rh.royalassassin-第32部分

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ng；　I　had　encountered　only　the　officious　Wallace。　Wallace　had　been　most　brusque　with　me；　as　if　I　were　e　simply　to　pass　the　time　of　day；　rather　than　to　report　after　a　mission。　He　behaved　as　if　the　King　were　the　most　delicate　of　invalids　and　took　it　upon　himself　to　keep　anyone　from　bothering　him。　Wallace；　I　decided；　had　not　been　very　well　taught　as　to　what　the　duties　of　his　position　were。　He　was　a　most　annoying　man。　As　I　talked　I　was　wondering　how　long　it　would　take　Molly　to　find　the　wintergreen。　She　must　know　I　had　meant　it　for　her；　it　was　a　taste　she　had　always　been　greedy　for　when　we　were　children。
　　　　　　　Wallace　came　to　the　door　and　opened　it　a　crack　to　peer　out。　He　frowned　at　discovering　me。　He　swung　the　door　wider；　but　filled　the　opening　with　his　body；　as　if　my　glimpsing　the　King　might　do　him　harm。　He　gave　me　no　greeting；　only　demanded；　〃Did　not　you　e　before；　earlier　today？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　I　did。　At　that　time　you　told　me　King　Shrewd　slept。　And　so　I　have　e　again；　to　make　my　report。〃　I　tried　to　keep　my　tone　civil。
　　　　　　　〃Ah。　It　is　important；　this　report？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　think　the　King　can　judge　if　it　is；　and　send　me　away　if　he　thinks　I　waste　his　time。　I　suggest　you　tell　him　I　am　here。〃　I　smiled　belatedly；　trying　to　soften　the　sharpness　of　my　tone。
　　　　　　　〃The　King　has　little　energy。　I　try　to　see　that　he　expends　it　only　where　it　is　needed。〃　He　wasn't　moving　from　the　door。　I　found　myself　sizing　him　up；　wondering　if　I　could　just　shoulder　past　him。　That　would　create　a　motion；　and　if　the　King　were　ill；　I　did　not　wish　that。　Someone　tapped　on　my　shoulder；　but　when　I　turned　to　look；　no　one　was　there。　Turning　back；　I　found　the　Fool　in　front　of　me；　between　Wallace　and　me。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　his　physician；　then；　to　make　such　judgments？〃　The　Fool　took　up　my　conversation　for　me。　〃For　surely；　you　would　be　an　excellent　one。　You　physick　me　merely　with　your　looks；　and　your　words　dispel　your　wind　as　well　as　mine。　How　physicked　then　must　our　dear　king　be；　who　languishes　all　day　in　your　presence？〃
　　　　　　　The　Fool　bore　a　tray　covered　with　a　napkin。　I　smelled　good　beef　broth　and　egg　bread　warm　from　the　oven。　His　winter　motley　of　black　and　white　he　had　made　merry　with　enameled　bells　and　a　garland　of　holly　banded　his　cap。　His　fool's　scepter　was　tucked　up　under　his　arm。　A　rat　again。　This　one　had　been　set　atop　the　wand　as　if　prancing。　I　had　observed　him　holding　long　conversations　with　it　in　front　of　the　Great　Hearth；　or　on　the　steps　before　the　King's　throne。
　　　　　　　〃Begone；　Fool！　You've　been　in　here　twice　today　already。　The　King　has　already　gone　to　his　bed。　He　has　no　need　of　you。〃　The　man　spoke　sternly。　But　Wallace　was　the　one　who　retreated；　without　intending　to。　I　saw　he　was　one　of　those　people　who　could　not　meet　the　Fool's　pale　eyes；　and　quailed　from　the　touch　of　his　white　hand。
