rh.royalassassin-第12节

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！


　fickle　yellow　light。　I　took　clothing　from　the　chest　at　the　foot　of　my　bed；　only　to　find　the　garments　oddly　ill…fitting。　My　long　illness　had　wasted　the　muscle　from　my　frame；　but　I　had　still　somehow　managed　to　grow　longer　in　the　legs　and　arms。　Nothing　fit。　I　picked　up　my　shirt　from　yesterday；　but　a　night　in　clean　bedding　had　refreshed　my　nose。　I　could　no　longer　abide　the　smell　of　the　travel…stained　garment。　I　dug　in　my　clothes　chest　again。　I　found　one　soft　brown　shirt　that　had　once　been　too　long　in　the　sleeve　for　me；　and　now　just　fit。　I　put　it　on　with　my　green　quilted　mountain　trousers　and　buskins。　I　had　no　doubt　that　as　soon　as　I　encountered　the　Lady　Patience　or　Mistress　Hasty；　I　would　be　attacked　and　the　situation　remedied。　But　not；　I　hoped；　before　breakfast　and　a　trip　into　Buckkeep　Town。　There　were　several　places　there　where　I　might　get　word　of　Molly。
　　　　　　　I　found　the　castle　stirring　but　not　yet　fully　awake。　I　ate　in　the　kitchen　as　I　had　when　a　child；　finding　that　there；　as　always；　the　bread　was　freshest　and　the　porridge　sweetest。　Cook　exclaimed　to　see　me；　one　minute　menting　on　how　much　I　had　grown；　and　the　next　lamenting　how　thin　and　worn　I　looked。　I　surmised　that　before　the　day　was　out；　I　would　be　heartily　sick　of　these　observations。　As　traffic　in　the　kitchen　increased　I　fled；　carrying　off　a　thick　slice　of　bread　well　buttered　and　laden　with　rosehip　preserves。　I　headed　back　toward　my　room　to　get　a　winter　cloak。
　　　　　　　In　every　chamber　I　passed　through；　I　found　more　and　more　evidence　of　Kettricken's　presence。　A　sort　of　tapestry；　woven　of　different…colored　grasses　and　representing　a　mountain　scene；　now　graced　the　wall　of　the　Lesser　Hall。　There　were　no　flowers　to　be　had　this　time　of　year；　but　in　odd　places　I　encountered　fat　pottery　bowls　full　of　pebbles；　and　these　held　bare　but　graceful　branches；　or　dried　thistles　and　cattails。　The　changes　were　small　but　unmistakable。
　　　　　　　I　found　myself　in　one　of　the　older　sections　of　Buckkeep；　and　then　climbing　the　dusty　steps　to　Verity's　watchtower。　It　manded　a　wide　view　of　our　seacoast；　and　from　its　tall　windows　Verity　kept　his　summer　vigil　for　raiding　ships。　From　here　he　worked　the　Skill　magic　that　kept　the　Raiders　at　bay；　or　at　least　gave　us　some　warning　of　their　ing。　It　was　a　thin　defense　at　times。　He　should　have　had　a　coterie　of　underlings　trained　in　the　Skill　to　assist　him。　But　I　myself；　despite　my　bastard　blood；　had　never　been　able　to　control　my　random　Skill　abilities。　Galen；　our　Skill　master；　had　died　before　he　had　trained　more　than　a　handful　in　the　Skill。　There　was　no　one　to　replace　him；　and　those　he　had　trained　lacked　a　true　munion　with　Verity。　So　Verity　Skilled　alone　against　our　enemies。　It　had　aged　him　before　his　time。　I　worried　that　he　would　overspend　himself　upon　it；　and　succumb　to　the　addicting　weakness　of　those　who　Skilled　too　much。
