rh.royalassassin-第53节

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　　　　　　　〃A　different　sort　of　riddle。　At　the　time　they　were　written　about；　all　knew　what　they　were。　So　I　surmise。　It　would　be　the　same　if　you　went　to　find　a　scroll　that　explained　exactly　what　a　horse　was。　You　would　find　many　passing　mentions　of　them；　and　a　few　that　related　directly　to　shoeing　one；　or　to　one　stallion's　bloodline。　But　who　amongst　us　would　see　the　need　to　devote　the　labor　and　time　to　writing　out　exactly　what　a　horse　is？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　see。〃
　　　　　　　〃So；　again；　it　is　a　sifting　out　of　detail。　I　have　not　had　the　time　required　to　devote　myself　to　such　a　task。〃　For　a　moment　he　sat　looking　at　me。　Then　he　opened　a　little　stone　box　on　his　desk　and　took　out　a　key。　〃There　is　a　cabinet　in　my　bedchamber；〃　he　said　slowly。　〃I　have　gathered　there　what　scrolls　I　could　find　that　made　even　a　passing　mention　of　the　Elderlings。　There　are　also　some　related　to　the　Skill。　I　give　you　leave　to　pore　through　them。　Ask　Fedwren　for　good　paper；　and　keep　notes　of　what　you　discover。　Look　for　patterns　among　those　notes。　And　bring　them　to　me；　every　month　or　so。〃
　　　　　　　I　took　the　little　brass　key　in　my　hand。　It　weighed　strangely　heavy；　as　if　attached　to　the　task　the　Fool　had　suggested　and　Verity　had　confirmed。　Look　for　patterns；　Verity　had　suggested。　I　suddenly　saw　one；　a　web　woven　from　me　to　the　Fool　to　Verity　and　back　again。　Like　Verity's　other　patterns；　it　did　not　seem　to　be　an　accident。　I　wondered　who　had　originated　the　pattern。　I　glanced　at　Verity；　but　his　thoughts　had　gone　afar。　I　rose　quietly　to　go。
　　　　　　　As　I　touched　the　door　he　spoke　to　me。　〃e　to　me。　Very　early　tomorrow　morning。　To　my　tower。〃
　　　　　　　〃Sir？〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　we　may　yet　discover　another　Skilled　one；　unsuspected　in　our　midst。〃
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　TWELVE
　　　　　　　Tasks
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　PERHAPS　THE　MOST　devastating　part　of　our　war　with　the　Red…Ships　was　the　sense　of　helplessness　that　overpowered　us。　It　was　as　if　a　terrible　paralysis　lay　over　the　land　and　its　rulers。　The　tactics　of　the　Raiders　were　so　inprehensible　that　for　the　first　year　we　stood　still　as　if　dazed。　The　second　year　of　raiding；　we　tried　to　defend　ourselves。　But　our　skills　were　rusty；　for　too　long　they　had　been　employed　only　against　the　chance　Raiders；　the　opportunistic　or　the　desperate。　Against　organized　pirates　who　had　studied　our　seacoasts；　our　watchtower　positions；　our　tides　and　currents；　we　were　like　children。　Only　Prince　Verity's　Skilling　provided　any　protection　for　us。　How　many　ships　he　turned　aside；　how　many　navigators　he　muddled　or　pilots　he　confused；　we　will　never　know。　Because　his　people　could　not　grasp　what　he　did　for　them；　it　was　as　if　the　Farseers　did　nothing。　Folks　saw　only　the　raids　that　were　successful；　never　the　ships　that　went　onto　the　rocks　or　sailed　too　far　south　during　a　storm。　The　people　lost　heart。　The　Inland　Duchies　bridled　at　taxes　to　protect　a　coastline　they　didn't　share；　the　Coastal　Duchies　labored　under　taxes　that　seemed　to　make　no　difference。　