rh.royalassassin-第104节

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so　tightly。　To　spy　on　his　own　coterie；　he　would　have　had　to　give　off　watching　the　coast　waters　for　Red…Ships。〃
　　　　　　　〃Does　he　。。。　is　Verity　aware　of　this　discussion　right　now？〃
　　　　　　　I　shrugged　ashamedly。　〃I　don't　know。　That　is　the　curse　of　my　flaws。　My　link　with　him　is　erratic。　Sometimes　I　know　his　mind　as　clearly　as　if　he　stood　beside　me　and　spoke　it　aloud。　At　other　times　I　am　scarcely　aware　of　him　at　all。　Last　night；　when　they　spoke　through　me；　I　heard　every　word。　Right　now　。。。〃　I　felt　about　inside　myself；　a　pocket…patting　sort　of　thinking。　〃I　feel　nothing　more　than　that　we　are　still　linked。〃　I　leaned　forward　and　put　my　head　in　my　hands。　I　felt　drained。
　　　　　　　〃Tea？〃　Chade　asked　me　gently。
　　　　　　　〃Please。　And　if　I　could　just　sit　for　a　bit　longer；　quietly。　I　don't　know　when　my　head　has　throbbed　this　badly。〃
　　　　　　　Chade　set　the　kettle　over　the　fire。　I　watched　with　distaste　as　he　mixed　brewing　herbs　for　it。　Some　elfbark；　but　not　near　as　much　as　I　would　have　required　earlier。　Peppermint　and　catmint　leaves。　A　bit　of　precious　ginger　root。　I　recognized　much　of　what　he　used　to　give　Verity　for　his　Skill　exhaustion。　Then　he　came　back　to　sit　close　beside　me　again。　〃It　could　not　be。　What　you　suggest　would　require　blind　loyalty　from　the　coterie　to　Regal。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　can　be　created　by　one　strongly　Skilled。　My　flaw　is　a　result　of　what　Galen　did　to　me。　Do　you　remember　Galen's　fanatical　admiration　of　Chivalry？　That　was　a　created　loyalty。　Galen　could　have　done　it　to　them；　before　he　died；　when　he　was　finishing　their　training。〃
　　　　　　　Chade　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃Do　you　think　Regal　could　be　so　stupid　as　to　think　the　Red…Ships　would　stop　at　Bearns？　Eventually　they　will　want　Buck；　they　will　want　Rippon　and　Shoaks。　Where　does　that　leave　him？〃
　　　　　　　〃With　the　Inland　Duchies。　The　only　ones　he　cares　about；　the　only　ones　with　which　he　has　a　mutual　loyalty。　It　would　give　him　a　vast　perimeter　of　land　as　an　insulation　against　anything　the　Red…Ships　might　do。　And　like　you；　perhaps；　he　may　believe　they　are　not　after　territory；　but　only　a　raiding　grounds。　They　are　sea　folk。　They　will　not　e　that　far　inland　to　trouble　him。　And　the　Coastal　Duchies　will　be　too　busy　fighting　the　Red…Ships　to　turn　on　Regal。〃
　　　　　　　〃If　the　Six　Duchies　loses　her　seacoast；　she　loses　her　trade；　her　shipping。　How　pleased　will　his　Inland　Dukes　be　with　that？〃
　　　　　　　I　shrugged。　〃I　do　not　know。　I　have　not　all　the　answers；　Chade。　But　this　is　the　only　theory　I've　been　able　to　put　together　in　which　almost　all　the　pieces　fit。〃
　　　　　　　He　rose；　to　pour　steaming　water　from　the　kettle　into　a　fat　brown　pot。　He　rinsed　it　well　with　the　boiling　water；　then　dumped　in　the　paper　of　herbs　he　had　pounded。　I　watched　him　pour　the　boiling　water　over　the　herbs。　The　scent　of　a　garden　filled　his　chambers。　I　took　the　image　of　the　old　man　putting　the　lid　on　the　pot；　wrapped　up　the　homey　simple　moment　of　him　setting　the　pot　on　the　tray　with　some　cups；　and　stowed　it　carefully　somewhere　in　my　heart。　Age　was　creeping　up　on　Chade；　just　as　surely　as　disease　devoured　Shrewd。　His　deft　movements　were　no　longer　quite　so　sure；　his　bird　alertness　not　as　quick　as　it　once　had　been。　My　heart　ached　suddenly　with　my　glimpse　of　the　inevitable。　As　he　set　a　warm　cup　of　steaming　tea　in　my　hand；　he　frowned　at　my　expression。
