rh.royalassassin-第9部分

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h；　I　do　not　know　how　he　contained　himself。　All　plain　about　the　taxes　for　defending　the　coast。　They　sneer；　saying　that　for　all　the　taxes　they　bleed；　the　Raiders　still　came　unlooked　for　in　autumn；　when　the　weather　lasted　fine；　and　burned　two　more　towns。〃　Hands　had　paused；　and　uncertainly　added；　〃But　they　speak　unmonly　well　of　Prince　Regal。　He　passed　through　here　escorting　Kettricken　back　to　Buckkeep。　One　man　at　the　table　called　her　a　great　white　fish　of　a　wife；　fit　for　the　coast　King。　And　another　spoke　up；　saying　that　at　least　Prince　Regal　bore　himself　well　despite　his　hardships；　and　looked　ever　as　a　Prince　should。　Then　they　drank　to　the　Prince's　health　and　long　life。〃
　　　　　　　A　cold　settled　in　me。　I　whispered　back；　〃The　two　Forged　villages。　Did　you　hear　what　ones　they　were？〃
　　　　　　　〃Whalejaw　up　in　Bearns。　And　Siltbay　in　Buck　itself。〃
　　　　　　　The　darkness　settled　darker　around　me；　and　I　lay　watching　it　all　night。
　　　　　　　The　next　morning　we　left　Turlake。　On　horseback。　Overland。　Burrich　would　not　even　let　us　keep　to　the　road。　I　had　protested　in　vain。　He　listened　to　me　plain；　then　took　me　aside；　to　fiercely　demand；　〃Do　you　want　to　die？〃
　　　　　　　I　looked　at　him　blankly。　He　snorted　in　disgust。　。
　　　　　　　〃Fitz；　nothing　has　changed。　You're　still　a　royal　bastard；　and　Prince　Regal　still　regards　you　as　an　obstacle。　He's　tried　to　be　rid　of　you；　not　once；　but　twice。　Do　you　think　he's　going　to　wele　you　back　to　Buckkeep？　No。　Even　better　for　him　if　we　never　make　it　back　at　all。　So　let's　not　make　easy　targets　of　ourselves。　We　go　overland。　If　he　or　his　hirelings　want　us；　they'll　have　to　hunt　us　through　the　woods。　And　he's　never　been　much　of　a　hunter。〃
　　　　　　　〃Wouldn't　Verity　protect　us？〃　I　asked　weakly。
　　　　　　　〃You're　a　King's　Man；　and　Verity　is　king…in…waiting；〃　Burrich　had　pointed　out　shortly。　〃You　protect　your　king；　Fitz。　Not　the　reverse。　Not　that　he　doesn't　think　well　of　you；　and　would　do　all　he　could　to　protect　you。　But　he　has　weightier　matters　to　attend。　Red…Ships。　A　new　bride。　And　a　younger　brother　who　thinks　the　crown　would　sit　better　on　his　own　head。
　　　　　　　No。　Don't　expect　the　King…in…Waiting　to　watch　over　you。　Do　that　for　yourself。〃
　　　　　　　All　I　could　think　of　was　the　extra　days　he　was　putting　between　me　and　my　search　for　Molly。　But　I　did　not　give　that　reason。　I　had　not　told　him　of　my　dream。　Instead；　I　said；　〃Regal　would　have　to　be　crazy　to　try　to　kill　us　again。　Everyone　would　know　he　was　the　murderer。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　crazy；　Fitz。　Just　ruthless。　Regal　is　that。　Let's　not　ever　suppose　that　Regal　abides　by　the　rules　we　observe；　or　even　thinks　as　we　do。　If　Regal　sees　an　opportunity　to　kill　us；　he'll　take　it。　He　won't　care　who　suspects　so　long　as　no　one　can　prove　it。　Verity　is　our　king…in…waiting。　Not　our　king。　Not　yet。　While　King　Shrewd　is　alive　and　on　the　throne；　Regal　will　find　ways　around　his　father。　He　will　get　away　with　many　things。　Even　murder。　〃