So　if　the　enthusiasm　for　Verity's　warships　was　a　fickle　thing；　rising　and　falling　with　the　folk's　current　assessment　of　him；　we　cannot　really　blame　the　people。　It　seemed　the　longest　winter　of　my　life。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　I　went　from　Verity's　study　to　Queen　Kettricken's　apartments。　I　knocked　and　was　admitted　by　the　same　little　page　girl　as　previously。　With　her　merry　little　face　and　dark　curly　hair；　Rosemary　reminded　me　of　some　pool　sprite。　Within；　the　atmosphere　of　the　room　seemed　subdued。　Several　of　Kettricken's　women　were　there；　and　they　all　sat　on　stools　around　a　frame　holding　a　white　linen　cloth。　They　were　doing　edgework　on　it；　flowers　and　greenery　done　in　bright　threads。　I　had　witnessed　similar　projects　in　Mistress　Hasty's　apartments。　Usually　these　activities　seemed　merry；　with　tongues　wagging　and　friendly　banter；　needles　flashing　as　they　dragged　their　tails　of　bright　thread　through　the　heavy　cloth。　But　here；　it　was　near　silent。　The　women　worked　with　their　heads　bent；　diligently；　skillfully；　but　without　gay　talk。　Scented　candles；　pink　and　green；　burned　in　each　corner　of　the　room。　Their　subtle　fragrances　mingled　scents　over　the　frame。
　　　　　　　Kettricken　presided　over　the　work；　her　own　hands　as　busy　as　any。　She　seemed　the　source　of　the　stillness。　Her　face　was　posed；　even　peaceful。　Her　self…containment　was　so　evident　I　could　almost　see　the　walls　around　her。　Her　look　was　pleasant；　her　eyes　kind；　but　I　did　not　sense　she　was　really　there　at　all。　She　was　like　a　container　of　cool　still　water。　She　was　dressed　in　a　long　simple　robe　of　green；　more　of　the　mountain　style　than　of　Buckkeep。　She　had　set　her　jewelry　aside。　She　looked　up　at　me　and　smiled　questioningly。　I　felt　like　an　intruder；　an　interruption　to　a　group　of　studying　pupils　and　their　master。　So　instead　of　simply　greeting　her；　I　tried　to　justify　my　presence。　I　spoke　formally；　mindful　of　all　the　watching　women。
　　　　　　　〃Queen　Kettricken。　King…in…Waiting　Verity　has　asked　me　to　bring　a　message　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　Something　seemed　to　flicker　behind　her　eyes；　and　then　was　still　again。　〃Yes；〃　she　said　neutrally。　None　of　the　needles　paused　in　their　jumping　dance；　but　I　was　sure　that　every　ear　waited　for　whatever　tidings　I　might　be　bringing。
　　　　　　　〃Atop　a　tower；　there　was　once　a　garden；　called　the　Queen's　Garden。　Once；　King　Verity　said；　it　had　pots　of　greenery；　and　ponds　of　water。　It　was　a　place　of　flowering　plants；　and　fish；　and　wind　chimes。　It　was　his　mother's。　My　queen；　he　wishes　you　to　have　it。〃
　　　　　　　The　stillness　at　the　table　grew　profound。　Kettricken's　eyes　grew　very　wide。　Carefully；　she　asked；　〃Are　you　certain　of　this　message？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；　my　lady。〃　I　was　puzzled　by　her　reaction。　〃He　said　it　would　give　him　a　great　deal　of　pleasure　to　see　it　restored。　He　spoke　of　it　with　great　fondness；　especially　recalling　the　beds　of　flowering　thyme。〃
　　　　　　　The　joy　in　Kettricken's　face　unfurled　like　the　petals　of　a　flower。　She　lifted　a　hand　to　her　mouth；　took　a　shivering　breath　through　her　fingers。　Blood　flushed　through　her　pale　face；　rosing　her　cheeks。　Her　eyes　shone。　〃I　must　see　it；〃　she　exclaimed。　〃I　must　see　it　now！〃　She　stood　abruptly。　〃Rosemary？　My　cloak　and　gloves；　please。〃　She　beamed　about　at　her　ladies。　〃Will　not　you　fetch　your　cloaks　and　gloves　also；　and　acpany　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃My　queen；　the　storm　is　most　fierce　today　。。。。〃　one　began　hesitantly。
