rh.royalassassin-第71章

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　　　　　　　With　this　handful　of　requests；　Shrewd　popped　the　bubble　of　formality。　Kettricken　helped　him　with　a　familiarity　that　showed　me　she　had　a　genuine　bond　with　the　old　man。　The　Fool　pranced　off　to　the　cupboard　in　the　sitting　room　for　wineglasses；　leaving　me　to　select　a　bottle　of　wine　from　the　small　store　that　Shrewd　kept　in　his　rooms。　The　bottles　were　covered　in　dust；　as　if　he　had　not　tasted　these　wines　for　a　long　time。　I　wondered　suspiciously　what　was　the　source　for　what　Wallace　gave　him。　At　least　the　rest　of　the　room；　I　noted；　was　in　good　order。　Much　better　than　it　had　been　before　Winterfest。　The　Smoke　censers　that　had　so　distressed　me　stood　cold　in　the　corner。　And　tonight　the　King　seemed　to　have　his　wits　still。
　　　　　　　The　Fool　helped　the　King　into　a　thick　woolen　robe　and　knelt　to　slipper　his　feet。　Shrewd　settled　into　his　chair　by　the　fire　and　set　his　wineglass　on　the　table　at　his　elbow。　Older。　Much　older。　But　the　King　I　had　reported　to　so　often　in　my　youth　once　more　held　council　before　me。　Suddenly　I　wished　I　could　be　the　one　speaking　to　him　tonight。　This　sharp…eyed　old　man　might　actually　hear　out　my　reasons　for　wishing　to　wed　Molly。　I　felt　a　new　roiling　of　anger　at　Wallace　for　the　habits　he　had　led　my　king　into。
　　　　　　　But　this　was　not　my　time。　Despite　the　King's　informality；　Verity　and　Kettricken　were　strung　tight　as　bowstrings。　The　Fool　and　I　brought　chairs　that　they　might　be　seated　to　either　side　of　Shrewd。　I　stood　behind　Verity　and　waited。
　　　　　　　〃Tell　it　simply；〃　Shrewd　requested　of　Verity；　and　he　did。　Kettricken's　scrolls　were　unfurled　one　at　a　time；　and　Verity　read　aloud　the　pertinent　passages。　The　old　map　was　studied　at　length。　Shrewd　did　nothing　but　ask　questions　at　first；　making　no　ments　or　judgments　until　he　was　sure　he　had　from　them　every　scrap　of　information。　The　Fool　stood　at　his　elbow；　alternately　beaming　at　me　and　making　terrible　faces　at　Verity's　page　in　an　attempt　to　make　the　petrified　boy　at　least　smile。　I　think　it　more　likely　he　frightened　the　lad。　Rosemary　forgot　entirely　where　she　was　and　wandered　off　to　toy　with　the　tassels　on　the　bed　curtains。
　　　　　　　When　Verity　had　finished　speaking；　and　Kettricken　had　added　her　ments；　the　King　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　He　drained　the　bit　of　wine　that　was　still　in　his　glass；　then　held　it　out　to　the　Fool　to　refill。　He　took　a　sip；　sighed；　then　shook　his　head。　〃No。　There　is　too　much　of　pecksies　and　nursery　tales　to　this　for　you　to　undertake　it　right　now；　Verity。　You　have　shown　me　enough　to　make　me　believe　it　worth　our　while　to　send　an　emissary　there。　A　man　of　your　choosing；　with　a　fitting　entourage；　gifts；　and　letters　from　you　and　me　to　confirm　he　is　there　at　our　behest。　But　yourself；　the　King…in…Waiting？　No。　We　have　not　the　resources　to　spare　just　now。　Regal　was　at　me　earlier　today；　going　over　the　costs　of　the　new　ships　being　built；　and　the　fortifying　of　the　towers　on　Antler　Island。　Money　is　being　scarce。　And　it　might　not　make　the　folk　feel　safe　to　have　you　leave　the　city。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　flee；　I　leave　on　a　quest。　A　quest　with　their　benefit　as　my　goal。　And　I　leave　behind　my　queen…in…waiting；　to　represent　me　to　them　while　I　am　gone。　I　did　not　have　in　mind　a　caravan　with　minstrels　and　cooks　and　embroidered　tents；　sir。　We　would　be　traveling　on　snowy　roads；　going　into　the　heart　of　winter　itself。　I　would　take　a　military　contingent；　and　travel　as　soldiers　do。　As　I　always　have。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　you　think　this　would　impress　the　Elderlings？　If　you　find　them？　If　they　ever　existed　at　all？〃
　　　　　　　〃Legend　has　it　that　King　Wisdom　went　on　his　own。　I　believe　the　Elderlings　existed；　and　that　he　found　them。　If　I　fail；　I　will　return；　to　take　up　again　with　my　Skilling　and　my　warships。　What　will　we　have　lost？　If　I　succeed；　I　bring　back　a　powerful　ally。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　if　you　die　in　the　seeking？〃　Shrewd　asked　heavily。
