Assassin 3 - Royal Assassin (25 page)

I made no attempt to fall asleep, but only flung
myself on my bed to stare into the fire. When the concealed door
opened, I rose immediately to ascend to Chade's chambers. I found
him a-jitter with an infectious excitement. There was even a
pinkness to his pale cheeks about his pock scars. His gray hair was
wild, his green eyes glittered like gems. He was pacing about his
chambers, and as I entered he actually seized me in a rough
embrace. He stepped back and laughed aloud at my shocked
expression.

She was born to rule! Born to it, and somehow
now she has awakened to it! It could not have come at a better
time! She may yet save us all! .

His exultation was unholy in its
glee.

I know not how many folk died today, I rebuked
him.

Ah! But not in vain! At least not in vain! Those
were not wasted deaths, FitzChivalry. By El and Eda both,
Kettricken has the instinct and the grace! I had not suspected it
in her. Now had we still your father alive, boy, and him paired
with her on the throne, we could have a pair as could cup the whole
world in their hands. He took another sip of his wine and paced
again about his chambers. I had never seen him so elated. He all
but capered. A covered basket rested on a table close to hand, and
its contents had been set out on a cloth. Wine, cheese, sausages,
pickles, and bread. So even here in his tower, Chade shared the
funeral feast. Slink the weasel popped up from the other side of
the table, to regard me past the food with avaricious eyes. Chade's
voice broke me from my thoughts.

She has an ample share of what Chivalry had. The
instinct for seizing the moment and turning it to advantage. She
took an unavoidable, unmentionable situation and made high tragedy
of what might have been simple slaughter in lesser hands. Boy, we
have a Queen, a Queen again at Buckkeep!

I felt slightly repulsed by his joy. And, for an
instant, cheated. Hesitantly, I asked, Do you think, really, that
the Queen did as she did for show? That it was all a calculated
political move?

He halted in his tracks, considered briefly. No.
No, FitzChivalry, I believe she acted from her heart. But that does
not make it any less tactically brilliant. Ah, you think me
heartless. Or callous in my ignorance. The truth is, I know only
too well. Know far better than you what today meant to us. I know
men died today. I even know that six of our own force took
injuries, mostly minor, in today's action. I can tell you how many
Forged ones fell, and within a day or so, I expect to know most of
their names. Names already listed by me, included in the tallies of
all the Red-Ships have done to us. It will be I, boy, who sees that
the purses of blood gold are paid to surviving kin. Those families
will be told the King regards their fallen as the equals of any of
his soldiers who fall in battle with the Red-Ships. And entreats
their aid in taking vengeance for them. They will not be pleasant
letters to pen, Fitz. But pen them I shall, in Verity's own hand,
for Shrewd's signature. Or did you think I did naught but kill for
my king?

I beg pardon. It was just that you seemed so
merry when first I entered I began.

And merry I am! As you should be. We have been
rudderless and drifted, pounded by the waves and pushed by every
wind. And now, comes a woman, to take the tiller and cry the
course. I find it a course full to my liking! As shall everyone in
the kingdom who has sickened these past years from being always on
our knees. We rise, boy, we rise to fight!

I saw then how his ebullience was borne on the
wave of his fury and his grief. I remembered the expression he had
worn when first we rode into Forge town on that black day and saw
what the Raiders had left of our folk. He had told me then that I
would learn to care, that it was in my blood. With a rush I felt
the rightness of his sentiment, and seized up a glass to join him.
Together we toasted our queen. Then Chade grew more sober, and
divulged the reason for his summons. The King, Shrewd himself, had
once more repeated his order that I watch over
Kettricken.

I've been meaning to speak to you about that;
that Shrewd sometimes now repeats an order already given or a
comment already made.

I'm aware enough of that, Fitz. What can be
done, is. But the King's health is another topic for another time.
For now, I myself assure you that his repetition was not the
rattling of a sickly mind. No. The King made this request again
today as he was preparing himself to descend to dinner. He repeats
it to make sure your efforts will be redoubled. He sees, as I do,
that by arousing folk to follow her, the Queen puts herself more at
risk. Though he would not speak it so plain. Be on your guard for
her safety.

