rh.royalassassin-第156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！


　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；　left　her　with　no　pride　in　herself　nor　belief　in　me。　She　had　hurt　me　by　leaving　me。　What　she　could　not　leave　behind　was　what　I　had　done　to　her　belief　in　herself。　That　she　must　carry　with　her　forever；　a　belief　that　she　had　been　tricked　and　used　by　a　selfish　lying　boy　who　lacked　even　the　courage　to　fight　for　her。
　　　　　　　Can　desolation　be　a　source　of　courage？　Or　was　it　merely　recklessness　and　a　desire　for　self…destruction？　I　went　boldly　back　downstairs　and　went　directly　to　the　King's　chambers。　The　torches　in　the　wall　sconces　outside　his　door　annoyed　me　by　spitting　blue　sparks　as　I　passed。　A　little　too　dramatic；　Chade。　I　wondered　if　he　had　treated　every　candle　and　torch　in　the　Keep。　I　pushed　the　hanging　curtain　aside　and　entered。　No　one　was　there。　Not　in　the　sitting　room；　not　even　in　the　King's　bedchamber。　The　place　had　a　threadbare　look　to　it；　with　all　the　best　things　taken　away　and　carted　off　upriver。　It　reminded　me　of　a　room　in　a　mediocre　inn。　Nothing　left　here　was　worth　stealing；　or　Regal　would　have　left　a　guard　on　the　door。　In　a　strange　way；　it　reminded　me　of　Molly's　room。　Here　there　were　objects　left；　bedding；　garments；　and　the　like。　But　this　was　no　longer　my　king's　room。　I　went　and　stood　by　a　table；　in　the　exact　spot　where　I　had　stood　as　a　young　boy。　Here；　while　Shrewd　breakfasted；　he　had　quizzed　me　astutely　on　my　lessons　each　week；　and　made　me　aware；　every　time　he　spoke　to　me；　that　if　I　was　his　subject；　he　was　also　my　king。　That　man　was　gone；　stripped　from　this　room。　The　clutter　of　an　active　man；　the　boot　trees；　the　blades；　the　scatter　of　scrolls　had　been　replaced　with　censers　for　burning　herbs　and　sticky　cups　of　drug　tea。　King　Shrewd　had　left　this　room　a　long　time　ago。　Tonight　I　would　take　away　a　sick　old　man。
　　　　　　　I　heard　footsteps　and　cursed　myself　for　my　clumsiness。　I　slipped　behind　a　hanging　and　stood　motionless。　I　heard　the　murmur　of　voices　from　the　sitting　room。　Wallace。　That　mocking　reply　would　be　the　Fool。　I　ghosted　from　my　hiding　place　to　stand　just　inside　the　bedchamber　and　peer　through　the　make　shift　curtain。　Kettricken　sat　on　the　couch　beside　the　King；　talking　with　him　softly。　She　looked　weary。　Dark　circles　smudged　beneath　her　eyes；　but　she　smiled　for　the　King。　I　was　pleased　to　hear　him　murmur　a　reply　to　whatever　she　had　asked　him。　Wallace　crouched　on　the　hearth；　adding　sticks　of　wood　to　the　fire　with　excessive　care。　On　the　other　side　of　the　hearth；　Rosemary　had　collapsed　in　a　heap；　her　new　dress　bunched　up　about　her。　As　I　watched　she　yawned　sleepily；　then　heaved　a　sigh　and　straightened　herself　up。　I　pitied　her。　The　long　ceremony　had　left　me　feeling　exactly　the　same　way。　The　Fool　stood　behind　the　King's　chair。　He　suddenly　turned　and　stared　directly　at　me；　as　if　the　curtain　were　no　barrier　at　all。　I　could　see　no　one　else　in　the　room。
　　　　　　　The　Fool　turned　abruptly　back　to　Wallace。　〃Yes；　blow；　Sir　Wallace；　blow　well　and　hot。　Perchance　we　shall　not　need　the　fire　at　all；　with　the　warmth　of　your　breath　to　drive　the　chill　from　the　room。〃
