rh.royalassassin-第13部分

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f　Verity's　possessions　that　had　previously　been　scattered　about　his　bedchamber。　Verity　rose　from　awakening　the　fire　and　smiled　ruefully　at　my　raised　eyebrows。　〃My　queen…in…waiting　has　small　patience　with　clutter。　‘How；'　she　asked　me；　‘can　you　hope　to　create　precise　lines　in　the　midst　of　such　disorder？'　Her　own　chamber　has　the　precision　of　a　military　encampment。　So　I　hide　myself　away　down　here；　for　I　quickly　found　that　in　a　clean　and　sparse　chamber　I　could　get　no　work　done　at　all。　Besides；　it　gives　me　a　place　for　quiet　talk；　where　not　all　know　to　seek　me。〃
　　　　　　　He　had　scarcely　finished　speaking　when　the　door　opened　to　admit　Charim　with　a　tray。　I　nodded　to　Verity's　serving　man；　who　not　only　seemed　unsurprised　to　see　me；　but　had　added　to　Verity's　request　a　certain　type　of　spice　bread　that　I　had　always　enjoyed。　He　moved　about　the　room　briefly；　making　perfunctory　tidying　motions　as　he　shifted　a　few　books　and　scrolls　to　free　a　chair　for　me；　and　then　vanished　again。　Verity　was　so　accustomed　to　him　he　scarce　seemed　to　notice　him；　save　for　the　brief　smile　they　exchanged　as　Charim　left。
　　　　　　　〃So；〃　he　said；　as　soon　as　the　door　was　fairly　shut。　〃Let's　have　a　full　report。　From　the　time　you　left　Buckkeep。〃
　　　　　　　This　was　not　a　simple　recounting　of　my　journey　and　the　events　of　it。　I　had　been　trained　by　Chade　to　be　a　spy　as　well　as　an　assassin。　And　since　my　earliest　days　Burrich　had　always　demanded　that　I　be　able　to　give　a　detailed　account　of　anything　that　went　on　in　the　stables　in　his　absence。　So　as　we　ate　and　drank　I　gave　Verity　an　accounting　of　all　I　had　seen　and　done　since　I　had　left　Buckkeep。　This　was　followed　by　my　summation　of　what　I　had　concluded　from　my　experiences；　and　then　by　what　I　suspected　from　what　I　had　learned。　By　then；　Charim　had　returned　with　another　meal。　While　we　consumed　this　Verity　limited　our　talk　to　his　warships。　He　could　not　conceal　his　enthusiasm　for　them。　〃Mastfish　has　e　down　to　supervise　the　building。　I　went　up　to　Highdowns　myself　to　fetch　him。　He　claimed　to　be　an　old　man　now。　‘The　cold　would　stiffen　my　bones；　I　can't　build　a　boat　in　winter　anymore；　that　was　the　word　he　sent　me。　So　I　set　the　apprentices　work；　and　I　myself　went　to　fetch　him。　He　could　not　refuse　me　to　my　face。　When　he　got　here；　I　took　him　down　to　the　shipyards。　And　I　showed　him　the　heated　shed；　big　enough　to　house　a　warship；　built　so　he　might　work　and　not　be　cold。　But　that　was　not　what　convinced　him。　It　was　the　white　oak　that　Kettricken　brought　me。　When　he　saw　the　timber；　he　could　not　wait　to　put　a　drawknife　to　it。　The　grain　is　straight　and　true　throughout。　The　planking　is　well　begun　already。　They　will　be　lovely　ships；　swan…necked；　sinuous　as　snakes　upon　the　water。〃　Enthusiasm　spilled　from　him。　I　could　already　imagine　the　rising　and　falling　of　the　oars；　the　bellying　of　the　square　masts　when　they　were　under　way。
　　　　　　　Then　the　dishes　and　oddments　were　pushed　to　one　side；　and　he　began　to　quiz　me　upon　the　events　in　Jhaampe。　He　forced　me　to　reconsider　each　separate　incident　from　every　possible　perspective。　By　the　time　he　was　finished　with　me；　I　had　relived　the　entire　episode　and　my　anger　at　my　betrayal　was　fresh　and　vivid　once　more。
