rh.royalassassin-第41章

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ad　never　considered　this　delightful　side　effect。　I　stopped　the　grin　before　it　reached　my　mouth；　but　it　must　have　showed　in　my　eyes。　He　gave　me　a　violent　shove；　and　I　allowed　it　to　rock　me。　A　bit。
　　　　　　　〃Where's　Verity？〃　he　snarled。
　　　　　　　〃My　prince？〃　I　queried；　as　if　not　grasping　what　he　desired。
　　　　　　　〃Where　is　my　brother？　That　wretched　wife　of　his…〃　He　broke　off；　strangling　on　his　anger。　〃Where　is　my　brother　usually　at　this　time　of　day？〃　he　finally　managed。
　　　　　　　I　did　not　lie。　〃Some　days　he　goes　early　to　his　tower。　Or　he　may　be　breakfasting；　I　suppose。　Or　in　the　baths　。。。〃　I　offered。
　　　　　　　〃Useless　bastard；〃　Regal　dismissed　me；　and　whirled；　to　hurry　off　in　the　direction　of　the　tower。　I　hoped　the　climb　would　amuse　him。　As　soon　as　he　was　out　of　sight；　I　broke　into　a　run；　not　to　waste　the　precious　time　I　had　gained。
　　　　　　　The　moment　I　entered　the　courtyard；　the　reason　for　Regal's　fury　was　made　clear。　Kettricken　stood　atop　a　wagon　seat；　and　every　head　was　turned　up　toward　her。　She　wore　the　same　clothes　she　had　the　night　before。　By　daylight；　I　could　see　how　a　spray　of　blood　had　marked　the　sleeve　of　the　white　fur　jacket；　and　how　a　heavier　plume　of　it　had　soaked　and　stained　her　purple　trousers。　She　was　booted　and　hatted；　ready　to　ride。　A　sword　was　buckled　at　her　hip。　Dismay　rose　in　me。　How　could　she？　I　glanced　about；　wondering　what　she　had　been　saying。　Every　face　was　turned　to　her；　eyes　wide。　I　had　emerged　into　a　moment　of　utter　silence。　Every　man　and　woman　seemed　to　be　holding　breath；　awaiting　her　next　words。　When　they　came；　they　were　uttered　in　a　speaking　voice；　calmly；　but　so　silent　was　the　crowd　that　her　clear　voice　carried　in　the　cold　air。
　　　　　　　〃This　is　not　a　hunt；　I　say；〃　Kettricken　repeated　gravely。　〃Put　aside　your　merriment　and　boasts。　Remove　from　your　bodies　every　bit　of　jewelry；　every　sign　of　rank。　Let　your　hearts　be　solemn　and　consider　what　we　do。〃
　　　　　　　Her　words　were　accented　still　with　the　flavor　of　the　Mountains；　but　a　cool　part　of　my　mind　observed　how　carefully　chosen　was　each　word；　how　balanced　each　phrase。
　　　　　　　〃We　do　not　go　to　hunt；〃　she　repeated。　〃But　to　claim　our　casualties。　We　go　to　lay　to　rest　those　the　Red…Ships　have　stolen　from　us。　The　Red…Ships　have　taken　the　hearts　of　the　Forged　ones；　and　left　their　bodies　to　stalk　us。　Nonetheless；　those　we　put　down　today　are　of　the　Six　Duchies。　Our　own。
　　　　　　　〃My　soldiers；　I　ask　of　you　that　no　arrow　be　loosed　today；　no　blow　struck　save　for　a　clean　kill。　I　know　you　skilled　enough　to　do　this。　We　have　all　suffered　enough。　Let　each　death　today　be　as　brief　and　merciful　as　we　can　manage；　for　all　our　sakes。　Let　us　clench　our　jaws；　and　remove　that　which　infects　us；　with　as　much　resolve　and　regret　as　if　we　severed　a　maimed　limb　from　a　body。　For　such　is　what　we　do。　Not　vengeance；　my　people；　but　surgery；　to　be　followed　by　a　healing。　Do　as　I　say；　now。〃
　　　　　　　For　some　few　minutes　she　stood　still　and　looked　down　at　us　all。　As　in　a　dream；　folk　began　to　move。　Hunters　removed　feathers　and　ribbons；　tokens　and　jewelry　from　their　garments　and　handed　them　to　pages。　The　mood　of　merriment　and　boasting　had　evaporated。　She　had　stripped　that　protection　away；　forced　all　to　consider　truly　what　they　were　about　to　do。　No　one　relished　it。　All　were　poised；　waiting　to　hear　what　she　would　say　next。　Kettricken　kept　her　absolute　silence　and　stillness；　so　that　each　eye　was　perforce　drawn　back　to　her。　When　she　saw　she　had　the　attention　of　all；　she　spoke　again。
　　　　　　　〃Good；〃　she　praised　us　quietly。　〃And　now　heed　my　words　well。　I　desire　horse…drawn　litters；　or　wagons　。。。　whatever　you　of　the　stable　judge　best。　Pad　them　well　with　straw。　No　body　of　our　folk　will　be　left　to　feed　foxes　or　be　pecked　by　crows。　They　will　be　brought　back　here；　names　noted　if　known；　and　prepared　for　the　pyre　that　is　the　honor　of　those　fallen　in　battle。　If　families　be　known　and　be　near；　they　shall　be　summoned　to　the　mourning。　To　those　who　live　far；　word　will　be　sent；　and　the　honors　due　those　who　have　lost　their　blood　kin　as　soldiers。〃　Tears　ran　unchecked；　untouched　down　her　cheeks。　They　glinted　in　the　early…winter　sunlight　like　diamonds。　