rh.royalassassin-第158部分

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　I　clambered　painfully　to　my　feet。
　　　　　　　〃He's　dead。　I　DID　NOT　KILL　HIM！〃　My　shout　cut　across　the　Fool's　rising　wail。　The　Skill　fingers　plucked　at　me　insistently。　〃I　go　to　kill　those　who　did。　Take　the　Fool　to　safety。　Have　you　the　Queen？〃
　　　　　　　Chade's　eyes　were　very　wide。　He　stared　at　me　as　if　he　had　never　seen　me　before。　All　the　candles　in　the　room　went　suddenly　to　sputtering　blue。　It　seemed　only　fitting。　〃Get　her　to　safety；〃　I　ordered　my　master。　〃And　see　the　Fool　goes　with　her。　If　he　stays　here；　he's　dead。　Regal　will　let　no　one　live　who　has　been　in　this　room　tonight。〃
　　　　　　　〃No！　I　will　not　leave　him！〃　The　Fool's　eyes　were　wide　and　empty　as　a　mad　thing。
　　　　　　　〃Take　him　however　you　can；　Chade！　His　life　depends　on　it！〃　I　grabbed　the　Fool　by　the　shoulders　and　shook　him　savagely。　His　head　whipped　back　and　forth　on　his　thin　neck。　〃Go　with　Chade　and　be　silent。　Be　silent；　if　you　want　your　king's　death　avenged。　For　that　is　what　I　go　to　do。〃　A　sudden　tremor　ran　over　me　and　the　world　rocked；　black　at　the　edges。　〃Elfbark！〃　I　gasped。　〃I　need　elfbark　from　you。　Then　flee！〃　I　thrust　the　Fool　into　Chade's　arms；　and　the　old　man　took　him　in　his　ropy　grasp。　It　was　like　watching　him　taken　into　the　arms　of　death。　They　left　the　room；　Chade　propelling　the　weeping　Fool　along。　After　a　moment　I　heard　the　barest　grating　of　stone　on　stone。　I　knew　they　were　gone。
　　　　　　　I　sank　to　my　knees；　then　could　not　keep　from　toppling。　I　fetched　up　against　my　dead　king's　lap。　His　cooling　hand　fell　from　the　chair　arm　to　rest　atop　my　head。
　　　　　　　〃A　stupid　time　for　tears；〃　I　said　aloud　to　the　empty　room。　But　that　did　not　stop　them。　Blackness　swirled　at　the　edge　of　my　vision。　The　ghostly　Skill　fingers　plucked　at　my　walls；　scraping　at　the　mortar；　trying　every　stone。　I　pushed　at　them；　but　they　came　right　back。　The　way　Chade　had　looked　at　me；　I　suddenly　doubted　that　he　would　be　back。　Still。　I　took　a　breath。
　　　　　　　Nighteyes。　Guide　them　to　the　fox's　den。　I　showed　him　the　shed　they　would　emerge　from　and　where　they　must　go。　It　was　all　I　could　manage。
　　　　　　　My　brother？
　　　　　　　Guide　them；　my　heart！　I　pushed　him　feebly　away；　and　felt　him　go。　Still　the　foolish　tears　tracked　down　my　face。　I　reached　to　steady　myself。　My　hand　fell　at　the　King's　waist。　I　opened　my　eyes；　forced　my　vision　to　clear。　His　knife。　Not　some　jeweled　dagger；　but　the　simple　knife　that　every　man　carries　at　his　waist；　for　the　simple　day…to…day　tasks　he　does。　I　took　a　breath；　then　pulled　it　from　its　sheath。　I　held　it　in　my　lap　and　looked　at　it。　An　honest　blade；　honed　thin　from　years　of　use。　A　handle　of　antler；　probably　carved　once；　but　worn　smooth　with　the　grip　of　his　hand。　I　ran　my　fingers　lightly　over　it；　and　they　found　what　my　eyes　could　no　longer　read。　Hod's　sign。　The　weaponsmaster　had　made　this　for　her　king。　And　he　had　used　it　well。
　　　　　　　A　memory　tickled　at　the　back　of　my　mind。　〃We　are　tools；〃　Chade　had　told　me。　I　was　the　tool　he　had　forged　for　the　King。　The　King　had　looked　at　me；　and　wondered；　What　have　I　made　of　you？　I　did　not　need　to　wonder。　I　was　the　King's　assassin。　In　more　ways　than　one。　But　I　would　see　that　I　served　him　as　I　had　been　intended；　one　last　time。
　　　　　　　Someone　crouched　beside　me。　Chade。　I　turned　my　head　slowly　to　look　at　him。　〃Carris　seed；〃　he　told　me。　〃No　time　to　prepare　elfbark。　e。　Let　me　take　you　into　hiding　as　well。〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　I　took　the　small　cake　of　carris　seed　pressed　with　honey。　I　put　the　whole　thing　in　my　mouth　and　chewed；　grinding　the　seed　between　my　back　teeth　to　release　the　full　strength。　I　swallowed。　〃Go；〃　I　bid　him。　〃I　have　a　task；　and　so　have　you。　Burrich　is　waiting。　The　alarm　will　be　raised　soon。　Get　the　Queen　away　quickly；　while　you　have　a　chance　of　getting　ahead　of　the　hunt。　I　will　keep　them　busy。〃
　　　　　　　He　released　me。　〃Good…bye；　boy；〃　he　said　gruffly；　and　stooped　to　kiss　me　on　the　forehead。　It　was　farewell。　He　didn't　expect　to　see　me　alive　again。
　　　　　　　That　made　two　of　us。
