rh.theassassinsapprentice-第91章
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m to think I am much older than that；〃 she confided in me。
〃Well； you are younger than Verity； then。 But not so much more than between many wives and husbands。 He will be thirty…three this spring。〃
〃I had thought him much older than that；〃 she said wonderingly。 〃Regal explained they share but a father。〃
〃It is true that Chivalry and Verity were both sons of King Shrewd's first queen； but there is not that great a span between them。 And Verity； when he is not burdened with the problems of state； is not so dour and severe as you might imagine him。 He is a man who knows how to laugh。〃
She cast me a sideways glance； as if to see if I was trying to put a better face on Verity than he deserved。
〃It is true； Princess。 I have seen him laugh like a child at the puppet shows at Springfest。 And when all join in for luck at the fruit press to make fall wine； he does not hold back。 But his greatest pleasure has always been the hunt。 He has a wolfhound； Leon； whom he holds dearer than some men hold their sons。〃
〃But；〃 Kettricken ventured to interrupt； 〃surely this is as he was； once。 For Regal speaks of him as a man older than his years； bent down by the cares of his people。〃
〃Bent down as a tree burdened by snow； that springs erect again with the ing of spring。 His last words to me before I left； Princess； were to desire me to speak well of him to you。〃
She cast her eyes down quickly； as if to hide from me the sudden lift of her heart。 〃I see a different man； When you speak of him。〃 She paused； and then closed her mouth firmly； forbidding herself the request I heard anyway。
〃I have always seen him as a kind man。 As kind as one lifted to such a responsibility can be。 He takes his duties very seriously； and will not spare himself from what his folk need of him。 This it is that has made him unable to e here； to you。 He engages in a battle with the Red…Ship Raiders； one he couldn't fight from here。 He gives up the interests of a man to fulfill his duty as a prince。 Not through a coldness of spirit； or a lack of life in himself。〃
She gave me a sideways glance； fighting the smile from her face as if what I told her were sweetest flattery such as a princess must not believe。
〃He is taller than I am； but only by a bit。 His hair is very dark； as is his beard； when he lets it grow。 His eyes are blacker still； yet when he is enthused； they shine。 It is true there is a scattering of gray in his hair now that you would not have found a year ago。 True； also； that his work has kept him from the sun and the wind； so his shoulders no longer tear the seams of his shirts。 But my uncle is still very much a man； and I believe that when the danger of the Red…Ships has been driven from our shores； he will ride and shout and hunt with his hound once more。〃
〃You give me heart；〃 she muttered； and then straightened herself as if she had admitted some weakness。 Looking at me gravely； she asked； 〃Why does Regal not speak of his brother so？ I thought I went to an old man； shaking of hand； too burdened by his duties to see a wife as anything other than another duty。〃
〃Perhaps he 。。。〃 I began； and could think of no courtier's way to say that Regal was frequently deceptive if it gained him his goal。 For the life of me； I had no idea what goal might be served by making Kettricken so dread Verity。
〃Perhaps he has 。。。 been 。。。 unflattering about other things as well；〃 Kettricken suddenly supposed aloud。 Something seemed to alarm her。 She took a breath and became suddenly franker。 〃There was an evening； in my chamber； when we had dined； and Regal had； perhaps； drunk a bit too well。 He told tales of you then； saying you had once been a sullen； spoiled child； too ambitious for your birth； but that since the King had made you his poisoner； you seemed content with your lot。 He said it seemed to suit you； for even as a boy； you had enjoyed eavesdropping and skulking about and other secretive pursuits。 Now； I do not tell you this to make a mischief； but only to let you know what I first believed of you。 The next day Regal begged me to believe it had been the fancies of the wine rather than the facts he had shared with me。 But one thing he had said that night was too icy a fear for me to entirely lay aside。 He said that if the King did send you or Lady Thyme； it would be to poison my brother so that I might be the sole heir to the Mountain Kingdom。〃
〃You are speaking too quickly；〃 I chided her gently； and hoped my smile did not look as dizzy and sickly as I suddenly felt。 〃I did not understand all you said。〃 Desperately I strove to think of what to say。 Even as acplished a liar as I found such a direct confrontation unfortable。
〃I am sorry。 But you speak our language so well； almost like a native。 Almost as if you were recalling it； rather than learning it new。 I will go more slowly。 Some weeks； no； it was over a month ago； Regal came to my chambers。 He had asked if he might dine alone with me； that we might get to know one another better； and…〃
〃Kettricken！〃 It was Rurisk； calling down the path as he came seeking us。 〃Regal is asking that you would e and meet the lords and ladies who have e so far to see your marriage。
Jonqui was at his shoulder； hurrying after him； and as the second and unmistakable wave of dizziness hit me； I thought she looked too knowing。 And； I asked myself； what step would Chade have taken if someone had sent a poisoner to Shrewd's court to eliminate Verity？ All too obvious。
〃Perhaps；〃 Jonqui suddenly suggested； 〃FitzChivalry would like to be shown the Blue Fountains now。 Litress has said she would gladly take him。〃
〃Maybe later this afternoon；〃 I managed to say。 〃I find myself suddenly wearied。 I think I shall seek my chamber。〃
None of them looked surprised。 〃Shall I have some wine sent to you？〃 Jonqui asked graciously。 〃Or perhaps some soup？ The others will be summoned to a meal soon。 But； if you are tired； it is no trouble to bring food to you。〃
Years of training came to the fore。 I kept my posture straight； despite the sudden fire in my belly。 〃That would be most kind of you；〃 I managed to say。 The brief bow I forced myself to make was sophisticated torture。 〃I am sure I will rejoin you soon。〃
And I excused myself； and I did not run； nor curl in a ball and whimper as I wished to。 I walked； with obvious enjoyment of the plantings； back through the garden to the door of the Great Hall。 And the three of them watched me go； and spoke softly together of what we all knew。
I had but one trick left to me； and small hope it would be effective。 Back in my room； I dug out the seapurge the Fool had given me。 How long； I wondered； had it been since I had eaten the honey cakes？ For that was the venue I would have chosen。 Fatalistically； I decided I would trust the ewer of water in my room。 A tiny part of me said that was foolish； but as wave after wave of giddiness washed over me； I felt incapable of any further thought。 With shaking hands I crumbled the seapurge into water。 The dried herb absorbed the water and became a green sticky wad； which I managed to choke down。 I knew it would empty my stomach and bowels。 The only question was； would it be swift enough； or was the Chyurda poison too widespread in me？
I spent a miserable evening that I will not dwell on。 No one came to my room with soup or wine。 In my moments of lucidity； I decided they would not e until they were sure their poison had had its effect。 Morning； I decided。 They would send a servant to waken me； and he would discover my death。 I had until morning。
It was past midnight when I was able to stand。 I left my room as silently as my shaking legs would carry me and went out into the garden。 I found a cistern of water there and drank until I thought I would burst。 I ventured farther into the garden； walking slowly and carefully； for I ached as if I had been beaten and my head pounded painfully with each step I took。 But eventually I stumbled into an area of fruit trees gracefully trained along a wall； and as I had hoped； they were heavy with the harvest。 I helped myself； filling my jerkin with a supply。 These I