　　　　　　　Wallace　did　not　rise　from　his　crouch；　but　turned　to　glare　at　the　Fool　over　his　shoulder。　〃Bring　me　some　wood；　would　you？　Not　a　stick　of　this　will　catch。　The　flame　runs　along　it　well；　but　the　wood　does　not　burn。　I　need　hot　water　if　I　am　to　make　the　King　his　sleeping　tea。〃
　　　　　　　〃Would　I　bring　wood？　Wood？　Would　I？　Wooden　am　I　not；　fair　Wallace。　Nor　would　I　burn；　no　matter　how　closely　you　huffed　and　puffed　upon　me。　Guards！　Ho；　guards！　Enter；　and　bring　with　you　wood；　if　you　would！〃　The　Fool　leaped　up　from　his　place　behind　the　King　and　capered　to　the　door；　where　he　made　a　great　show　of　attempting　to　treat　the　curtain　as　if　it　were　a　proper　door。　At　last　he　thrust　his　head　out　into　the　hall　and　called　loudly　again　for　the　guards。　He　drew　his　head　back　in　after　a　moment　and　returned　to　the　room　with　a　dejected　air。　〃No　guards；　no　wood。　Poor　Wallace。〃　He　gravely　studied　the　man。　Wallace　was　on　his　hands　and　knees；　poking　angrily　at　the　fire。　〃Perhaps　were　you　to　turn；　bow　to　stern；　and　blow　thus　upon　the　fire；　the　flames　might　dance　more　merrily　for　you。　Fore　to　aft；　to　create　a　draft；　brave　Wallace。〃
　　　　　　　One　of　the　candles　that　lit　the　room　suddenly　spat　blue　sparks。　All；　even　the　Fool；　flinched　to　its　hissing；　while　Wallace　lumbered　to　his　feet。　I　would　not　have　thought　him　a　superstitious　man；　but　there　was　a　brief　wildness　in　his　eyes　that　spoke　well　of　how　little　he　liked　this　omen。　〃The　fire　simply　will　not　burn；〃　he　announced；　and　then　as　if　realizing　the　significance　of　what　he　said；　he　paused；　mouth　agape。
　　　　　　　〃We　are　witched；〃　said　the　Fool　benignly。　On　the　hearth；　little　Rosemary　drew　her　knees　up　under　her　chin　and　looked　about　with　round　eyes。　All　trace　of　sleepiness　was　gone　from　her。
　　　　　　　〃Why　are　there　no　guards？〃　Wallace　demanded　angrily。　He　strode　to　the　door　of　the　room　and　peered　out　into　the　hallway。　〃The　torches　burn　blue；　every　one　of　them！〃　he　gasped。　He　drew　his　head　back　in；　looked　about　wildly。　〃Rosemary。　Run　and　fetch　the　guards。　They　said　they　would　follow　us　shortly。〃
　　　　　　　Rosemary　shook　her　head　and　refused　to　budge。　She　hugged　her　knees　tightly。
　　　　　　　〃Guards　would　follow　us？　Wood　follow　us？　Followed　by　wood？　Now　that's　a　knotty　subject！　Would　wooden　guards　burn？〃
　　　　　　　〃Stop　your　nattering！〃　Wallace　snapped　at　the　Fool。　〃Go　fetch　the　guards。〃
　　　　　　　〃Go　fetch？　First　he　thinks　I　am　wood；　now　that　I　am　his　little　pet　dog。　Ah！　Go　fetch　the　wood；　the　stick　you　mean。　Where's　the　stick？〃　And　the　Fool　began　to　bark　like　a　feist　and　frolic　about　the　room　as　if　in　search　of　a　thrown　stick。
　　　　　　　〃Go　fetch　the　guards！〃　Wallace　all　but　howled。
　　　　　　　The　Queen　spoke　firmly。　〃Fool。　Wallace。　Enough。　You　weary　us　with　your　antics；　and　Wallace；　you　are　frightening　Rosemary。　Go　and　fetch　the　guards　yourself；　if　you　are　so　set　on　having　them　here。　As　for　me；　I　would　have　a　little　peace。　I　am　weary。　Soon　I　must　retire。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　queen；　there　is　something　ill　afoot　this　night；〃　Wallace　insisted。　He　glanced　about　him　warily。　〃I　am　not　a　man　swayed　by　chance　omens；　but　of　late　there　have　been　too　many　to　ignore。　I　shall　go　fetch　the　guards；