　　　　　　　He　left　me　there；　and　before　even　I　heard　the　grate　of　stone　on　stone；　I　felt　the　working　of　the　carris　seed。　I　had　had　the　seed　before；　at　Springfest　when　everyone　does。　A　tiny　pinch　of　it　sprinkled　across　the　top　of　a　sugar　cake　brings　a　merry　giddiness　to　the　heart。　Burrich　had　warned　me　that　some　dishonest　horse　traders　fed　their　charges　carris　oil　on　their　grain；　for　the　purpose　of　winning　a　race；　or　to　make　a　sick　horse　show　well　at　an　auction。　He　had　also　warned　me　that　a　horse　so　treated　was　often　never　the　same　beast　again。　If　he　survived。　I　knew　Chade　had　used　it；　on　occasion；　and　I　had　seen　him　drop　like　a　stone　when　the　effects　wore　off。　Yet　I　did　not　hesitate。　Perhaps；　I　conceded　briefly；　perhaps　Burrich　was　right　about　me。　The　ecstasy　of　the　Skill；　or　the　frantic　flush　and　heat　of　the　hunt。　Did　I　taunt　self…destruction；　or　did　I　desire　it？　I　did　not　worry　about　it　for　long。　The　carris　seed　took　me。　My　strength　was　as　the　strength　of　ten；　and　my　heart　soared　like　an　eagle。　I　sprang　to　my　feet。　I　started　for　the　door；　then　turned　back。
　　　　　　　I　knelt　before　my　dead　king。　I　lifted　his　knife；　held　it　before　my　brow　as　I　swore　to　him；　〃This　blade　shall　take　your　vengeance。〃　I　kissed　his　hand　and　left　him　there　before　the　fire。
　　　　　　　If　I　had　thought　the　candles　spitting　blue　sparks　were　unnerving；　then　the　blue　glow　of　the　torches　in　the　hall　were　otherworldly。　It　was　like　looking　down　through　still　deep　water。　I　sprinted　down　the　hall；　giggling　to　myself。　Below；　I　could　hear　a　clamor；　with　Wallace's　voice　raised　shrill　above　the　rest。　Blue　flames　and　the　Pocked　Man；　he　was　yammering。　Not　as　much　time　had　passed　as　I　had　thought；　and　now　time　waited　for　me。　Light　as　the　wind　I　darted　down　the　hall。　I　found　a　door　that　would　open　and　slipped　within。　I　waited。　They　took　forever　to　e　up　the　stairs；　even　longer　to　go　past　my　door。　I　let　them　reach　the　King's　chamber；　and　when　I　heard　the　shouts　of　alarm　begin；　I　sprang　from　my　hiding　place　and　dashed　down　the　stairs。
　　　　　　　Someone　shouted　after　me　as　I　fled；　but　no　one　gave　chase。　I　was　to　the　bottom　of　the　stairs　before　I　heard　someone　finally　give　the　order　to　catch　me。　I　laughed　aloud。　As　if　they　could！　Buckkeep　Castle　was　a　warren　of　back　ways　and　servants'　passages　for　a　boy　who　had　grown　up　there。　I　knew　where　I　was　going；　but　I　didn't　go　there　directly。　Like　a　fox　I　ran；　appearing　briefly　in　the　Great　Hall；　dashing　across　the　cobbles　of　the　washing　courts；　terrifying　Cook　with　my　frantic　dash　through　her　kitchens。　And　always；　always；　the　pale　Skill　fingers　plucked　and　fingered　me；　not　knowing　at　all　that　I　was　ing；　ing；　my　dears；　ing　to　find　you。
　　　　　　　Galen；　born　and　raised　in　Farrow；　had　always　hated　the　sea。　He　feared　it；　I　think；　and　so　his　chamber　had　been　on　the　side　of　the　Keep　that　faced　the　mountains。　After　he　had　died；　I　had　heard　it　had　bee　a　shrine　to　him。　Serene　had　taken　over　his　bedchamber；　but　kept　his　sitting　room　as　a　gathering　place　for　the　coterie。　I　had　never　visited　his　rooms；　but　I　knew　the　way。　I　took　the　steps　up　like　an　arrow　in　flight；　whisked　down　the　hall　past　a　couple　in　a　heated　embrace　and　stopped　at　a　heavy　door　banded　with　iron。　But　a　thick　door　that　is　not　properly　barred　is　no　barrier　at　all；　and　in　moments　this　one　swung　open　to　my　touch。
　　　　　　　There　was　a　semicircle　of　chairs　set　up　around　a　tall　table。　A　fat　candle　burned　in　the　center　of　it。　For　focus；　I　imagined。　Only　two　of　the　chairs　were　occupied。　Justin　and　Serene　sat　side　by　side；　hands　clasped；　eyes　closed；　heads　lolled　back　in　the　throes　of　Skilling。　No　Will。　I　had　hoped　to　find　him　here　as　well。
　　　　　　　For　the　barest　instant　I　looked　at　their　faces。　Perspiration　gleamed　on　them；　and　I　was　flattered　that　they　put　so　much　effort　to　breaking　down　my　walls。　Their　mouths　twitched　in　small　smiles；　resisting　the　ecstasy　of　the　Skill　user；　focusing　on　the　object　rather　than　on　the　pleasure　of　the　pursuit。　I　did　not　hesitate。　〃Surprise！〃　I　said　softly。　I　jerked　Serene's　head　back　and　pulled　the　King's　blade　across　her　exposed　throat。　She　jerked　once；　and　I　let　her　fall　to　the　floor。　There　was　a　remarkable　amount　of　blood。
　　　　　　　Justin　leaped　to　his　feet　with　a　shriek　and　I　braced　myself　for　his　onslaught。　He　fooled　me；　though。　He　fled　squealing　down　the　hall　and　I　followed；　knife　in　hand。　He　sounded　just　like　a