rh.royalassassin-第111章

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　Duchies　folk。　Let　Regal　flee　inland。　When　he　and　the　dogs　that　sniff　after　him　are　gone；　I　am　yours。　And　as　much　of　Buck　as　I　can　rally　to　follow　me。〃
　　　　　　　The　words　were　spoken；　the　mitment　made。　Treason；　traitor；　whispered　a　small　voice　inside　me。　But　in　my　heart　I　knew　the　rightness　of　what　I　did。　Chade　might　not　see　it　my　way。　But　I　felt　in　that　moment　that　the　only　way　to　declare　myself　for　Shrewd　and　Verity　and　Kettricken's　child　was　to　declare　myself　with　those　who　would　not　follow　Regal。　Yet　I　wanted　to　be　sure　they　understood　that　loyalty　clearly。　I　looked　deep　into　Brawndy's　weary　eyes。　〃This　is　my　goal；　Duke　Brawndy　of　Bearns。　I　speak　it　plainly；　and　I　will　back　no　other。　I　will　see　a　united　Six　Duchies；　with　her　coastline　freed　of　Raiders；　place　a　crown　upon　the　head　of　Kettricken's　and　Verity's　child。　I　must　hear　you　say　that　you　share　that　goal。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　swear　that　I　do；　FitzChivalry；　son　of　Chivalry。〃　To　my　horror；　the　war…scarred　old　man　took　my　hands　in　his　and　placed　them　on　his　forehead　in　the　ancient　sign　of　one　who　gives　fealty。　It　was　all　I　could　do　not　to　snatch　them　away。　Loyalty　to　Verity；　I　told　myself。　This　is　how　I　have　begun　this；　and　I　must　see　that　this　is　how　I　go　on。
　　　　　　　〃I　will　speak　to　the　others；〃　Brawndy　was　going　on　quietly。　〃I　will　tell　them　that　this　is　how　you　wish　it。　In　truth；　we　have　no　wish　for　bloodshed。　It　is　as　you　say。　Let　the　whelp　run　inland　with　his　tail　between　his　legs。　Here　is　where　the　wolves　shall　stand　and　fight。〃
　　　　　　　My　scalp　prickled　at　his　choice　of　words。
　　　　　　　〃We　will　attend　his　ceremony。　We　will　even　stand　before　him；　and　swear　once　more　to　be　loyal　to　a　King　of　the　Farseer　line。　But　he　is　not　that　King。　Nor　ever　shall　be。　I　understand　he　departs　the　very　day　after　the　ceremony。　We　shall　let　him　go；　though　by　tradition　a　new　King…in…Waiting　is　bound　to　stand　before　his　dukes　and　hear　their　counsels。　It　may　be　that　we　shall　linger　close；　a　day　or　so　longer；　after　Regal　has　departed。　Buckkeep　at　least　shall　be　yours；　ere　we　depart。　We　shall　see　to　that。　And　there　will　be　much　to　discuss。　The　placement　of　our　ships。　There　are　other　ships；　half…finished　in　the　boat　sheds；　are　there　not？〃
　　　　　　　At　my　short　nod；　Brawndy　grinned　in　wolfish　satisfaction。　〃We　shall　see　them　launched；　you　and　I。　Regal　has　plundered　Buckkeep　of　supplies；　this　is　known　to　all。　We　will　have　to　look　into　replenishing　your　warehouses。　The　farmers　and　shepherds　of　Buck　will　have　to　understand　that　they　must　find　more；　must　give　of　what　they　held　back；　if　their　soldiers　are　to　keep　their　coast　free。　It　will　be　a　hard　winter　for　all　of　us；　but　lean　wolves　fight　fiercest；　or　so　they　say。〃
　　　　　　　And　we　are　lean；　my　brother；　oh；　we　are　lean。
　　　　　　　A　terrible　foreboding　rose　in　me。　I　wondered　what　I　had　done。　I　would　have　to　find　a　way　to　speak　to　Kettricken　before　she　departed；　to　somehow　assure　her　I　had　not　turned　on　her。　And　I　must　Skill　to　Verity；　as　soon　as　I　possibly　could。　Would　he　understand？　He　must。　He　had　always　been　able　to　see　into　the　depths　of　my　heart。　Surely　he　would　see　what　my　intentions　were。　And　King　Shrewd？　Once；　long　ago；　when　he　had　first　bought　my　loyalty；　he　had　said　to　me；　〃If　ever　any　man　or　woman　seeks　to　turn　you　against　me　by　offering　you　more　than　I　do；　then　e　to　me；　and　tell　me　of　the　offer；　and　I　shall　meet　it。〃　Would　you　give　Buckkeep　into　my　hands；　old　King？　I　wondered。
