rh.royalassassin-第65章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


hes　twisted　and　smoothed　by　the　sea　rested　against　them　in　stark　beauty。　I　could　have　meditated　calmly　there；　but　it　was　not　a　place　to　loll　in　the　warm　wind　of　summer；　and　I　suspected　that　was　how　Verity　had　recalled　it。　She　kept　herself　busy　there；　and　enjoyed　it；　but　it　did　not　bond　her　to　Verity　as　she　had　once　believed　it　would。　She　was　as　beautiful　as　ever；　but　always　her　blue　eyes　were　clouded　gray　with　a　preoccupation　and　a　worry。　Her　brow　was　furrowed　so　often　that　when　she　did　relax　her　face；　one　saw　the　pale　lines　of　the　skin　the　sun　had　never　reached。　In　the　times　I　spent　with　her　there；　she　often　dismissed　most　of　her　ladies；　and　then　quizzed　me　about　the　Rurisk's　activities　as　thoroughly　as　if　she　were　Verity　himself。　When　I　had　finished　reporting　to　her；　often　she　folded　her　lips　into　a　firm　line　and　went　to　stare　out　over　the　top　of　the　tower　wall　and　beyond　to　the　sea　touching　the　edge　of　the　sky。　Toward　the　end　of　summer；　as　she　was　staring　so　one　afternoon；　I　ventured　close　to　her　to　ask　to　be　excused　from　her　presence　to　return　to　my　ship。　She　scarcely　seemed　to　hear　what　I　had　asked。　Instead；　she　said　softly；　〃There　has　to　be　a　final　solution。　Nothing；　no　one　can　go　on　like　this。　There　must　be　a　way　to　make　an　end　of　this。〃
　　　　　　　〃Autumn　storms　e　soon；　my　lady　queen。　Already；　frost　has　touched　some　of　your　vines。　Storms　are　never　far　behind　the　first　chilling；　and　with　them　es　peace　for　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃Peace？　Ha。〃　She　snorted　in　disbelief。　〃Is　it　peace　to　lie　awake　and　wonder　who　will　die　next；　where　will　they　attack　next　year？　That　is　not　peace。　That　is　a　torture。　There　must　be　a　way　to　put　an　end　to　the　Red…Ships。　And　I　intend　to　find　it。〃
　　　　　　　Her　words　sounded　almost　like　a　threat。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　SEVENTEEN
　　　　　　　Interludes
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　OF　STONE　WERE　their　bones　made；　of　the　sparkling　veined　stone　of　the　Mountains。　Their　flesh　was　made　of　the　shining　salts　of　the　earth。　But　their　hearts　were　made　of　the　hearts　of　wise　men。
　　　　　　　They　came　from　afar；　those　men；　a　long　and　trying　way。　They　did　not　hesitate　to　lay　down　the　lives　that　had　bee　a　weariness　to　them。　They　ended　their　days　and　began　eternities；　they　put　aside　flesh　and　donned　stone；　they　let　fall　their　weapons　and　rose　on　new　wings。　Elderlings。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　When　the　King　finally　summoned　me；　I　went　to　him。　True　to　my　promise　to　myself；　I　had　not　voluntarily　gone　to　his　chambers　since　that　afternoon。　Bitterness　still　ate　at　me　over　his　arrangements　with　Duke　Brawndy　concerning　Celerity　and　me。　But　a　summons　from　one's　king　was　not　a　thing　to　be　ignored；　regardless　of　what　anger　churned　inside　me　still。
　　　　　　　He　sent　for　me　on　an　autumn　morning。　It　had　been　at　least　two　months　since　I　had　last　stood　before　King　Shrewd。　I　had　ignored　the　wounded　looks　the　Fool　flung　at　me　when　I　encountered　him；　and　turned　aside　Verity's　occasional　query　as　to　why　I　had　not　sought　out　Shrewd's　chamber。　It　was　easy　enough。　Wallace　still　guarded　his　door　like　a　serpent　on　the　hearth；　and　the　King's　poor　health　was　no　secret　from　anyone。　No　one　was　admitted　to　his　rooms　before　noon　anymore。　So　I　told　myself　this　morning　summons　betokened　something　important。
　　　　　　　I　had　thought　the　morning　would　belong　to　me。　An　unseasonably　early　and　vicious　autumn　storm　had　pounded　us　for　two　days。　The　driving　wind　was　merciless；　while　drenching　rain　promised　that　anyone　in　an　open　boat　would　be　fully　occupied　with　bailing。　I　had　spent　the　evening　before　in　the　tavern　with　the　rest　of　the　Rurisk's　crew；　toasting　the　storm　and　wishing　the　Red…Ships　the　full　kiss　of　it。　I　had　e　back　to　the　Keep　to　tumble　soddenly　into　my　bed；　certain　that　I　could　sleep　as　long　as　I　wished　the　next　morning。　But　a　determined　page　had　battered　my　door　until　sleep　forsook　me；　and　then　delivered　to　me　the　King's　formal　summons。
