rh.royalassassin-第138部分

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in　the　pathetic　shelter　of　the　alder　copse。　He　would　have　blanketed　the　horses；　no　doubt；　but　that　would　do　little　against　the　sleet　that　now　fell　steadily。　He　had　given　me　the　name　of　the　smithy　where　Sooty　and　Ruddy　had　been　taken。　Somehow　I　must　find　a　way　to　keep　up　the　man's　weekly　bribes；　and　to　check　on　them　often　to　be　sure　they　were　well　cared　for。　This　he　had　made　me　promise　to　entrust　to　no　one　else。　Would　the　Queen　be　able　to　retire　alone　to　her　room？　And　again　and　again；　how　was　I　to　empty　King　Shrewd's　room　that　Chade　might　spirit　him　away？
　　　　　　　A　mutter　of　wonder　broke　me　from　my　reverie。　I　glanced　toward　the　dais　where　everyone　seemed　to　be　staring。　There　was　a　brief　flickering；　and　for　an　instant　one　of　the　white　tapers　burning　there　flickered　blue。　Then　another　spat　a　spark；　and　burned　blue　for　an　instant。　There　was　another　mutter；　but　the　wayward　candles　settled　after　that　to　burning　evenly　and　well。　Neither　Kettricken　nor　King　Shrewd　appeared　to　notice　anything　amiss；　but　the　Fool　sat　up　and　shook　Ratsy　at　the　errant　candles　in　rebuke。
　　　　　　　At　length　Regal　did　appear；　resplendent　in　red　velvet　and　white　silk。　A　little　maid　walked　before　him；　swinging　a　censer　of　sandalwood　incense。　Regal　smiled　upon　all　as　he　advanced　leisurely　toward　the　throne；　meeting　many　an　eye　and　nodding　many　an　acknowledgment　on　his　way　to　that　high　seat。　I　am　sure　it　did　not　go　off　so　finely　as　Regal　had　planned。　King　Shrewd　faltered　and　then　looked　puzzled　over　the　scroll　that　had　been　given　him　to　read。　At　length　Kettricken　took　it　from　his　shaky　hands；　and　he　smiled　up　at　her　as　she　read　aloud　the　words　that　must　have　cut　her　to　the　heart。　It　was　a　careful　listing　of　the　children　that　King　Shrewd　had　sired；　including　a　daughter　who　had　died　in　infancy；　by　the　order　of　their　births；　and　then　by　order　of　their　deaths；　all　leading　up　to　Regal　as　sole　survivor　and　legitimate　heir。　She　did　not　hesitate　at　Verity's　name；　but　read　aloud　the　brief　statement　〃Lost　to　misfortune　while　on　a　quest　to　the　Mountain　Kingdom〃　…　as　if　it　were　an　ingredient　list。　Of　the　child　she　carried；　no　mention　was　made。　A　child　as　yet　unborn　was　an　heir；　but　not　a　King…in…Waiting。
　　　　　　　The　child　could　not　step　forward　to　claim　that　title　until　he　or　she　was　at　least　sixteen。
　　　　　　　Kettricken　had　taken　from　Verity's　chest　the　simple　silver　circlet　with　the　blue　gem　that　was　crown　for　a　King…in…Waiting；　and　the　pendant　of　gold　and　emerald　in　the　shape　of　a　leaping　buck。　These　she　passed　first　to　King　Shrewd；　who　looked　down　at　them　as　if　bewildered。　He　made　no　move　to　bestow　them　upon　Regal。　At　length　Regal　reached　for　them；　and　Shrewd　allowed　him　to　take　them　out　of　his　hands。　And　so　Regal　set　the　crown　upon　his　own　head；　and　slipped　the　pendant　about　his　own　neck；　and　stood　before　us　all；　the　new　King…in…Waiting　of　the　Six　Duchies。
