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！
my forehead。 I was somehow ashamed that I hadn't been hurt。 The little girl had died； I should have at least been injured。 I don't know why that thought made sense to me。 I watched Burrich make a neat white bandage snug on my forearm。 The healer brought me a mug of tea。 Burrich took it from him； sniffed it thoughtfully； then gave it over to me。 〃I would have used less valerian；〃 was all he said to the man。 The healer stepped back and went to sit by the hearth。
Charim came in with a tray of food。 He cleared a small table and began to set it out on it。 A moment later Verity strode into the room。 He took his cloak off and flung it over a chairback。 〃I found her husband in the market；〃 he said。 〃He's with her now。 She had left the child playing on the doorstep while she went to the stream for water。 When she got back； the child was gone。〃 He glanced toward me； but I couldn't meet his eyes。 〃We found her calling her little girl in the woods。 I knew。。。。〃 He glanced abruptly at the healer。 〃Thank you； Dem。 If you've finished with FitzChivalry； you may go。〃
〃I haven't even looked at…〃
〃He's fine。〃 Burrich had run a length of bandaging across my chest and under my opposite arm and up again in an effort to keep a dressing in place on my neck。 It was useless。 The bite was right atop the muscle between the tip of my shoulder and my neck。 I tried to find something amusing in the irritated look the healer gave Burrich before he left。 Burrich didn't even notice it。
Verity dragged up a chair to face me。 I began to lift the mug to my lips； but Burrich casually reached over and took it from my hand。 〃After you've talked。 There's enough valerian in here to drop you in your tracks。〃 He took it and himself out of the way。 Over by the hearth； I watched him dump out half of the tea and dilute what was left with more hot water。 That done； he crossed his arms on his chest and leaned against the mantelpiece； watching us。
I shifted my gaze to Verity's eyes； and waited for him to speak。
He sighed。 〃I saw the child with you。 Saw them fighting over her。 Then you were suddenly gone。 We lost our joining； and I couldn't find you again； not even with all my strength。 I knew you were in trouble and set out to reach you as soon as I could。 I'm sorry I wasn't faster。〃
I longed to open myself up and tell Verity everything。 But it might be too revealing。 To possess a Prince's secrets does not give one the right to divulge them。 I glanced at Burrich。 He was studying the wall。 I spoke formally。 〃Thank you； my prince。 You could not have e faster。 And even if you had； it would have been too late。 She died at almost the same instant I saw her。〃
Verity looked down at his hands。 〃I knew that。 Knew it better than you did。 My concern was for you。〃 He looked up at me and tried for a smile。 〃The most distinctive part of your fighting style is the incredible way you have of surviving it。〃
From the corner of my eye； I saw Burrich shift； open his mouth to speak； then close it again。 Cold dread uncoiled in me。 He had seen the bodies of the Forged ones； seen the tracks。 He knew I hadn't fought alone against them。 It was the only thing that could have made the day worse。 I felt as if my heart were suddenly caught in a cold stillness。 That Burrich had not spoken of it yet； that he was reserving his accusations for a private time only made it worse。
〃FitzChivalry？〃 Verity called my attention back to him。
I started。 〃I beg your pardon； my prince。〃
He laughed； almost； a brief snort。 〃Enough of ‘my prince。' Rest assured that I do not expect it of you just now； and neither does Burrich。 He and I know each other well enough； he did not ‘my prince' my brother at moments like this。 Recall that he was king's man to my brother。 Chivalry drew on his strength； and oftentimes not gently。 I am sure Burrich knows that I have used you likewise。 And knows also that I rode with your eyes today； at least as far as the top of that ridge。 〃
I looked to Burrich； who nodded slowly。 Neither of us was certain why he was being included here。
〃I lost touch with you when you went into a battle frenzy。 If I am to use you as I wish； that cannot happen。〃 Verity drummed his fingers lightly on his thighs for a moment； in thought。 〃The only way I can see for you to learn this thing is to practice it。 Burrich。 Chivalry once told me that in a tight spot； you were better with an ax than a sword。〃
Burrich looked startled。 Plainly he had not expected Verity to know this about him。 He nodded again； slowly。 〃He used to mock me about it。 Said it was a brawler's tool； not a gentleman's weapon。〃
