rh.royalassassin-第21章

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here　was　a　congenial　Queen　in　this　castle。　Instead　of　looking　down　at　a　ship　that　other　hands　are　more　capable　of　building；　take　up　the　task　you　are　given；　and　suit　yourself　to　it。
　　　　　　　I　finished　redraping　the　tapestry　that　covered　the　shutters　and　helped　to　seal　out　the　cold　of　the　sea　storms。　I　then　stepped　back　and　met　my　queen's　eyes。　To　my　chagrin；　she　was　as　chastened　as　if　she　were　a　milkmaid。　Tears　stood　in　her　pale　eyes；　and　her　cheeks　were　as　red　as　if　I　had　slapped　her。　I　glanced　at　her　ladies；　who　were　still　taking　tea　and　chatting。　Rosemary；　unwatched；　was　taking　the　opportunity　to　poke　at　the　tarts　carefully　to　see　what　was　inside　them。　No　one　appeared　to　have　noticed　anything　amiss。　But　I　was　learning　rapidly　how　adept　court　ladies　were　at　such　dissimulation；　and　feared　speculation　as　to　what　the　Bastard　might　have　said　to　the　Queen…in…Waiting　to　bring　tears　to　her　eyes。
　　　　　　　I　cursed　my　clumsiness；　and　reminded　myself　that　however　tall　Kettricken　might　be；　she　was　not　much　older　than　myself；　and　in　a　foreign　place　alone。　I　should　not　have　spoken　to　her；　but　should　instead　have　presented　the　problem　to　Chade；　and　let　him　manipulate　someone　into　explaining　it　to　her。　Then　it　dawned　on　me　that　he　had　already　selected　someone　to　explain　such　things　to　her。　I　met　her　eyes　again　and　ventured　a　nervous　smile。　Quickly　she　followed　my　glance　to　the　ladies；　and　as　swiftly　returned　decorum　to　her　face。　My　heart　surged　with　pride　in　her。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　suggest？〃　she　asked　quietly。
　　　　　　　〃I　suggest；〃　I　said　humbly；　〃that　I　am　ashamed　at　how　boldly　I　have　spoken　to　my　queen。　I　ask　her　forgiveness。　But　I　suggest；　also；　that　she　show　these　two　loyal　ladies　some　especial　mark　of　royal　favor；　to　reward　them　for　their　faithfulness。〃
　　　　　　　She　nodded　her　prehension。　〃And　that　favor　might　be？〃　she　asked　softly。
　　　　　　　〃A　private　gathering　with　their　queen　in　her　personal　chambers；　perhaps　for　a　special　minstrel　or　puppeteer。　It　matters　not　what　entertainment　you　provide；　only　that　those　who　have　not　chosen　to　attend　you　as　faithfully　be　excluded。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　sounds　like　something　Regal　would　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃Probably。　He　is　very　adept　at　creating　lackeys　and　hangers…on。　But　he　would　do　it　spitefully；　to　punish　those　who　had　not　danced　attendance　upon　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　I？〃
　　　　　　　〃And　you；　my　Queen…in…Waiting；　you　do　it　as　a　reward　to　those　who　have。　With　no　thought　of　punishing　those　who　have　not；　but　only　of　enjoying　the　pany　of　those　who　obviously　reciprocate　that　feeling。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　see。　And　the　minstrel？〃
　　　　　　　〃Mellow。　He　has　a　most　gallant　way　of　singing　to　every　lady　in　the　room。〃
　　　　　　　〃Will　you　see　if　he　is　free　this　evening？〃
　　　　　　　〃My　lady。〃　I　had　to　smile。　〃You　are　the　Queen…in…Waiting。　You　honor　him　to　request　his　presence。　He　will　never　be　too　busy　to　attend　upon　you。〃
　　　　　　　She　sighed　again；　but　it　was　a　smaller　sigh。　She　nodded　her　dismissal　of　me　and　rose　to　advance　smiling　upon　her　ladies；　begging　them　to　excuse　her　wandering　thoughts　this　morning；　and　then　asking　if　they　might　also　attend　her　this　evening　in　her　own　chambers。　I　watched　them　exchange　glances　and　smile；　and　knew　we　had　done　well。　I　noted　their　names　to　myself　Lady　Hopeful　and　Lady　Modesty。　I　bowed　my　way　out　of　the　room；　my　departure　scarcely　noticed。
