rh.royalassassin-第61章

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　　　　　　　I　was　trembling；　as　I　had　not　in　months。　I　would　not　allow　this　to　continue；　to　bee　any　worse　than　it　was　already。　I　found　my　tongue；　formed　words　in　my　dry　throat。　〃My　king；　that　is　not　the　lady　I　was　considering。〃
　　　　　　　Silence　descended。　I　met　my　king's　eyes；　and　saw　his　look　change。　Had　I　not　been　so　desperate；　I　know　I　would　have　looked　aside　from　that　displeasure。　Instead　I　looked　at　him　beseechingly；　praying　he　might　understand。　When　he　did　not　speak　further；　I　attempted　to。
　　　　　　　〃My　king；　the　woman　I　speak　of　is　presently　a　lady's　maid；　but　in　her　own　right　she　is　not　a　servant。　She　is…〃
　　　　　　　〃Be　silent。〃
　　　　　　　It　could　not　have　been　sharper　if　he　had　struck　me。　I　was　still。
　　　　　　　Shrewd　looked　me　up　and　down　carefully。　When　he　spoke；　it　was　with　the　force　of　all　his　majesty。　I　thought　I　felt　even　the　pressure　of　the　Skill　in　his　voice。　〃Be　entirely　certain　of　what　I　say　to　you；　FitzChivalry。　Brawndy　is　my　friend；　as　well　as　my　duke。　Neither　he；　nor　his　daughter；　shall　be　offended　or　slighted　by　you。　At　this　time　you　shall　court　no　one。　No　one。　I　suggest　you　consider　well　all　you　are　offered　when　Brawndy　considers　you　favorably　as　a　match　for　Celerity。　He　makes　no　matter　of　your　birth。　Few　others　would　do　so。　Celerity　will　have　land　and　a　title　of　her　own。　As　will　you；　from　me；　if　you　have　the　wisdom　to　bide　your　time　and　do　well　by　the　lady。　You　will　e　to　find　that　it　is　the　wise　choice。　I　will　tell　you　when　you　may　begin　courting　her。〃
　　　　　　　I　summoned　the　last　of　my　courage。　〃My　king；　please；
　　　　　　　〃Enough；　Chivalry！　You　have　heard　my　word　on　this　subject。　There　is　no　more　to　say！〃
　　　　　　　A　short　time　later　he　dismissed　me；　and　I　went　shaking　from　his　rooms。　I　do　not　know　if　fury　or　heartbreak　were　the　force　behind　my　trembling。　I　thought　again　of　how　he　had　called　me　by　my　father's　name。　Perhaps；　I　told　myself　spitefully；　it　was　because　in　his　heart　he　knew　I　would　do　as　my　father　had　done。　I　would　wed　for　love。　Even；　I　thought　savagely；　if　I　had　to　wait　until　King　Shrewd　was　in　his　grave；　for　Verity　to　keep　his　word　to　me。　I　went　back　to　my　rooms。　To　have　wept　would　have　been　a　relief。　I　could　not　even　find　tears。　Instead　I　lay　on　my　bed　and　stared　at　the　hangings。　I　could　not　imagine　telling　Molly　what　had　just　transpired　between　my　king　and　me。　Telling　myself　that　not　to　speak　was　also　a　deception；　I　resolved　to　find　a　way　to　tell　her。　But　not　right　away。　A　time　would　e；　I　promised　myself；　a　time　when　I　could　explain　and　she　would　understand。　I　would　wait　for　it。　Until　then；　I　would　not　think　about　it。　Nor；　I　resolved　coldly；　would　I　go　to　my　king　unless　I　were　summoned。
　　　　　　　As　spring　drew　closer　Verity　arranged　his　ships　and　men　as　carefully　as　tokens　on　a　game　board。　The　watchtowers　on　the　coast　were　always　manned；　and　their　signal　fires　kept　ever　ready　for　a　torch。　Such　signal　fires　were　for　the　purpose　of　alerting　local　citizenry　that　Red…Ships　had　been　sighted。　He　took　the　remaining　members　of　the　Skill　coterie　Galen　had　fashioned　and　distributed　them　in　the　towers　and　on　the　ships。　Serene；　my　nemesis　and　heart　of　Galen's　coterie；　remained　at　Buckkeep。　Privately　I　wondered　why　Verity　used　her　there；　as　a　center　for　the　coterie；　rather　than　having　each　member　Skill　individually　to　him。　With　Galen's　death；　and　August's　forced　retirement　from　the　coterie；　Serene　had　taken　on　Galen's　post；　and　seemed　to　consider　herself　the　Skill　Master。　In　some　ways；　she　almost　became　him。　It　was　not　just　that　she　stalked　Buckkeep　in　austere　silence　and　wore　always　a　disapproving　frown。　She　seemed　to　have　acquired　his　testiness　and　foul　humor　as　well。　The　serving　folk　now　spoke　of　her　with　the　same　dread　and　distaste　they　had　once　reserved　for　Galen。　I　understood　she　had　taken　over　Galen's　personal　quarters　as　well。　I　avoided　her　assiduously　on　the　days　I　was　home。　I　would　have　been　more　relieved　if　Verity　had　placed　her　elsewhere。
