rh.royalassassin-第24章

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t　had　produced　that　crocus　purple。　Her　trousers　were　adorned　with　intricate　embroideries　in　rich　colors；　and　tucked　securely　into　her　boot　tops。　Her　boots　came　almost　to　her　knee；　Burrich　would　have　approved　that　practicality。　She　wore；　not　a　cloak；　but　a　short　jacket　of　voluminous　white　fir；　with　a　high　collar　to　shield　her　neck　from　the　wind。　A　white　fox；　I　guessed；　from　the　tundra　on　the　far　side　of　the　Mountains。　Her　hands　were　gloved　in　black。　The　wind　had　played　with　her　long　yellow　hair；　streaming　it　out　and　tangling　it　over　her　shoulders。　Atop　her　head　was　a　knitted　cap　of　every　bright　color　I　could　imagine。　She　sat　her　horse　high　and　forward；　in　the　Mountain　style；　and　it　made　Softstep　think　she　must　prance　instead　of　walk。　The　chestnut　mare's　harness　was　a　jingle　with　tiny　silver　bells；　ringing　sharp　as　icicles　in　the　brisk　morning。　pared　with　the　other　women　in　their　voluminous　skirts　and　cloaks；　she　looked　agile　as　a　cat。
　　　　　　　She　brought　to　mind　an　exotic　warrior　from　a　northern　clime　or　an　adventurer　from　some　ancient　tale。　It　set　her　apart　from　her　ladies；　not　as　a　highborn　and　well…adorned　woman　shows　her　status　among　those　less　royal；　but　almost　as　a　hawk　would　appear　caged　with　songbirds。　I　was　not　sure　she　should　show　herself　so　to　her　subjects。　Prince　Regal　rode　at　Kettricken's　side；　smiling　and　talking　to　her。　Their　conversation　was　lively；　spiced　often　with　laughter。　As　I　approached　closer　I　let　Sooty　slow　her　pace。　Kettricken　reined　in；　smiling；　and　would　have　stopped　to　give　me　greeting；　but　Prince　Regal　nodded　icily　and　kneed　his　horse　to　a　trot。　Kettricken's　mare；　not　to　be　left　behind；　tugged　at　her　bit　and　kept　pace　with　him。　I　received　as　brisk　a　greeting　from　those　who　trailed　after　the　Queen　and　Prince。　I　halted　to　watch　them　pass；　and　then　continued　up　to　Buckkeep　with　an　uneasy　heart。　Kettricken's　face　had　been　animated；　her　pale　cheeks　pink　with　the　cold　air；　and　her　smile　at　Regal　had　been　as　genuinely　merry　as　the　occasional　smiles　she　still　gave　me。　Yet　I　could　not　believe　she　would　be　so　gullible　as　to　trust　him。
　　　　　　　I　pondered　this　while　I　unsaddled　Sooty　and　rubbed　her　down。　I　had　bent　down　to　check　her　hooves　when　I　felt　Burrich　watching　me　over　the　wall　of　the　stall。　I　asked　him；　〃For　how　long？〃
　　　　　　　He　knew　what　I　was　asking。
　　　　　　　〃He　began　a　few　days　after　you　left。　He　brought　her　down　here　one　day；　and　spoke　me　fair；　saying　he　thought　it　quite　a　shame　that　the　Queen　was　spending　all　her　days　shut　up　in　the　Keep。　She　was　used　to　such　an　open　and　hearty　life　up　in　the　Mountains。　He　claimed　he　had　allowed　her　to　persuade　him　to　teach　her　to　ride　as　we　rode　here　in　the　lower　lands。　Then　he　had　me　saddle　Softstep　with　the　saddle　Verity　had　made　for　his　queen；　and　off　they　went。　Well；　what　was　I　to　do　or　say？〃　he　asked　me　fiercely　as　I　turned　to　look　at　him　questioningly。　〃It　is　as　you　have　said　before。　We　are　King's　Men。　Sworn。　And　Regal　is　a　Prince　of　the　Farseer　house。　Even　if　I　were　faithless　enough　to　refuse　him；　there　was　my　queen…in…waiting；　expecting　me　to　fetch　her　horse　for　her　and　saddle　her。〃
　　　　　　　A　slight　motion　of　my　hand　reminded　Burrich　that　his　words　sounded　close　to　treason。　He　stepped　into　the　stall　beside　me；　to　scratch　behind　Sooty's　ears　pensively　as　I　finished　with　her。
　　　　　　　〃You　could　do　nothing　else；〃　I　conceded。　〃But　I　must　wonder　what　his　real　intent　is。　And　why　she　suffers　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃His　intent？　Perhaps　just　to　wriggle　his　way　back　into　favor　with　her。　It　is　no　secret　that　she　pines　in　the　castle。　Oh；　she　is　fair…spoken　to　all。　But　there　is　too　much　honesty　in　her　for　her　to　make　others　believe　she　is　happy　when　she　is　not。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps；〃　I　conceded　grudgingly。　I　lifted　my　head　as　suddenly　as　a　dog　does　when　his　master　whistles。　〃I　have　to　go。　King…in…Waiting　Verity　。。。〃　I　let　the　words　trail　away。　I　did　not　have　to　let　Burrich　know　I　had　been　summoned　by　the　Skill。　I　slung　my　saddlebags　with　the　arduously　copied　scrolls　inside　to　my　shoulder　and　headed　up　to　the　castle。