　　　　　　　Burrich　had　reined　his　horse　aside　from　the　well…traveled　road；　plunged　off　through　drifts　and　up　the　unmarked　snowy　hillside　beyond；　to　strike　a　straight　course　for　Buckkeep。　Hands　had　looked　at　me　as　if　he　felt　ill。　But　we　had　followed。　And　every　night　when　we　had　slept；　bundled　all　together　in　a　single　tent　for　warmth　instead　of　in　beds　in　a　cozy　inn；　I　had　thought　of　Regal。　Every　floundering　step　up　each　hillside；　leading　our　horses　more　often　than　not；　and　every　cautious　descent；　I　had　thought　of　the　youngest　Prince。　I　tallied　every　extra　hour　between　Molly　and　me。　The　only　times　I　felt　strength　surge　through　me　were　during　my　daydreams　of　battering　Regal　into　ruin。　I　could　not　promise　myself　revenge。　Revenge　was　the　property　of　the　crown。　But　if　I　could　not　have　revenge；　Regal　would　not　have　satisfaction。　I　would　return　to　Buckkeep；　and　I　would　stand　tall　before　him；　and　when　his　black　eye　fell　upon　me；　I　would　not　flinch。　Nor；　I　vowed；　would　Regal　ever　see　me　tremble；　or　catch　at　a　wall　for　support；　or　pass　a　hand　before　my　blurry　eyes。　He　would　never　know　how　close　he　had　e　to　winning　it　all。
　　　　　　　So　at　last　we　rode　to　Buckkeep；　not　up　the　winding　seacoast　road；　but　from　the　forested　hills　behind　her。　The　snow。　dwindled；　then　ceased。　The　night　winds　blew　the　clouds　aside；　and　a　fine　moon　made　Buckkeep's　stone　walls　shine　black　as　jet　against　the　sea。　Light　shone　yellow　in　her　turrets　and　beside　the　side　gate。　〃We're　home；〃　Burrich　said　quietly。　We　rode　down　one　last　hill；　struck　the　road　at　last；　and　rode　around　to　the　great　gate　of　Buckkeep。
　　　　　　　A　young　soldier　stood　night　guard。　He　lowered　his　pike　to　block　our　way　and　demanded　our　names。
　　　　　　　Burrich　pushed　his　hood　back　from　his　face；　but　the　lad　didn't　move。　〃I'm　Burrich；　the　stablemaster！〃　Burrich　informed　him　incredulously。　〃The　stablemaster　here　for　longer　than　you've　been　alive；　most　likely。　I　feel　I　should　be　asking　you　what　your　business　is　here　at　my　gate！〃
　　　　　　　Before　the　flustered　lad　could　reply；　there　was　a　tumble　and　rush　of　soldiers　from　the　guardhouse。　〃It　is　Burrich！〃　the　watch　sergeant　exclaimed。　Burrich　was　instantly　the　center　of　a　cluster　of　men；　all　shouting　greetings　and　talking　at　once　while　Hands　and　I　sat　our　weary　horses　at　the　edge　of　the　hubbub。　The　sergeant；　one　Blade；　finally　shouted　them　to　silence；　mostly　so　he　could　speak　his　own　ments　easily。　〃We　hadn't　looked　for　you　until　spring；　man；〃　the　burly　old　soldier　declared。　〃And　even　then；　we　was　told　you　might　not　be　the　man　that　left　here。　But　you　look　good；　you　do。　A　bit　cold；　and　outlandishly　dressed；　and　another　scar　or　two；　but　yourself　for　all　that。　Word　was　that　you　was　hurt　bad；　and　the　Bastard　like　to　die。　Plague　or　poison；　the　rumors　was。〃
　　　　　　　Burrich　laughed　and　held　out　his　arms　that　all　might　admire　his　Mountain　garb。　For　a　moment　I　saw　Burrich　as　they　must　have　seen　him；　his　purple…and…yellow　quilted　trousers　and　smock　and　buskins。　I　no　longer　wondered　at　how　we　had　been　challenged　at　the　gate。　But　I　did　wonder　at　the　rumors。
　　　　　　　〃Who　said　the　Bastard　would　die？〃　I　demanded　curiously。
　　　　　　　〃Who's　asking？〃　Blade　demanded　in　return。　He　glanced　over　my　garments；　looked　me　in　the　eye；　and　knew　me　not。　But　as　I　sat　up　straighter　on　my　horse；　he　gave　a　start。　To　this　day；　I　believe　he　knew　Sooty　and　that　was　how　he　recognized　me。　He　did　not　cover　his　shock。