　　　　　　　But　it　was　not　up　to　me　to　question　my　king…in…waiting's　decisions。
　　　　　　　Justin；　a　tall　gangly　young　man　with　two　years　on　me；　was　assigned　as　coterie　member　to　the　Rurisk。　He　had　despised　me　since　we　had　studied　the　Skill　together　and　I　had　failed　so　spectacularly　at　it。　He　snubbed　me　at　every　opportunity。　I　bit　my　tongue　and　did　my　best　not　to　encounter　him。　The　close　quarters　of　the　ship　made　that　difficult。　It　was　not　a　fortable　situation。
　　　　　　　After　great　debate；　with　himself　and　me；　Verity　placed　Carrod　aboard　the　Constance；　Burl　at　the　Neatbay　Tower；　and　sent　Will　far　north；　to　the　Red　Tower　up　in　Bearns　that　manded　such　a　wide　view　of　the　sea　as　well　as　the　surrounding　countryside。　Once　he　had　arranged　their　tokens　on　his　maps；　it　made　a　reality　of　the　pathetic　thinness　of　our　defenses。　〃It　reminds　me　of　the　old　folktale　of　the　beggar　who　had　but　a　hat　to　cover　his　nakedness；〃　I　told　Verity。　He　smiled　without　humor。
　　　　　　　〃Would　that　I　could　move　my　ships　as　swiftly　as　he　did　his　hat；〃　he　wished　grimly。
　　　　　　　Two　of　the　ships　Verity　set　to　duty　as　roving　patrol　vessels。　Two　he　kept　in　reserve；　one　docked　at　Buckkeep；　and　that　was　the　Rurisk；　while　the　Stag　anchored　in　South　Cove。　It　was　a　pitifully　small　fleet　to　protect　the　Six　Duchies'　straggling　coastline。　A　second　set　of　ships　was　being　constructed；　but　it　was　not　expected　they　would　be　finished　soon。　The　best　of　the　seasoned　wood　had　been　used　in　the　first　four　vessels；　and　his　shipwrights　cautioned　him　he　would　be　wiser。　to　wait　than　to　attempt　to　use　green　wood。　It　chafed　him；　but　he　listened　to　them。
　　　　　　　Early　spring　saw　us　practicing　drills。　The　coterie　members；　Verity　privately　told　me；　functioned　almost　as　well　as　carrier　pigeons　at　relaying　simple　messages。　His　situation　with　me　was　a　more　frustrating　one。　For　his　own　reasons；　he　had　chosen　not　to　disclose　to　anyone　his　training　of　me　in　the　Skill。　I　believe　he　was　enjoying　the　advantages　of　being　able　to　go　with　me　and　observe　and　listen　undetected　to　the　everyday　life　of　Buckkeep　Town。　I　understood　that　the　Rurisk's　master　had　been　given　word　that　I　was　to　be　heeded　if　I　requested　a　sudden　change　in　course　or　announced　that　we　were　required　at　a　certain　location　immediately。　I　fear　he　saw　this　mostly　as　Verity's　indulgence　of　his　bastard　nephew；　but　in　this　he　followed　his　orders。
　　　　　　　Then；　one　early　spring　morning；　we　reported　to　our　ship　for　yet　another　practice。　We　functioned　well　as　a　crew　now　in　maneuvering　our　ship。　This　exercise　was　to　have　us　rendezvous　with　the　Constance　at　an　undisclosed　location。　It　was　a　Skill　exercise　that　so　far　we　had　not　succeeded　at。　We　were　resigned　to　a　frustrating　day；　save　for　Justin；　who　was　stonily　intent　on　succeeding。　Arms　crossed　on　his　chest；　dressed　all　in　dark　blue　（I　believe　he　thought　the　blue　robe　made　him　appear　more　Skilled）；　he　stood　on　the　dock　and　stared　out　into　the　thick　fog　that　blanketed　the　ocean。　I　was　forced　to　pass　him　as　I　put　a　keg　of　water　aboard。　。
　　　　　　　〃To　you；　Bastard；　it's　an　opaque　blanket。　But　to　me；　all　is　as　clear　as　a　mirror。〃
　　　　　　　〃How　unfortunate　for　you；〃　I　said　kindly；　ignoring　his　use　of　the　word　〃bastard。〃　I　had　all　but　forgotten　how　much　sting　could　be　put　into　a　word。　〃I'd　rather　see　the　fog　than　your　face　of　a　morning。〃　Petty；　but　satisfying。　I　had　the　additional　satisfaction　of　watching　his　robe　bind　about　his　legs　as　he　boarded。　I　was　sensibly　dressed；　in　snug　leggings；　an　undershirt　of　soft　cotton；　and　a　leather　jerkin　over　that。　I　had　considered　some　sort　of　mail；　but　Burrich　had　shook　his　head　over　it。　〃Better　to　die　cleanly　from　a　weapon's　wound　than　fall　overboard　and　drown；〃　he'd　advised　me。