Regal, I snorted.

Prince Regal? Chade queried.

He is who we have to fear, especially now that
the Queen has taken a place of power.

I said nothing of the kind. Nor should you,
Chade observed quietly. His voice was calm but his face was
severe.

Why not? I challenged him. Why may not we, at
least once, speak plain to one another?

To one another, we might, if we were entirely
alone and it concerned only you and me. But such is not the case.
We are King's Men sworn, and King's Men do not entertain even
thoughts of treason, let alone ...

There was a gagging noise, and Slink disgorged
himself. On the table, beside the food basket. He snorted, spraying
drops of moisture.

Greedy little wretch! Choked yourself, did you?
Chade rebuked him unconcernedly.

I found a rag to clean up the mess. But when I
got there, Slink was lying on his side, panting, while Chade poked
at the vomit with a skewer. I nearly retched myself. He waved my
rag aside, picking up Slink instead and handing me the shivering
creature. Calm him, and get water down him, he directed me tersely.
Go on, old man, go to Fitz, he'll see to you. This to the
weasel.

I carried him over by the fire, where he
promptly puked all down my shirt. At closer range, the smell was
overpowering. As I set him down and pulled my shirt off, I caught
an underlying scent, more bitter than vomit even. Even as I opened
my mouth to speak Chade confirmed my suspicions. Varta leaves.
Crushed fine. The spiciness of the sausage would conceal the taste
well. Let's hope the wine wasn't poisoned as well, or we're both
dead.

Every hair on my body stood up in horror. Chade
looked up to see me frozen, and pushed gently past me to pick Slink
up. He offered him a saucer of water and looked pleased when Slink
sampled it. I think he'll live. The little pig stuffed his mouth
full, and got a better taste of it than a human would have. Up it
came. The stuff on the table looks chewed, but not digested. I
think the taste made him gag, not the poison.

I hope so, I said faintly. Every one of my
nerves was tuned to an inner waiting. Had I been poisoned? Did I
feel sleepy, nauseous, dizzy? Was my mouth numb, dry, watering? I
broke out in a sudden sweat and began to tremble. Not
again.

Stop it, Chade said quietly. Sit down. Drink
some water. You're doing this to yourself, Fitz. That bottle was
well sealed with an old cork. If the wine was poisoned, it was done
years ago. I know of few men with the patience to poison a bottle
of wine, and then age it. I think we're fine.

I drew a shaky breath. But such was not
someone's intent. Who brought your food?

Chade gave a snort. I prepared my own food, as
always. But that on the table was from a gift basket left for Lady
Thyme. From time to time folk seek to curry favor with her, as it
is rumored she has the King's ear. I did not think my masquerade
woman a likely target for poison.

Regal, I said again. I told you he believes she
is the King's poisoner. How could you have been so careless? You
know he blames Lady Thyme for his mother's death! Shall we be so
polite as to let him kill us all? He will not stop until the throne
is his.

And I tell you again, I will hear nothing of
treason! Chade all but shouted the words. He sat down in his chair
and cradled Slink in his lap. The little beast sat up, tidied his
whiskers, and then curled up again to compose himself for sleep. I
watched Chade's pale hand, the standing tendons, the paper skin, as
he stroked his small pet. He looked only at the weasel, his face
closed. After a moment he spoke more calmly. I think our king was
right. We should all redouble our caution. And not just for
Kettricken. Or ourselves. He lifted tortured eyes to mine. Watch
over your women, boy. Neither innocence nor ignorance is any
protection against this night's work. Patience, Molly, even Lacey.
Find a way, a subtle way, to give Burrich warning as well. He
sighed, asked of no one, Have we not enemies enough outside our
walls?

Aplenty, I assured him. But I said no more of
Regal to him.

He shook his head. This is an ill way for me to
begin a journey.