　　　　　　　Verity　opened　his　mouth　to　reply。　But　before　he　could　speak；　the　sitting　room　door　was　flung　open　and　Regal　boiled　into　the　room。　His　face　was　flushed。　〃What　goes　on　here？　Why　was　I　not　informed　of　this　council？〃　He　shot　me　a　venomous　look。　Behind　him；　Wallace　peeked　in　at　the　door。
　　　　　　　Verity　permitted　himself　a　small　smile。　〃If　you　were　not　informed　by　your　spies；　why　are　you　here　now？　Rebuke　them　that　you　did　not　know　sooner；　not　me。〃　Wallace's　head　jerked　back　out　of　sight。
　　　　　　　〃Father；　I　demand　to　know　what　goes　on　here！〃　Regal　very　nearly　stomped　his　foot。　Behind　Shrewd；　the　Fool　mimicked　Regal's　facial　expression。　At　this；　Verity's　page　finally　smiled；　but　then　his　eyes　widened　and　he　straightened　his　face。
　　　　　　　King　Shrewd　addressed　Verity　instead。　〃Is　there　a　reason　that　you　wished　Prince　Regal　excluded　from　this　discussion？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　did　not　see　that　it　concerned　him。〃　He　paused。　〃And　I　wished　to　be　sure　the　decision　reached　was　exclusively　your　own。〃　Verity；　faithful　to　his　name。
　　　　　　　Regal　hackled；　his　nostrils　pinching　white；　but　Shrewd　held　up　a　hand　to　quell　him。　Again　he　spoke　only　to　Verity。　〃Does　not　concern　him？　But　on　whom　would　fall　the　mantle　of　authority　while　you　were　gone？〃
　　　　　　　Verity's　eyes　went　icy。　〃My　queen…in…waiting　would　represent　my　reign；　of　course。　You　wear　the　mantle　of　authority　still；　my　king。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　if　you　did　not　return　。。。　？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　sure　my　brother　could　adapt　to　that　situation　at　a　moment's　notice。〃　Verity　did　not　bother　to　mask　the　dislike　in　his　voice。　I　knew　then　how　deep　the　poison　of　Regal's　treacheries　had　worked　into　him。　Whatever　bond　they　had　ever　shared　as　brothers　was　eaten　away　by　it。　Solely　rivals；　now。　Shrewd　heard　it；　too；　I　did　not　doubt。　I　wondered　if　he　was　surprised　at　all　by　it。　If　he　was；　he　covered　it　well。
　　　　　　　As　for　Regal；　his　ears　had　pricked　up　at　the　mention　of　Verity　leaving。　He　now　stood　as　avariciously　alert　as　a　dog　begging　at　table。　He　spoke　just　a　moment　too　soon　to　have　any　ring　of　sincerity　to　his　voice。　〃If　someone　would　explain　to　me　where　Verity　is　going；　perhaps　I　could　speak　for　myself　as　to　what　I　might　be　ready　to　assume。〃
　　　　　　　Verity　kept　his　tongue。　Clear…browed　and　silent；　he　looked　at　his　father。
　　　　　　　〃Your　brother〃　…　the　phrase　sounded　a　bit　heavy　to　my　ears　…　　〃wishes　me　to　grant　him　leave　for　a　quest。　He　wishes　to　go；　and　soon；　to　the　Rain　Wilds　beyond　the　Mountain　Kingdom。　To　seek　out　the　Elderlings　and　obtain　from　them　the　help　once　promised　us。〃
　　　　　　　Regal's　eyes　went　owly。　I　don't　know　if　he　could　not　believe　in　the　notion　of　Elderlings；　or　if　he　could　not　believe　the　quantity　of　good　fortune　he　had　suddenly　been　dealt。　He　licked　his　lips。
　　　　　　　〃I；　of　course；　have　forbidden　it。〃　Shrewd　watched　Regal　as　he　said　it。
　　　　　　　〃But　why？〃　Regal　demanded。　〃Surely　all　courses　must　be　considered　。。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　expense　is　prohibitive。　Did　not　you　report　to　me；　just　a　short　time　ago；　that　the　building　of　the　warships　and　the　manning　and　provisioning　of　them　have　all　but　drained　our　reserves？〃
　　　　　　　Regal's　eyes　flickered　as　swiftly　as　a　snake's　tongue。　〃But　I　have　had　the　rest　of　the　harvest　reports　since　then；　Father。　I　had　not　known　they　would　be　so　good。　Funds　could　be　found。　Provided　he　was　willing　to　travel　simply。〃
　　　　　　　Verity　breathed　out　through　his　nose。　〃I　thank　you　for　your　consideration；　Regal。　I　had　not　realized　such　decisions　were　your　province。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　but　advise　the　King；　just　as　you　do；〃　Regal　pointed　out　hastily。
　　　　　　　〃You　do　not　think　sending　an　emissary　would　be　the　more　sensible　thing　to　do？〃　Shrewd　probed。　〃What　would　the　people　think　of　their　king…in…waiting　leaving　Buckkeep　at　such　a　time；　and　on　such　an　errand？〃