　　　　　　　I　realized　that　Brawndy　had　fallen　silent。　〃Do　not　fear；　FitzChivalry；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Do　not　doubt　the　rightness　of　what　we　do；　or　we　are　all　undone。　If　yours　was　not　the　hand　that　reached　forth　to　claim　Buckkeep；　another　would　have。　We　could　not　leave　Buck　with　no　one　at　the　helm。　Be　glad　it　is　yourself；　as　we　are。　Regal　has　gone　where　none　of　us　may　follow；　fled　inland　to　hide　beneath　his　mother's　bed。　We　must　stand　on　our　own。　All　the　omens　and　portents　point　us　that　way。　They　say　the　Pocked　Man　was　seen　drinking　blood　from　a　Buckkeep　well；　and　that　a　serpent　coiled　on　the　main　hearth　in　the　Great　Hall　and　dared　to　strike　at　a　child。　I　myself；　riding　south　to　be　here；　witnessed　a　young　eagle　bedeviled　by　crows。　But　just　as　I　thought　she　must　plunge　into　the　sea　to　avoid　them；　she　turned　and；　in　midair；　seized　a　crow　that　had　sought　to　dive　on　her　from　above。　She　clenched　him　and　dropped　him　bloody　to　the　water；　and　all　the　other　crows　fled　squawking　and　flapping。　These　are　signs；　FitzChivalry。　We'd　be　fools　to　ignore　them。〃
　　　　　　　Despite　my　skepticism　for　such　signs；　a　shiver　ran　up　me；　setting　the　hair　on　my　arms　upright。　Brawndy　glanced　away　from　me　to　the　inner　door　of　the　chamber。　I　followed　his　eyes。　Celerity　stood　there。　The　short　dark　hair　framed　her　proud　face　and　her　eyes　gleamed　fierce　blue。　〃Daughter；　you　have　chosen　well；〃　the　old　man　told　her。　〃I　wondered；　once；　what　you　saw　in　a　scriber。　Perhaps　now　I　see　it　as　well。〃
　　　　　　　He　beckoned　her　into　the　room；　and　she　came　in　a　rustle　of　skirts。　She　stood　by　her　father；　looking　boldly　at　me。　For　the　first　time　I　glimpsed　the　steel　will　that　hid　inside　the　shy　child。　It　was　unnerving。
　　　　　　　〃I　bade　you　wait；　and　you　have；〃　Duke　Brawndy　said　to　me。　〃You　have　shown　yourself　a　man　of　honor　in　this。　I　have　given　you　my　loyalty　this　day。　Will　you　take　my　daughter's　pledge　to　be　your　wife　as　well？〃
　　　　　　　What　a　precipice　I　teetered　on。　I　met　Celerity's　eyes。　She　had　no　doubts。　If　I　had　never　known　Molly；　I　would　have　found　her　beautiful。　But　when　I　looked　at　her；　all　I　could　see　was　who　she　was　not。　I　had　no　heart　left　to　give　to　any　woman；　let　alone　at　a　time　like　this。　I　turned　my　eyes　back　to　her　father；　determined　to　speak　firmly。
　　　　　　　〃You　do　me　more　honor　than　I　deserve；　sir。　But；　Duke　Brawndy；　it　is　as　you　have　said。　These　are　evil　times；　and　uncertain。　With　you；　your　daughter　is　safe。　At　my　side；　she　could　know　only　greater　uncertainty。　What　we　have　discussed　here；　today；　some　would　call　treason。　I　will　not　have　it　said　that　I　took　your　daughter　to　bind　you　to　me　in　a　questionable　endeavor；　nor　that　you　gave　your　daughter　for　such　a　reason。〃　I　forced　myself　to　look　back　at　Celerity；　to　meet　her　eyes。　〃Brawndy's　daughter　is　safer　than　FitzChivalry's　wife。　Until　my　position　is　more　certain；　I　pledge　no　one　to　me　in　any　way。　My　regard　for　you　is　great；　Lady　Celerity。　I　am　not　a　Duke；　nor　even　a　lord。　I　am　as　I　am　named；　an　illegitimate　son　of　a　Prince。　Until　I　can　say　I　am　more　than　that；　I　will　seek　no　wife；　nor　court　any　woman。〃
　　　　　　　Celerity　was　clearly　displeased。　But　her　father　nodded　slowly　to　my　words。　〃I　see　the　wisdom　of　your　words。　My　daughter；　I　fear；　sees　only　the　delay。〃　He　looked　at　Celerity's　pout；　smiled　fondly。　〃Someday　she　will　understand　that　the　people　who　seek　to　protect　her　are　the　people　who　care　for　her。〃　He　ran　his　eyes　over　me　as　if　I　were　a　horse。　〃I　believe；〃　he　said　quietly；　〃that　Buck　will　stand。　And　that　Verity's　child　shall　inherit　the　throne。〃
　　　　　　　I　left　him　with　those　words　echoing　in　my　mind。　Again　and　again；　I　told　myself　I　had　done　nothing　wrong。　If　I　had　not　reached　forth　to　claim　Buckkeep；　another　would　have。
　　　　　　　〃Who？〃　Chade　demanded　angrily　of　me　some　hours　later。
　　　　　　　I　sat　looking　down　at　my　feet。　〃I　don't　know。　But　they　would　have　found　someone。　And　that　person　would　have　been　far　more　likely　to　cause　bloodshed。　To　act　at　the　King…in…Waiting　ceremony；　and　jeopardize　our　efforts　to　get　Kettricken　and　Shrewd　clear　of　this　mess。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　the　Coastal　Dukes　are　as　close　to　rebellion　as　your　report　indicates；　then　perhaps　we　should　reconsider　that　plan。〃