　　　　　　　But　another；　an　older　woman　with　a　motherly　cast　to　her　features；　Lady　Modesty；　stood　slowly。　〃I　shall　join　you　on　the　tower　top。　Pluck！〃　A　small　boy　who　had　been　drowsing　in　the　corner　leaped　to　his　feet。　〃Dash　off　and　fetch　my　cloak　and　gloves。　And　my　hood。〃　She　turned　back　to　Kettricken。　〃I　recall　that　garden　well；　from　Queen　Constance's　days。　Many　a　pleasant　hour　I　spent　there　in　her　pany。　I　will　take　joy　in　its　restoration。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　a　heartbeat's　pause；　and　then　the　other　ladies　were　taking　similar　action。　By　the　time　I　had　returned　with　my　own　cloak；　they　were　all　ready　to　go。　I　felt　distinctly　peculiar　as　I　led　this　procession　of　ladies　through　the　Keep；　and　then　up　the　long　climb　to　the　Queen's　Garden。　By　then；　counting　the　pages　and　the　curious；　there　were　nearly　a　score　of　people　following　Kettricken　and　me。　As　I　led　the　way　up　the　steep　stone　steps；　Kettricken　was　right　on　my　heels。　The　others　trailed　out　in　a　long　tail　behind　us。　As　I　pushed　on　the　heavy　door；　forcing　it　open　against　the　layer　of　snow　outside　it；　Kettricken　asked　softly；　〃He's　forgiven　me；　hasn't　he？〃
　　　　　　　I　paused　to　catch　my　breath。　Shouldering　the　door　open　was　doing　the　injury　on　my　neck　no　good　at　all。　My　forearm　throbbed　dully。　〃My　queen？〃　I　asked　in　reply。
　　　　　　　〃My　lord　Verity　has　forgiven　me。　And　this　is　his　way　of　showing　it。　Oh；　I　shall　make　a　garden　for　us　to　share。　I　shall　never　shame　him　again。〃　As　I　stared　at　her　rapt　smile　she　casually　put　her　own　shoulder　to　the　door　and　shoved　it　open。　While　I　stood　blinking　in　the　chill　and　the　light　of　the　winter　day；　she　walked　out　onto　the　tower　top。　She　waded　through　crusted　snow　calf…deep；　and　paid　it　no　mind　at　all。　I　looked　around　the　barren　tower　top　and　wondered　if　I　had　lost　my　mind。　There　was　nothing　here；　only　the　blown　and　crusted　snow　under　the　leaden　sky。　It　had　drifted　up　over　the　discarded　statuary　and　pots　along　one　wall。　I　braced　for　Kettricken's　disappointment。　Instead；　in　the　center　of　the　tower　top；　as　the　wind　swirled　the　falling　flakes　around　her；　she　stretched　out　her　arms　and　spun　in　a　circle；　laughing　like　a　child。　〃It's　so　beautiful！〃　she　exclaimed。
　　　　　　　I　ventured　out　after　her。　Others　came　behind　me。　In　a　moment　Kettricken　was　by　the　tumbled　piles　of　statuary　and　vases　and　basins　that　were　heaped　along　one　wall。　She　brushed　snow　from　a　cherub's　cheek　as　tenderly　as　if　she　were　its　mother。　She　swept　a　load　of　snow　from　a　stone　bench；　and　then　picked　up　the　cherub　and　set　it　atop　it。　It　was　not　a　small　statue；　but　Kettricken　used　her　size　and　strength　energetically　as　she　extricated　several　other　pieces　from　the　drifted　snow。　She　exclaimed　over　them；　insisting　that　her　women　e　and　admire　them。
　　　　　　　I　stood　a　little　apart　from　them。　The　cold　wind　blew　past　me；　awakening　the　pain　in　my　injuries　and　bringing　me　hard　memories。　Here　I　had　stood　once；　near　naked　to　the　cold；　while　Galen　had　tried　to　hammer　the　Skill　ability　into　me。　Here　I　had　stood；　in　this　very　spot；　while　he　beat