　　　　　　　Verity　was　not　blind　to　it。　He　leaned　back　in　his　chair　to　reach　for　another　log。　He　flipped　it　onto　the　fire；　sending　a　shower　of　sparks　up　the　chimney。　〃You　have　questions；〃　he　observed。　〃This　time　you　may　ask　them。〃　He　folded　his　hands　quietly　into　his　lap　and　waited。
　　　　　　　I　tried　to　master　my　emotions。　〃Prince　Regal；　your　brother；〃　I　began　carefully；　〃is　guilty　of　the　highest　treason。　He　arranged　the　killing　of　your　bride's　elder　brother；　Prince　Rurisk。　He　attempted　a　plot　that　would　have　resulted　in　your　death。　His　aim　was　to　usurp　both　your　crown　and　your　bride。　As　little　more　than　a　spice；　he　twice　tried　to　kill　me。　And　Burrich。〃　I　paused　to　breathe；　forcing　my　heart　and　voice　back　to　calmness。
　　　　　　　〃You　and　I　both　accept　those　things　as　true。　They　would　be　difficult　for　us　to　prove；〃　Verity　observed　mildly。
　　　　　　　〃And　he　relies　upon　that！〃　I　spat　out；　and　then　turned　my　face　aside　from　Verity　until　I　could　master　my　anger。　The　very　intensity　of　it　frightened　me；　for　I　had　not　allowed　myself　to　feel　it　until　now。　Months　ago；　when　I　was　using　all　my　wits　to　stay　alive；　I　had　pushed　it　aside　to　keep　my　mind　clear。　There　had　followed　the　wasting　months　of　convalescence　as　I　recovered　from　Regal's　botched　poisoning　attempt。　Not　even　to　Burrich　had　I　been　able　to　tell　all；　for　Verity　had　made　it　clear　that　he　wished　no　one　to　know　any　more　about　the　situation　than　could　be　helped。　Now　I　stood　before　my　prince　and　trembled　with　the　force　of　my　own　anger。　My　face　spasmed　suddenly　in　a　violent　series　of　twitches。　That　dismayed　me　enough　that　I　was　able　to　force　calm　upon　myself　once　more。
　　　　　　　〃Regal　relies　upon　it；〃　I　said　more　quietly。　All　this　while　Verity　had　not　budged　nor　changed　expression　despite　my　outburst。　He　sat　gravely　at　his　end　of　the　table；　his　work…scarred　hands　posed　before　him；　watching　me　with　dark　eyes。　I　looked　down　at　the　tabletop　and　traced　with　a　fingertip　the　carved　scrollwork　on　the　corner。　〃He　does　not　admire　you；　that　you　keep　the　laws　of　the　kingdom。　He　sees　it　as　a　weakness；　as　a　way　to　circumvent　justice。　He　may　try　to　kill　you　again。　Almost　certainly；　he　will　make　an　attempt　upon　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　we　must　be　careful；　we　two；　mustn't　we？〃　Verity　observed　mildly。
　　　　　　　I　lifted　my　eyes　to　look　him　in　the　face。　〃That　is　all　you　say　to　me？〃　I　asked　tightly；　choking　down　my　outrage。
　　　　　　　〃FitzChivalry。　I　am　your　prince。　I　am　your　king…in…waiting。　You　are　sworn　to　me；　as　much　as　to　my　father。　And；　if　it　es　to　it；　you　are　sworn　to　my　brother　as　well。〃　Verity　rose　suddenly　to　take　a　pace　around　the　room。　〃Justice。　There's　a　thing　we　shall　ever　thirst　after；　and　ever　be　parched。　No。　We　content　ourselves　with　law。　And　this　is　only　more　true；　the　higher　a　man's　rank　rises。　Justice　would　put　you　next　in　line　for　the　throne；　Fitz。　Chivalry　was　my　elder　brother。　But　law　says　you　were　born　outside　of　wedlock；　and　hence　can　never　make　any　claim　to　the　crown。　Some　might　say　I　had　snatched　the　throne　from　my　brother's　son。　Should　I　be　shocked　that　my　younger　brother　should　want　to　grab　it　from　me？〃