　　　　　　　By　the　time　I　reached　the　top　of　the　spiraling　tower　steps；　I　was　winded　and　my　legs　ached。　I　pushed　at　the　door　and　it　gave　easily　on　oiled　hinges。　From　long　habit；　I　stepped　quietly　as　I　entered　the　room。　I　had　not　really　expected　to　find　Verity　or　anyone　else　there。　The　sea　storms　were　our　watchmen　in　winter；　guarding　our　coasts　from　Raiders。　I　blinked　in　the　sudden　gray　light　of　morning　that　was　flooding　in　from　the　unshuttered　tower　windows。　Verity　was　a　dark　silhouette　against　a　gray　storm　sky。　He　did　not　turn。　〃Shut　the　door；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃The　draft　up　the　stairs　makes　this　room　as　windy　as　a　chimney。〃
　　　　　　　I　did　so；　and　then　stood　shivering　in　the　chill。　The　wind　brought　the　scent　of　the　sea　with　it；　and　I　breathed　it　in　as　if　it　were　life　itself。　〃I　had　not　expected　to　find　you　here；〃　I　said。
　　　　　　　He　kept　his　eyes　on　the　water。　〃Didn't　you？　Then　why　did　you　e？〃　There　was　amusement　in　his　voice。
　　　　　　　It　jolted　me。　〃I　don't　really　know。　I　headed　back　to　my　room　。。。。〃　My　voice　dwindled　away　as　I　tried　to　recall　why　I　had　e　here。
　　　　　　　〃I　Skilled　you；〃　he　said　simply。
　　　　　　　I　stood　silent　and　thought。　〃I　felt　nothing。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　intend　that　you　should。　It　is　as　I　told　you　a　long　time　ago。　The　Skill　can　be　a　soft　whisper　in　a　man's　ear。　It　doesn't　have　to　be　a　shout　of　mand。〃
　　　　　　　He　slowly　turned　to　face　me；　and　as　my　eyes　adjusted　to　the　light　my　heart　leaped　with　joy　at　the　change　I　saw　in　the　man。　When　I　had　left　Buckkeep　at　harvest　time；　he　had　been　a　withered　shadow；　worn　thin　by　the　weight　of　his　duties　and　his　constant　watchfulness。　His　dark　hair　was　still　salted　with　gray；　but　there　was　muscle　once　more　on　his　stocky　frame；　and　vitality　snapped　in　his　dark　eyes。　He　looked　every　bit　a　King。
　　　　　　　〃Marriage　seems　to　agree　with　you；　my　prince；〃　I　said　inanely。
　　　　　　　That　flustered　him。　〃In　some　ways；〃　he　conceded　as　a　boyish　flush　rose　on　his　cheeks。　He　turned　back　quickly　to　his　window。　〃e　and　see　my　ships；〃　he　manded。
　　　　　　　It　was　my　turn　to　be　baffled。　I　stepped　to　the　window　beside　him　and　looked　out　over　the　harbor；　and　then　over　the　sea　itself。　〃Where？〃　I　asked　in　bewilderment。　He　took　me　by　the　shoulders　and　turned　me　toward　the　shipyard。　A　long　barn　of　a　building　of　new　yellow　pine　had　been　erected　there。　Men　were　ing　and　going　from　it　as　smoke　rose　from　chimneys　and　forges　there。　Dark　against　the　snow　were　several　of　the　immense　timbers　that　had　been　Kettricken's　bride　offering　to　him。
　　　　　　　〃Sometimes；　when　I　stand　up　here　on　a　winter　morning；　I　look　out　to　sea　and　I　can　almost　see　the　Red…Ships。　I　know　they　must　e。　But　sometimes；　too；　I　can　see　the　ships　we　shall　have　to　meet　them。　They　will　not　find　their　prey　so　helpless　this　spring；　my　boy。　And　by　next　winter　I　intend　to　teach　them　what　it　is　to　be　raided。〃　He　spoke　with　a　savage　satisfaction　that　would　have　been　frightening；　had　I　not　shared　it。　I　felt　my　grin　mirror　his　as　our　eyes　met。
　　　　　　　And　then　his　look　changed。　〃You　look　terrible；〃　he　offered。　〃As　bad　as　your　clothes。　Let's　go　somewhere　warmer　and　find　you　some　mulled　wine　and　something　to　eat。〃
　　　　　　　〃I've　eaten；〃　I　told　him。　〃And　I'm　much　better　than　I　was　a　few　months　ago；　thank　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Don't　be　prickly；〃　he　admonished　me。　〃And　don't　tell　me　what　I　already　know。　Nor　lie　to　me。　The　climb　up　the　stairs　has　exhausted　you；　and　you're　shivering　as　you　stand　there。〃