　　　　　　　Chade's　timing　was　slightly　off。　The　candles　did　not　seriously　begin　to　flicker　blue　until　the　Dukes　were　wending　their　ways　forward　to　pledge　once　more　to　House　Farseer。　Regal　tried　to　ignore　this　phenomenon；　until　the　muttering　of　the　folk　threatened　to　drown　out　Duke　Ram　of　Tilth's　oath。　Then　Regal　turned　and　casually　pinched　out　the　offending　candle。　I　admired　his　aplomb；　especially　when　a　second　candle　almost　immediately　went　blue；　and　he　repeated　the　gesture。　I　myself　thought　it　was　a　bit　too　much　of　a　portent　when　a　torch　set　in　a　sconce　by　the　main　door　suddenly　whooshed　out　a　blue　flame　and　a　foul　stench　before　it　guttered　dark。　All　eyes　had　turned　to　watch　it。　Regal　waited　it　out；　but　I　saw　the　clench　of　his　jaw　and　the　tiny　vein　that　throbbed　on　his　temple。
　　　　　　　I　do　not　know　how　he　had　planned　to　end　his　ceremony；　but　he　brought　it　to　a　rather　abrupt　close　after　that。　At　his　curt　signal；　minstrels　struck　up　abruptly；　while　at　another　nod　the　doors　opened　and　men　bore　in　table　boards　already　laden；　while　boys　hastened　after　them　with　the　trestles　to　set　them　upon。　At　least　for　this　feast　he　had　spared　nothing；　and　the　well…prepared　meats　and　pastries　were　weled　by　all。　If　there　seemed　to　be　something　of　a　shortage　of　bread；　no　one　thought　to　plain　of　it。　Cloths　and　tables　had　been　set　in　the　Lesser　Hall　for　the　grand　folk；　and　thither　I　saw　Kettricken　slowly　escorting　King　Shrewd　while　the　Fool　and　Rosemary　trailed　after　them。　For　those　of　us　with　lesser　rank；　there　were　simpler　but　plentiful　foods　to　hand　and　a　cleared　floor　for　dancing。
　　　　　　　I　had　planned　to　make　myself　a　hearty　meal　at　the　feasting；　but　again　and　again　I　was　accosted　by　men　who　clapped　my　shoulder　too　firmly　or　women　who　met　my　eyes　too　knowingly。　The　Coastal　Dukes　were　at　table　with　the　other　high　nobles；　ostensibly　breaking　bread　with　Regal　and　cementing　their　new　relationship　to　him。　I　had　been　told　that　all　three　Coastal　Dukes　would　know　I　concurred　with　their　plan。　It　was　unnerving　to　find　evidence　that　this　was　known　among　the　lesser　nobility　as　well。　Celerity　made　no　overt　claim　upon　me　as　escort；　but　made　me　nervously　aware　of　myself　by　following　me　about　as　mutely　as　a　hound。　I　could　not　turn　but　I　found　her　a　half…dozen　steps　away。　Plainly　she　wished　me　to　speak　to　her；　but　I　did　not　trust　my　wits　to　find　suitable　words。　I　almost　broke　when　a　lesser　noble　from　Shoaks　casually　asked　me　if　I　thought　any　of　the　warships　would　be　harbored　as　far　south　as　False　Bay。
　　　　　　　With　a　sinking　heart；　I　suddenly　realized　my　error。　None　of　them　feared　Regal。　They　saw　no　danger；　only　a　spoiled　popinjay　of　a　boy　who　wished　to　wear　fine　clothes　and　a　circlet　and　claim　a　title　to　himself。　They　believed　he　would　go　away　and　they　could　ignore　him。　I　knew　better。
　　　　　　　I　knew　what　Regal　was　capable　of；　in　search　of　power；　or　on　a　whim；　or　simply　because　he　believed　he　could　get　away　with　it。　He　would　leave　Buckkeep。　He　did　not　want　it。　But　if　he　thought　I　did；　he　would　do　everything　within　his　power　to　see　that　I　did　not　get　it。　I　was　supposed　to　be　dumped　here；　like　a　stray；　left　to　starve　or　be　raided。　Not　ascend　to　power　on　the　wreckage　he　had　left。
　　　　　　　If　I　were　not　very　careful；　they　would　get　me　killed。　Or　worse；　if　there　was　anything　Regal　could　devise　that　he　saw　as　worse。
