rh.royalassassin-第28部分
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on that at one time bastards were drowned at birth。 The old ways of El demanded it； she said。 I could have ignored the remark； had she not leaned across the table to smilingly ask me； 〃Have you never heard of that custom； bastard？〃
I looked up to Duke Brawndy's seat at the head of the table； but he was engaged in a lively discussion with his eldest daughter。 He didn't even glance my way。 〃I believe it is as old as the custom of one guest's courtesy to another at their host's table；〃 I replied。 I tried to keep my eyes and voice steady。 Bait。 Brawndy had seated me across the table from her as bait。 Never before had I been so blatantly used。 I steeled myself to it； tried to set personal feelings aside。 At least I was ready。
〃Some would say it was a sign of the degeneracy of the Farseer line； that your father came unchaste to his wedding bed。 I； of course； would not speak against my king's family。 But tell me。 How did your mother's people accept her whoredom？〃
I smiled pleasantly。 I suddenly had fewer qualms about my task。 〃I do not recall much of my mother or her kin；〃 I offered conversationally。 〃But I imagine they believed as I do。 Better to be a whore； or the child of a whore； than a traitor to one's king。〃
I lifted my wineglass and turned my eyes back to Celerity。 Her dark blue eyes widened and she gasped as Virago's belt knife plunged into Brawndy's table but inches from my elbow。 I had expected it and did not flinch。 Instead； I turned to meet her eyes。 Virago stood in her table place； eyes blazing and nostrils flared。 Her heightened color enflamed her beauty。
I spoke mildly。 〃Tell me。 You teach the old ways； do you not？ Do you not then hold to the one that forbids the shedding of blood in a house where you are a guest？〃
〃Are you not unbloodied？〃 she asked by way of reply。
〃As are you。 I would not shame my duke's table by letting it be said that he had allowed guests to kill one another over his bread。 Or do you care as little for your courtesy to your duke as you do your loyalty to your king？〃
〃I have sworn no loyalty to your soft Farseer king；〃 she hissed。
Folk shifted； some unfortably； some for a better vantage。 So some had e to witness her challenge me； at Brawndy's table。 All of this had been as carefully planned as any battle campaign。 Would she know how well I had planned also？ Did she suspect the tiny package in my cuff？ I spoke boldly； pitching my voice to carry。 〃I have heard of you。 I think that those you tempt to follow you into treachery would be wiser to go to Buckkeep。 King…in…Waiting Verity has issued a call for those skilled in arms to e and man his new warships and bear those arms against the Outislanders； who are enemy to us all。 That； I think； would be a better measure of a warrior's skill。 Is not that more honorable a pursuit than to turn against leaders one has sworn to； or to waste bull's blood down a cliffside by moonlight； when the same meat might go to feed our kin despoiled by Red…Ships？〃
I spoke passionately； and my voice grew in volume as she stared at how much I knew。 I found myself caught up in my own words； for I believed them。 I leaned across the table； over Virago's plate and cup； to thrust my face close to hers as I asked； 〃Tell me； brave one。 Have you ever lifted arms against one who was not your own countryman？ Against a Red…Ship crew？ I thought not。 Far easier to insult a host's hospitality； or maim a neighbor's son； than to kill one who came to kill our own。〃
Words were not Virago's best weapon。 Enraged； she spat at me。
I leaned back； calmly； to wipe my face clean。 〃Perhaps you would care to challenge me； in a more appropriate time and place。 Perhaps a week hence； on the cliffs where you so boldly slew the cow's husband？ Perhaps I； a scribe； might present you more of a challenge than your bovine warrior did？〃
Duke Brawndy suddenly deigned to notice the disturbance。 〃FitzChivalry！ Virago！〃 he rebuked us。 But our gazes remained locked； my hands planted to either side of her place setting as I leaned to confront her。
I think the man beside her might have challenged me also； had not Duke Brawndy then slammed his salt bowl against the table； near shattering it； and reminded us forcefully that this was his table and his hall and he'd have no blood shed in it。 He； at least； was capable of honoring both King Shrewd and the old ways at once； and suggested we attempt to do the same。 I apologized most humbly and eloquently； and Virago muttered her 〃sorrys。〃 The meal resumed； and the minstrels sang； and over the next few days I copied the scroll for Verity and viewed the Elderling relic； which looked like nothing to me so much as a glass vial of very fine fish scales。 Celerity seemed more impressed with me than I was fortable with。 The other side of that coin was facing the cold animosity in the faces of those who sided with Virago。 It was a long week。
