The Complete Farseer Trilogy Omnibus

by Robin Hobb

  ‘I shall not disturb you long. Lady Patience sent me to see that you had hot food, for you ate little this morning. I shall be leaving as soon as I have set out this meal.’

  ‘And taking my thanks with you,’ Burrich added. His eyes went from me to Molly, sensing awkwardness, and also her displeasure with him. He attempted an apology. ‘I have had a harsh journey, mistress, and my injury gives me some pain. I hope I have not given offence.’

  ‘It is not my place to take offence at anything you wish to do, sir,’ she replied. She finished setting out the food she had brought. ‘Is there anything else I can do for you, to make you comfortable?’ she asked. There was courtesy in her voice, no more than that. She did not look at me at all.

  ‘You could accept my thanks. Not just for the food, but also for the candles that freshened my chamber. I understand they are your handiwork.’

  I saw her thaw slightly. ‘Lady Patience asked me to bring them here. I was happy to oblige her.’

  ‘I see.’ The next words he spoke cost him more. ‘Then please extend my thanks to her. And to Lacey as well, I am sure.’

  ‘I shall. There is nothing more that you need, then? I have errands in Buckkeep Town for Lady Patience. She told me that if there was anything you required from town, I should fetch it for you.’

  ‘Nothing. But it was kind of her to think of it. Thank you.’

  ‘You are welcome, sir.’ And Molly, empty basket on her arm, marched out past me as if I were not even there.

  Burrich and I were left regarding one another. I glanced after Molly, then tried to put her out of my mind. ‘It’s not just the stables,’ I told him, and briefly reported what I had seen in the barns and warehouses.

  ‘I could have told you a bit of that,’ he said gruffly. He looked at the food Molly had brought, then poured himself more brandy. ‘As we came down the Buck River road, there were rumours and tidings. Some said Regal sold the beasts and grain off to fund the defence of the coasts. Others that he sent the breeding stock inland to safer pastures in Tilth.’ He drank his brandy down. ‘The best of the horses are gone. I saw that at a glance when I came back. In ten years, I might breed stock up again to the quality of what we had. But I doubt it.’ He poured again. ‘There’s my life’s work gone, Fitz. A man likes to think he’ll leave his touch on the world somewhere. The horses I had brought together here, the blood-lines I was establishing — gone now, scattered throughout the Six Duchies. Oh, not that they won’t improve anything they’re bred to. But I’ll never see what would have come if I’d been allowed to continue. Steady will be studding rangy Tilth mares, no doubt. And when Ember drops her new foal, whoever rubs it off will think it just another horse. For six generations, I’ve been waiting for just that foal. They’ll take the finest coursing horse that’s ever been foaled and hook it to a plough.’

  There was nothing to say about that. I feared it was all true. ‘Eat something,’ I suggested. ‘How’s your leg now?’

  He lifted the blanket to casually inspect it. ‘Still there, anyway. I suppose I should be grateful for that. And better than it was this morning. The devil’s club did draw out the infection. Chicken-brained as she is, the woman still knows her herbs.’

  I did not need to ask to whom he referred. ‘Are you going to eat?’ I prodded.

  He set down his cup and took up a spoon. He tasted the soup Molly had set out, grudgingly nodding his approval. ‘So,’ he observed between bites. ‘That was the girl. Molly.’

  I nodded.

  ‘Seemed a bit cool with you today.’

  ‘A bit,’ I said dryly.

  Burrich grinned. ‘You’re as testy as she was. I imagine Patience did not speak well of me to her.’

  ‘She doesn’t like drunks,’ I told him bluntly. ‘Her father drank himself to death. But before he finished the job, he managed to make her life unpleasant for years. Beating her when she was smaller. Railing and berating her when she got too big to beat.’

  ‘Oh.’ Burrich carefully refilled his cup. ‘I’m sorry to hear that.’

  ‘She was sorry to live it.’

  He looked at me levelly. ‘I did not do it, Fitz. Nor was I rude to her when she was here. I’m not even drunk. Not yet. So stuff your disapproval, and tell me what’s been going on at Buckkeep while I was away.’

  So I stood and reported to Burrich, just as if he had a right to demand it. In a way, I suppose he did. He ate as I spoke. When I finished, he poured himself more brandy and leaned back in his chair, holding it. He swirled the brandy in the cup, looked down at it, then up at me. ‘And Kettricken is with child, but neither the King nor Regal know of it yet.’