　　　　　　　Twice　I　tried　to　slip　away；　and　each　time　was　cornered　by　someone　who　wanted　a　quiet　moment　of　talk　with　me。　I　finally　pleaded　a　headache　and　openly　announced　I　was　seeking　my　bed。　Then　I　must　be　resigned　to　at　least　a　dozen　folk　hastening　to　wish　me　good　night　before　I　retired。　Just　as　I　thought　I　was　free　Celerity　touched　a　shy　hand　to　mine　and　wished　me　good　night　in　such　a　dispirited　voice　that　I　knew　that　I　had　hurt　her　feelings。　That；　I　think；　rattled　me　more　than　anything　else　that　evening。　I　thanked　her　and；　in　my　most　cowardly　act　of　that　night；　dared　to　kiss　her　fingertips。　The　resurgence　of　light　in　her　eyes　shamed　me。　I　fled　up　the　stairs。　As　I　climbed　them　I　wondered　how　Verity　had　ever　stood　this　sort　of　thing；　or　my　father。　If　I　had　ever　thought　or　dreamed　of　being　a　real　Prince　instead　of　a　bastard；　I　abandoned　the　dream　that　night。　It　was　entirely　too　public　a　profession。　With　a　sinking　heart；　I　realized　that　this　was　how　life　would　be　for　me　until　Verity　returned。　The　illusion　of　power　clung　to　me　now；　and　too　many　would　be　dazzled　by　it。
　　　　　　　I　went　to　my　own　chamber　and；　with　great　relief；　changed　into　sensible　clothes。　As　I　tugged　on　my　shirt　I　felt　the　tiny　bulge　of　Wallace's　poison；　still　sewn　into　my　cuff。　Perhaps；　I　reflected　bitterly；　it　would　bring　me　luck。　I　left　my　room　and　then　mitted　possibly　my　most　foolish　act　of　the　evening。　I　went　up　to　Molly's　chamber。　The　servants'　hall　was　empty；　the　corridor　but　dimly　lit　with　two　wavering　torches。　I　tapped　at　her　door。　There　was　no　reply。　I　tried　the　latch　softly；　but　it　was　not　fastened。　The　door　swung　open　at　my　touch。
　　　　　　　Darkness。　Emptiness。　The　small　hearth　held　no　fire。　I　found　a　bit　of　a　candle　and　kindled　it　at　a　torch。　Then　I　went　back　in　her　room　and　shut　the　door。　I　stood　there　while　the　devastation　finally　became　real。　It　was　all　too　Molly。　The　stripped　bed；　the　hearth　swept　clean；　but　with　a　small　stack　of　wood　set　ready　for　a　fire　for　the　next　resident：　Those　were　the　touches　that　told　me　she　had　tidied　herself　out　of　the　room。　Not　a　ribbon；　not　a　taper；　not　even　a　scrap　of　wicking　remained　of　the　woman　who　had　lived　a　servant's　life　here。　The　ewer　set　upside　down　in　the　basin　to　keep　the　dust　out。　I　sat　in　her　chair　before　the　cold　hearth；　I　opened　her　clothing　chest　and　peered　within。　But　it　was　not　her　chair；　or　hearth；　or　chest。　These　were　just　objects　she　had　touched　in　the　brief　time　she　had　been　here。
　　　　　　　Molly　was　gone。
　　　　　　　She　wasn't　ing　back。
　　　　　　　I　had　held　myself　together　by　refusing　to　think　of　her。　This　empty　room　jerked　the　blindfold　from　my　eyes。　I　looked　into　myself　and　despised　what　I　saw。　I　wished　I　could　call　back　the　kiss　I　had　placed　on　Celerity's　fingertips。　Balm　for　a　girl's　wounded　pride；　or　the　lure　to　bind　her　and　her　father　to　me？　I　no　longer　knew　which　it　had　been。　Neither　could　be　justified。　Both　were　wrong；　if　I　believed　at　all　in　the　love　I　had　pledged　to　Molly。　That　one　act　was　proof　I　was　guilty　of　all　she　had　charged　me　with。　I　would　always　put　the　Farseers　ahead　of　her。　I　had　dangled　marriage　before　Molly　like　bait；