Verity permitted himself a tight smile。 〃Appropriate for Fitz's style； then。 You will teach him to use one。 I don't believe it's something Hod teaches as a general rule。 Though no doubt she could if I asked her。 But I'd rather it was you。 Because I want Fitz to practice keeping me with him while he learns it。 If we can tie the two lessons together； perhaps he can master them both at once。 And if you are teaching him； then he'll not be too distracted about keeping my presence a secret。 Can you do it？〃
Burrich could not pletely disguise the dismay that crept over him。 〃I can； my prince。〃
〃Then do so； please。 Beginning tomorrow。 Earlier is better for me。 I know you have other duties as well； and few enough hours to yourself。 Don't hesitate to pass some of your duties on to Hands while you are busy with this。 He seems a very capable man。〃
〃He is；〃 Burrich agreed。 Guardedly。 Another tidbit of information that Verity had at his fingertips。
〃Fine； then。〃 Verity leaned back in his chair。 He surveyed us both as if he were briefing a whole roomful of men。 〃Does anyone have any difficulties with any of this？〃
I saw the question as a polite closing。
〃Sir？〃 Burrich asked。 His deep voice had gone very soft and uncertain； 〃If I may 。。。 I have 。。。 I do not intend to question my prince's judgment； but 。。。〃
I held my breath。 Here it came。 The Wit。
〃Speak it out； Burrich。 I thought I had made it clear that the ‘my princing' was to be suspended here。 What worries you？〃
Burrich stood up straight； and met the King…in…Waiting's eyes。 〃Is this 。。。 fitting？ Bastard or no； he is Chivalry's son。 What I saw up there； today 。。。〃 Once started； the words spilled out of Burrich。 He was fighting to keep anger from his voice。 〃You sent him 。。。 He went into a slaughterhouse situation； alone。 Most any other boy of his age would be dead now。 I 。。。 try not to pry into what is not my area。 I know there are many ways to serve my king； and that some are not as pretty as others。 But up in the Mountains 。。。 and then what I saw today。 Could not you find someone besides your brother's child for this？〃
I glanced back to Verity。 For the first time in my life I saw full anger on his face。 Not expressed in a sneer or a frown； but simply as two hot sparks deep in his dark eyes。 The line of his lips was flat。 But he spoke evenly。 〃Look again； Burrich。 That's no child sitting there。 And think again。 I did not send him alone。 I went with him； into a situation that we expected to be a stalk and a hunt； not a direct confrontation。 It didn't turn out that way。 But he survived it。 As he has survived similar things before。 And likely will again。〃 Verity stood suddenly。 The whole air of the room was abruptly charged to my senses； boiling with emotion。 Even Burrich seemed to feel it； for he gave me a glance； then forced himself to stand still； like a soldier at attention while Verity stalked about the room。
〃No。 This isn't what I would choose for him。 This isn't what I would choose for myself。 Would that he had been born in better times！ Would that he had been born in a marriage bed； and my brother still upon the throne！ But I was not given that situation； nor was he。 Nor you！ And so he serves； as I do。 Damn me； but Kettricken has had it right all along。 The King is the sacrifice of the people。 And so is his nephew。 That was carnage up there today。 I know of what you speak； I saw Blade go aside to puke after he saw that body； I saw him walk well clear of Fitz。 I know not how the boy 。。。 this man survived it。 By doing whatever he had to； I suppose。 So what can I do； man？ What can I do？ I need him。 I need him for this ugly； secret battling； for he is the only one equipped and trained to do it。 Just as my father sets me in that tower； and bids me burn my mind out with sneaking； filthy killing。 Whatever Fitz must do； whatever skills he must call upon…〃
（My heart stood still； my breath was ice in my lungs。）
〃then let him use。 Because that is what we are about now。 Survival。 Because…〃
〃They are my people。〃 I did not realize I had spoken until they both swung to stare at me。 Sudden silence in the room。 I took a breath。 〃A long time ago an old man told me that I would someday understand something。 He said that the Six Duchies people were my people； that it was in my blood to care about them； to feel their hurts as my own。〃 I blinked my eyes； to clear Chade and that day at Forge from my vision。 〃He was right；〃 I managed to say after a moment。 〃They killed my child today； Burric