　　　　　　　I　did　not　pause　to　change　my　clothes；　or　even　to　warm　myself　at　the　kitchen　fires；　but　went　straight　to　Verity's　map　room。　The　door　was　ajar；　and　I　tapped　once　and　then　entered。
　　　　　　　Verity　leaned　over　a　map　secured　to　his　table。　He　scarcely　glanced　up　to　acknowledge　me。　Steaming　mulled　wine　already　awaited　me；　and　a　generous　platter　of　cold　meats　and　bread　stood　on　a　table　near　the　hearth。　After　a　bit　he　straightened　up。
　　　　　　　〃You　block　too　well；〃　Verity　said　by　way　of　a　greeting。　〃I　have　been　trying　to　get　you　to　hurry　for　the　past　three　days；　and　when　do　you　finally　know　you　are　Skilled？　When　you　are　standing　in　my　own　stables。　I　tell　you；　Fitz；　we　must　find　time　to　teach　you　some　sort　of　control　over　your　Skill。〃
　　　　　　　But　I　knew　even　as　he　spoke　that　there　would　never　be　that　time。　Too　many　other　things　demanded　his　attention。　As　always；　he　immediately　plunged　into　his　concern。　〃Forged　ones；〃　he　said。　I　felt　a　chill　of　foreboding　run　up　my　spine。
　　　　　　　〃The　Red…Ships　have　struck　again？　This　deep　in　winter？〃　I　asked　incredulously。
　　　　　　　〃No。　At　least　we　are　still　spared　that。　But　it　seems　that　the　Red…Ships　can　leave　us　and　go　home　to　their　hearths；　and　still　leave　their　poison　among　us。〃　He　paused。　〃Well；　go　on。　Warm　yourself　and　eat。　You　can　chew　and　listen　at　the　same　time。〃
　　　　　　　As　I　helped　myself　to　the　mulled　wine　and　food；　Verity　lectured　me。　〃It　is　the　same　problem　as　before。　Reports　of　Forged　ones；　robbing　and　despoiling；　not　just　travelers；　but　isolated　farms　and　houses。　I　have　investigated；　and　must　give　credence　to　the　reports。　Yet　the　attacks　are　happening　far　from　the　sites　of　any　raids；　and　in　every　case　the　folk　claim　there　are　not　one　or　two　Forged　ones；　but　groups　of　them；　acting　in　concert。〃
　　　　　　　I　considered　for　a　moment；　swallowed；　then　spoke。　〃I　don't　think　Forged　ones　are　capable　of　acting　in　bands　or　even　as　partners。　When　one　encounters　them；　one　finds　they　have　no　sense　of　。。。　munity。　Of　shared　humanity。　They　can　speak；　and　reason；　but　only　selfishly。　They　are　as　wolverines　would　be　if　given　human　tongues。　They　care　for　nothing　but　their　own　survival。　They　see　each　other　only　as　rivals　for　food　or　fort　of　any　kind。〃　I　refilled　my　mug；　grateful　for　the　spreading　warmth　of　the　wine。　At　least　it　pushed　aside　the　physical　cold。　The　chill　thought　of　the　bleak　isolation　of　the　Forged　ones　it　could　not　touch。
　　　　　　　It　was　the　Wit　that　had　let　me　discover　this　about　Forged　ones。　So　deadened　were　they　to　all　sense　of　kinship　with　the　world　that　I　could　scarcely　sense　them　at　all。　The　Wit　gave　me　a　certain　access　to　that　web　that　bound　all　creatures　together；　but　the　Forged　ones　were　separate　from　that　net；　as　isolated　as　stones；　as　hungry　and　merciless　as　an　unthinking　storm　or　a　river　in　flood。　To　encounter　one　unexpectedly　was　as　startling　to　me　as　if　a　stone　rose　up　to　attack　me。
　　　　　　　But　Verity　only　nodded　thoughtfully。　〃Yet　even　wolves；　animals　as　they　are；　attack　as　a　pack。　As　do　tearfish　on　a　whale。　If　these　animals　can　band　together　to　bring　down　food；　why　not　the　Forged　ones？〃
　　　　　　　I　set　down　the　bread　I　had　picked　up。　〃Wolves　and　tearfish　do　as　they　do　by　their　nature；　and　share　the　flesh　with　their　young。　They　do　not　kill；　each　for　his　own　meat；　but　for　meat　for　the　pack。　I　have　seen　Forged　ones　in　groups；　but　they　do　not　act　together。　The　time　I　was　attacked　by　more　than　one　Forged　one；　the　only　thing　that　saved　me　was　that　I　was　able　to　turn　them　against　each　other。　I　dropped　the　cloak　they　desired；　and　they　fought　over　it。　And　when　they　came　after　me　again；　they　more　got　in　one　another's　way　than　helped　one　another。〃　I　fought　to　keep　my　voice　steady　as　the　memory　of　that　night　rose　up　in　me。　Smithy　had　died　that　night；　and　I　had　first　killed。　〃But　they　do　not　fight　together。　That　is　what　is　beyond　the　Forged　ones；　the　idea　of　cooperating　so　that　all　might　benefit。〃