　　　　　　　So　I　came　to　be　adviser　to　Kettricken。　It　was　not　a　role　I　relished；　to　be　panion　and　instructor；　to　be　the　whisperer　that　told　her　what　steps　she　next　must　dance。　In　truth；　it　was　an　unfortable　task。　I　felt　I　diminished　her　by　my　chiding；　and　that　I　corrupted　her；　teaching　her　the　spidery　ways　of　power　in　the　web　of　the　court。　She　was　right。　These　were　Regal's　tricks。　If　she　worked　them　with　higher　ideals　and　kinder　ways　than　Regal　did；　my　intentions　were　selfish　enough　for　both　of　us。　I　wanted　her　to　gather　power　into　her　hands；　and　with　it　bind　the　throne　firmly　to　Verity　in　the　minds　of　one　and　all。
　　　　　　　Early　each　evening；　I　was　expected　to　call　on　Lady　Patience。　She　and　Lacey　both　took　these　visits　quite　seriously。　Patience　considered　me　pletely　at　her　disposal；　as　if　I　were　her　page　still；　and　thought　nothing　of　requiring　me　to　copy　some　ancient　scroll　for　her　onto　her　precious　reed　paper；　or　to　demand　that　I　show　her　my　improvement　in　playing　the　sea　pipes。　She　always　took　me　to　task　for　not　showing　enough　effort　in　that　area；　and　would　spend　the　better　part　of　an　hour　confusing　me　whilst　attempting　to　instruct　me　in　it。　I　tried　to　be　tractable　and　polite；　but　felt　entrapped　in　their　conspiracy　to　keep　me　from　seeing　Molly。　I　knew　the　wisdom　of　Patience's　course；　but　wisdom　does　not　allay　loneliness。　Despite　their　efforts　to　keep　me　from　her；　I　saw　Molly　everywhere。　Oh；　not　her　person；　no；　but　in　the　scent　of　the　fat　bayberry　candle　burning　so　sweetly；　in　the　cloak　left　draped　over　a　chair；　even　the　honey　in　the　honey　cakes　tasted　of　Molly　to　me。　Will　you　think　me　a　fool　that　I　sat　close　by　the　candle　and　smelled　its　scent；　or　took　the　chair　that　I　might　lean　against　her　snow　damped　cloak　as　I　sat？　Sometimes　I　felt　as　Kettricken　did；　that　I　was　drowning　in　what　was　required　of　me；　and　that　there　was　nothing　left　in　my　life　that　was　for　me　alone。
　　　　　　　I　reported　weekly　to　Chade　upon　Kettricken's　progress　in　court　intrigue。　Chade　it　was　who　warned　me　that　suddenly　the　ladies　most　enamored　of　Regal　were　courting　favor　with　Kettricken　as　well。　And　so　I　must　warn　her；　whom　to　treat　courteously；　but　no　more　than　that；　and　whom　to　genuinely　smile　upon。　Sometimes　I　thought　to　myself　that　I　would　rather　be　quietly　killing　for　my　king　than　to　be　so　embroiled　in　all　these　secretive　schemes。　But　then　King　Shrewd　summoned　me。
　　　　　　　The　message　came　very　early　one　morning；　and　I　made　haste　to　dress　myself　to　attend　my　king。　This　was　the　first　time　he　had　summoned　me　to　his　presence　since　I　had　returned　to　Buckkeep。　It　had　made　me　uneasy　to　be　ignored。　Was　he　displeased　with　me；　over　what　had　happened　at　Jhaampe？　Surely　he　would　have　told　me　so　directly。　Still。　Uncertainty　gnawed　me。　I　tried　to　make　great　haste　to　wait　upon　him；　and　yet　to　take　special　care　with　my　appearance。　I　ended　up　doing　poorly　at　both。　My　hair；　shorn　for　fever　when　I　was　in　the　Mountains；　had　grown　back　as　bushy　and　unmanageable　as　Verity's。　Worse；　my　beard　was　beginning　to　bristle　as　well。　Twice　Burrich　had　told　me　that　I　had　better　decide　to　wear　a　beard；　or　to　attend　more　closely　to　my　shaving。　As　my　beard　came　in　as　patchy　as　a　pony's　winter　coat；　I　diligently　cut　my　face　several　times　that　morning；　before　deciding　that　a　bit　of　bristle　would　be　less　noticeable　than　all　the　blood。　I　curried　my　hair　back　from　my　face　and　wished　I　could　bind　it　back　in　a　warrior's　tail。　I　set　into　my　shirt　the　pin　that　Shrewd　had　so　long　ago　given　me　to　mark　me　as　his。　Then　I　hurried　to　attend　my　king。
　　　　　　　As　I　strode　hastily　down　the　hall　to　the　King's　door；　Regal　stepped　abruptly　from　his　own　doorway。　I　halted　not　to　run　into　him；　and　then　felt　trapped　there；　staring　at　him。　I　had　seen　him；　several　times　since　I　had　returned。　But　it　had　always　been　across　a　hall；　or　a　passing　glimpse　of　him　while　I　was　engaged　in　some　task。　Now　we　stood；　scarce　an　arm's　length　apart；　and　stared　at　one　another。　Almost；　we　could　have　been　mistaken　for　brothers；　I　realized　with　shock。　His　hair　was　curlier；　his　features　finer；　his　bearing　more　aristocratic。　His　garments　were　peacock's　feathers　pared　with　my　wren　colors；　I　lacked　silver　at　my　throat　and　on　my　hands。　Still　the　stamp　of　the　Farseers　was　plain　on　us　both。　We　shared　Shrewd's　jaw　and　the　fold　of　his　eyelids　and　the　curve　of　his　lower　lip。　Neither　of　us　would　ever　pare　with　Verity's　widely　muscled　build；　but　I　would　e　closer　than　he　would。　Less　than　a　decade　of　years　separated　our　ages。　Only　his　skin　separated　me　from　his　blood。　I　met　his　eyes　and　wished　I　could　spill　his　guts　upon　the　clean　swept　floor。
