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Authors: Hobb Robin
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when I can no
longer manage an ill-tempered stallion. Not that I expect to step
down soon. There is still much he needs to be taught. But we are
both still young enough, him to learn and me to teach. There is a
satisfaction in that.
I nodded. Once, I supposed, he had planned that
spot for me. Now we both knew it would never be.
He turned to go. Burrich, I said quietly. He
paused. No one can replace you. Thank you. For all you've done
these last few months. I owe you my life. Not just that you saved
me from death. But you gave me my life, and who I am. Ever since I
was six. Chivalry was my father, I know. But I never met him.
You've fathered me day in and day out, over a lot of years. I
didn't always appreciate-
Burrich snorted and opened the door. Save
speeches like that for when one of us is dying. Go report, and then
go to bed.
Yes, sir, I heard myself say, and knew that he
smiled even as I did. He shouldered the door open and bore Hands's
dinner out to the stables for him. He was home there.
And this, here, was my home. Time I dealt with
that. I took a moment to straighten my damp clothing and run a hand
through my hair. I cleared our dishes from the table and then
folded my wet smock over my arm.
As I made my way from the kitchen to the hall,
and then to the Great Hall, I was mystified by what I saw. Did the
tapestries glow more brightly than they once had? Had the strewing
herbs always smelled so sweet, the carved woodwork by each doorway
always gleamed so warmly? Briefly I put it down to my relief at
finally being home. But when I paused at the foot of the great
stair to take up a candle to light my way up to my chamber, I
noticed that the table there was not bespattered with wax, and
more, that an embroidered cloth graced it.
Kettricken.
There was a Queen at Buckkeep now. I found
myself smiling foolishly. So. This great fortress castle had had a
going-over in my absence. Had Verity bestirred himself and his folk
before her arrival, or had Kettricken herself demanded this vast
scrubbing out? It would be interesting to find out.
As I climbed the great staircase I noticed other
things. The ancient soot marks above each sconce were gone. Not
even the corners of the steps held dust. There were no cobwebs. The
candelabra at each landing were full and bright with candles. And a
rack at each landing held blades, ready for defense. So this was
what it meant to have a Queen in residence. But even when Shrewd's
queen had been alive, I didn't recall that Buckkeep had looked or
smelled so clean or been so brightly lit.
The guard at King Shrewd's door was a dour-faced
veteran I had known since I was six. A silent man, he peered at me
closely, then recognized me. He allowed me a brief smile as he
asked, Anything critical to report, Fitz?
Only that I'm back, I said, and he nodded
sagely. He was used to my coming and going here, often at some very
odd hours, but he was not a man to make assumptions or draw
conclusions, or even speak to those who might. So he stepped
quietly inside the King's chamber, to pass the word to someone that
Fitz was here. In a moment the word came back that the King would
summon me at his convenience, but also that he was glad I was safe.
I stepped quietly away from his door, making more of his message
than if those words had come from any other man. Shrewd never
mouthed polite nothings.
Farther down the same corridor were Verity's
chambers. Here again I was recognized, but when I requested the man
let Verity know I was back and wished to report, he replied only
that Prince Verity was not within his chamber.
In his tower, then? I asked, wondering what he
would be watching for at this time of year. Winter storms kept our
coast safe from Raiders for at least these few months of the
year.
A slow smile stole over the guard's face. When
he saw my puzzled glance, it became a grin. Prince Verity is not in
his chambers just now, he repeated. And then added: I shall see
that he gets your message as soon as
longer manage an ill-tempered stallion. Not that I expect to step
down soon. There is still much he needs to be taught. But we are
both still young enough, him to learn and me to teach. There is a
satisfaction in that.
I nodded. Once, I supposed, he had planned that
spot for me. Now we both knew it would never be.
He turned to go. Burrich, I said quietly. He
paused. No one can replace you. Thank you. For all you've done
these last few months. I owe you my life. Not just that you saved
me from death. But you gave me my life, and who I am. Ever since I
was six. Chivalry was my father, I know. But I never met him.
You've fathered me day in and day out, over a lot of years. I
didn't always appreciate-
Burrich snorted and opened the door. Save
speeches like that for when one of us is dying. Go report, and then
go to bed.
Yes, sir, I heard myself say, and knew that he
smiled even as I did. He shouldered the door open and bore Hands's
dinner out to the stables for him. He was home there.
And this, here, was my home. Time I dealt with
that. I took a moment to straighten my damp clothing and run a hand
through my hair. I cleared our dishes from the table and then
folded my wet smock over my arm.
As I made my way from the kitchen to the hall,
and then to the Great Hall, I was mystified by what I saw. Did the
tapestries glow more brightly than they once had? Had the strewing
herbs always smelled so sweet, the carved woodwork by each doorway
always gleamed so warmly? Briefly I put it down to my relief at
finally being home. But when I paused at the foot of the great
stair to take up a candle to light my way up to my chamber, I
noticed that the table there was not bespattered with wax, and
more, that an embroidered cloth graced it.
Kettricken.
There was a Queen at Buckkeep now. I found
myself smiling foolishly. So. This great fortress castle had had a
going-over in my absence. Had Verity bestirred himself and his folk
before her arrival, or had Kettricken herself demanded this vast
scrubbing out? It would be interesting to find out.
As I climbed the great staircase I noticed other
things. The ancient soot marks above each sconce were gone. Not
even the corners of the steps held dust. There were no cobwebs. The
candelabra at each landing were full and bright with candles. And a
rack at each landing held blades, ready for defense. So this was
what it meant to have a Queen in residence. But even when Shrewd's
queen had been alive, I didn't recall that Buckkeep had looked or
smelled so clean or been so brightly lit.
The guard at King Shrewd's door was a dour-faced
veteran I had known since I was six. A silent man, he peered at me
closely, then recognized me. He allowed me a brief smile as he
asked, Anything critical to report, Fitz?
Only that I'm back, I said, and he nodded
sagely. He was used to my coming and going here, often at some very
odd hours, but he was not a man to make assumptions or draw
conclusions, or even speak to those who might. So he stepped
quietly inside the King's chamber, to pass the word to someone that
Fitz was here. In a moment the word came back that the King would
summon me at his convenience, but also that he was glad I was safe.
I stepped quietly away from his door, making more of his message
than if those words had come from any other man. Shrewd never
mouthed polite nothings.
Farther down the same corridor were Verity's
chambers. Here again I was recognized, but when I requested the man
let Verity know I was back and wished to report, he replied only
that Prince Verity was not within his chamber.
In his tower, then? I asked, wondering what he
would be watching for at this time of year. Winter storms kept our
coast safe from Raiders for at least these few months of the
year.
A slow smile stole over the guard's face. When
he saw my puzzled glance, it became a grin. Prince Verity is not in
his chambers just now, he repeated. And then added: I shall see
that he gets your message as soon as
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