Her　voice　thickened　as　she　turned　to　mand　another　group。　〃My　cooks　and　serving　folk！　Set　all　tables　in　the　Great　Hall　and　prepare　a　funeral　feast。　Set　the　Lesser　Hall　with　water　and　herbs　and　clean　garments　that　we　may　prepare　the　bodies　of　our　folk　for　burning。　All　others；　leave　your　ordinary　duties。　Fetch　wood　and　build　a　pyre。　We　shall　return；　to　burn　our　dead　and　mourn　them。〃　She　gazed　about；　meeting　every　eye。　Something　in　her　face　set。　She　drew　the　sword　from　her　belt　and　pointed　it　aloft　in　an　oath。　〃When　we　have　done　with　our　grieving；　we　shall　make　ready　to　avenge　them！　Those　who　have　taken　our　folk　shall　know　our　wrath！〃　Slowly　she　lowered　her　blade；　sheathed　it　cleanly。　Again　her　eyes　manded　us。　〃And　now　we　ride；　my　folk！〃
　　　　　　　My　flesh　stood　up　in　goose　bumps。　Around　me；　men　and　women　were　mounting　horses　and　a　hunt　was　forming　up。　With　impeccable　timing；　Burrich　was　suddenly　beside　the　wagon；　with　Softstep　saddled　and　awaiting　her　rider。　I　wondered　where　he　had　gotten　the　black…and…red　harness；　the　colors　of　grief　and　vengeance。　I　wondered　if　she　had　ordered　it；　or　if　he　had　simply　known。　She　stepped　down；　onto　her　horse's　back；　then　settled　into　the　saddle；　and　Softstep　stood　steady　despite　the　novel　mount。　She　lifted　her　hand；　and　it　held　a　sword。　The　hunt　surged　forth　behind　her：
　　　　　　　〃Stop　her！〃　hissed　Regal　behind　me；　and　I　spun　to　find　that　both　he　and　Verity　stood　at　my　back；　pletely　unnoticed　by　the　crowd。
　　　　　　　〃No！〃　I　dared　to　breathe　aloud。　〃Cannot　you　feel　it？　Do　not　spoil　it。　She's　given　them　all　something　back。　I　don't　know　what　it　is；　but　they　have　been　sore　missing　it　for　a　long　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　is　pride；〃　Verity　said；　his　deep　voice　a　rumble。　〃What　we　have　all　been　missing；　and　I　most　of　all。　There　rides　a　Queen；〃　he　continued　in　soft　amazement。　Was　there　a　shade　of　envy　there　as　well？　He　turned　slowly　and　went　quietly　back　into　the　Keep。　Behind　us　a　babble　of　voices　arose；　and　folk　hastened　to　do　as　she　had　bidden　them。　I　walked　behind　Verity；　near　stunned　by　what　I　had　witnessed。　Regal　pushed　past　me；　to　leap　in　front　of　Verity　and　confront　him。　He　was　quivering　with　outrage。　My　prince　halted。
　　　　　　　〃How　can　you　have　allowed　this　to　happen？　Have　you　no　control　over　that　woman　at　all？　She　makes　mockery　of　us！　Who　is　she；　to　thus　issue　mands　and　take　out　an　armed　guard　from　the　Keep！　Who　is　she；　to　decree　all　this　so　highhandedly！〃　Regal's　voice　cracked　in　his　fury。
　　　　　　　〃My　wife；〃　Verity　said　mildly。　〃And　your　queen…in…waiting。　The　one　you　chose。　Father　assured　me　you　would　choose　a　woman　worthy　to　be　a　Queen。　I　think　you　picked　better　than　you　knew。〃
　　　　　　　〃Your　wife？　Your　undoing；　you　ass！　She　undermines　you；　she　cuts　your　throat　as　you　sleep！　She　steals　their　hearts；　she　builds　her　own　name！　Cannot　you　see　it；　you　dolt？　You　may　be　content　to　let　that　Mountain　vixen　steal　the　crown；　but　I　am　not！〃
　　　　　　　I　turned　aside　hastily　and　bent　to　retie　my　shoe　so　I　could　not　witness　that　Prince　Verity　struck　Prince　Regal。　I　did　hear　something　very　like　the　crack　of　an　openhanded　blow　to　a　man's　face　and　a　bitten　off　cry　of　fury。　When　I　looked　up；　Verity　was　standing　as　quietly　as　before；　while　Regal　hunkered　forward　with　a　hand　over　his　nose　and　mouth。　〃King…in…Waiting　Verity　will　brook　no　insults　to　Queen…in…Waiting　Kettricken。　Or　even　to　himself。　I　said　my　lady　had　reawakened　pride　in　our　soldiers。　Perhaps　she　has　stirred　mine　as　well。〃　Verity　looked　mildly　surprised　as　he　considered　this。
　　　　　　　〃The　King　will　hear　of　this！〃　Regal　took　his　hand　away　from　his　face；　looked　aghast　at　the　blood　on　it。　He　held　it　up；　shaking；　to　show　Verity。　〃My　father　will　see　this　blood　you　have　shed！〃　he　quavered；　and　choked　on　the　blood　coursing　from　his　nose。　He　leaned　forward　slightly　and　held　his　bloody　hand　away　from　himself　so　as　not　to　spoil　his　clothing　with　a　stain。
　　　　　　　〃What？　You　intend　to　bleed　all　the　way　to　this　afternoon；　when　our　father　arises？　If　you　can　manage　that；　e　and　show　me　as　well！〃　To　me：　〃Fitz！　Have　you　nothing　better　to　do　than　stand　about　gaping？　Be　off　with　you。　See　that　my　lady's　mands　are　well　obeyed！〃
　　　　　　　Verity　turned