rh.theassassinsapprentice-第77部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


says　to　listen　to　Regal。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　all？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　was　busy。　And　very　irritated。　Now　leave　me　alone。　I　fear　you've　made　me　a　fool　before　my　king。〃
　　　　　　　There　were　a　dozen　witty　replies　I　could　have　made　to　that。　But　I　let　him　walk　away。　I　wondered　if　he　had　Skilled　to　King　Shrewd　at　all。　I　sat　down　on　the　stone　bench　and　reflected　that　I　had　gained　nothing　at　all　and　wasted　much　time。　The　temptation　came　and　I　tried　it。　I　closed　my　own　eyes；　breathed；　focused；　opened　myself。　Shrewd；　my　king。
　　　　　　　Nothing。　No　reply。　I　doubt　that　I　Skilled　at　all。　I　rose　and　went　back　into　the　palace。
　　　　　　　Again　that　day；　at　noon；　Kettricken　ascended　the　dais　alone。　Her　words　today　were　just　as　simple　as　she　announced　that　she　was　binding　herself　to　the　people　of　the　Six　Duchies。　From　this　moment　hence　she　was　their　Sacrifice；　in　all　things；　for　any　reason　that　they　manded　it　of　her。　And　then　she　thanked　her　own　people；　blood　of　her　blood；　who　had　raised　her　and　treated　her　well；　and　reminded　them　she　did　not　change　her　allegiance　out　of　any　lack　of　affection　for　them；　but　only　in　the　hopes　that　it　would　benefit　both　peoples。　Again　the　silence　held　as　she　descended　the　steps。　Tomorrow　would　be　her　day　to　pledge　herself　to　Verity　as　a　woman　to　a　man。　From　what　I　understood；　Regal　and　August　would　stand　beside　her　tomorrow　in　Verity's　stead；　and　August　would　Skill　so　that　Verity　might　see　his　bride　make　her　pledge　to　him。
　　　　　　　The　day　dragged　for　me。　Jonqui　came　and　took　me　to　visit　the　Blue　Fountains。　I　did　my　best　to　be　interested　and　pleasant。　We　returned　to　the　palace　for　more　minstrels　and　feasting　and　that　evening's　displays　of　arts　by　the　mountain　people。　Jugglers　and　acrobats　performed；　and　dogs　did　tricks　and　swordsmen　displayed　their　prowess　in　staged　bouts。　Blue　smoke　was　very　much　in　evidence；　and　many　were　indulging；　swinging　their　tiny　censers　before　them　as　they　milled　about　and　talked　to　one　another。　I　understood　that　for　them；　it　was　like　a　carris…seed　cake；　a　holiday　indulgence；　but　I　avoided　the　trailing　smoke　of　the　burn　pots。　I　had　to　keep　a　clear　head。　Chade　had　supplied　me　with　a　potion　to　clear　the　head　of　wine　fumes；　but　I　had　and　knew　of　none　for　smoke。　And　I　was　unused　to　smoke。　I　found　a　clearer　corner　and　stood　apparently　enraptured　by　a　minstrel's　song；　but　watching　Regal　over　his　shoulder。
　　　　　　　Regal　sat　at　a　table；　flanked　by　two　brass　burners。　A　very　reserved　August　sat　a　slight　ways　from　him。　From　time　to　time　they　spoke；　August　seriously；　the　Prince　dismissively。　I　was　not　close　enough　to　hear　the　words；　but　I　saw　my　name　and　Skill　from　August's　lips。　I　saw　Kettricken　approach　Regal；　and　noted　that　she　avoided　being　in　the　direct　draft　of　the　smoke。　Regal　spoke　long　to　her；　smiling　and　languid；　and　reached　once　to　tap　her　hand　and　the　silver　rings　she　wore。　He　seemed　to　be　one　of　those　that　the　smoke　made　talkative　and　boastful。　She　seemed　to　teeter　like　a　bird　on　a　branch；　now　drawing　closer　to　him　and　smiling；　now　drawing　back　and　being　more　formal。　Then　Rurisk　came　to　stand　behind　his　sister。　He　spoke　to　Regal　briefly　and　then　took　Kettricken's　arm　and　drew　her　away。　Sevrens　appeared　and　replenished　Regal's　burners。　Regal　gave　a　foolish　smile　of　thanks　and　said　something；　indicating　the　whole　hall　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　Sevrens　laughed；　and　left。　Shortly　afterward；　Cob　and　Rowd　arrived　to　speak　to　Regal。　August　rose　and　stalked　indignantly　off。　Regal　glared　and　sent　Cob　to　fetch　him　back。　August　came；　but　not　graciously。　Regal　rebuked；　and　August　glowered；　then　lowered　his　eyes　and　conceded。　I　wished　desperately　that　I　were　close　enough　to　hear　what　was　said。　Something；　I　felt；　was　definitely　afoot。　It　might　be　nothing　to　do　with　me　and　my　task。　But　somehow　I　doubted　it。
