Royal Assassin - Страница 104

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I took a breath. “Yes, Your Majesty. But there is Red. Kerf is also a good man.”

The King took the wine the Fool proffered. He sipped, and seemed to draw strength with it. “Kerf. Give it to Kerf, then.” A shade of the confidence came back. I bit my tongue against saying that what horse we had left was not worth sending. Doubtless the folk of Neatbay would welcome whoever came to reinforce them.

King Shrewd considered. “What is the word from South Cove? Have they sent out warriors and ships?”

“Your Majesty, there is no word from there as yet.” This was not a lie.

“What goes on here?” The shouting began before he even reached the bedchamber. It was Regal, puffy with drink and fury. “Wallace!” He pointed an accusing finger at me. “Get him out of here. Get help to do it if you need it. You needn’t be gentle!”

Wallace had not far to look. Two of Regal’s brawny inland guardsmen had followed him up from the feasting. I was lifted off my feet; Regal had chosen burly men for this duty. I looked about for the Fool, for any ally, but the Fool had vanished. I caught a glimpse of a pale hand vanishing under the bed and resolutely looked away. I did not blame him. There was nothing he could do for me by staying except be thrown out with me.

“My father, has he disturbed your rest with his wild tales? And you so ill?” Regal bent solicitously over the bed.

They had me almost to the door when the King spoke. His voice was not loud, but command was in it. “Stand where you are,” King Shrewd ordered the guards. He still was prone in his bed, but he turned his eyes to Regal. “Neatbay is besieged,” King Shrewd said firmly. “We must send aid.”

Regal shook his head sadly. “It is just another of the Bastard’s ploys, to upset you and steal rest from you. There has been no call for help, no message of any kind.”

One of the guards was very professional in his grip. The other seemed intent on dislocating my shoulder even if I refused to struggle against him. I carefully memorized his face while trying not to show the pain.

“You need not have troubled yourself, Regal. I will discover the truth or the lie here.” Queen Kettricken had paused to dress. Short white fur jacket, purple trousers and boots. Her long Mountain sword was at her side and Burrich stood in the door, holding a heavy-hooded riding cloak and gloves. She spoke as one would to a spoiled child. “Go back to your guests. I will ride to Neatbay.”

“I forbid it!” Regal’s voice rang out strangely shrill. Stillness suddenly flooded the room.

Queen Kettricken pointed out quietly what everyone in the room already knew. “A Prince does not forbid the Queen-in-Waiting. I ride tonight.”

Regal’s face purpled. “This is a hoax, a plot of the Bastard’s to throw Buckkeep into an uproar, and instill fear in the folk. There has been no word of an attack on Neatbay.”

“Silence!” The King spat out the word. Everyone in the room froze. “FitzChivalry? Damn it, release that man. FitzChivalry, stand before me. Report. Whence came your news?”

I tugged my jerkin square again and smoothed my hair back. As I went to stand before my King I was painfully aware of my bare feet and tousled hair. I took a breath and threw it all away. “In my sleep I had a vision, sire. Of the Pocked Man, scrying in a pool of water. He showed me the Red-Ships at Neatbay.”

I dared emphasize no word. I stood firm before them. One of the guardsmen snorted in disbelief. Burrich’s jaw dropped open and his eyes widened. Kettricken merely looked confused. On the bed, King Shrewd closed his eyes and breathed out slowly.

“He’s drunk,” Regal declared. “Get him out of here.” I had never heard so much satisfaction in Regal’s voice. His guards reacted swiftly to seize me again.

“As . . .” — the King drew a deep breath in, obviously fighting pain — “I commanded.” He found a bit of strength. “As I commanded. Go now. NOW!”

I jerked my arms free from the astonished guards. “Yes, Your Majesty,” I said into the silence. I spoke clearly for the benefit of all. “That is, all warships dispatched to Neatbay, and as many of the fishing fleet as can be rallied. And all available horse to be sent overland, under Kerf’s command.”

“Yes.” The King sighed the word. He swallowed, took a breath, opened his eyes. “Yes, I order it so. Now go.”

“Some wine, my liege?” The Fool had materialized on the other side of the bed. I was the only one who startled. The Fool smiled a secret smile over that. Then he bent over the King, helping him to raise his head and sip at the wine. I bowed deeply, deeply, to my King. I straightened and turned to leave the room.

“You may ride with my guard, if you wish,” Queen Kettricken told me.

