rh.royalassassin-第84节

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　　　　　　　〃Kettricken？〃　I　ventured　the　familiarity　as　I　had　not　for　months。　〃Let　us　go　to　him　now　with　this　idea。　At　once。　I　will　go　with　you。〃
　　　　　　　She　spoke　hesitantly；　not　turning　to　look　at　me。　〃You　do　not　think　it　is　foolish？〃
　　　　　　　I　would　not　lie；　I　reminded　myself。　〃I　think　that　as　things　stand；　we　must　consider　any　possible　sources　of　aid。〃　As　I　spoke　the　words　I　found　I　believed　them。　Had　not　both　Chade　and　the　Fool　hinted；　no；　pleaded　for　this　very　idea？　Perhaps　Verity　and　I　were　the　ones　who　were　shortsighted。
　　　　　　　She　took　a　shuddering　breath。　〃We　shall　do　it；　then。　But　。。。　you　must　wait　for　me　outside　my　chamber。　I　wish　to　fetch　several　scrolls　to　show　him。　I　will　be　but　a　short　time。〃　She　turned　to　Patience；　spoke　more　loudly。　〃Lady　Patience；　might　I　ask　you　to　finish　these　plants　for　me　as　well？　I　have　something　else　I　wish　to　attend　to。〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；　my　queen。　I　should　be　pleased　to。〃
　　　　　　　We　left　the　garden；　and　I　followed　her　to　her　chambers。　I　waited　for　more　than　a　short　time。　When　she　emerged；　her　little　maid　Rosemary　was　behind　her；　insisting　on　carrying　the　scrolls　for　her。　Kettricken　had　washed　the　soil　from　her　hands。　And　changed　her　gown；　and　added　scent　and　dressed　her　hair　and　was　wearing　the　jewelry　Verity　had　sent　to　her　when　she　was　pledged　to　him。　She　smiled　at　me　cautiously　as　I　looked　at　her。　〃My　lady　queen；　I　am　dazzled；〃　I　ventured。
　　　　　　　〃You　flatter　me　as　wildly　as　Regal　does；〃　she　proclaimed；　and　hastened　away　down　the　hall；　but　a　blush　warmed　her　cheeks。
　　　　　　　She　dresses　so　just　to　e　to　speak　to　me？
　　　　　　　She　dresses　so　to　。。。　attract　you。　How　could　a　man　so　astute　at　reading　men　be　so　ignorant　of　women？
　　　　　　　Perhaps　he　has　had　little　time　ever　to　learn　much　of　their　ways。
　　　　　　　I　clamped　my　mind　shut　on　my　thoughts　and　hastened　after　my　queen。　We　arrived　at　Verity's　study　just　in　time　to　see　Charim　leaving。　He　was　carrying　an　armful　of　laundry。　It　seemed　odd　until　we　were　admitted。　Verity　was　wearing　a　soft　shirt　of　pale　blue　linen；　and　the　mingled　scents　of　lavender　and　cedar　were　lively　in　the　air。　It　reminded　me　of　a　clothes　chest。　His　hair　and　beard　were　freshly　smoothed；　well　I　knew　that　his　hair　never　stayed　that　way　for　more　than　a　few　minutes。　As　Kettricken　advanced　shyly　to　curtsy　to　her　lord；　I　saw　Verity　as　I　had　not　for　months。　The　summer　of　Skilling　had　wasted　him　again。　The　fine　shirt　belled　about　his　shoulders；　and　the　smoothed　hair　was　as　much　gray　as　black　now。　There　were　lines；　too；　about　his　eyes　and　mouth　that　I　had　never　noticed　before。
　　　　　　　Do　I　look　so　poorly；　then？
　　　　　　　Not　to　her；　I　reminded　him。
　　　　　　　As　Verity　took　her　hand　and　drew　her　to　sit　down　beside　him　on　a　bench　near　the　fire；　she　looked　at　him　with　a　hunger　as　deep　as　his　Skill　drive。　Her　fingers　clung　to　his　hand；　and　I　looked　aside　as　he　lifted　her　hand　to　kiss　it。　Perhaps　Verity　was　right　about　a　Skill　sensitivity。　What　Kettricken　felt　battered　at　me　as　roughly　as　the　fury　of　my　crew　mates　during　battle。