　　　　　　　〃Twice　shall　be　thrice；　Wall　Ass；　dear；　and　your　presence　replaced　with　my　presents。　Toddle　off　hence；　and　tell　Regal　all　your　tattling。　If　walls　have　ears；　then　so　must　you；　for　you've　already　the　Wall's　Ass。　Such　ears　are　filled　to　overflowing　with　the　King's　business。　You　might　physick　our　dear　prince　while　you　enlighten　him。　For　the　darkness　of　his　glance；　methinks；　betokens　that　his　bowels　have　backed　up　so　far　as　to　blind　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃Dare　you　speak　so　of　the　Prince？〃　Wallace　sputtered。　The　Fool　was　already　inside　the　door　and　I　on　his　heels。　〃He　shall　hear　of　this。〃
　　　　　　　〃Speak　so？　Speak；　sow。　I　doubt　not　that　he　hears　all　that　you　do。　Do　not　vent　your　wind　at　me；　Wall　Ass　dear。　Save　that　for　your　prince；　who　delights　in　such　puffing。　He　is　at　his　smokes　now；　I　believe；　and　you　might　gust　at　him　and　he　shall　drowse　and　nod　and　think　you　speak　wisely　and　your　airs　most　sweet。〃
　　　　　　　The　Fool　continued　his　advance　as　he　nattered　on；　the　laden　tray　like　a　shield　before　him。　Wallace　gave　ground　readily；　and　the　Fool　forced　him　back；　through　the　sitting　room　and　into　the　King's　bedchamber。　There　the　Fool　set　the　tray　down　at　the　King's　bedside　while　Wallace　retreated　to　the　other　door　of　the　chamber。　The　Fool's　eyes　grew　brighter。
　　　　　　　〃Ah；　not　abed　at　all；　our　king；　unless　you've　hidden　him　under　coverlets；　Wall　Ass；　my　sweet。　e　out；　e　out；　my　king；　my　Shrewd　one。　King　Shrewd　you　are；　not　king　of　shrews　to　hide　and　creep　about　the　walls　and　under　the　bedding。〃　The　Fool　began　to　poke　so　assiduously　among　the　obviously　empty　bed　and　coverlets；　and　to　send　his　rat　scepter　peeping　up　among　the　bed　curtains；　that　I　could　not　contain　my　laughter。
　　　　　　　Wallace　leaned　back　against　the　inner　door；　as　if　to　guard　it　from　us；　but　at　that　instant　it　opened　from　within；　and　he　all　but　tumbled　into　the　King's　arms。　He　sat　down　heavily　on　the　floor。　〃Mind　him！〃　the　Fool　observed　to　me。　〃See　how　he　seeks　to　put　himself　in　my　place　before　the　King's　feet；　and　to　play　the　fool　with　his　clumsy　pratfalls。　Such　a　man　deserves　the　title　Fool；　but　not　the　post！〃
　　　　　　　Shrewd　stood　there；　robed　as　for　rest；　a　frown　of　vexation　on　his　face。　He　looked　down　in　puzzlement　at　Wallace　on　the　floor；　and　up　at　the　Fool　and　me　waiting　for　him；　and　then　dismissed　whatever　the　situation　was。　He　spoke　to　Wallace　as　he　scrabbled　to　his　feet。　〃This　steam　does　me　no　good　at　all；　Wallace。　It　but　makes　my　head　ache　all　the　more；　and　leaves　a　foul　taste　in　my　mouth　as　well。　Take　it　away；　and　tell　Regal　I　think　his　new　herb　might　drive　flies　away；but　not　sickness。　Take　it　away　now；　before　it　stinks　up　this　room　as　well。　Ah；　Fool；　you　are　here。　And　Fitz；　you　have　finally　e　to　report　as　well。　e　in；　sit　down。　Wallace；　do　you　hear　me？　Remove　that　wretched　pot！　No；　do　not　bring　it　through　here；　take　it　out　the　other　way。〃　And　with　a　wave　of　his　hand；　Shrewd　swatted　the　man　away　as　if　he　had　been　an　annoying　fly。
　　　　　　　Shrewd　shut　the　door　to　his　bathing　room　firmly；　as　if　to　keep　the　stink　from　spreading　into　his　bedchamber；　and　came　to　take　a　straight…backed　chair　by　the　fire。　In　a　moment　the　Fool　had　drawn　a　table　up　beside　it；　the　cloth　covering　the　food　had　bee　a　tablecloth；　and　he　had　set　out　food　for　the　King　as　prettily　as　any　serving　maid　could　have　done。　Silverware　and　a　napkin　appeared；　a　sleight　of　hand　that　had　even　Shrewd　smiling；　and　then　the　Fool　folded　himself　up　on　the　hearth；　knees　nearly　to　his　ears；　chin　cupped　in　his　long…fingered　hands；　pale　skin　and　hair　picking　up　red　tones　from　the　fire's　dancing　flames。　His　every　move　was　as　graceful　as　a　dancer's　and　the　pose　he　struck　now　was　artful　as　well　as　ical。　The　King　reached　down　to　smooth　his　flying　hair　as　if　the　Fool　were　a　kitten。