　　　　　　　〃What's　wrong？〃　he　whispered。　〃Do　you　want　some　honey　in　that？〃
　　　　　　　I　shook　my　head　to　his　questions；　took　a　sip　of　tea；　and　near　scalded　my　tongue。　A　pleasant　taste　overlay　the　bite　of　the　elfbark。　After　a　few　moments　I　felt　my　mind　clear　and　a　pain　I　had　scarcely　been　aware　of　went　back　to　sleep。　〃That's　much　better。〃　I　sighed；　and　Chade　sketched　a　bow　at　me；　pleased　with　himself。
　　　　　　　He　leaned　close　again。　〃It　is　still　a　weak　theory。　Perhaps　we　simply　have　a　self…indulgent　Prince；　who　pleases　himself　with　entertainments　for　his　flatterers　while　the　heir　is　away。　He　neglects　protecting　his　coastline　because　he　is　shortsighted；　and　because　he　expects　his　brother　will　e　home　and　tidy　up　his　mess。　He　raids　the　treasury　and　sells　off　horses　and　cattle　to　amass　wealth　to　himself　while　there　is　no　one　to　stop　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　why　paint　Bearns　as　a　traitor？　And　set　up　Kettricken　as　an　outsider？　Why　spread　rumors　of　ridicule　about　Verity　and　his　quest？〃
　　　　　　　〃Jealousy。　Regal　has　always　been　his　father's　spoiled　pet。　I　do　not　think　he　would　turn　on　Shrewd。〃　Something　in　Chade's　voice　made　me　realize　this　was　what　he　desperately　wished　to　believe。　〃I　supply　the　herbs　that　Wallace　administers　to　Shrewd　for　his　pain。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　doubt　your　herbs。　But　I　think　others　are　added　to　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　would　be　the　point？　Even　if　Shrewd　dies；　Verity　is　still　the　heir。〃
　　　　　　　〃Unless　Verity　dies　first。〃　I　held　up　my　hand　as　Chade　opened　his　mouth　to　protest。　〃It　need　not　really　happen。　If　Regal　controls　the　coterie；　he　can　supply　word　of　Verity's　death　at　any　time。　Regal　bees　king…in…waiting。　Then　。。。〃　I　let　my　words　trail　off。
　　　　　　　Chade　let　out　a　long　sigh。　〃Enough。　You　have　given　me　enough　to　ponder。　I　will　look　into　these　ideas；　with　my　own　resources。　For　now；　you　must　watch　over　yourself。　And　Kettericken。　And　the　Fool。　If　there　is　even　a　drop　of　truth　in　your　theories；　you　all　bee　obstacles　to　Regal's　goal。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　what　of　you？〃　I　asked　quietly。　〃What　is　this　caution　we　now　must　suffer？〃
　　　　　　　〃There　is　a　chamber；　whose　wall　adjoins　this　one。　Always　before；　it　was　left　empty。　But　one　of　Regal's　guests　is　now　ensconced　in　it。　Bright；　Regal's　cousin；　and　heir　to　Farrow　Duchy。　The　man　is　a　very　light　sleeper。　He　has　plained　to　the　servants　of　rats　squeaking　in　the　walls。　Then；　last　night；　Slink　overset　a　kettle；　with　quite　a　clatter。　It　awoke　him。　The　man　is　overly　curious　as　well。　He　asks　servants　now　if　spirits　have　ever　been　known　to　walk　in　Buckkeep。　And　I　have　heard　him　tapping　at　the　walls。　I　think　he　suspects　this　chamber。　It　need　not　concern　us　all　that　much；　soon　he　will　be　leaving；　I'm　sure。　But　a　bit　more　caution　is　called　for。〃
　　　　　　　I　felt　there　was　more；　but　whatever　he　did　not　wish　to　say　would　not　be　gained　by　questions。　I　asked　one　more；　however。　〃Chade。　Are　you　still　able　to　see　the　King　once　a　day？〃
