rh.royalassassin-第131部分
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ful departed to brew it； Kettricken opened her eyes。 〃What next？〃 she asked in so low a voice that I had to lean closer to hear it。
I looked askance at her。
〃Shrewd sleeps now。 He cannot sleep forever。 Whatever was given him will wear off； and when it does； we are back to where we were。〃
〃The King…in…Waiting ceremony approaches。 Perhaps the Prince will be busied with that。 No doubt there are new clothes to be sewn and tried upon him； and all the other details he glories in。 It may keep him from the King。〃
〃After that？〃
Lady Hopeful was back with my cup of tea。 I took it with murmured thanks； and as she pulled up a chair beside us； Queen Kettricken smiled weakly and asked if she might have one also。 I was almost shamed by how swiftly Lady Hopeful leaped to do her bidding。
〃I do not know；〃 I murmured in reply to her earlier question。
〃I do。 The King would be safe in my Mountains。 He would be honored and protected； and perhaps Jonqui would know of…oh； thank you； Hopeful。〃 Queen Kettricken took the proffered cup and sipped at it as Lady Hopeful settled herself。
I smiled at Kettricken； and chose my words carefully； trusting her to read my meaning。 〃But it is so far to the Mountains； my queen； and the weather so hard this time of year。 By the time a courier got through to seek your mother's remedy； it would be nigh on to spring。 There are other places that might offer the same cure for your troubles。 Bearns or Rippon； perhaps； might offer if we asked。 The worthy Dukes of those provinces can deny you nothing； you know。〃
〃I know；〃 Kettricken smiled wearily。 〃But they have such problems of their own just now； I hesitate to ask anything more of them。 Besides； the root we call livelong grows only in the Mountains。 A determined courier could travel there； I think。〃 She sipped again at her tea。
〃Who to send with such a request； ah； that would be the hardest question；〃 I pointed out。 Surely she could see the difficulties of sending a sick old man off on a journey to the Mountains in winter。 He could not go alone。 〃The man that went would have to be very trustworthy and strong of will。〃
〃Such a man sounds like a woman to me；〃 Kettricken quipped； and Hopeful laughed merrily； more to see the Queen's mood lightened than at the witticism。 Kettricken paused with her cup at her lips。 〃Perhaps I should have to go myself； to see the thing done right；〃 she added； and smiled when my eyes widened。 But the look she gave me was serious。
There followed some light talk； and a recipe of mostly fictitious herbs from Kettricken that I promised to do my best to find for her。 I believed I took her meaning。 When I excused myself and went back to my room； I wondered how I would keep her from acting before Chade could。 It was a pretty puzzle。
I had scarcely refastened all my door catches and bars before I felt a draft up my back。 I turned to find the entry to Chade's realm standing ajar。 I climbed the stairs wearily。 I longed to sleep； but knew that once I lay down； I would be unable to close my eyes。
The smell of food enticed me as I entered Chade's chamber； and I was suddenly aware I was hungry。 Chade was already at the small table he had set out。 〃Sit down and eat；〃 he told me tersely。 〃We must plot together。〃
I was two bites into a meat pie when he asked me softly； 〃How long do you think we might keep King Shrewd here； in these chambers； undetected？〃
I chewed and swallowed。 〃I've never been able to find a way into this chamber；〃 I pointed out quietly。
〃Oh； but they do exist。 And as food and other necessities must go in and out of them； there are some few who are aware of them； without knowing exactly what they know。 My warren connects to rooms in the Keep which are regularly stocked with supplies for me。 But my life was much simpler when food and linens were supplied for Lady Thyme。〃
〃How will you fare after Regal is gone to Tradeford？〃 I asked。
〃Likely not as well as I have。 Some tasks will be done out of habit； if those with the habits remain； no doubt。 But as food bees scarcer some will wonder why they store supplies of it in a disused part of the Keep。 But we were speaking of Shrewd's fort； not mine。〃
〃It depends on how Shrewd disappeared。 If Regal thought he had left the Keep by ordinary means； you might keep him hidden here for some time。 But if Regal knows he is within Buckkeep still； he will stop at nothing。 I suspect his first order would be to put men with hammers to work on the walls of the King's bedchamber。〃