　　　　　　　〃You're　using　the　Skill　on　me；〃　I　accused　him；　and　he　nodded。
　　　　　　　〃I've　been　aware　of　your　approach　for　some　days　now。　I　tried　several　times　to　Skill　to　you；　but　could　not　make　you　aware　of　me。　I　was　concerned　when　you　left　the　road；　but　I　understand　Burrich's　concern。　I　am　pleased　that　he　has　looked　after　you　so　well；　not　just　in　bringing　you　home　safe；　but　in　all　that　went　on　at　Jhaampe。　I　am　at　a　loss　as　to　how　to　reward　him。　It　would　have　to　be　subtle。　Given　who　was　involved；　a　public　recognition　would　not　do。　Have　you　any　suggestions？〃
　　　　　　　〃Your　word　of　thanks　would　be　all　he　would　accept。　He　would　bridle　that　you　thought　he　needed　more。　My　own　feelings　are　that　no　object　you　gave　him　would　be　a　match　for　what　he　did　for　me。　The　way　to　handle　him　is　to　tell　him　to　take　his　pick　of　the　likely　two…year…olds；　for　his　horse　is　growing　old。　He'd　understand　that。〃　I　considered　it　carefully。　〃Yes。　You　might　do　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃Might　I？〃　Verity　asked　me　dryly。　There　was　an　acid　edge　to　the　amusement　in　his　voice。
　　　　　　　I　was　suddenly　amazed　at　my　own　boldness。　〃I　forgot　myself；　my　prince；〃　I　said　humbly。
　　　　　　　A　smile　curved　his　lips　and　his　hand　fell　on　my　shoulder　in　a　heavy　pat。　〃Well；　l　asked　you；　did　I　not？　For　a　moment　I　would　have　sworn　it　was　old　Chivalry　instructing　me　in　handling　my　men；　rather　than　my　young　nephew。　Your　trip　to　Jhaampe　has　quite　changed　you；　boy。　e。　I　meant　what　I　said　about　a　warmer　spot　and　a　glass　of　something。　Kettricken　will　be　wanting　to　see　you　later　in　the　day。　And　Patience；　too；　I　imagine。〃
　　　　　　　My　heart　sank　as　he　heaped　the　tasks　before　me。　Buckkeep　Town　pulled　at　me　like　a　lodestone。　But　this　was　my　king…in…waiting。　I　bowed　my　head　to　his　will。
　　　　　　　We　left　the　tower　and　I　followed　him　down　the　stairs；　speaking　of　inconsequential　things。　He　told　me　to　tell　Mistress　Hasty　I　needed　new　clothes；　I　asked　after　Leon；　his　wolfhound。　He　stopped　a　lad　in　the　corridor　and　asked　him　to　bring　wine　and　meat　pies　to　his　study。　I　followed　him；　not　up　to　his　chambers；　but　to　a　lower　room　at　once　familiar　and　strange。　The　last　time　I　had　been　in　it；　Fedwren　the　scribe　had　been　using　it　to　sort　and　dry　herbs　and　shells　and　roots　for　the　making　of　his　inks。　All　signs　of　that　had　been　cleared　from　it。　A　fire　burned　low　in　the　small　hearth。　Verity　poked　this　up　and　added　wood　as　I　looked　around。　There　was　a　large　carved　oak　table　and　two　smaller　ones；　a　variety　of　chairs；　a　scroll　rack；　and　a　battered　shelf　littered　with　miscellaneous　objects。　Spread　out　on　the　table　was　the　beginnings　of　a　map　of　the　Chalced　States。　The　corners　of　it　were　weighted　with　a　dagger　and　three　stones。　Various　scraps　of　parchment　that　littered　the　tabletop　were　covered　with　Verity's　hand　and　preliminary　sketches　with　notes　scratched　across　them。　The　friendly　litter　that　covered　the　two　smaller　tables　and　several　of　the　chairs　seemed　familiar。　After　a　moment　I　recognized　it　as　the　layer　of　Verity's　possessions　that　had　previously　been　scattered　about　his　bedchamber。　Verity　rose　from　awa