rh.royalassassin-第142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！


xhaustion　from　my　Skill　battle　with　Justin　and　Serene。　I　had　taken　some　nasty　sword　cuts　to　my　right　forearm；　and　one　to　my　left　thigh　that　I　recalled　not　at　all。　None　of　them　had　been　dressed；　my　sleeve　and　trousers　were　matted　to　my　skin　with　dried　blood。　Whoever　had　knocked　me　unconscious　had　made　sure　of　his　work　with　several　more　blows。　Other　than　that；　I　was　fine。　I　told　myself　this　a　number　of　times；　ignoring　the　trembling　in　my　left　leg　and　arm。　I　opened　my　eyes。
　　　　　　　The　room　I　was　in　was　small　and　stone。　There　was　a　pot　in　the　corner。　When　I　finally　decided　I　could　move；　I　craned　my　head　enough　to　see　that　there　was　a　door；　with　a　small　barred　window　in　it。　This　was　the　light　source；　fed　by　a　torch　somewhere　down　a　hallway　outside。　Oh。　Yes。　The　dungeons。　My　curiosity　satisfied；　I　closed　my　eyes　again　and　slept。　Nose　to　tail；　I　rested　safe　in　a　deep　den　covered　over　by　the　blowing　snow。　The　illusion　of　safety　was　as　much　as　Nighteyes　could　offer　me。　So　weak　I　was　that　even　his　thoughts　to　me　seemed　misty。　Safe。　That　was　as　much　as　he　could　convey。
　　　　　　　I　awoke　again。　I　could　tell　time　had　passed　by　how　much　thirstier　I　was。　Other　than　that；　everything　was　remarkably　the　same。　This　time　I　determined　that　the　bench　I　was　lying　on　was　also　made　of　stone。　There　was　nothing　between　me　and　the　stone　save　the　clothes　I　wore。　〃Hey！〃　I　called。　〃Guards！〃　There　was　no　answer。　Everything　seemed　a　bit　vague。　After　a　time　I　could　not　recall　if　I　had　already　cried　out；　or　if　I　was　summoning　the　strength　to　do　so。　After　a　bit　more　time　I　decided　I　did　not　have　the　strength。　I　went　back　to　sleep。　I　couldn't　imagine　doing　anything　else。
　　　　　　　I　awoke　to　Patience's　voice　arguing。　Whoever　she　was　arguing　with　wasn't　answering　much；　and　wasn't　giving　in。　〃It's　ridiculous。　What　are　you　afraid　I'll　do？〃　A　silence。　〃I've　known　him　since　he　was　a　child。〃　Another　silence。　〃He's　hurt。　What　possible　damage　can　it　do　for　me　to　at　least　look　at　his　injuries？　You　can　hang　him　whole　as　easily　as　you　can　wounded；　can't　you？〃　Another　silence。
　　　　　　　After　a　time　I　decided　I　might　be　able　to　move。　I　had　a　lot　of　bruises　and　scrapes　I　couldn't　account　for；　probably　gained　on　the　journey　between　the　Great　Hall　and　here。　The　worst　part　of　moving　was　that　it　tugged　my　clothing　against　the　scabbed　over　cuts。　I　decided　I　could　stand　it。　For　such　a　small　room；　it　was　a　very　long　way　from　the　bed　to　the　door。　When　I　got　there；　I　discovered　I　could　just　see　out　the　little　barred　window。　What　I　could　see　was　the　stone　wall　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　narrow　corridor。　I　gripped　the　bars　with　my　good　left　hand。
　　　　　　　〃Patience？〃　I　croaked。
　　　　　　　〃Fitz？　Oh；　Fitz；　are　you　all　right？〃
　　　　　　　Such　a　question。　I　started　to　laugh　and　coughed　instead；　finishing　with　the　taste　of　blood　in　my　mouth。　I　didn't　know　what　to　say。　I　wasn't　fine；　but　it　wasn't　healthy　for　her　to　be　too　interested　in　me。　Even　as　fuddled　as　I　was；　I　knew　that。　〃I'm　all　right；〃　I　croaked　at　last。