　　　　　　　I　went　over　my　meager　store　of　facts；　feeling　sure　I　was　missing　the　significance　of　something。　But　I　also　wondered　if　I　was　not　deceiving　myself。　Perhaps　I　was　overreacting　to　everything。　Perhaps　the　safest　course　was　simply　to　do　as　Regal　told　me　and　let　him　accept　the　responsibility。　Perhaps　I　should　save　time　and　cut　my　own　throat。
　　　　　　　I　could；　of　course；　go　directly　to　Rurisk；　tell　him　that　despite　my　best　efforts；　Regal　still　wanted　him　dead；　and　beg　asylum　of　him。　After　all；　who　would　not　find　attractive　a　trained　assassin　who　had　already　turned　on　one　master？
　　　　　　　I　could　tell　Regal　I　was　going　to　kill　Rurisk　and　then　simply　not　do　it。　I　thought　carefully　about　that。
　　　　　　　I　could　tell　Regal　I　was　going　to　kill　Rurisk；　and　then　kill　Regal　instead。　The　smoke；　I　told　myself。　Only　the　smoke　made　that　sound　so　wise。
　　　　　　　I　could　go　to　Burrich　and　tell　him　I　was　really　an　assassin　and　ask　his　advice　about　my　situation。
　　　　　　　I　could　take　the　Princess's　mare　and　ride　off　into　the　mountains。
　　　　　　　〃So；　are　you　enjoying　yourself　？〃　Jonqui　asked　as　she　came　up　and　took　my　arm。
　　　　　　　I　realized　I　was　staring　at　a　man　juggling　knives　and　torches。　〃I　shall　long　remember　this　experience；〃　I　told　her。　And　then　suggested　a　stroll　through　the　cool　of　the　gardens。　I　knew　the　smoke　was　affecting　me。
　　　　　　　Late　that　night；　I　reported　to　Regal's　chamber。　Rowd　admitted　me　this　time；　smiling　pleasantly。　〃Good　evening；〃　he　greeted　me；　and　I　walked　in　as　if　into　a　wolverine's　den。　But　the　air　within　the　chamber　was　blue　with　smoke；　and　this　seemed　the　source　of　Rowd's　cheerfulness。　Regal　kept　me　waiting　again；　and　though　I　tucked　my　chin　to　my　chest　and　breathed　shallowly；　I　knew　the　smoke　was　affecting　me。　Control；　I　reminded　myself；　and　tried　not　to　feel　the　giddiness。　I　shifted　in　my　seat　several　times　and　finally　resorted　to　openly　covering　my　mouth　and　nose　with　a　hand。　It　had　small　effect　on　screening　the　smoke。
　　　　　　　I　looked　up　as　the　screen　to　the　inner　chamber　slid　aside；　but　it　was　only　Sevrens。　He　glanced　at　Rowd；　then　came　to　sit　beside　me。　After　a　moment　of　his　silence　I　asked；　〃Will　Regal　see　me　now？〃
　　　　　　　Sevrens　shook　his　head。　〃He　is　with　a　。。。　panion。　But　he　has　trusted　me　with　all　you　need　to　know。〃　He　opened　his　hand　on　the　bench　between　us　to　show　me　a　tiny　white　pouch。　〃He　has　obtained　this　for　you。　He　trusts　you　will　approve。　A　little　of　this；　mixed　with　wine；　will　cause　death；　but　not　soon。　There　will　not　even　be　symptoms　of　death　for　several　weeks；　and　then　it　es　as　a　lethargy　that　gradually　increases。　The　man　does　not　suffer；〃　he　added；　as　if　this　were　my　primary　concern。
　　　　　　　I　racked　my　brains。　〃Is　this　Kex　gum？〃　I　had　heard　of　such　a　poison；　but　never　seen　it。　If　Regal　had　a　source；　Chade　would　want　to　know。
　　　　　　　〃I　do　not　know　its　name；　nor　does　it　matter。　Only　this。　Prince　Regal　says　you　will　have　a　use　for　it　tonight。　You　will　make　an　opportunity。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　does　he　expect　of　me？　That　I　will　go　to　his　chambers；　knock；　and　enter　with　poisoned　wine　for　him？　Isn't　that　a　bit　obvious？〃