　　　　　　　I　washed；　shaved；　smoothed　my　hair　back　into　a　tail；　and　donned　clean　clothes。　I　steeled　myself　to　betray　nothing　of　my　smoldering　resentment。　When　I　was　confident　I　was　master　of　myself；　I　left　my　chamber。　I　presented　myself　at　the　King's　door。　I　fully　expected　Wallace　to　sneer　and　turn　me　aside。　But　this　morning　he　opened　the　door　promptly　to　my　knock。　His　glance　was　still　disapproving；　but　he　immediately　ushered　me　into　the　King's　presence。
　　　　　　　Shrewd　sat　before　his　hearth　in　a　cushioned　chair。　Despite　myself；　my　heart　sank　at　how　wasted　he　had　bee。　His　skin　was　papery　and　translucent　as　parchment；　his　fingers　gone　to　bone。　His　face　sagged；　skin　drooping　where　flesh　had　once　held　it　firm。　His　dark　eyes　were　sunken　into　his　face。　He　clasped　his　hands　in　his　lap　in　a　gesture　I　knew　well。　Thus　did　I　hold　my　hands　to　conceal　the　trembling　that　occasionally　overtook　me　still。　A　small　table　at　his　elbow　supported　a　censer；　and　Smoke　rose　from　it。　The　fumes　already　made　a　bluish　haze　about　the　rafters。　The　Fool　sprawled　disconsolately　at　his　feet。
　　　　　　　〃FitzChivalry　is　here；　Your　Majesty；〃　Wallace　announced　me。
　　　　　　　The　King　started　as　if　poked；　then　shifted　his　gaze　to　me。　I　moved　to　stand　before　him。
　　　　　　　〃FitzChivalry；〃　the　King　acknowledged　me。
　　　　　　　There　was　no　force　behind　the　words；　no　presence　at　all。
　　　　　　　My　bitterness　was　still　strong　in　me；　but　it　could　not　drown　the　pain　I　felt　to　see　him　so。　He　was　still　my　king。
　　　　　　　〃My　king；　I　have　e　as　you　ordered；〃　I　said　formally。　I　tried　to　cling　to　my　coldness。
　　　　　　　He　looked　at　me　wearily。　He　turned　his　head　aside；　coughed　once　into　his　shoulder。　〃So　I　see。　Good。〃　He　stared　at　me　for　a　moment。　He　took　a　deep　breath　that　whispered　into　his　lungs。　〃A　messenger　arrived　from　Duke　Brawndy　of　Bearns　last　night。　He　brought　the　harvest　reports　and　such；　mostly　news　for　Regal。　But　Brawndy's　daughter　Celerity　also　sent　this　scroll。　For　you。〃
　　　　　　　He　held　it　out　to　me。　A　small　scroll；　bound　with　a　yellow　ribbon　and　sealed　with　a　blob　of　green　wax。　Reluctantly　I　stepped　forward　to　take　it。
　　　　　　　〃Brawndy's　messenger　will　be　returning　to　Bearns　this　afternoon。　I　am　sure　that　by　that　time　you　will　have　created　an　appropriate　reply。〃　His　tone　did　not　make　this　a　request。　He　coughed　again。　The　roil　of　conflicting　emotions　I　felt　for　him　soured　in　my　stomach。
　　　　　　　〃If　I　may；〃　I　requested；　and　when　the　King　did　not　object；　I　broke　the　seal　on　the　scroll　and　untied　the　ribbon。　I　unwound　it　to　discover　a　second　scroll　coiled　inside　it。　I　glanced　over　the　first　one。　Celerity　wrote　with　a　clear；　firm　hand。　I　unrolled　the　second　one　and　considered　it　briefly。　I　looked　up　to　find　Shrewd's　eyes　on　me。　I　met　them　without　emotion。　〃She　writes　to　wish　me　well；　and　to　send　me　a　copy　of　a　scroll　she　found　in　the　Ripplekeep　libraries。　Or；　properly；　a　copy　of　what　was　still　legible。　From　the　wrapping；　she　believed　it　pertained　to　Elderlings。　She　had　noted　my　interest　in　them　during　my　visit　to　Ripplekeep。　It　looks　to　me　as　if　the　writing　was　actually　philosophy；　or　perhaps　poetry。〃
　　　　　　　I　offered　the　scrolls　back　to　Shrewd。　After　a　moment　he　took　them。　He　unfurled　the　first　one　and　held　it　out　at　arm's　length。　He　furrowed　his　brow；　glared　at　it　briefly；　then　set　it　down　in　his　lap。　〃My　eyes　are　befogged；　sometimes；　of　a　morning；〃　he　said。　He　rerolled　the　two　scrolls　together；　carefully；　as　if　it　were　a　difficult　task。　〃You　will　write　her　a　proper　note　of　thanks。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　my　king。〃　My　voice　was　carefully　formal。　I　received　once　more　the　scrolls　he　proffered　me。　When　I　had　stood　before　him　for　some　moments　longer　while　he　stared　through　me；　I　ventured；　〃Am　I　dismissed；　my　king？