　　　　　　　I　looked　up　to　find　Verity's　dark　eyes　full　of　sympathy。　〃I　had　forgotten　that　you　had　had　some　experience　fighting　them。　Forgive　me。　I　don't　dismiss　it。　There　is　just　so　much　besieging　me　lately。〃　His　voice　dwindled　away　and　he　seemed　to　be　listening　to　something　far　away。　After　a　moment　he　came　back　to　himself。　〃So。　You　believe　they　cannot　cooperate。　And　yet　it　seems　to　be　happening。　See；　here；〃　and　he　brushed　his　hand　lightly　over　a　map　spread　out　on　his　table。　〃I　have　been　marking　the　places　of　the　plaints；　and　keeping　track　of　how　many　are　said　to　be　there。　What　do　you　think　of　this？〃
　　　　　　　I　went　to　stand　beside　him。　Standing　next　to　Verity　was　now　like　standing　next　to　a　different　sort　of　hearth。　The　strength　of　the　Skill　radiated　from　him。　I　wondered　if　he　strove　to　hold　it　in　check；　if　it　always　threatened　to　spill　out　of　him　and　spread　his　consciousness　over　the　whole　kingdom。
　　　　　　　〃The　map；　Fitz；〃　he　recalled　me；　and　I　wondered　how　much　he　knew　of　my　thoughts。　I　forced　myself　to　concentrate　on　the　task　at　hand。　The　map　showed　Buck；　done　in　wondrous　detail。　Shallows　and　tide　flats　were　marked　along　the　coast；　as　well　as　inland　landmarks　and　lesser　roads。　It　was　a　map　made　lovingly；　by　a　man　who　had　walked　and　ridden　and　sailed　the　area。　Verity　had　used　bits　of　red　wax　as　markers。　I　studied　them；　trying　to　see　what　his　real　concern　was。
　　　　　　　〃Seven　different　incidents。〃　He　reached　to　touch　his　markers。　〃Some　within　a　day's　ride　of　Buckkeep。　But　we　have　had　no　raids　that　close；　so　where　would　these　Forged　ones　be　ing　from？　They　might　be　driven　away　from　their　home　villages；　true；　but　why　would　they　converge　upon　Buckkeep？〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　these　are　desperate　people　pretending　to　be　Forged　ones　when　they　go　out　to　steal　from　their　neighbors？〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps。　But　it　is　troubling　that　the　incidents　are　happening　closer　and　closer　to　Buckkeep。　There　are　three　different　groups；　from　what　the　victims　say。　But　each　time　there　is　a　report　of　a　robbery　or　a　barn　broken　into　or　a　cow　butchered　in　the　field；　the　group　responsible　seems　to　have　moved　closer　to　Buckkeep。　I　can　think　of　no　reason　for　Forged　ones　to　do　such　a　thing。　And　…　he　halted　me　as　I　began　to　speak　…　the　　descriptions　of　one　group　match　those　of　another　attack；　reported　over　a　month　ago。　If　these　are　the　same　Forged　ones；　they　have　e　a　long　way　in　that　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　does　not　seem　like　Forged　ones；〃　I　said；　and　then　carefully；　I　asked；　〃Do　you　suspect　a　conspiracy　of　some　kind？〃
　　　　　　　Verity　snorted　bitterly。　〃Of　course。　When　do　I　not　suspect　conspiracies　anymore？　But　for　this；　at　least；　I　think　I　can　look　further　afield　than　Buckkeep　to　find　the　source。〃　He　halted　abruptly；　as　if　hearing　how　bluntly　he　had　spoken。　〃Look　into　it　for　me；　Fitz；　will　you？　Ride　out　and　about　a　bit；　and　listen。　Tell　me　what　they　say　in　the　taverns；　and　tell　me　what　sign　you　find　on　the　roads。　Gather　gossip　of　other　attacks；　and　keep　track　of　the　detail。　Quietly。　Can　you　do　that　for　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course。　But　why　quietly？　It　seems　to　me　that　if　we　alerted　folk；　we　would　hear　more　swiftly　of　what　goes　on。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　would　hear　more；　that's　true。　More　of　rumors；　and　much　more　of　plaint。　So　far　these　are　individual　plaints。　I　am　the　only　one；　I　think；　who　has　put　together　a　pattern　from　them。　I　do　not　want　Buckkeep　itself　up　in　arms；　plaining　that　the　King　cannot　even　protect　his　capital　c