　　　　　　　〃I　told　you　I　was　not　hungry；　Fool。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　you　did。　But　you　did　not　tell　me　not　to　bring　food。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　if　I　had？〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　I　should　tell　you　this　is　not　food；　but　a　steaming　pot　such　as　Wall　Ass　afflicts　you　with；　to　fill　your　nostrils　with　a　scent　at　least　more　pleasing　than　his。　And　this　be　not　bread；　but　a　plaster　for　your　tongue；　which　you　should　apply　at　once。〃
　　　　　　　〃Ah。〃　King　Shrewd　drew　his　table　a　bit　closer　and　took　up　a　spoonful　of　the　soup。　Barley　shouldered　against　bits　of　carrot　and　meat　in　it。　Shrewd　tasted；　and　then　began　to　eat。
　　　　　　　〃Am　I　not　at　least　as　good　a　physician　as　Wall　Ass？〃　the　Fool　purred；　well　pleased　with　himself。
　　　　　　　〃Well　you　know　Wallace　is　not　a　physician；　but　simply　my　servant。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well　I　know　it；　and　well　do　you；　but　Wall　Ass　knows　it　not；　and　hence　you　are　not　well。〃
　　　　　　　〃Enough　of　your　nattering。　Step　up；　Fitz；　don't　stand　there　grinning　like　a　simpleton。　What　have　you　to　tell　me？〃
　　　　　　　I　glanced　at　the　Fool；　and　then　decided　I　would　insult　neither　King　nor　Fool　by　asking　if　I　could　report　freely　in　front　of　him。　So　I　did；　a　simple　report；　with　no　mention　of　my　more　clandestine　actions　other　than　their　results。　Shrewd　listened　gravely；　and　at　the　end　he　had　no　ment；　other　than　to　rebuke　me　mildly　for　poor　manners　at　the　Duke's　table。　He　then　asked　if　Duke　Brawndy　of　Bearns　seemed　well　and　content　with　the　peace　in　his　Duchy。　I　replied　that　he　had　when　I　left。　Shrewd　nodded。　Then　he　requested　the　scrolls　I　had　copied。　These　I　took　out　and　displayed　for　him；　and　was　rewarded　by　a　pliment　on　the　gracefulness　of　my　handiwork。　He　told　me　to　take　them　to　Verity's　map　room；　and　be　sure　Verity　knew　of　them。　He　asked　if　I　had　viewed　the　Elderling's　relic。　I　described　it　to　him　in　detail。　And　all　the　while　the　Fool　perched　on　the　hearthstones　and　watched　us　silent　as　an　owl。　King　Shrewd　ate　his　soup　and　bread　under　the　Fool's　watchful　eyes　as　I　read　the　scroll　aloud　to　him。　When　I　was　finished；　he　sighed　and　leaned　back　in　his　chair。　〃So；　let's　see　this　scrollwork　of　yours；〃　he　manded；　and　puzzled；　I　surrendered　it　to　him。　Once　more　he　looked　it　over　carefully；　then　re…rolled　it。　As　he　gave　it　back　to　me　he　said；　〃You've　a　graceful　way　with　a　pen；　boy。　Well　lettered　and　well　done。　Take　it　to　Verity's　map　room；　and　see　that　he　knows　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；　my　king。〃　I　faltered；　confused。　I　did　not　understand　his　motive　in　repeating　himself；　and　was　unsure　if　he　were　waiting　for　some　other　response　from　me。　But　the　Fool　was　rising；　and　I　caught　from　him　something　less　than　a　glance；　not　quite　the　lift　of　an　eyebrow；　not　quite　the　turn　of　a　lip；　but　enough　to　bid　me　to　silence。　The　Fool　gathered　up　the　dishes；　all　the　while　maki