　　　　　　　I　felt　a　flutter　of　astonishment　from　Verity。　Then：　Shield　yourself；　he　manded　me　brusquely；　and　I　was　suddenly　alone　inside　my　skull。　I　stood　still　a　moment；　dizzied　by　the　abruptness　of　his　departure。　He　really　had　no　idea；　I　found　myself　thinking；　and　felt　glad　the　thought　remained　private。
　　　　　　　〃My　lord；　I　have　e　to　ask　a　moment　or　two　of　your　time　for　。。。　an　idea　I　have。〃　Kettricken's　eyes　searched　his　face　as　she　spoke　quietly。
　　　　　　　〃Certainly；〃　Verity　agreed。　He　glanced　up　at　me。　〃FitzChivalry；　will　you　join　us？〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　will；　my　lord。〃　I　took　a　seat　on　a　stool　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　hearth。　Rosemary　came　and　stood　at　my　elbow　with　her　armload　of　scrolls。　Probably　filched　from　my　room　by　the　Fool；　I　suspected。　But　as　Kettricken　began　to　talk　to　Verity　she　took　up　the　scrolls　one　by　one；　in　each　case　to　illustrate　her　argument。　Without　exception；　they　were　scrolls　that　dealt；　not　with　the　Elderlings；　but　with　the　Mountain　Kingdom。　〃King　Wisdom；　you　may　recall；　was　the　first　of　Six　Duchies　nobility　to　e　to　our　land　。。。　to　the　land　of　the　Mountain　Kingdom；　for　anything　other　than　the　making　of　war　upon　us。　So　he　is　well　remembered　in　our　histories。　These　scrolls；　copied　from　ones　made　in　his　time；　deal　with　his　doings　and　travels　in　the　Mountain　Kingdom。　And　thus；　indirectly；　with　the　Elderlings。〃　She　unrolled　the　last　scroll。　Verity　and　I　both　leaned　forward　in　amazement。　A　map。　Faded　with　time；　poorly　copied　probably；　but　a　map。　Of　the　Mountain　Kingdom；　with　passes　and　trails　marked　on　it。　And　a　few　straggling　lines　leading　into　the　lands　beyond。
　　　　　　　〃One　of　these　paths；　marked　here；　must　lead　to　the　Elderlings。　For　I　know　the　trails　of　the　Mountains；　and　these　are　not　trade　routes；　nor　do　they　go　to　any　village　I　know。　Nor　do　they　lie　in　conjunction　with　the　trails　as　I　know　them　now　to　be。　These　are　older　roads　and　paths。　And　why　else　would　they　be　marked　here；　save　that　they　go　where　King　Wisdom　went？〃
　　　　　　　〃Can　it　be　that　simple？〃　Verity　rose　quickly；　to　return　with　a　branch　of　candles　to　light　the　map　better。　He　smoothed　the　vellum　lovingly　with　his　hands　and　leaned　close　over　it。
　　　　　　　〃There　are　several　paths　marked　that　go　off　into　the　Rain　Wilds。　If　that　is　what　all　this　green　represents。　None　seem　to　have　anything　marked　at　the　end。　How　would　we　know　which　one？〃　I　objected。
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　they　all　go　to　the　Elderlings；〃　Kettricken　ventured。　〃Why　should　they　reside　in　but　one　place？〃
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　Verity　straightened　up。　〃Two　at　least　have　something　marked　at　the　end。　Or　had　something。　The　damned　ink　has　faded。　But　there　was　something　there。　I　intend　to　find　out　what。〃
　　　　　　　Even　Kettricken　looked　astonished　at　the　enthusiasm　in　his　voice。　I　was　shocked。　I　had　expected　him　to　heather　out　politely；　not　to　endorse　her　plan　wholeheartedly。
　　　　　　　He　rose　suddenly；　paced　a　quick　turn　around　the　room。　The　Skill　energy　radiated　off　him　like　heat　from　a　hearth。　〃The　full　storms　of　winter　are　upon　the　coast　now。　Or　will　be；　any　day　now。　If　I　leave　quickly；　in　the　next　few　days；　I　can　be　to　the　Mountain　Kingdom　while　the　passes　can　still　be　used。　I　can　force　my　way　through　to　。。。　whatever　is　there。　And　return　by　spring。　Perhaps　with　the　help　we　need。〃