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　Fitz；　the　King　is　dead！〃　she　called　to　me　from　down　the　hall。　The　words　tumbled　from　her　in　her　haste　to　tell　me　all。　〃And　Queen　Kettricken　is　missing；　and　King…in…Waiting　Regal　says　you　are　at　the　bottom　of　all　of　it。　They　say…〃
　　　　　　　〃Lady　Patience；　you'll　have　to　leave　now；〃　the　guard　attempted　to　break　in。　She　ignored　him。
　　　　　　　〃…you　went　crazy　in　grief　over　Verity's　death；　and　killed　the　King　and　Serene　and　Justin；　and　they　don't　know　what　you've　done　with　the　Queen；　and　no　one　can…〃
　　　　　　　〃You　cannot　speak　to　the　prisoner；　madam！〃　He　spoke　with　conviction；　but　she　paid　no　mind。
　　　　　　　〃…find　the　Fool。　Wallace；　he's　the　one；　he　said　he　saw　you　and　the　Fool　quarreling　over　the　King's　body；　and　then　he　saw　the　Pocked　Man；　e　to　carry　his　spirit　away。　The　man　is　crazy！　And　Regal　accuses　you；　too；　of　the　low　magic；　of　having　the　soul　of　a　beast！　That's　how　he　said　you　killed　the　King。　And…〃
　　　　　　　〃Madam！　You　have　to　leave　now；　or　I　will　have　to　have　you　taken　away。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　do　that；〃　Patience　spat　at　him。　〃I　just　dare　you　to　try。　Lacey；　this　man　is　bothering　me。　Ah！　You　dare　to　think　of　touching　me！　I；　who　was　Chivalry's　queen…in…waiting！　Now；　Lacey；　do　not　hurt　him；　he's　only　a　boy。　A　mannerless　boy；　but　a　boy　nonetheless。〃
　　　　　　　〃Lady　Patience；　I　beg　you　。。。。〃　A　change　in　tone　from　the　guard。
　　　　　　　〃You　can't　very　well　drag　me　away　from　here　without　leaving　your　post。　Do　you　think　I'm　so　stupid　I　can't　see　that？　What　will　you　do？　Attack　two　old　women　with　your　sword？〃
　　　　　　　〃Chester！　Chester；　where　are　you？〃　the　guard　on　duty　bellowed。　〃Damn　you；　Chester！〃　I　could　hear　the　frustration　in　his　voice　as　he　yelled　for　his　partner；　who　had　taken　a　break。　He　was　probably　up　in　the　watch　room　off　the　kitchen。　Drinking　cold　beer。　Eating　hot　stew。　A　wave　of　dizziness　passed　over　me。
　　　　　　　〃Chester？〃　The　guard's　voice　was　fading。　He　had　actually　been　fool　enough　to　leave　Lady　Patience　by　his　post　and　go　looking　for　his　rade。　In　a　moment　I　heard　the　light　patter　of　her　slippers　outside　my　door。　I　felt　the　touch　of　her　fingers　on　my　hand　that　gripped　the　bar。　She　was　not　tall　enough　to　look　in；　and　the　corridor　was　so　narrow　she　could　not　step　back　where　I　could　see　her。　But　the　touch　of　her　hand　was　as　wele　as　sunlight。
　　　　　　　〃Keep　watch　for　him　ing　back；　Lacey；〃　she　directed；　then　spoke　to　me。　〃How　are　you；　really？〃　She　spoke　low；　pitching　her　voice　for　my　ears　alone。
　　　　　　　〃Thirsty。　Hungry。　Cold。　In　pain。〃　I　saw　no　point　in　lying　to　her。　〃What　is　happening　in　the　Keep？〃
　　　　　　　〃plete　disorder。　The　Buckkeep　guards　broke　up　the　riot　in　the　Great　Hall；　but　then；　outside；　there　was　a　brawl　between　some　of　the　Inlanders　that　Regal　brought　in　and　the　Buckkeep　guard。　Queen　Kettricken's　guard　drove　a　wedge　between　them；　and　their　officers　beat　their　troops　back　into　line。　Still；　it's　tense。　The　fighters　weren't　all　soldiers。　Many　a　guest　has　a　black　eye　or　walks　with　a　limp　still。　Luckily；　no　one　amongst　the　guests　took　serious　harm。　Blade　took　about　the　worst　injuries；　they　say。　He　went　down　keeping　the　Farrow　men　off　you。　Cracked　his　ribs　and　blacked　his　eyes；　did　something　to　one　of　his　arms。　But　Burrich　says　he　will　be　all　right。　The　lines　have　been　drawn；　however；　and　the　Dukes　walk　about　bristling　at　one　another　like　dogs。〃