　　　　　　　〃An　emissary？〃　Regal　appeared　to　consider　it。　〃I　think　not。　Not　for　all　we　must　ask。　Do　not　the　legends　say　that　King　Wisdom　went　himself？　What　do　we　know　of　these　Elderlings？　Do　we　dare　take　a　chance　of　sending　an　underling　to　offend　them？　In　this；　no；　I　believe　the　son　of　the　King　at　least　is　called　for。　As　for　his　leaving　Buckkeep　。。。　well；　you　are　the　King；　and　you　are　still　here。　As　would　his　wife　be。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　queen；〃　Verity　growled；　but　Regal　continued　speaking。
　　　　　　　〃And　I。　Buckkeep　would　hardly　be　abandoned。　And　the　errand　itself？　It　might　capture　the　people's　imagination。　Or；　if　you　choose；　the　reason　for　his　going　might　be　kept　quiet。　It　could　be　seen　as　a　simple　visit　to　our　allies　the　Mountain　folk。　Especially　if　his　wife　went　along。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　queen　remains　here。〃　Verity　used　her　title　pointedly。　〃To　represent　my　reign。　And　to　protect　my　interests。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　not　you　trust　our　father　to　do　that？〃　Regal　asked　blandly。
　　　　　　　Verity　held　his　tongue；　and　looked　at　the　old　man　in　his　chair　by　the　fire。　The　question　in　his　look　was　plain　to　anyone　with　eyes。　Can　I　trust　you？　it　asked　him。　But　Shrewd；　true　to　his　name；　replied　only　with　a　question　of　his　own。
　　　　　　　〃You　have　heard　Prince　Regal's　thoughts　on　this　undertaking。　And　mine。　You　know　your　own。　Given　these　counsels；　what　do　you　now　wish　to　do？〃
　　　　　　　I　blessed　Verity　then；　for　he　now　turned　and　looked　only　at　Kettricken。　No　nod；　no　whisper　passed　between　them。　But　he　turned　back　to　his　father　with　their　accord。　〃I　wish　to　go　to　the　Rain　Wilds　beyond　the　Mountain　Kingdom。　And　I　wish　to　leave　as　soon　as　possible。〃
　　　　　　　As　King　Shrewd　slowly　nodded；　my　heart　fell　into　the　pit　of　my　belly。　But　behind　his　chair；　the　Fool　turned　back　flips　across　the　room；　and　then　cartwheeled　back；　to　stand　as　attentively　behind　him　as　if　he　had　never　moved。　Regal　was　unsettled　by　this。　But　as　Verity　knelt　to　kiss　King　Shrewd's　hand　and　thank　him　for　his　permission；　the　smile　that　spread　across　Regal's　face　was　wide　enough　to　engulf　a　shark。
　　　　　　　There　was　little　more　to　the　council。　Verity　wished　to　leave　in　seven　days。　Shrewd　accepted　it。　He　wished　to　choose　his　own　entourage。　Shrewd　accepted　that；　though　Regal　looked　thoughtful。　I　was　not　pleased；　when　the　King　finally　dismissed　all　of　us；　to　note　how　Regal　dawdled　behind；　to　converse　with　Wallace　in　the　sitting　room　as　we　filed　out。　I　found　myself　wondering　if　Chade　would　allow　me　to　kill　Wallace。　He　had　already　forbidden　my　solving　Regal　that　way；　and　I　had　since　promised　to　my　king　I　would　not。　But　Wallace　had　no　such　immunity。
　　　　　　　In　the　hallway；　Verity　briefly　thanked　me。　I　dared　to　ask　him　why　he　had　wanted　me　present。
　　　　　　　〃To　witness；〃　he　said　heavily。　〃Witnessing　something　is　much　more　than　hearing　about　it　afterward。　To　keep　in　your　memory　all　the　words　that　were　said　。。。　so　they　may　not　be　forgotten。〃
　　　　　　　I　knew　then　to　expect　a　summons　from　Chade　that　night。
　　　　　　　But　I　could　not　resist　going　to　Molly。　Seeing　the　King　as　a　King　again　had　fanned　my　failing　hope。　I　promised　myself　my　visit　would　be　brief；　just　to　talk　to　her；　to　let　her　know　I　appreciated　all　she　did。　I　would　be　in　my　chambers　before　the　small　hours　Chade　favored　for　our　conversations。
　　　　　　　I　knocked　on　her　door　furtively；　she　let　me　in　quickly。　She　must　have　seen　how　driven　I　was；　for　she　came　immediately　into　my　arms；　without　questions　or　qualms。　I　stroked　her　shining　hair；　I　looked　down　into　her　eyes。　The　passion　that　came　over　me　suddenly　was　like　a　spring　flood　that　bursts　suddenly　down　a　creek；　flinging　all　winter's　debris　out　of　its　way。　My　intentions　of　quietly　talking　were　swept　away。　Molly　gasped　as　I　held　her　to　me　fiercely；　then　surrendered　herself　to　me。
　　　　　　　It　seeme