rh.royalassassin-第121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！


　the　memory　of　King…in…Waiting　Verity。　This　was　a　eulogy；　but　a　condescending　one；　speaking　of　all　that　Verity　had　attempted　and　intended　and　dreamed　of　and　wished　for。　His　achievements　already　having　been　heaped　on　Regal's　plate；　there　was　little　left　to　add。　Kettricken　grew；　if　anything；　whiter　and　more　pinched　about　the　mouth。
　　　　　　　I　believe　that　when　Duke　Ram　finished；　she　was　on　the　verge　of　rising　to　speak　herself。　But　Regal　arose；　almost　hastily；　holding　up　his　newly　filled　glass。　He　motioned　all　to　silence；　then　extended　that　glass　toward　the　Queen。
　　　　　　　〃Too　much　has　been　said　of　me　this　night；　and　too　little　of　our　most　fair　Queen…in…Waiting；　Kettricken。　She　has　returned　home　to　find　herself　most　sadly　bereaved。　Yet　I　do　not　think　my　late　brother　Verity　would　wish　sorrow　for　his　death　to　overshadow　all　that　is　due　his　lady　by　her　own　effort。　Despite　her　condition〃　…　and　the　knowing　smile　of　Regal's　face　was　perilously　close　to　a　sneer　…　〃she　deemed　it　in　the　best　interests　of　her　adopted　kingdom　to　venture　forth　to　confront　the　Red…Ships　herself：　Doubtless　many　Raiders　fell　to　her　valiant　sword。　No　one　can　doubt　that　our　soldiers　were　inspired　by　the　sight　of　their　queen；　determined　to　do　battle　on　their　behalf；　regardless　of　what　she　risked。〃
　　　　　　　Two　spots　of　high　color　began　to　glow　on　Kettricken's　cheeks。　Regal　continued；　shading　his　account　of　Kettricken's　deeds　with　condescension　and　flattery。　The　insincerity　of　his　courtier's　phrases　somehow　diminished　her　deed　to　something　done　for　show。
　　　　　　　I　looked　in　vain　for　someone　at　the　High　Table　to　champion　her。　For　me　to　rise　from　my　mon　place　and　pit　my　voice　against　Regal's　would　have　seemed　almost　more　mocking。　Kettricken；　never　sure　of　her　place　in　her　husband's　court；　and　now　without　him　to　sustain　her；　seemed　to　shrink　in　on　herself。　Regal's　retelling　of　her　exploits　made　them　seem　questionable　and　reckless　rather　than　daring　and　decisive。　I　saw　her　dwindle　before　herself；　and　knew　she　would　not　speak　up　for　herself　now。　The　meal　resumed　with　a　very　subdued　Queen　attending　to　the　addled　King　Shrewd　beside　her；　grave　and　silent　to　the　King's　vague　efforts　at　conversation。
　　　　　　　But　worse　was　to　e。　At　the　end　of　the　meal；　Regal　once　more　called　for　silence。　He　promised　the　assembled　folk　that　there　would　be　minstrels　and　puppeteers　to　follow　the　meal；　but　asked　them　to　endure　while　he　announced　but　one　more　thing。　After　much　grave　consideration　and　great　consultation；　and　with　great　reluctance；　he　had　realized　what　the　attack　at　Neatbay　had　justly　proven。　Buckkeep　itself　was　no　longer　the　safe　and　secure　place　it　was　once。　It　was　certainly　no　place　for　anyone　of　delicate　health。　And　so；　a　decision　had　been　reached　that　King　Shrewd　（and　the　King　lifted　up　his　head　and　blinked　about　at　the　mention　of　his　name）　would　be　journeying　inland；　to　reside　in　safety　at　Tradeford　on　the　Vin　River　in　Farrow　until　his　health　had　improved。　Here　he　paused　to　lavishly　thank　Duke　Holder　of　Farrow　for　making　the　Tradeford　Castle　available　to　the　royal　family。　