　age；　I　do　not　wish　to　relinquish　power；　what　then？〃　They　had　to　have　asked　themselves；　they　had　to　have　agreed　on　some　answer　to　have　ready　for　me。　For　a　moment　longer　I　sat　still　and　silent。　Almost　I　could　feel　the　eddies　of　possibility　swirling　about　me；　was　this　what　the　Fool　was　always　prattling　about；　was　this　one　of　his　misty　crossroads　where　I　always　stood　in　the　center？　〃Catalyst；〃　I　taunted　myself　quietly。
　　　　　　　〃Beg　pardon？〃　Brawndy　leaned　closer　to　me。
　　　　　　　〃Chivalry；〃　I　said。　〃As　you　have　said；　I　bear　his　name。　Almost。　Duke　Bearns。　You　are　a　man　hard…pressed。　I　know　what　you　have　risked　in　speaking　to　me；　and　I　will　be　as　blunt　with　you。　I　am　a　man　with　ambitions。　But　I　do　not　desire　the　crown　of　my　king。〃　I　took　a　breath　and　looked　into　the　fire。　For　the　first　time　I　really　considered　what　it　would　do　to　Bearns；　Rippon；　and　Shoaks　for　both　Shrewd　and　Kettricken　suddenly　to　disappear。　The　Coastal　Duchies　would　bee　like　a　rudderless　ship　with　decks　awash。　Brawndy　had　as　much　as　said　they　would　not　follow　Regal。　Yet　I　had　nothing　else　I　could　offer　them　at　this　time。　To　whisper　to　him　that　Verity　lived　would　demand　that　they　rise　tomorrow；　to　deny　Regal's　right　to　declare　himself　king…in…waiting。　To　warn　them　that　both　Shrewd　and　Kettricken　would　suddenly　vanish　would　be　no　assurance　at　all　to　them；　but　would　certainly　mean　that　too　many　folk　would　not　be　surprised　when　it　happened。　Once　they　were　safely　in　the　Mountain　Kingdom；　then；　perhaps；　the　Coastal　Dukes　could　be　told　all。　But　that　could　be　weeks　away。　I　tried　to　think　what　I　could　offer　him　now；　what　assurances；　what　hopes。
　　　　　　　〃For　what　it　is　worth；　I；　as　a　man；　am　with　you。〃　I　said　the　words　carefully；　wondering　if　I　spoke　treason。　〃To　King　Shrewd　I　am　pledged。　To　Queen　Kettricken；　and　the　heir　she　carries；　I　am　loyal。　I　foresee　dark　days　ahead　of　us；　and　the　Coastal　Duchies　must　act　as　one　against　the　Raiders。　We　have　no　time　to　worry　what　Prince　Regal　does　inland。　Let　him　go　to　Tradeford。　Our　lives　are　here；　and　here　we　must　stand　and　fight。〃
　　　　　　　With　my　own　words；　I　felt　a　sea　change　in　me。　Like　the　shedding　of　a　cloak；　or　an　insect　crawling　from　its　cocoon；　I　felt　myself　emerge。　Regal　was　leaving　me　here　at　Buckkeep；　abandoning　me　as　he　thought；　to　hardship　and　danger；　along　with　those　I　most　cared　about。　Well　let　him。　With　the　King　and　Queen　Kettricken　safely　stashed　in　the　Mountains；　I　would　no　longer　fear　Regal。　Molly　was　gone；　lost　to　me。　What　had　Burrich　said；　a　time　ago？　That　I　might　not　see　her；　but　perhaps　she　might　see　me。　Let　her　see；　then；　that　I　could　act；　that　one　man　standing　could　make　a　difference。　Patience　and　Lacey　would　be　safer　in　my　keeping　than　inland　as　Regal's　hostages。　My　mind　was　racing。　Could　I　make　Buckkeep　my　own；　and　hold　it　for　Verity　until　he　returned？　Who　would　follow　me？　Burrich　would　be　gone。　I　could　not　count　on　using　his　influence。　But　those　swilling　inland　soldiers　would　be　gone　as　well。　What　would　be　left　would　be　Buckkeep　warriors；　with　a　vested　interest　in　keeping　this　cold　rock　of　a　castle　from　falling。　Some　had　watched　me　grow　up；　some　had　learned　how　to　spar　and　swing　a　sword　at　the　same　time　I　had。　Kettricken's　guard　I　knew；　and　the　old　soldiers　who　still　wore　the　colors　of　King　Shrewd's　guard　knew　me。　I　had　belonged　to　them　before　I　had　belonged　to　King　Shrewd。　Would　they　remember　that？
　　　　　　　Despite　the　warmth　of　the　fire；　a　shiver　went　up　me；　and　if　I　had　been　a　wolf；　my　hackles　would　have　stood　on　end。　The　spark　in　me　quickened。　〃I　am　no　king。　I　am　no　prince。　I　am　but　a　bastard；　but　one　who　loves　Buck。　I　want　no　bloodshed　with　Regal；　no　confrontation。　We　have　no　time　to　waste；　and　I　have　no　heart　for　the　killing　of　Six　Duchies　folk。　Let　Regal　flee　inland。　When　he　and　the　dogs　that　sniff　after　him　are　gone；　I　am　yours