　　　　　　　〃Burrich？〃　I　asked　hoarsely。
　　　　　　　〃Did　not　get　involved　at　all；〃　she　said　reassuringly。　〃He's　fine。　If　being　ill…tempered　and　surly　to　all　is　fine。　Which；　for　him；　I　suppose　is　normal。〃
　　　　　　　My　heart　thundered　inside　me。　Burrich。　Why　wasn't　he　gone？　I　dared　ask　no　more　about　him。　One　question　too　many；　and　Patience　would　get　curious。　So。　〃And　Regal？〃　I　asked。
　　　　　　　She　snorted。　〃One　gets　the　feeling　that　what　really　irritates　Regal　is　that　he　no　longer　has　an　excuse　to　abandon　Buckkeep。　Before；　you　know；　he　was　taking　King　Shrewd　and　Kettricken　inland　so　they　would　be　safe；　and　gutting　the　castle　so　they　might　have　familiar　things　about　them。　He　has　no　such　excuse　now；　and　the　Coastal　Dukes　have　demanded　he　stay　and　defend　the　Keep；　or　at　least　put　in　that　place　a　man　of　their　choosing。　He　has　offered　his　cousin　Lord　Bright　of　Farrow；　but　the　Coastal　Dukes　do　not　like　him。　Now　that　Regal　finds　himself　suddenly　a　King；　I　do　not　think　he　is　enjoying　it　as　much　as　he　expected　to。〃
　　　　　　　〃Has　he　crowned　himself；　then？〃　A　roaring　threatened　my　ears。　I　stood　by　gripping　the　bars。　Must　not　faint；　I　told　myself。　The　guard　would　be　back　soon。　I　had　only　this　time　to　hear　what　was　going　on。
　　　　　　　〃We　have　all　been　much　too　busy　burying　the　King；　and　then　searching　for　the　Queen。　When　the　King　was　found　dead；　we　were　sent　to　wake　her；　but　found　her　doors　locked　and　no　answer　to　our　knocking。　Finally　Regal　resorted　to　his　men　and　axes　again。　The　inner…chamber　door　was　closed　and　locked　as　well。　But　the　Queen　was　gone。　It　is　a　great　mystery　to　all　of　us。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　does　Regal　say　of　it？〃　My　head　was　clearing　of　cobwebs。　Oh；　how　I　hurt。
　　　　　　　〃Little；　save　that　she　and　her　child　are　surely　dead；　and　you　have　brought　it　about　somehow。　He　speaks　wild　charges　of　Beast　magic；　saying　you　have　slain　the　King　with　your　Wit。　All　demand　proof　for　his　claims；　and　he　keeps　saying；　soon；　soon。〃
　　　　　　　No　mention　of　searching　the　roads　and　byways　for　Kettricken；　then。　I　had　gambled　that　his　Skill　spies　had　not　found　out　the　whole　of　our　plot。　But；　I　cautioned　myself；　if　he　had　sent　out　searchers；　I　doubted　they　were　ordered　to　bring　her　back　alive　and　safe。
　　　　　　　〃What　does　Will　do？〃　I　asked。
　　　　　　　〃Will？〃
　　　　　　　〃Will；　Hostler's　son。　A　member　of　the　coterie。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh。　Him。　I　have　not　seen　him　about；　that　I　recall。〃
　　　　　　　〃Ah。〃　Another　wave　of　dizziness　threatened　me。　Suddenly　logic　eluded　me。　I　knew　I　should　ask　more　questions；　but　I　could　not　think　of　what　they　should　be。　Burrich　was　still　here；　but　the　Queen　and　the　Fool　were　gone。　What　had　gone　wrong？　There　was　no　safe　way　to　ask　Patience。　〃Does　anyone　else　know　you　are　here？〃　I　managed　to　ask。　Surely；　if　Burrich　had　known　she　were　ing；　he　would　have　sent　a　message。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course　not！　This　was　not　an　easy　thing　to　plan；　Fitz。　Lacey　had　to　get　an　emetic　into　the　one　guard's　food　so　he　would　leave　only　one　on　watch。　Then　we　had　to　watch　for　him　to　leave…oh。　Lacey　said　to　bring　you　the