I never had to fight my challenge； for before the week was out； Virago's tongue and mouth had broken out in the boils and sores that were the legendary punishment for one who lied to arms panions and betrayed spoken vows。 She scarce was able to drink； let alone eat； and so disfiguring was her affliction that all those close to her forsook her pany for fear it spread to them as well。 Her pain was such that she could not go forth into the cold to fight； and there was no one willing to stand her challenge for her。 I waited on the cliffs； for a challenger who never came。 Celerity waited with me； as did perhaps a score of minor nobles that Duke Brawndy had urged to attend me。 We made casual talk； and drank entirely too much brandy to keep ourselves warm。 As evening fell； a messenger from the keep came to tell us that Virago had left Ripplekeep； but not to face her challenger。 She had ridden away； inland。 Alone。 Celerity clasped her hands together； and then astonished me with a hug。 We returned chilled but merry to enjoy one more meal at Ripplekeep before my departure for Buckkeep。 Brawndy sat me at his left hand； and Celerity beside me。
〃You know；〃 he observed to me； toward the end of the meal。 〃Your likeness to your father bees more remarkable every year。〃
All of the brandy in Bearns could not have defeated the chill his words sent through me。
CHAPTER SIX
Forged Ones
THE TWO SONS of Queen Constance and King Shrewd Were Chivalry and Verity。 Only two years separated their births； and they grew up as close as two brothers can be。 Chivalry was the eldest； and the first to assume the title King…in…Waiting on his sixteenth birthday。 He was almost immediately dispatched by his father to deal with a border dispute with the Chalced States。 From that time on； he was seldom at Buckkeep for more than a few months at a time。 Even after Chivalry had married； he was seldom allowed to spend his days at rest。 It was not so much that there were so many border uprisings at that time as that Shrewd seemed intent on formalizing his boundaries with all his neighbors。 Many of these disputes were settled with the sword； though as time went on； Chivalry became more astute at employing diplomacy first。
Some said that assigning Chivalry to this task was the plot of his stepmother； Queen Desire； who hoped to send him to his death。 Others say it was Shrewd's way of putting his eldest son out of his new queen's sight and authority。 Prince Verity； condemned by his youth to remain at home； made formal application to his father every month to be allowed to follow his brother。 All of Shrewd's efforts to interest him in responsibilities of his own were wasted。 Prince Verity performed the tasks given him； but never let anyone think for a moment that he would not rather be with his older brother。 At last； on Verity's twentieth birthday； after six years of requesting monthly to be allowed to follow his brother； Shrewd reluctantly conceded to him。
From then； until the day four years later when Chivalry abdicated and Verity assumed the title King…in…Waiting； the two Princes worked as one in formalizing boundaries； treaties； and trade agreements with the lands bordering the Six Duchies。 Prince Chivalry's talent was for dealing with people； as individuals or as a folk。 Verity's was for the detail of agreements； the precise maps that delineated agreed borders； and the supporting of his brother in his authority both as a soldier and as a prince。
Prince Regal； youngest of Shrewd's sons and his only child with Queen Desire； spent his youth at home at court； where his mother made every effort to groom him as a candidate for the throne。
I traveled home to Buckkeep with a sense of relief。 It was not the first time I had performed such a task for my king； but I had never developed a relish for my work as an assassin。 I was glad at how Virago had insulted me and baited me； for it had made my task bearable。 And yet； she had been a very beautiful woman； and a skilled warrior。 It was a waste； and I took no pride in my work； save that I had obeyed my king's mand。 Such were my thoughts as Sooty carried me up the last rise toward home。
I looked up the hill； and scarce could believe what I saw。 Kettr