He　added；　too；　that　he　was　greatly　pleased　it　was　so　accessible　to　both　the　main　castles　of　Farrow　and　Tilth；　for　he　wished　to　remain　in　good　contact　with　these　most　loyal　Dukes；　who　had　so　often　of　late　journeyed　so　far　to　assist　him　in　these　troubled；　troubled　times。　It　would　please　Regal　to　bring　the　life　of　the　royal　court　to　the　ones　who　had　previously　had　to　travel　far　to　enjoy　it。　Here　he　paused　to　accept　their　nodded　thanks　and　murmurs　of　continued　support。　They　subsided　in　immediate　obedience　when　he　next　raised　his　hand。
　　　　　　　He　invited；　nay；　he　entreated；　he　begged　the　Queen…in…Waiting　to　join　King　Shrewd　there。　She　would　be　more　safe；　she　would　find　it　more　fortable；　for　Tradeford　Castle　had　been　built　as　a　home；　not　a　fortress。　It　would　put　the　minds　of　her　subjects　at　rest　to　know　that　the　ing　heir　and　his　mother　were　well　cared　for　and　well　away　from　the　dangerous　coast。　He　promised　that　every　effort　would　be　made　to　make　her　feel　at　home。　He　promised　her　a　merry　court　would　re…form　there。　Many　many　of　the　furnishings　and　treasures　of　Buckkeep　were　to　be　moved　there　when　the　King　went；　to　make　the　move　less　upsetting　for　him。　Regal　smiled　all　the　while　that　he　relegated　his　father　to　a　position　of　elderly　idiot　and　Kettricken　to　broodmare。　He　dared　to　pause　to　hear　her　acceptance　of　her　fate。
　　　　　　　〃I　cannot；〃　she　said　with　great　dignity。　〃Buckkeep　is　where　my　lord　Verity　left　me；　and　before　he　did　so；　he　mended　it　to　my　care。　Here　I　shall　stay。　This　is　where　my　child　will　be　born。〃
　　　　　　　Regal　turned　his　head；　ostensibly　to　hide　a　smile　from　her；　but　actually　to　display　it　better　to　the　assemblage。　〃Buckkeep　shall　be　well　guarded；　my　lady　queen。　My　own　cousin；　Lord　Bright；　heir　to　Farrow；　has　expressed　an　interest　in　assuming　the　defense　of　it。　The　full　militia　will　be　left　in　place　here；　for　we　have　no　need　of　them　at　Tradeford。　I　doubt　that　they　shall　need　the　assistance　of　one　more　woman　hampered　by　her　skirts　and　a　burgeoning　belly。〃
　　　　　　　The　laughter　that　erupted　shocked　me。　It　was　a　crude　remark；　a　witticism　more　worthy　of　a　tavern　brawny　than　a　Prince　in　his　own　Keep。　It　reminded　me　of　nothing　so　much　as　of　Queen　Desire　when　she　was　at　her　worst；　inflamed　with　wine　and　herbs。　Yet　they　laughed；　at　the　High　Table；　and　not　a　few　at　the　lower　tables　joined　them。　Regal's　charms　and　entertainments　had　served　him　well。　No　matter　what　insult　or　buffoonery　he　served　up　tonight；　these　fawners　would　sit　and　accept　it　with　the　meat　and　wine　they　gobbled　at　his　table。　Kettricken　seemed　incapable　of　speech。　She　actually　rose　and　would　have　left　the　table；　had　not　the　King　reached　out　a　trembling　hand。　〃Please；　my　dear；〃　he　said；　and　his　faltering　voice　carried　all　too　clearly。　〃Do　not　leave　me。　I　wish　you　at　my　side。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　see；　it　is　the　wish　of　your　king；〃　Regal　hastily　admonished　her；　and　I　doubt　that　even　he　could　fully　token　the　good　luck　that　had　led　the　King　to　make　such　a　request　of　her　at　such　a　time。　Kettricken　sank　back　unwillingly　in　her　seat。　Her　lower　lip　trembled　and　her　face　flushed。　For　one　terrifying　instant　I　thought　she　would　burst　into　tears。　It　would　have　been　the　final　triumph　for　Regal；　a　betrayal　of　her　emotional　weakness　as　a　breeding　female。　Instead；　she　took　a　deep　breath。　She　turned　to　the　King　and　spoke　low　but　audibly　as　she　took　his　hand。　〃You　are　my　king；　to　whom　I　am　sworn。　My　liege；　it　shall　be　as　you　wish。　I　shall　not　leave　your　side。〃