　　　　　　　He　glanced　down　at　his　hands　and　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃Regal　seems　to　suspect　my　existence。　I　will　admit　that　to　you。　At　least；　he　suspects　something；　and　seems　always　to　have　some　of　his　folk　lurking　about。　It　makes　life　difficult。　But　enough　of　our　worries。　Let　us　try　to　think　of　how　things　may　go　right。〃
　　　　　　　And　then　Chade　began　a　long　discussion　of　Elderlings；　based　on　what　little　we　knew　of　them。　We　chatted　of　how　it　would　be　if　Verity　succeeded；　and　speculated　what　form　the　Elderlings'　aid　would　take。　Chade　seemed　to　speak　with　great　hope　and　sincerity；　even　enthusiasm。　I　tried　to　share　it；　but　my　belief　was　that　the　salvation　of　the　Six　Duchies　depended　on　eliminating　the　viper　in　our　midst。　It　was　not　long　before　he　sent　me　back　to　my　own　room。　I　lay　down　on　the　bed；　intending　to　rest　for　just　a　few　minutes　before　facing　the　day；　but　instead　fell　into　a　deep　sleep。
　　　　　　　We　were　blessed　with　storms　for　a　time。　Each　day　that　I　woke　to　driving　wind　and　rain　against　my　shutters　was　a　day　to　be　treasured。　I　tried　to　be　unobtrusive　about　the　Keep；　avoiding　Regal　even　if　it　meant　taking　all　my　meals　in　the　watch　room；　drifting　out　of　any　room　that　Justin　and　Serene　might　enter。　Will；　too；　had　returned　from　his　Skill　post　at　the　Red　Tower　in　Bearns。　On　rare　occasions　I　saw　him　in　pany　with　Serene　and　Justin。　More　often　he　dawdled　in　the　hall　at　table；　his　half…lidded　eyes　always　seeming　on　the　verge　of　closing。　His　dislike　of　me　was　not　the　focused　hatred　that　Serene　and　Justin　shared　for　me；　but　all　the　same　I　avoided　him　as　well。　I　told　myself　I　was　wise；　but　feared　myself　a　coward。　I　attended　my　king　as　often　as　I　was　allowed　to。　It　was　not　often　enough。
　　　　　　　Came　a　morning　when　I　was　jolted　awake　to　someone　pounding　on　my　door　and　yelling　my　name。　I　stumbled　from　my　bed　and　jerked　the　door　open。　A　white…faced　stable　boy　stood　shaking　on　my　doorstep。　〃Hands　says　e　to　the　stables。　Right　now！〃
　　　　　　　He　gave　me　no　time　to　reply　to　his　urgent　message；　but　raced　off　as　if　seven　kinds　of　demons　were　after　him。
　　　　　　　I　pulled　on　yesterday's　clothes。　I　thought　of　splashing　my　face　with　water；　or　smoothing　my　hair　back　into　its　tail　afresh；　but　those　thoughts　occurred　to　me　halfway　down　the　stairs。　As　I　raced　across　the　courtyard　I　could　already　hear　the　raised　voices　of　a　quarrel　in　the　stable。　I　knew　Hands　would　not　have　called　me　for　a　simple　squabble　among　stable　hands。　I　could　not　imagine　what　he　would　call　me　for。　I　pushed　open　the　stable　doors；　then　shoved　my　way　past　a　gaggle　of　stable　boys　and　grooms　to　get　to　the　center　of　the　motion。
　　　　　　　It　was　Burrich。　He　was　no　longer　shouting。　Travel　worn　and　weary；　he　now　stood　silent。　Hands　was　beside　him；　white…faced　but　standing　firm。　〃I　had　no　choice；〃　he　said　quietly　in　answer　to　something　Burrich　had　said。　〃You　would　have　had　to　do　the　same。〃
　　　　　　　Burrich's　face　looked　ravaged。　His　eyes　were　unbelieving；　empty　with　shock。　〃I　know；〃　he　said　after　a　moment。　〃I　know。〃　He　turned　to　look　at　me。　〃Fitz。　My　horses　are　gone。〃　He　swayed　slightly　on　his　feet。
　　　　　　　〃It　wasn't　Hands's　doing；〃　I