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　He　coughed　again；　more　heavily。　He　took　another　long　sighing　breath。　〃You　are　not　dismissed。　Had　I　dismissed　you；　it　would　have　been　years　ago。　I　would　have　let　you　grow　up　in　some　backwater　village。　Or　seen　that　you　did　not　grow　up　at　all。　No；　FitzChivalry；　I　have　not　dismissed　you。〃　Something　of　his　old　presence　came　back　into　his　voice。　〃Some　years　ago　I　struck　a　bargain　with　you。　You　have　kept　your　end　of　it。　And　kept　it　well。　I　know　how　I　am　served　by　you；　even　when　you　do　not　see　fit　to　report　to　me　personally。　I　know　how　you　serve　me；　even　when　you　are　brimming　with　anger　at　me。　I　could　ask　little　more　than　what　you　have　given　me。〃　He　coughed　again；　suddenly；　a　dry　racking　cough。　When　he　could　speak；　it　was　not　to　me。
　　　　　　　〃Fool；　a　goblet　of　the　warmed　wine；　please。　And　ask　Wallace　for　the　。。。　spicing　herbs　to　season　it。〃　The　Fool　rose　immediately；　but　I　saw　no　willingness　on　his　face。　Instead；　as　he　passed　behind　the　King's　chair；　he　gave　me　a　look　that　should　have　drawn　blood。　The　King　made　a　small　gesture　at　me　to　wait。　He　rubbed　his　eyes；　and　then　stilled　his　hands　once　more　in　his　lap。　〃I　but　seek　to　keep　my　end　of　the　bargain；〃　he　resumed。　〃I　promised　to　see　to　your　needs。　I　would　do　more　than　that。　I　would　see　you　wed　to　a　lady　of　quality。　I　would　see　you　。。。　ah。　Thank　you。〃
　　　　　　　The　Fool　was　back　with　the　wine。　I　marked　how　he　filled　the　goblet　but　halfway；　and　how　the　King　picked　it　up　with　both　hands。　I　caught　a　waft　of　unfamiliar　herbs　mingled　with　the　rising　scent　of　the　wine。　The　rim　of　the　goblet　chattered　twice　against　Shrewd's　teeth　before　he　stilled　it　with　his　mouth。　He　took　a　long　deep　draft　of　it。　He　swallowed；　then　sat　still　a　moment　longer；　eyes　closed　as　if　listening。　When　he　opened　his　eyes　to　look　up　at　me　once　more；　he　seemed　briefly　puzzled。　After　a　moment　he　recollected　himself。　〃I　would　see　you　with　a　title；　and　land　to　steward。〃　He　lifted　the　goblet　and　drank　again。　He　sat　holding　it；　warming　his　thin　hands　around　it　while　he　considered　me。　〃I　should　like　to　remind　you　it　is　no　small　thing　that　Brawndy　deems　you　a　fit　match　for　his　daughter。　He　does　not　hesitate　over　your　birth。　Celerity　will　e　to　you　with　a　title　and　estates　of　her　own。　Your　match　gives　me　the　opportunity　to　see　that　you　have　the　same。　I　wish　only　the　best　for　you。　Is　this　so　hard　to　understand？〃
　　　　　　　The　question　left　me　free　to　speak。　I　took　a　breath　and　tried　to　reach　him。　〃My　king；　I　know　you　wish　me　well。　I　am　well　aware　of　the　honor　that　Duke　Brawndy　does　me。　The　Lady　Celerity　is　as　fair　a　woman　as　any　man　could　wish。　But　the　lady　is　not　of　my　choosing。〃
　　　　　　　His　look　darkened。　〃Now　there　you　sound　like　Verity；〃　he　said　crossly。　〃Or　your　father。　I　think　they　suckled　stubbornness　from　their　mother's　breasts。〃　He　lifted　the　goblet　and　drained　it　off。　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair　and　shook　his　head。　〃Fool。　More　wine；　please。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　have　heard　the　rumors；〃　he　resumed　heavily　after　the　Fool　had　taken　his　cup。　〃Regal　brings　them　to　me　and　whispers　them　like　a　kitchen　maid。　As　if　they　were　important。　Chickens　clucking。　Dogs　barking。　Just　as　important。〃　I　watched　the　Fool　obediently　refill　the　goblet；　his　reluctance　plain　in　every　muscle　of　his　slender　body。　Wallace　appeared　as　if　summoned　by　magic。　He　heaped　more　Smoke　onto　the　censer；　blew　on　a　tiny　coal　with　carefully　pursed　lips　until　the　heap　smoldered；　and　then　drifted　away。　Shrewd　leaned　carefully　so　that　the　fumes　curled　past　his　face。　He　breathed　in；　gave　a　tiny　cough；　then　drew　in　more　of　the　Smoke。　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　A　silent　Fool　stood　holding　his　wine。
　　　　　　　〃Regal　claims　you　are　enamored　of　a　chambermaid。　That　you　pursue　her　relentlessly。　Well；　all　men　are　young　once。　As　are　all　maids。〃　He　accepted　his　goblet　and　drank　again。