rh.royalassassin-第83章
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！
chambers on one of my days away from the boat； to report to him on our training progress。 Shrewd was in better health than usual and was sitting up in his chair by the fire。 Wallace was not about that day。 Instead； there was a young woman； ostensibly tidying the chamber； but almost certainly spying for Regal。 The Fool； too； was underfoot as always； and taking a keen pleasure in making her unfortable。 I had grown up with the Fool； and had always accepted his white skin and colorless eyes as simply the way he was。 The woman obviously felt differently。 She began； it must be admitted； peering at the Fool whenever she thought he might not be paying attention。 But as soon as he noted it； he began to peek back at her； and each time affected a more lascivious glance than the last。 She became more and more nervous； and when finally she must pass by us with her bucket； and the Fool sent Ratsy on his scepter to peek up under her skirts； she leaped back with a shriek； dousing herself and the floor she had just scrubbed with dirty water。 Shrewd rebuked the Fool； who groveled extravagantly and remorselessly； and then dismissed the woman to get dry clothes on。 I sprang to my opportunity。
She was scarcely clear of the room before I spoke。 〃My liege； there is something I have been wishing to petition you about； for some time。〃
Some note in my voice must have alerted both fool and king； for I instantly had their undivided attention。 I glared at the Fool； and he knew plainly I wished him to withdraw； but instead he leaned closer； actually resting his head against Shrewd's knee as he simpered at me infuriatingly。 I refused to let it rattle me。 I looked at the King beseechingly。
〃You may speak； FitzChivalry；〃 he said formally。
I drew a breath。 〃My liege； I would ask your permission to marry。〃
The Fool's eyes grew round with surprise。 But my king smiled as indulgently as if I were a child begging a sweetmeat。 〃So。 Finally； it has e。 But surely you mean to court her first？〃
My heart was thundering in my chest。 My king looked entirely too knowing。 But pleased； very pleased。 I dared to hope。 〃May it please my king； I fear I have already begun to court her。 Yet know I did not intend to do so presumptuously。 It just 。。。 came about。〃
He laughed good…naturedly。 〃Yes。 Some things do。 Though when you did not speak out sooner； I wondered what your intentions were； and if the lady had deceived herself。〃
My mouth went dry。 I could not breathe。 How much did he know？ He smiled at my terror。
〃I have no objections。 In fact； I am well pleased with your choice 。。。。〃
The smile that broke out on my face was amazingly echoed by one on the Fool's countenance。 I drew a trembling breath； until Shrewd continued； 〃But her father has reservations。 He has told me that he would like to delay this； at least until her older sisters are pledged。〃
〃What？〃 I could barely utter the word。 Confusion whirled in me。 Shrewd smiled benignly。
〃Your lady； it seems； is as good as her name。 Celerity asked her father for permission to court you the very day you left for Buckkeep。 I think you won her heart when you spoke so plainly to Virago。 But Brawndy denied her； for the reason I have told you。 I understand the lady raised quite a storm with her father； but Brawndy is a firm man。 He did； however； send word to us； lest we take offense。 He wishes us to know he has no opposition to the match itself； only to her preceding her sisters in marriage。 I acceded in this。 She is； I believe； but fourteen？〃
I could not speak。
〃Do not look so distressed； boy。 You are both young； and there is plenty of time。 While he does not choose to allow a formal courting to begin as yet； I am sure he does not intend that you shall not see each other。〃 King Shrewd looked on me so tolerantly； with so much kindliness in his eyes。 The Fool's eyes flickered back and forth between us。 I could not read his face。
I was trembling； as I had not in months。 I would not allow this to continue； to bee any worse than it was already。 I found my tongue； formed words in my dry throat。 〃My king； that is not the lady I was considering。〃
Silence descended。 I met my king's eyes； and saw his look change。 Had I not been so desperate； I know I would have looked aside from that displeasure。 Instead I looked at him beseechingly； praying he might understand。 When he did not speak further； I attempted to。
〃My king； the woman I speak of is presently a lady's maid； but in her own right she is not a servant。 She is…〃
〃Be silent。〃
It could not have been sharper if he had struck me。 I was still。
Shrewd looked me up and down carefully。 When he spoke； it was with the force of all his majesty。 I thought I felt even the pressure of the Skill in his voice。 〃Be entirely certain of what I say to you； FitzChivalry。 Brawndy is my friend； as well as my duke。 Neither he； nor his daughter； shall be offended or slighted by you。 At this time you shall court no one。 No one。 I suggest you consider well all you are offered when Brawndy considers you favorably as a match for Celerity。 He makes no matter of your birth。 Few others would do so。 Celerity will have land and a title of her own。 As will you； from me； if you have the wisdom to bide your time and do well by the lady。 You will e to find that it is the wise choice。 I will tell you when you may begin courting her。〃
I summoned the last of my courage。 〃My king； please；
〃Enough； Chivalry！ You have heard my word on this subject。 There is no more to say！〃
A short time later he dismissed me； and I went shaking from his rooms。 I do not know if fury or heartbreak were the force behind my trembling。 I thought again of how he had called me by my father's name。 Perhaps； I told myself spitefully； it was because in his heart he knew I would do as my father had done。 I would wed for love。 Even； I thought savagely； if I had to wait until King Shrewd was in his grave； for Verity to keep his word to me。 I went back to my rooms。 To have wept would have been a relief。 I could not even find tears。 Instead I lay on my bed and stared at the hangings。 I could not imagine telling Molly what had just transpired between my king and me。 Telling myself that not to speak was also a deception； I resolved to find a way to tell her。 But not right away。 A time would e； I promised myself； a time when I could explain and she would understand。 I would wait for it。 Until then； I would not think about it。 Nor； I resolved coldly； would I go to my king unless I were summoned。
As spring drew closer Verity arranged his ships and men as carefully as tokens on a game board。 The watchtowers on the coast were always manned； and their signal fires kept ever ready for a torch。 Such signal fires were for the purpose of alerting local citizenry that Red…Ships had been sighted。 He took the remaining members of the Skill coterie Galen had fashioned and distributed them in the towers and on the ships。 Serene； my nemesis and heart of Galen's coterie； remained at Buckkeep。 Privately I wondered why Verity used her there； as a center for the coterie； rather than having each member Skill individually to him。 With Galen's death； and August's forced retirement from the coterie； Serene had taken on Galen's post； and seemed to consider herself the Skill Master。 In some ways； she almost became him。 It was not just that she stalked Buckkeep in austere silence and wore always a disapproving frown。 She seemed to have acquired his testiness and foul humor as well。 The serving folk now spoke of her with the same dread and distaste they had once reserved for Galen。 I understood she had taken over Galen's personal quarters as well。 I avoided her assiduously on the days I was home。 I would have been more relieved if Verity had placed her elsewhere。
But it was not up to me to question my king…in…waiting's decisions。
Justin； a tall gangly young man with two years on me； was assigned as coterie member to the Rurisk。 He had despised me since we had studied the Skill together and I had failed so spectacularly at it。 He snubbed me at every opportunity。 I bit my tongue and did my best not to en