　　　　　　　〃Fitz？　There's　hardly　half　of　you　left！　You　look　like　you've　had　the　Blood　Plague。〃　It　was　my　first　inkling　of　just　how　bad　I　looked　to　those　who　knew　me。
　　　　　　　〃Who　said　I　had　been　poisoned；　or　afflicted　with　plague？〃　I　repeated　the　question　quietly。
　　　　　　　Blade　flinched　and　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃Oh；　no　one。　Well；　no　one　in　particular。　You　know　how　it　is。　When　you　didn't　e　back　with　the　others；　well；　some　supposed　this　and　some　that；　and　pretty　soon　it　was　almost　like　we　knew　it。　Rumors；　guardroom　talk。　Soldiers　gossip。　We　wondered　why　you　didn't　e　back；　that　was　all。　No　one　believed　anything　that　was　said。　We　spread　too　many　rumors　ourselves　to　give　gossip　any　credence。　We　just　wondered　why　you　and　Burrich　and　Hands　hadn't　e　back。〃
　　　　　　　He　finally　realized　he　was　repeating　himself　and　fell　silent　before　my　stare。　I　let　the　silence　stretch　long　enough　to　make　it　plain　that　I　didn't　intend　to　answer　this　question。　Then　I　shrugged　it　away。　〃No　harm　done；　Blade。　But　you　can　tell　them　all　the　Bastard　isn't　done　for　yet。　Plagues　or　poisons；　you　should　have　known　Burrich　would　physick　me　through　it。　I'm　alive　and　well；　I　just　look　like　a　corpse。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　Fitz；　lad；　I　didn't　mean　it　that　way。　It's　just　that…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　said；　no　harm　done；　Blade。　Let　it　go。〃
　　　　　　　〃Good　enough；　sir；〃　he　replied。
　　　　　　　I　nodded；　and　looked　at　Burrich　to　find　him　regarding　me　strangely。　When　I　turned　to　exchange　a　puzzled　glance　with　Hands；　I　met　the　same　startlement　on　his　face。　I　could　not　guess　the　reason。
　　　　　　　〃Well；　good　night　to　you；　Sergeant。　Don't　chide　your　man　with　the　pike。　He　did　well　to　stop　strangers　at　Buckkeep's　gate。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　sir。　Good　night；　sir。〃　Blade　gave　me　a　rusty　salute　and　the　great　wooden　gates　swung　wide　before　us　as　we　entered　the　keep。　Sooty　lifted　her　head　and　some　of　the　weariness　fell　from　her。　Behind　me；　Hands's　horse　whinnied　softly　and　Burrich's　snorted。　Never　before　had　the　road　from　the　keep　wall　to　the　stables　seemed　so　long。　As　Hands　dismounted；　Burrich　caught　me　by　the　sleeve　and　held　me　back。　Hands　greeted　the　drowsy　stable　boy　who　appeared　to　light　our　way。
　　　　　　　〃We've　been　some　time　in　the　Mountain　Kingdom；　Fitz；〃　Burrich　cautioned　me　in　a　low　voice。　〃Up　there；　no　one　cares　what　side　of　the　sheets　you　were　born　on。　But　we're　home　now。　Here；　Chivalry's　son　is　not　a　Prince；　but　a　bastard。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　that。〃　I　was　stung　by　his　directness。　〃I've　known　it　all　my　life。　Lived　it　all　my　life。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have；〃　he　conceded。　A　strange　look　stole　over　his　face；　a　smile　half…incredulous　and　half…proud。　〃So　why　are　you　demanding　reports　of　the　sergeant；　and　giving　out　mendations　as　briskly　as　if　you　were　Chivalry　himself？　I　scarce　believed　it；　how　you　spoke；　and　how　those　men　came　to　heel。　You　didn't　even　take　notice　of　how　they　responded　to　you；　you　didn't　even　realize　you'd　stepped　up　and　taken　mand　away　from　me。〃
　　　　　　　I　felt　a　slow　flush　creep　up　my　face。　All　in　the　Mountain　Kingdom　had　treated　me　as