　　　　　　　He　smiled；　a　brief　showing　of　white　teeth。　〃Bastard；〃　he　greeted　me　pleasantly。　His　smile　grew　sharper。　〃Or；　that　is；　Master　Fits。　A　fitting　name　you've　taken　to　yourself。〃　His　careful　pronunciation　left　no　room　for　doubting　his　insult。
　　　　　　　〃Prince　Regal；〃　I　replied；　and　let　my　tone　make　the　words　mean　the　same　as　his。　I　waited　with　an　icy　patience　I　had　not　known　I　owned。　He　had　to　strike　me　first。
　　　　　　　For　a　time　we　held　our　positions；　eyes　locked。　Then　he　glanced　down；　to　flick　imaginary　dust　from　his　sleeve。　He　strode　past　me。　I　did　not　step　aside　for　him。　He　did　not　jostle　me　as　once　he　would　have。　I　took　a　breath　and　walked　on。
　　　　　　　I　did　not　know　the　guardsman　at　the　door；　but　he　waved　me　into　the　King's　chamber。　I　sighed　and　set　myself　another　task。　I　would　learn　names　and　faces　again。　Now　that　the　court　was　swelling　with　folk　e　to　see　the　new　Queen；　I　found　myself　being　recognized　by　people　I　didn't　know。　〃That'd　be　the　Bastard；　by　the　look　of　him；〃　I'd　heard　a　bacon　monger　say　to　his　apprentice　the　other　day　outside　the　kitchen　doors。　It　made　me　feel　vulnerable。　Things　were　changing　too　fast　for　me。
　　　　　　　King　Shrewd's　chamber　shocked　me。　I　had　expected　to　find　the　windows　ajar　to　the　brisk　winter　air；　to　find　Shrewd　up　and　dressed　and　alert　at　table；　as　keen　as　a　captain　receiving　reports　from　his　lieutenants。　Always　he　had　been　so；　a　sharp　old　man；　strict　with　himself；　an　early　riser；　shrewd　as　his　name。　But　he　was　not　in　his　sitting　room　at　all。　I　ventured　to　the　entry　of　his　bedchamber；　peered　within　the　open　door。
　　　　　　　Inside；　the　room　was　half　in　shadow　still。　A　servant　rattled　cups　and　plates　at　a　small　table　drawn　up　by　the　great　curtained　bed。　He　glanced　at　me；　then　away；　evidently　thinking　I　was　a　serving　boy。　The　air　was　still　and　musty；　as　if　the　room　were　disused　or　had　not　been　aired　in　a　long　time。　I　waited　a　time　for　the　servant　to　let　King　Shrewd　know　I　had　e。　When　he　continued　to　ignore　me；　I　advanced　warily　to　the　edge　of　the　bed。
　　　　　　　〃My　king？〃　I　made　bold　to　address　him　when　he　did　not　speak。　〃I　have　e　as　you　bid　me。〃
　　　　　　　Shrewd　was　sitting　up　in　the　curtained　shadows　of　his　bed；　well　propped　with　cushions。　He　opened　his　eyes　when　I　spoke。
　　　　　　　〃Who　。。。　ah。　Fitz。　Sit；　then。　Wallace；　bring　him　a　chair。　A　cup　and　plate；　too。〃　As　the　servant　moved　to　his　bidding　King　Shrewd　confided　to　me；　〃I　do　miss　Cheffers。　With　me　for　so　many　years；　and　I　never　had　to　tell　him　anymore　what　I　wanted　done。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　remember　him；　my　lord。　Where　is　he；　then？〃
　　　　　　　〃A　cough　took　him。　He　caught　it　in　the　fall；　and　it　never　left　him。　It　slowly　wore　him　away；　until　he　couldn't　take　a　breath　without　wheezing。〃
　　　　　　　I　recalled　the　servant。　He　had　not　been　a　young　man；　but　not　so　old　either。　I　was　surprised　to　hear　of　his　death。　I　stood　silently；　wordless；　while　Wallace　brought　the　chair　and　a　plate　and　cup　for　me。　He　frowned　disapprovingly　as　I　seated　myself；　but　I　ignored　it。　He　would　soon　enough　learn　that　King　Shrewd　designed　his　own　protocol。　〃And　you；　my　king？　Are　you　well？　I　cannot　recall　that　I　ever　knew　you　to　keep　to　your　bed　in　the　morning？〃
　　　　　　　King　Shrewd　made　an　impatient　noise。　〃It　is　most　annoying。　Not　a　sickness　really。　Just　a　giddiness；　a　sort　of　dizziness　that　sweeps　down　upon　me　if　I　move　swiftly。　Every　morning　I　think　it　gone；　but　when　I　try　to　rise；　the　very　stones　of　Buckkeep　rock　under　me。　So　I　keep　to　my