Regal’s face was scarlet. “The King did not tell you to go!” he sputtered at her.

“Nor did he ‘forbid’ it.” The Queen looked at him flatly.

“My Queen!” One of her guard announced herself at the door. “We are ready to ride.” I looked at her in astonishment. Kettricken merely nodded.

She glanced at me. “You’d best make haste, Fitz. Unless you plan to ride like that.”

Burrich shook out the Queen’s cloak for her. “Is my horse ready?” Kettricken asked her guard.

“Hands promised it at the door by the time you descended.”

“I will need but a moment or two to ready myself,” Burrich said quietly. I noticed he did not phrase it as a request.

“Go then. Both of you. Plan on catching up with us as quickly as you can.”

Burrich nodded. He followed me to my room, where he helped himself to winter garb from my clothing chest while I got dressed. “Brush your hair back and wash your face,” he ordered me tersely. “Warriors have more confidence in a man who looks like he expected to be awake at this hour.”

I did as he advised and then we hastened down the stairs. His lame leg seemed forgotten tonight. Once we were in the courtyard, he started bellowing for stable boys to bring up Sooty and Rud. He sent another boy scrambling to find Kerf and pass on the orders, and another to ready every available horse in the stables. Four men he dispatched to town, one to the warships, three others to make the rounds of the taverns and rally the fleet. I envied his efficiency. He did not realize he had taken command away from me until we were mounting. He looked suddenly uncomfortable. I smiled at him. “Experience counts,” I told him.

We rode for the gates. “We should be able to catch up with Queen Kettricken before she reaches the coast road,” Burrich was saying just as a guardsman stepped out to bar our way.

“Hold!” he commanded, his voice breaking on the word.

Our horses reared back in alarm. We reined in. “What’s this?” Burrich demanded.

The man stood firm. “You may pass, sir,” he told Burrich respectfully. “But I have orders that the Bastard is not allowed out of Buckkeep.”

“The Bastard?” I had never heard such outrage in Burrich’s voice. “Say ‘FitzChivalry, son of Prince Chivalry.’”

The man gaped at him in astonishment.

“Say it now!” Burrich bellowed, and pulled steel. He suddenly seemed twice as large as he had. Anger radiated from him in waves I could feel.

“FitzChivalry, son of Prince Chivalry,” the man babbled.

He took a breath and swallowed. “But however I call him, I have my orders. He is not allowed out.”

“Not an hour ago I heard our Queen command us to ride with her, or to catch up as swiftly as we might. Do you say your order is superior to hers?”

The man looked uncertain. “One moment, sir.” He stepped back into the guardhouse.

Burrich snorted. “Whoever trained him ought to be ashamed. He relies entirely on our honor to keep us from riding through.”

“Maybe he just knows you,” I suggested.

Burrich glared at me. After a moment the captain of the watch came out. He grinned at us. “Ride well, and best of luck at Neatbay.”

Burrich flung him something between a salute and a farewell, and we urged our horses through. I let Burrich choose the pace. It was dark, but once we were down the hill, the road was straight and good and there was a bit of a moon. Burrich was as reckless as I had ever seen him, for he put the horses to a canter and kept up the pace until we saw the Queen’s guard ahead of us. He slowed us just short of joining them. I saw them turn to recognize us, and one soldier raised a hand in greeting.

“A pregnant mare, in early pregnancy, does well to be exercised.” He looked over at me through the darkness. “I don’t know that much about women,” he said hesitantly.

I grinned at him. “And you think I do?” I shook my head and grew sober. “I don’t know. Some women don’t ride at all when they are carrying. Some do. I think Kettricken would not put Verity’s child at risk. Besides. She is safer with us here than left behind with Regal.”

Burrich said nothing, but I sensed his assent. It was not all I sensed.

We hunt together again at last!

Quietly! I warned him with a sideways glance at Burrich. I kept my thoughts tiny and private. We go far. Will you be able to keep pace with the horses?

Over a short distance they can outspeed me. But nothing outdistances the trotting wolf.

Burrich stiffened slightly in his saddle. I knew Nighteyes was off to the side of the road, trotting through the shadows. It did feel good to be out and alongside him again. It felt good to be out and doing things. It was not that I rejoiced at Neatbay being attacked; it was that at last I would have a chance to do something about it, even if it was only to clean up whatever was left standing. I glanced over at Burrich. Anger radiated from him.

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