A journey? You? I was incredulous. Chade never
left the Keep. Almost. Where?

Where I need to go. Now I think I need almost as
much to stay. He shook his head to himself. Take care of yourself
while I'm gone, boy. I won't be about to watch over you. And that
was as much as he would tell me.

When I left him, he was still staring into the
fire, his lax hands sheltering Slink. I went down the stairs on
jelly legs. The attempt on Chade had shaken me more than anything
ever had. Not even the secret of his existence had been enough to
shield him. And there were other, easier targets, just as close to
my heart.

I damned the bravado that had earlier let me
make Regal aware of how much stronger I had grown. I had been a
fool to tempt him to attack me; I should have known he would find a
less obvious target. In my room, I changed hastily into fresh
clothing. Then I left my chamber, climbed the stairs, and went
straight to Molly's bedchamber. I tapped lightly on the
door.

No answer. I did not tap louder. It lacked but
an hour or two until dawn; most of the Keep was exhausted, abed.
Still, I had no desire to rouse the wrong person to see me at
Molly's door. Yet I had to know.

Her door was latched, but it was a simple one. I
slipped it in a matter of seconds and made note to myself that she
would have a better one before tomorrow night. Soft as shadow, I
entered her room and drew the door closed behind me.

A fire had burned low in the hearth. Its
lingering embers cast an uncertain haze of light. I stood still a
moment, letting my eyes adjust, then I moved carefully into the
room, staying away from the hearth light. I could hear the steady
sleep rhythm of Molly's breath from her bed. It should have been
enough for me. But I teased myself that she might be fevered and
sinking even now into a death sleep from poison. I promised myself
that I would do no more than touch her pillow, just to see if skin
was fevered or normal. No more than that. I drifted to the
bedside.

Beside the bed I stood motionless. I could just
make out her shape under the covers in the dim light. She smelled
heathery and warm and sweet. Healthy. No feverish poison victim
slept here. I knew I should go. Sleep well, I breathed.

Silently she sprang up at me. The ember light
ran red along the blade in her hand. Molly! I cried as I parried
her knife hand aside with the back of my forearm. She froze, her
other hand drawn back in a fist, and for an instant all in the room
was silent and motionless. Then: Newboy! she hissed furiously, and
punched me in the belly with her left hand. As I doubled over,
gasping for air, she rolled from the bed. You idiot! You frightened
me to death! What do you think you're about, rattling at my latch
and sneaking about in my room! I should call the Keep guardsmen to
put you out!

No! I begged as she threw wood on the fire, and
then kindled a candle at it. Please. I'll go. I meant no harm or
offense. I just wanted to be sure you were all right.

Well, I'm not! she stormed in a whisper. Her
hair was confined for the night into two thick braids, reminding me
sharply of the little girl I had met so long ago. A girl no longer.
She caught me staring at her. She threw a heavier robe about her
shoulders and belted it at her waist. I'm a shaking wreck! I shan't
sleep another wink tonight! You've been drinking, haven't you? Are
you drunk, then? What do you want?

She advanced on me with the candle as if it were
a weapon. No, I assured her. I drew myself upright and tugged my
shirt straight. I promise you, I'm not drunk. And truly, I had no
bad intentions. But ... something happened tonight, something that
made me worry that something bad might happen to you, so I thought
I had best come and make sure you were all right, but I knew
Patience would not approve, and I certainly didn't want to go
waking up the whole Keep, so I thought I would just slip in
and-

Newboy. You're babbling, she informed me
icily.

It was true. I'm sorry, I said again, and sat
down on the corner of the bed.

Don't get comfortable, she warned me. You were
just leaving. Alone, or with the Keep guards. Your
choice.

I'll go, I promised, standing hastily. I just
wanted to be sure you were all right.

I'm fine, she said testily. Why wouldn't I be
fine? I'm as fine tonight as I was last night, as I have been for
the last thirty nights. On none of them were you inspired to come
and inspect my health. So why tonight?