　　　　　　　I　was　speechless。　Kettricken　made　it　worse。
　　　　　　　〃My　lord；　I　had　not　intended　that　you　should　go。　You　should　remain　here。　I　must　go。　I　know　the　Mountains；　I　was　born　to　their　ways。　You　might　not　survive　there。　In　this；　I　should　be　Sacrifice。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　a　relief　to　see　Verity　as　dumbfounded　as　I　was。　Perhaps；　having　heard　it　from　her　lips；　he　would　now　realize　how　impossible　it　was。　He　shook　his　head　slowly。　He　took　both　her　hands　in　his　and　looked　solemnly　at　her。　〃My　queen…in…waiting。〃　He　sighed。　〃I　must　do　this。　I。　In　so　many　other　ways　I　have　failed　the　Six　Duchies。　And　you。　When　first　you　came　here　to　be　queen；　I　had　no　patience　with　your　talk　of　Sacrifice。　I　thought　it　a　girl's　idealistic　notion。　But　it　is　not。　We　do　not　speak　it　here；　but　it　is　what　is　felt。　It　is　what　I　learned　from　my　parents。　To　put　the　Six　Duchies　always　ahead　of　myself。　I　have　tried　to　do　that。　But　now　I　see　that　always　I　have　sent　others　in　my　place。　I　sat　and　Skilled；　it　is　true；　and　you　have　an　inkling　what　it　has　cost　me。　But　it　has　been　sailors　and　soldiers　who　I　have　sent　out　to　put　down　their　lives　for　the　Six　Duchies。　My　own　nephew；　even；　doing　the　crude　and　bloody　work　for　me。　And　despite　those　I　have　sent　to　be　sacrificed；　our　coast　is　still　not　safe。　Now　it　es　to　this　last　chance；　to　this　hard　thing。　Shall　I　send　my　queen　to　do　it　for　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps　。。。〃　Kettricken's　voice　had　gone　husky　with　uncertainty。　She　looked　down　at　the　fire　as　she　suggested；　〃Perhaps　we　might　go　together？〃
　　　　　　　Verity　considered。　He　actually　earnestly　considered　it；　and　I　saw　Kettricken　realize　he　had　taken　her　request　seriously。　She　began　to　smile；　but　it　faded　as　he　slowly　shook　his　head。　〃I　dare　not；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃Someone　must　remain　here。　Someone　I　trust。　King　Shrewd　is　。。。　my　father　is　not　well。　I　fear　for　him。　For　his　health。　With　myself　away；　and　my　father　ill；　there　must　be　someone　to　stand　in　my　stead。〃
　　　　　　　She　looked　aside。　〃I　would　rather　go　with　you；〃　she　said　fiercely。
　　　　　　　I　averted　my　eyes　as　he　reached　and　took　her　chin　in　his　fingers　and　lifted　her　face　so　he　might　see　her　eyes。　〃I　know；〃　he　said　evenly。　〃That　is　the　sacrifice　I　must　ask　you　to　make。　To　stay　here；　when　you　would　rather　go。　To　be　alone；　yet　again。　For　the　sake　of　the　Six　Duchies。〃
　　　　　　　Something　went　out　of　her。　Her　shoulders　sagged　as　she　bowed　her　head　to　his　will。　As　Verity　gathered　her　to　him　I　rose　silently。　I　took　Rosemary　with　me　and　we　left　them　alone。
　　　　　　　I　was　in　my　room；　poring　belatedly　over　the　scrolls　and　tablets　there；　when　the　page　came　to　my　door　that　afternoon。　〃You　are　summoned　to　the　King's　chambers；　in　the　hour　after　dinner；〃　was　the　only　message　he　gave　me。　Dismay　rolled　over　me。　It　had　been　two　weeks　since　my　last　visit　to　his　chamber。　I　did　not　wish　to　confront　the　King　again。　If　he　were　summoning　me　to　say　that　he　expected　me　to　begin　courting　Celerity；　I　did　not　know　what　I　would　do　or　say。　I　feared　I　would　lose　control　of　myself。　Resolutely　I　unrolled　one　of　the　El