rh.royalassassin-第38节

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　mourning　for　a　fallen　rade。　Verity　joined　the　queue；　and　Kettricken　stood　behind　him；　to　offer　up　a　pale　lock　of　her　own　hair。
　　　　　　　There　followed　a　night　such　as　I　had　never　known。　Most　of　Buckkeep　Town　came　to　the　Keep　that　night；　and　were　admitted　without　question。　All　followed　the　Queen's　example　and　kept　a　watching　fast　until　the　pyre　had　burned　itself　to　ash　and　bone。　Then　the　Great　Hall　and　the　Lesser　were　filled；　and　planks　laid　as　tables　outside　in　the　courtyard　for　those　who　could　not　crowd　within。　Kegs　of　drink　were　rolled　out；　and　such　a　setting　out　of　bread　and　roasted　meat　and　other　viands　as　I　had　not　even　imagined　that　Buckkeep　possessed。　Later　I　was　to　learn　that　much　of　it　had　simply　e　up　from　the　town；　unsought　but　offered　freely。
　　　　　　　The　King　descended；　as　he　had　not　for　some　weeks；　to　sit　in　his　throne　at　the　high　table　and　preside　over　the　gathering。　The　Fool　came；　too；　to　stand　beside　and　behind　his　chair　and　accept　from　his　plate　whatever　the　King　offered。　But　this　night　he　made　not　merry　for　the　King；　his　fool's　prattle　was　stilled；　and　even　the　bells　on　his　cap　and　sleeves　had　been　tied　in　strips　of　fabric　to　mute　them。　Only　once　did　our　eyes　meet　that　night；　but　for　me；　the　glance　carried　no　discernible　message。　To　the　King's　right　was　Verity；　to　his　left　Kettricken。　Regal　was　there；　too；　of　course；　in　so　sumptuous　a　costume　of　black　that　only　the　color　denoted　any　sort　of　mourning。　He　scowled　and　sulked　and　drank；　and　I　suppose　for　some　his　surly　silence　passed　for　grieving。　For　me；　I　could　sense　the　anger　seething　within　him；　and　knew　that　someone；　somewhere　would　pay　for　what　he　saw　as　insult　to　himself。　Even　Patience　was　there；　her　appearance　as　rare　as　the　King's；　and　I　sensed　the　unity　of　purpose　we　displayed。
　　　　　　　The　King　ate　but　little。　He　waited　until　those　at　the　High　Table　were　filled　before　he　arose　to　speak。　As　he　spoke；　his　words　were　repeated　at　the　lower　tables；　and　in　the　Lesser　Hall；　and　even　outside　in　the　courtyard　by　minstrels。　He　spoke　briefly　of　those　we　had　lost　to　the　Red…Ships。　He　said　nothing　of　Forging；　or　of　the　day's　task　of　hunting　down　and　killing　the　Forged　ones。　He　spoke　instead　as　if　they　had　but　recently　died　in　a　battle　against　the　Red…Ships；　and　said　only　that　we　must　remember　them。　Then；　pleading　fatigue　and　grief；　he　left　the　table　to　return　to　his　own　chambers。
　　　　　　　Then　it　was　that　Verity　arose。　He　did　little　more　than　repeat　Kettricken's　words　of　earlier；　that　we　grieved　now；　but　when　the　grieving　was　over；　we　must　make　ready　our　vengeance。　He　lacked　the　fire　and　impassionment　of　Kettricken's　earlier　speech；　but　I　could　see　all　at　table　responding　to　it。　Folk　nodded　and　began　to　talk　among　themselves；　while　Regal　sat　and　glowered　silently。　Verity　and　Kettricken　left　the　table　late　that　night；　she　on　his　arm；　and　they　made　sure　that　all　marked　how　they　left　together。　Regal　remained；　drinking　and　muttering　to　himself。　I　myself　slipped　away　shortly　after　Verity　and　Kettricken　left；　to　seek　my　own　bed。