　　　　　　　I　sneezed。　The　room　still　smelled　of　bitterbark。　I　had　used　too　much。　〃Brawndy　did　not　e　to　me　speaking　of　rebellion；　but　of　loyalty　to　the　true　and　rightful　King。　And　that　was　the　spirit　in　which　I　responded。　I　have　no　wish　to　overthrow　the　throne；　Chade；　only　to　secure　it　for　its　lawful　heir。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　that；〃　he　said　briefly。　〃Otherwise　I　…　would　go　straight　to　King　Shrewd　with　this　。。。　madness。　I　know　not　what　to　call　it。　It　is　not　treason；　quite；　and　yet　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　no　traitor　to　my　king。〃　I　spoke　with　quiet　vehemence。
　　　　　　　〃No？　Let　me　ask　you　this；　then。　If；　despite；　or　save　us　all；　because　of　our　efforts　to　save　Shrewd　and　Kettricken；　they　both　perish　with　the　child　unborn；　and　Verity　never　returns。　What　then？　Will　you　still　be　so　eager　to　cede　the　throne　to　the　rightful　King？〃
　　　　　　　〃Regal？〃
　　　　　　　〃By　the　line　of　succession；　yes。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　is　no　king；　Chade。　He's　an　indulged　Princeling；　and　always　will　be。　I've　as　much　Farseer　blood　as　he　does。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　so　you　might　say　of　Kettricken's　child；　when　the　time　came。　Do　you　see　what　a　dangerous　path　we　set　ourselves　on　when　we　set　ourselves　above　our　places？　You　and　I；　we　swore　to　the　Farseer　line；　of　which　we　are　but　random　shoots。　Not　to　King　Shrewd　alone；　or　to　a　wise　King　alone；　but　to　uphold　the　rightful　King　of　the　Farseer　line。　Even　if　he　is　Regal。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　would　serve　Regal？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　seen　more　foolish　Princes　than　he　bee　wise　as　they　aged。　What　you　contemplate　will　bring　us　civil　war。　Farrow　and　Tilth…〃
　　　　　　　〃Have　no　interest　in　any　kind　of　a　war。　They　will　say　good　riddance　to　us　and　let　the　Coastal　Duchies　go。　Regal　has　always　said　as　much。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　he　probably　thinks　he　believes　it。　But　when　he　finds　that　he　cannot　buy　fine　silk；　and　that　the　wines　of　Bingtown　and　beyond　no　longer　flow　up　the　Buck　River　to　his　palate；　he　will　think　better。　He　needs　his　port　cities；　and　he　will　e　back　for　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　what　are　we　to　do？　What　should　I　have　done？〃
　　　　　　　Chade　sat　down　across　from　me；　clasped　his　mottled　hands　between　his　bony　old　knees。　〃I　do　not　know。　Brawndy　is　desperate　indeed。　If　you　had　loftily　refused　him　and　rebuked　him　with　treason；　well　。。。　I　don't　say　he'd　have　done　away　with　you。　But　remember　he　had　no　hesitation　about　dealing　quickly　with　Virago　when　she　represented　a　threat　to　him。　This　is　all　too　much　for　one　old　assassin。　We　need　a　King。〃
　　　　　　　〃Aye。〃
　　　　　　　〃Could　you　Skill　again　to　Verity？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　fear　to　try。　I　do　not　know　how　to　guard　against　Justin　and　Serene。　Or　Will。〃　I　sighed。　〃Still；　I　will　try。　Surely　Verity　will　know　if　they　ride　with　my　Skilling。〃　Another　thought　intruded。　〃Chade；　tomorrow　night；　when　you　lead　Kettricken　to　escape；　you　must　find　a　moment　or　two；　to　tell　her　of　what　has　transpired；　and　assure　her　of　my　loyalty。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　those　will　be　reassuring　tidings　to　give　her　as　she　flees　back　to　the　Mountains。　No。　Not　tomorrow　night。　I　will　see　that　word　reaches　her；　when　she　is　safe。　And　you　must　continue　to　try　to　reach　Verity；　but　beware　of　having　your　Skilling　spied　upon。　Are　you　sure　our　plans　are　unknown　to　them？〃
　　　　　　　I　had　to　shake　my　head。　〃But　I　believe　they　are　safe。　I　had　told　all　to　Verity　when　first　I　Skilled　him。　It　was　not　until　the　end　that　he　said　someone　tried　to　spy　upon　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　probably　should　have　killed　Justin；〃　Chade　grumbled　to　himself。　Then　he　laughed　at　my　outraged　look。　〃No；　no；　calm　yourself。　I　will　not　rebuke　you　that　you　refrained　from　it。　Would　that　you　had　been　so　circumspect　with　the　scheme　that　Brawndy　brought　you。　Even　a　breath　of　this　would　be　sufficient　for　Regal　to　have　your　neck　stretched。　And　were　he　ruthless　and　foolish；　he　could　try　to　hang　his　dukes　as　well。　No。　Let　us　not　even　think　of