〃Direct； but effective；〃 Chade concurred。
〃Have you found a safe place for him； at Bearns or Rippon？〃
〃As swift as that？ Of course not。 We would have to hide him here； for days or perhaps weeks before a place was made ready。 And then he must be smuggled out of the Keep。 It would mean finding men who can be bribed； and knowing when they are on the gate。 Unfortunately； men that can be bribed to do a thing can be bribed to speak of it later。 Unless they had accidents。〃 He looked at me。
〃Let that not be a concern。 There is another way out of Buckkeep；〃 I told him； thinking of my wolf's way。 〃We have another problem also； and that is Kettricken。 She will act on her own if she does not soon know we have a plan。 Her own thoughts have taken her in the same direction as yours。 Tonight she proposed herself taking Shrewd to the Mountains for safety。〃
〃A pregnant woman and a sick old man in midwinter？ Ridiculous。〃 Chade paused。 〃But。 It would never be expected。 They would never look for them on that road。 And with all the flow of folk that Regal has created going up the Buck River； one more woman and her ailing father would scarcely be marked。〃
〃It's still ridiculous；〃 I protested。 I did not like the sparks of interest I had seen kindle in Chade's eyes。 〃Who could go with them？〃
〃Burrich。 It would save him from drinking himself to death from boredom； and he could manage their animals for them。 And likely much else they would need。 Would he go？〃
〃You know he would；〃 I said unwillingly。 〃But Shrewd would never survive such a trip。〃
〃He is more likely to survive such a trip than to survive going with Regal。 That which eats at him will continue to devour his life； wherever he is。〃 He frowned more darkly。
〃But why it eats at him so much more swiftly these days is beyond me to say。〃
〃The cold。 The privation。 It will not help him。〃
〃There are inns for part of the way。 I can find some coin for them yet。 Shrewd looks so little like he used to； we almost need not fear him being recognized。 The Queen would be trickier。 There are few women with her coloring and height。 Still； clothed heavily； we could increase her girth。 Hood her hair； and…〃
〃You cannot be serious。〃
〃Tomorrow night；〃 he replied。 〃We must do something by tomorrow night。 For that is when the sleeping potion I gave Shrewd will wear off。 Another attempt will probably not be made on the Queen until she is on her way to Tradeford。 But once Regal has her in his power； well； so many accidents can happen on a journey。 A slip from a barge into a freezing river； a runaway horse； a meal of bad meat。 If his assassin is half as good as we are； he'll succeed。〃
〃Regal's assassin？〃
Chade gave me a pitying look。 〃You don't suppose our prince is up to spreading grease and lampblack on steps himself； do you？ Who do you think it is？〃
〃Serene。〃 The name popped to my lips。
〃Then most obviously it is not her。 No； we will find it to be some mouse of a man with a pleasant demeanor and a settled life。 If we ever find him out at all。 Ah； well； set it aside for now。 Though there's nothing quite as challenging as stalking another assassin。〃
〃Will；〃 I said quietly。
〃Will what？〃 he asked。
I told him of Will； quickly and quietly。 As he listened his eyes widened。
〃It would be brilliant；〃 he said admiringly。 〃A Skilled assassin。 It's a wonder no one thought of it before。〃
〃Perhaps Shrewd did；〃 I said quietly。 〃But perhaps his assassin failed to learn 。。。。〃
Chade leaned back in his chair。 〃I wonder；〃 he said speculatively。 〃Shrewd is closemouthed enough to have such an idea； and keep it even from me。 But I doubt； myself； that Will is any more than a spy； just now。 A formidable one； and no mistaking that。 You must be especially vigilant。 But I do not think we need fear him as an assassin。〃 He cleared his throat。 〃Ah； well。 The urgency for speed bees ever plainer。 The escape must be made from the King's room。 You must find a way to draw the watchers all off again。〃
〃During the King…in…Waiting ceremony…〃
〃No。 We dare not wait that long。 Tomorrow night。 No later than that。 You need not keep them occupied long。 Just a few minutes will be all I will need。〃
〃We must wait！ Otherwise； the whole plot is impossible。 By tomorrow night； you wish me to have the Queen and Burrich prepared； which means telling them you exist。 And Burrich will have to see to horses and supplies…〃
〃Plug horses。 Nothing fine。 They would be noticed too quickly。 And a litter for the King。〃
〃Plug hors