　　　　　　　Verity　had　quirked　a　smile　at　that。　〃Let's　not　burden　him　with　too　much　overconfidence；〃　he　suggested　wryly；　and　even　Burrich　had　smiled。　After　a　moment。
　　　　　　　So　I　had　abandoned　any　thought　of　mail　or　armor。　At　any　rate；　today　would　be　a　rowing　day；　and　what　I　wore　was　fortable　for　that。　No　shoulder　seams　to　strain　against；　no　sleeves　to　catch　on　my　forearms。　I　was　inordinately　proud　of　the　chest　and　shoulders　I　was　developing。　Even　Molly　had　expressed　an　astonished　approval。　I　settled　into　my　seat　and　rolled　my　shoulders；　smiling　as　I　thought　of　her。　I'd　had　far　too　little　time　with　her　lately。　Well；　only　time　would　cure　that。　Summer　brought　the　Raiders。　As　the　long　fair　days　came　on　I'd　have　even　less　time　with　her。　Autumn　could　not　e　too　soon　for　me。
　　　　　　　We　settled　in；　a　full　plement　of　rowers　and　warriors。　At　some　moment；　as　ropes　were　cast　off　and　the　steersman　took　his　post　and　the　oars　began　their　steady　beat；　we　became　one　animal。　It　was　a　phenomenon　I　had　noted　before。　Perhaps　I　was　more　sensitized　to　it；　nerves　abraded　clean　by　my　Skill　sharing　with　Verity。　Perhaps　it　was　that　all　the　men　and　women　onboard　shared　a　single　purpose；　and　that　for　most　of　them　it　was　vengeance。　Whatever　it　was；　it　lent　a　unity　to　us　that　I　had　never　sensed　before　in　a　group　of　folk。　Perhaps；　I　thought；　this　was　a　shadow　of　what　it　was　to　belong　to　a　coterie。　I　felt　a　pang　of　regret；　of　opportunities　lost。
　　　　　　　You　are　my　coterie。　Verity；　like　a　whisper　behind　me。　And　somewhere；　from　the　distant　hills；　something　less　than　a　sigh。　Are　we　not　pack？
　　　　　　　I　do　have　you；　I　thought　back　to　them。　Then　I　settled　in　and　paid　attention　to　what　I　was　doing。　Oars　and　backs　dipped　and　rose　in　unison　and　the　Rurisk　went　nosing　boldly　out　into　the　fog。　Our　sail　hung　limp。　In　a　moment　we　were　a　world　unto　ourselves。　Sounds　of　water；　of　the　rhythmic　unity　of　our　breathing　as　we　rowed。　A　few　of　the　fighters　spoke　softly　among　themselves；　their　words　and　thoughts　muffled　by　the　mist。　Up　in　the　bow；　Justin　stood　beside　the　master；　staring　out　into　the　fog。　His　brow　was　lined；　his　eyes　distant；　and　I　knew　he　reached　for　Carrod　aboard　the　Constance。　Almost　idly；　I　reached　out；　too；　to　see　if　I　could　sense　what　he　Skilled。
　　　　　　　Stop　that！　warned　Verity；　and　I　drew　back　feeling　as　if　he　slapped　my　hand。　I'm　not　ready　for　anyone　to　have　suspicions　about　you　yet。
　　　　　　　There　was　a　lot　behind　that　warning；　more　than　I　could　devote　myself　to　just　now。　As　if　what　I　had　begun　to　do　were　actually　a　very　dangerous　action。　I　wondered　what　he　feared；　but　I　concentrated　on　the　steady　rhythm　of　my　rowing；　and　let　my　eyes　stare　into　the　infinite　gray。　Most　of　that　morning　passed　in　a　mist。　Several　times　Justin　asked　the　master　to　have　the　steersman　change　his　course。　It　made　little　difference　that　I　could　see；　save　in　the　texture　of　the　rowing。　All　of　the　inside　of　a　fog　bank　looks　much　the　same。　The　steady　physical　effort；　the　lack　of　anything　to　focus　on　put　me　into　a　waking　dream　about　nothing。
　　　　　　　The　cries　of　the　young　watchman　broke　my　trance。　〃　'Ware　treachery！〃　he　cried　out；　his　shrill　voice　deepening　as　blood　engulfed　it。　〃We　are　attacked！〃
　　　　　　　I　leaped　up　from　my　rowing　bench；　staring　wildly　all　about。　Fog。　Only　my　oar　dangling　and　skipping　on　the　surface　of　the　water；　while　my　fellow　oarsmen　glared　at　me　for　breaking　the　rhythm。　〃You；　Fitz！　What　ails　you？〃　the　master　demanded。　Justin　stood　at　his　side；　clear…browed　and　self…righteous。
　　　　　　　〃I　。。。　my　back　cramped。　Sorry。〃　I　stooped　to　my　oar　again。
　　　　　　　〃Kelpy；　relieve　him。　Stretch　and　move　about　a　bit；　boy；　then　take　your　oar　back；〃　the　mate　directed　in　his　thick　accent。
　　　　　　　〃Aye；　sir。〃　I　acknowledged　his