　　　　　　　I　had　never　heard　Verity　speak　like　this；　his　voice　so　even　but　so　fraught　with　emotion。　I　kept　silent。
　　　　　　　〃You　think　I　should　punish　him。　I　could。　I　need　not　prove　his　wrongdoing　to　make　life　unpleasant　for　him。　I　could　send　him　as　emissary　to　Cold　Bay；　on　some　contrived　errand；　and　keep　him　there；　in　unfortable　conditions；　far　from　court。　I　could　all　but　banish　him。　Or　I　could　keep　him　here　at　court；　but　so　load　him　with　unpleasant　duties　that　he　has　no　time　for　that　which　amuses　him。　He　would　understand　he　was　being　punished。　So　would　every　noble　with　half　a　wit。　Those　who　sympathize　with　him　would　rally　to　his　defense。　The　Inland　Duchies　could　contrive　some　emergency　in　his　mother's　land　that　demanded　the　presence　of　her　son。　Once　there；　he　could　build　further　support　for　himself。　He　might　very　well　be　able　to　foment　the　civil　unrest　he　sought　before；　and　found　an　inland　kingdom　loyal　only　to　him。　Even　if　he　did　not　achieve　that　end；　he　could　cause　enough　unrest　to　steal　the　unity　I　must　have　if　I　am　to　defend　our　kingdom。〃
　　　　　　　He　stopped　speaking。　He　lifted　his　eyes　and　glanced　around　the　room。　I　followed　his　gaze。　The　walls　were　hung　with　his　maps。　There　was　Bearns；　there　was　Shoaks；　and　here　was　Rippon。　On　the　opposite　wall；　Buck；　Farrow；　and　Tilth。　All　done　in　Verity's　precise　hand；　every　river　blue…inked；　every　town　named。　Here　were　his　Six　Duchies。　He　knew　them　as　Regal　never　would。　He　had　ridden　those　roads；　helped　set　the　markers　of　those　boundaries。　Following　Chivalry；　he　had　treated　with　the　folk　who　bordered　our　lands。　He　had　swung　a　sword　in　defense　of　it；　and　known　when　to　set　down　that　sword　and　negotiate　a　peace。　Who　was　I　to　be　telling　him　how　to　rule　at　home？
　　　　　　　〃What　will　you　do？〃　I　asked　quietly。
　　　　　　　〃Keep　him。　He　is　my　brother。　And　my　father's　son。〃　He　poured　himself　more　wine。　〃My　father's　most　cherished；　youngest　son。　I　have　gone　to　my　father；　the　King；　and　suggested　that　Regal　might　be　more　content　with　his　lot　if　he　had　more　to　do　with　the　running　of　the　kingdom。　King　Shrewd　has　consented　to　this。　I　expect　to　be　much　occupied　with　defending　our　land　from　the　Red…Ships。　So　to　Regal　will　fall　the　task　of　raising　the　revenues　we　shall　need；　and　he　will　also　be　dealing　with　any　other　internal　crises　that　may　arise。　With　a　circle　of　nobles　to　assist　him；　of　course。　He　is　full　wele　to　deal　with　their　bickering　and　dissensions。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　Regal　is　content　with　this？〃
　　　　　　　Verity　smiled　a　thin　smile。　〃He　cannot　say　he　is　not。　Not　if　he　wishes　to　keep　the　image　of　a　young　man　adept　at　ruling　and　but　waiting　for　opportunity　to　prove　himself。〃　He　lifted　his　wineglass　and　turned　to　stare　into　the　fire。　The　only　sound　in　the　room　was　the　snapping　of　the　flames　as　they　consumed　the　wood。　〃When　you　e　to　me　tomorrow；〃　he　began。
　　　　　　　〃Tomorrow　I　must　have　for　myself；〃　I　told　him。
　　　　　　　He　set　down　his　wineglass　and　turned　to　look　at　me。　〃Must　you？〃　he　asked　in　an　odd　tone。
　　　　　　　I　looked　up　and　met　his　eyes。　I　swallowed。　I　brought　myself　to　my　f