　　　　　　　〃Done　that　way；　of　course　it　is。　But　surely　your　training　has　given　you　more　finesse　than　that？〃
　　　　　　　〃My　training　tells　me　that　things　like　this　are　not　discussed　with　a　valet。　I　must　hear　this　from　Regal；　or　I　do　not　act。〃
　　　　　　　Sevrens　sighed。　〃My　master　foresaw　this。　This　is　his　message。　By　the　pin　you　carry　and　the　crest　on　your　breast；　he　mands　this。　Refuse　it；　and　you　refuse　your　king。　You　will　be　mitting　treason；　and　he　will　see　you　hang　for　it。
　　　　　　　〃But　I…〃
　　　　　　　〃Take　it　and　go。　The　longer　you　wait；　the　later　it　is；　and　the　more　contrived　will　seem　your　visit　to　his　chambers。〃
　　　　　　　Sevrens　rose　abruptly　and　left　me。　Rowd　sat　like　a　toad　in　the　corner；　eyeing　me　and　smiling。　I　would　have　to　kill　both　of　them　before　we　returned　to　Buckkeep；　if　I　were　to　preserve　my　usefulness　as　an　assassin。　I　wondered　if　they　knew　that。　I　smiled　back　at　Rowd；　tasting　smoke　in　the　back　of　my　throat。　I　took　my　poison　and　left。
　　　　　　　Once　at　the　base　of　Regal's　staircase；　I　retreated　to　the　wall　where　it　was　most　shadowed；　and　clambered　as　swiftly　as　I　could　up　one　of　the　supports　of　Regal's　chamber。　Clinging　like　a　cat；　I　snugged　myself　up　to　the　supports　of　the　chamber　floor　and　waited。　And　waited。　Until　between　the　smoke　whirling　in　my　head　and　my　own　weariness　and　the　lingering　effects　of　Kettricken's　herbs；　I　wondered　if　I　were　dreaming　all　of　it。　I　wondered　if　my　clumsy　trap　would　yield　me　nothing。　I　considered；　finally；　that　Regal　had　told　me　he　had　specifically　requested　Lady　Thyme。　But　Shrewd　had　sent　me　instead。　I　recalled　how　Chade　had　puzzled　over　that。　And　finally　I　recalled　his　words　to　me。　Had　my　king　given　me　up　to　Regal？　And　if　he　had；　what　did　I　owe　to　any　of　them？　Eventually；　I　saw　Rowd　depart　and；　after　what　seemed　a　very　long　time；　return　with　Cob。
　　　　　　　I　could　hear　little　through　the　floor；　but　enough　to　know　Regal's　voice。　My　evening's　plans　were　being　divulged　to　Cob。　When　I　was　certain　of　it；　I　wriggled　out　of　my　hiding　place；　clambered　down；　and　retreated　to　my　own　room。　There　I　made　certain　of　some　specialized　supplies。　I　reminded　myself；　firmly；　that　I　was　a　king's　man。　I　had　told　Verity　so。　I　left　my　chamber　and　walked　softly　through　the　palace。　In　the　Great　Hall；　the　mon　folk　slept　on　mats　on　the　floor；　in　concentric　circles　around　the　dais；　to　have　reserved　the　best　viewing　of　their　Princess's　pledging　tomorrow。　I　walked　among　them　and　they　did　not　stir。　So　much　trust；　so　ill　placed。
　　　　　　　The　chambers　of　the　royals　were　at　the　extreme　rear　of　the　palace；　farthest　from　the　main　entry。　There　were　no　guards。　I　walked　past　the　door　that　led　to　the　bedroom　of　the　reclusive　King；　past　Rurisk's　door；　and　to　Kettricken's。　Her　door　was　decorated　with　hummingbirds　and　honeysuckle。　I　thought　how　much　the　Fool　would　have　liked　it。　I　tapped　lightly　and　waited。　Slow　moments　passed。　I　tapped　again。
　　　　　　　I　heard　the　scuff　of　bare　feet　on　wood；　and　the　painted　screen　slid　open。　Kettricken's　hair　had　been　freshly　braided；　but　fine　strands　had　already　pulled　free　around　her　face。　Her　long　white　night　robe　accented　her　fairness；　so　that　she　seemed　pale　as　the　Fool。　〃Did　you　need　something？〃　she　asked　sleepily。
　　　　　　　〃Only　the　answer　to　a　question。〃　The　smoke　still　twined　through　my　thoughts。　I　wanted　to　smile；　to　be　witty　and　clever　before　her。　Pale　beauty；　I　thought。　I　pushed　the　impulse　aside。　She　was　waiting。　〃If　I　killed　your　brother　tonight；〃　I　said　carefull