　　　　　　　I　made　no　attempt　to　fall　asleep；　but　only　flung　myself　on　my　bed　to　stare　into　the　fire。　When　the　concealed　door　opened；　I　rose　immediately　to　ascend　to　Chade's　chambers。　I　found　him　a…jitter　with　an　infectious　excitement。　There　was　even　a　pinkness　to　his　pale　cheeks　about　his　pock　scars。　His　gray　hair　was　wild；　his　green　eyes　glittered　like　gems。　He　was　pacing　about　his　chambers；　and　as　I　entered　he　actually　seized　me　in　a　rough　embrace。　He　stepped　back　and　laughed　aloud　at　my　shocked　expression。
　　　　　　　〃She　was　born　to　rule！　Born　to　it；　and　somehow　now　she　has　awakened　to　it！　It　could　not　have　e　at　a　better　time！　She　may　yet　save　us　all！〃。
　　　　　　　His　exultation　was　unholy　in　its　glee。
　　　　　　　〃I　know　not　how　many　folk　died　today；〃　I　rebuked　him。
　　　　　　　〃Ah！　But　not　in　vain！　At　least　not　in　vain！　Those　were　not　wasted　deaths；　FitzChivalry。　By　El　and　Eda　both；　Kettricken　has　the　instinct　and　the　grace！　I　had　not　suspected　it　in　her。　Now　had　we　still　your　father　alive；　boy；　and　him　paired　with　her　on　the　throne；　we　could　have　a　pair　as　could　cup　the　whole　world　in　their　hands。〃　He　took　another　sip　of　his　wine　and　paced　again　about　his　chambers。　I　had　never　seen　him　so　elated。　He　all　but　capered。　A　covered　basket　rested　on　a　table　close　to　hand；　and　its　contents　had　been　set　out　on　a　cloth。　Wine；　cheese；　sausages；　pickles；　and　bread。　So　even　here　in　his　tower；　Chade　shared　the　funeral　feast。　Slink　the　weasel　popped　up　from　the　other　side　of　the　table；　to　regard　me　past　the　food　with　avaricious　eyes。　Chade's　voice　broke　me　from　my　thoughts。
　　　　　　　〃She　has　an　ample　share　of　what　Chivalry　had。　The　instinct　for　seizing　the　moment　and　turning　it　to　advantage。　She　took　an　unavoidable；　unmentionable　situation　and　made　high　tragedy　of　what　might　have　been　simple　slaughter　in　lesser　hands。　Boy；　we　have　a　Queen；　a　Queen　again　at　Buckkeep！〃
　　　　　　　I　felt　slightly　repulsed　by　his　joy。　And；　for　an　instant；　cheated。　Hesitantly；　I　asked；　〃Do　you　think；　really；　that　the　Queen　did　as　she　did　for　show？　That　it　was　all　a　calculated　political　move？〃
　　　　　　　He　halted　in　his　tracks；　considered　briefly。　〃No。　No；　FitzChivalry；　I　believe　she　acted　from　her　heart。　But　that　does　not　make　it　any　less　tactically　brilliant。　Ah；　you　think　me　heartless。　Or　callous　in　my　ignorance。　The　truth　is；　I　know　only　too　well。　Know　far　better　than　you　what　today　meant　to　us。　I　know　men　died　today。　I　even　know　that　six　of　our　own　force　took　injuries；　mostly　minor；　in　today's　action。　I　can　tell　you　how　many　Forged　ones　fell；　and　within　a　day　or　so；　I　expect　to　know　most　of　their　names。　Names　already　listed　by　me；　included　in　the　tallies　of　all　the　Red…Ships　have　done　to　us。　It　will　be　I；　boy；　who　sees　that　the　purses　of　blood　gold　are　paid　to　surviving　kin。　Those　families　will　be　told　the　King　regards　their　fallen　as　the　equals　of　any　of　his　soldiers　who　fall　in　battle　with　the　Red…Ships。　And　entreats　their　aid　in　taking　vengeance　for　them。　They　will　not　be　pleasant　letters　to　pen；　Fitz。　But　pen　them　I　shall；　in　Verity's　own　hand；　for　Shrewd's　signature。　Or　did　you　think　I　did　naught　but　kill　for　my　king？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　beg　pardon。　It　was　just　that　you　seemed　so　merry　when　first　I　entered〃　I　began。
