rh.theassassinsapprentice-第97章
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ing 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 carefully； 〃what would you do？〃
She did not even draw back from me。 〃I would kill you； of course。 At least； I would demand it done； in justice。 As I am pledged to your family now； I could not take your blood myself。〃
〃But would you go on with the wedding？ Would you still marry Verity？〃
〃Would you like to e in？〃
〃I haven't time。 Would you marry Verity？〃
〃I am pledged to the Six Duchies； to be their queen。 I am pledged to their people。 Tomorrow； I pledge to the King…in…Waiting。 Not to a man named Verity。 But even were it otherwise； ask yourself； which is the most binding？ I am bound already。 It is not just my word； but my father's。 And my brother's。 I would not want to marry a man who had ordered my brother's death。 But it is not the man I am pledged to。 It is the Six Duchies。 I am given there； in the hopes of it benefiting my people。 There I must go。〃
I nodded。 〃Thank you； my lady。 Forgive my disturbing your rest。〃
〃Where do you go now？〃
〃To your brother。〃
She remained standing in her door as I turned and walked to her brother's chamber。 I tapped and waited。 Rurisk must have been restive； for he opened the door much more quickly。
〃May I e in？〃
〃Certainly。〃 Gracious； as I had expected。 The edge of a giggle teased at my resolve。 Chade would not be proud of you just now； I counseled myself； and refused to smile。
I entered and he closed the door behind me。 〃Shall we have wine？〃 I asked him。
〃If you wish it；〃 he said； puzzled but polite。 I seated myself on a chair while he unstoppered a carafe and poured for us。 There was a censer on his table； too； still warm。 I had not seen him indulge earlier。 He probably had thought it more safe to wait until he was alone in his chamber。 But you never can tell when an assassin will e calling with a pocketful of death。 I pushed down a silly smile。 He filled two glasses。 I leaned forward and showed him my twist of paper。 Painstakingly； I tipped it into his wine； picked up the glass； and swirled it to see it well dissolved。 I handed it to him。
〃I've e to poison you； you see。 You die。 Then Kettricken kills me。 Then she marries Verity。〃 I lifted my glass and sipped from it。 Apple wine。 From Farrow； I guessed。 Probably part of the wedding gifts。 〃So what does Regal gain？〃
Rurisk eyed his wine with distaste and set it aside。 He took my glass from my hand。 He drank from it。 There was no shock in his voice as he said； 〃He's rid of you。 I gather he does not value your pany。 He has been very gracious to me； extending many gifts to me as well as to my kingdom。 But if I were dead； Kettricken would be left sole heir to the Mountain Kingdom。 That would benefit the Six Duchies； would it not？〃
〃We cannot protect the land we already have。 And I think Regal would see it as benefiting Verity； not the kingdom。〃 I heard a noise outside the door。 〃That will be Cob； ing to catch me in the act of poisoning you；〃 I surmised。 I rose； went to the door； and opened it。 Kettricken pushed past me into the room。 I closed the screen quickly behind her。
〃He's e to poison you；〃 she warned Rurisk。
〃I know；〃 he said gravely。 〃He put it in my wine。 That's why I'm drinking his。〃 He refilled the glass from the carafe and offered it to her。 〃It's apple；〃 he cajoled when she shook her head。
〃I don't see any humor in this；〃 she snapped。 Rurisk and I looked at one another and grinned foolishly。 Smoke。
Her brother smiled benignly。 〃It's like this。 FitzChivalry realized tonight he is a dead man。 Too many people have been told he is an assassin。 If he kills me； you kill him。 If he doesn't kill me； how can he go home and face his king？ Even if his king forgives him； half the court will know he's an assassin。 That makes him useless。 Useless bastards are a liability to royalty。〃 Rurisk finished his lecture by draining the rest of the glass。
〃Kettricken told me that even if I killed you tonight； she would still pledge to Verity tomorrow。〃
Again； he was not surprised。 〃What would she gain by refusing？ Only the enmity of the Six Duchies。 She would be forsworn to your people； a great shame to our people。 She would bee outcast； to the good of no one。 It would not bring me back。〃
〃And would not your people rise up at the thought of giving her to such a man？〃
〃We would protect them from such knowledge。 Eyod and my sister would； anyway。 Shall a whole kingdom rise to war over the death of one man？ Remember； I am Sacrifice here。〃
For the first time I dimly understood what that meant。
〃I may soon be an embarrassment to you；〃 I warned him。 〃I was told it was a slow poison。 But I looked at it。 It is not。 It is a simple extract of deadroot； and actually rather swift； if given in sufficient quantity。 First； it gives a man tremors。〃 Rurisk extended his hands on the table； and they trembled。 Kettricken looked furious with both of us。 〃Death follows swiftly。 And I expect I am supposed to be caught in the act and disposed of along with you。〃
Rurisk clutched at his throat； then let his head loll forward on his chest。 〃I am poisoned！〃 he intoned theatrically。
〃I've had enough of this；〃 Kettricken spat； just as Cob tore the door open。
〃'Ware treachery！〃 he cried。 He went white at the sight of Kettricken。 〃My lady princess； tell me you have not drunk of the wine！ This traitorous bastard has poisoned it！〃
I think his drama was rather spoiled by the lack of response。 Kettricken and I exchanged looks。 Rurisk rolled from his chair onto the floor。 〃Oh； stop it；〃 she hissed at him。
〃I put the poison in the wine；〃 I told Cob genially。 〃Just as I was charged to do。〃
And then Rurisk's back arched in his first convulsion。
The blinding realization of how I had been duped took but an instant。 Poison in the wine。 A gift of Farrow apple wine； probably given this very evening。 Regal had not trusted me to put it there； but it was easy enough to acplish； in this trusting place。 I watched Rurisk arch again； knowing there was nothing I c