　　　　　　　She　bowed　her　head；　and　Regal　nodded　affably；　and　a　general　outbreak　of　conversation　congratulated　itself　on　her　agreement。　Regal　nattered　on　a　bit　longer　when　the　din　died　down；　but　he　had　already　achieved　his　goal。　He　spoke　mostly　of　the　wisdom　of　his　decision；　and　how　Buckkeep　would　be　better　able　to　defend　itself　without　fearing　for　its　monarch。　He　even　had　the　audacity　to　suggest　that　by　removing　himself　and　the　King　and　Queen…in…Waiting；　he　would　be　making　Buckkeep　a　lesser　target　for　the　Raiders；　as　they　would　have　less　to　gain　by　capturing　it。　It　was　all　a　nothing；　a　winding　down　for　show。　Not　long　after；　the　King　was　taken　away；　carted　off　back　to　his　chamber；　his　display　duty　done。　Queen　Kettricken　excused　herself　to　acpany　him。　The　feast　broke　down　into　a　general　cacophony　of　entertainments。　Kegs　of　beer　were　brought　out；　along　with　casks　of　the　lesser　wines。　Various　inland　minstrels　held　forth　at　opposite　corners　of　the　Great　Hall；　while　the　Prince　and　his　cohorts　chose　the　amusement　of　a　puppet　show；　a　bawdy　piece　entitled　The　Seduction　of　the　Innkeeper's　Son。　I　pushed　back　my　plate　and　looked　to　Burrich。　Our　eyes　met；　and　we　rose　as　one。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　TWENTY…SIX
　　　　　　　Skilling
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　THE　FORGED　ONES　appeared　to　be　incapable　of　any　emotion。　They　were　not　evil；　they　did　not　take　joy　in　their　wickedness　or　crimes。　When　they　lost　their　capacity　to　feel　anything　for　fellow　humans；　or　any　other　creatures　of　the　world；　they　lost　their　ability　to　be　part　of　society。　An　unsympathetic　man；　a　harsh　man；　an　insensitive　man　still　retains　enough　sensibilities　to　know　that　he　cannot　always　express　how　little　he　cares　for　others；　and　still　be　accepted　into　the　kinship　of　a　family　or　a　village。　The　Forged　ones　had　lost　even　the　ability　to　dissemble　that　they　felt　for　their　fellows。　Their　emotions　did　not　simply　stop；　they　were　forgotten；　lost　to　them　so　entirely　that　they　could　not　even　predict　the　behavior　of　other　humans　based　on　emotional　reaction。
　　　　　　　A　Skilled　one　might　be　seen　as　the　other　end　of　this　spectrum。　Such　a　man　can　reach　forth　and　tell　from　afar　what　others　are　thinking　and　feeling。　He　can；　if　strongly　Skilled；　impose　his　thoughts　and　feelings　on　others。　In　this　increased　sensitivity　to　the　emotions　and　thoughts　of　others；　he　has　a　surfeit　of　what　Forged　ones　lack　entirely。
　　　　　　　King…in…Waiting　Verity　confided　that　the　Forged　ones　seemed　immune　to　his　Skilling　abilities。　That　is；　he　could　not　feel　what　they　felt；　nor　discover　their　thoughts。　This　does　not；　however；　mean　that　they　were　insensible　to　the　Skill。　Could　Verity's　Skilling　have　been　what　drew　them　to　Buckkeep？　Did　his　reaching　out　awaken　in　them　a　hunger；　a　remembrance　perhaps　of　what　they　had　lost？　Drawn　as　they　were；