　　　　　　　〃And　merry　I　am！　As　you　should　be。　We　have　been　rudderless　and　drifted；　pounded　by　the　waves　and　pushed　by　every　wind。　And　now；　es　a　woman；　to　take　the　tiller　and　cry　the　course。　I　find　it　a　course　full　to　my　liking！　As　shall　everyone　in　the　kingdom　who　has　sickened　these　past　years　from　being　always　on　our　knees。　We　rise；　boy；　we　rise　to　fight！〃
　　　　　　　I　saw　then　how　his　ebullience　was　borne　on　the　wave　of　his　fury　and　his　grief。　I　remembered　the　expression　he　had　worn　when　first　we　rode　into　Forge　town　on　that　black　day　and　saw　what　the　Raiders　had　left　of　our　folk。　He　had　told　me　then　that　I　would　learn　to　care；　that　it　was　in　my　blood。　With　a　rush　I　felt　the　rightness　of　his　sentiment；　and　seized　up　a　glass　to　join　him。　Together　we　toasted　our　queen。　Then　Chade　grew　more　sober；　and　divulged　the　reason　for　his　summons。　The　King；　Shrewd　himself；　had　once　more　repeated　his　order　that　I　watch　over　Kettricken。
　　　　　　　〃I've　been　meaning　to　speak　to　you　about　that；　that　Shrewd　sometimes　now　repeats　an　order　already　given　or　a　ment　already　made。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　aware　enough　of　that；　Fitz。　What　can　be　done；　is。　But　the　King's　health　is　another　topic　for　another　time。　For　now；　I　myself　assure　you　that　his　repetition　was　not　the　rattling　of　a　sickly　mind。　No。　The　King　made　this　request　again　today　as　he　was　preparing　himself　to　descend　to　dinner。　He　repeats　it　to　make　sure　your　efforts　will　be　redoubled。　He　sees；　as　I　do；　that　by　arousing　folk　to　follow　her；　the　Queen　puts　herself　more　at　risk。　Though　he　would　not　speak　it　so　plain。　Be　on　your　guard　for　her　safety。〃
　　　　　　　〃Regal；〃　I　snorted。
　　　　　　　〃Prince　Regal？〃　Chade　queried。
　　　　　　　〃He　is　who　we　have　to　fear；　especially　now　that　the　Queen　has　taken　a　place　of　power。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　said　nothing　of　the　kind。　Nor　should　you；〃　Chade　observed　quietly。　His　voice　was　calm　but　his　face　was　severe。
　　　　　　　〃Why　not？〃　I　challenged　him。　〃Why　may　not　we；　at　least　once；　speak　plain　to　one　another？〃
　　　　　　　〃To　one　another；　we　might；　if　we　were　entirely　alone　and　it　concerned　only　you　and　me。　But　such　is　not　the　case。　We　are　King's　Men　sworn；　and　King's　Men　do　not　entertain　even　thoughts　of　treason；　let　alone　。。。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　a　gagging　noise；　and　Slink　disgorged　himself。　On　the　table；　beside　the　food　basket。　He　snorted；　spraying　drops　of　moisture。
　　　　　　　〃Greedy　little　wretch！　Choked　yourself；　did　you？〃　Chade　rebuked　him　unconcernedly。
　　　　　　　I　found　a　rag　to　clean　up　the　mess。　But　when　I　got　there；　Slink　was　lying　on　his　side；　panting；　while　Chade　poked　at　the　vomit　with　a　skewer。　I　nearly　retched　myself。　He　waved　my　rag　aside；　picking　up　Slink　instead　and　handing　me　the　shivering　creature。　〃Calm　him；　and　get　water　down　him；〃　he　directed　me　tersely。　〃Go　on；　old　man；　go　to　Fitz；　he'll　see　to　you。〃　This　to　the　weasel。
　　　　　　　I　carried　him　over　by　the　fire；　where　he　promptly　puked　all　down　my　shirt。　At　closer　range；　the　smell　was　overpowering。　As　I　set　him　down　and　pulled　my　shirt　off；　I　caught　an　underlying　scent；　more　bitter　than　vomit　even。　Even　as