  ‘I thought you were asleep.’

  ‘I was. I half-thought I’d dreamed that conversation. Well.’ He downed the brandy. He sat up, swept the blanket off his leg. As I watched, he deliberately bent his knee until the pulling flesh began to gape the wound open. I winced at the sight of it, but Burrich only looked thoughtful. He poured more brandy, drank it off. The bottle was half gone. ‘So. I’m going to have to splint the leg straight, if I’m going to keep that closed.’ He glanced up at me. ‘You know what I’ll need. Will you fetch it for me?’

  ‘I think you should stay off it for a day or so. Give it a chance to rest. You don’t need a splint if you’re in bed.’

  He gave me a long look. ‘Who guards Kettricken’s door?’

  ‘I don’t think … I assume she has women who sleep in the outer chamber of her apartments.’

  ‘You know he’ll try to kill her and the unborn child, as soon as he finds out.’

  ‘It’s a secret still. If you start guarding her door, all will know.’

  ‘By my count, five of us know. That’s no secret, Fitz.’

  ‘Six,’ I admitted ruefully. ‘The Fool surmised it some days ago.’

  ‘Oh!’ I had the satisfaction of seeing Burrich looked shocked. ‘Well, at least that’s one tongue that won’t go wagging. Still, as you see, it won’t be secret long. Rumours will fly before the day’s out, mark my words. I guard her door this night.’

  ‘Must it be you? Can’t you rest, and I will …’

  ‘A man can die of failure, Fitz. Do you know that? Once, I told you, the fight isn’t over until you’ve won. This,’ and he gestured at his leg in disgust, ‘this will not be my excuse for giving up. Shame enough for me that my prince went on without me. I shall not fail him here. Besides,’ he gave a bark of sour laughter, ‘there’s not enough in the stables now to keep both Hands and me busy. And the heart for it has gone out of me. Now. Will you go get the splint works?’

  So I did, and took them back to him, and helped him smear the wound with his salve before we wrapped it well and splinted it. He cut a pair of old trousers to go over the splint, and I helped him down the stairs. Then, despite his words, he went to Ruddy’s stall, to see if his horse’s arrow wound had been cleaned and doctored. I left him there and went back up to the keep. I wanted to speak to Kettricken, to let her know there would be a man on guard on her door that night, and why.

  I knocked at her chamber door and was admitted by Rosemary. The Queen was indeed there, and a selection of her ladies. Most were working embroidery or small lap-looms as they talked. The Queen herself had her window opened to the mild winter day, and was looking out over the calm sea with a frown. She reminded me of Verity when he Skilled, and I suspected that much the same worries plagued her. I followed her gaze, and wondered, like her, where the Red Ships would strike today, and what was going on up in Bearns. Useless to wonder. Officially, there was no word at all from Bearns. The rumours were that the coasts ran red with blood.

  ‘Rosemary. I wish a quiet word with her majesty.’

  Rosemary nodded gravely, and went over to curtsey to her queen. In a moment Kettricken looked up, and with a nod and a gesture invited me to join her in her window seat. I greeted her quietly, and gestured smilingly out over the water as if we chatted of the fine weather. But softly I said, ‘Burrich wishes to guard your d
oor, beginning this night. He fears that when others discover you are with child, your life will be in danger.’

  Another woman might have blanched or at least seemed surprised. Instead, Kettricken lightly touched the very serviceable knife she always wore beside her keys. ‘Almost, I would welcome so direct an attack.’ She considered. ‘I suppose it is wise. What harm can come of letting them know we suspect. Nay, that we know. Why should I be circumspect and tactful? Burrich has already received their greetings, in the form of an arrow through the leg.’ The bitterness in her voice and the ferocity beneath it shocked me. ‘He may take the guard-post, and with it my thanks. I could choose a sounder man, but I would not have the trust in him that I have in Burrich. Will his leg injury permit him to do this duty?’

  ‘I do not think his pride would permit any other to do it.’

  ‘Fine, then.’ She paused. ‘I will have a chair placed for him.’

  ‘I doubt he will use it.’

  She sighed. ‘We all have our own ways of offering sacrifice. It shall be there, nevertheless.’

  I bowed my head in acceptance and she dismissed me. I went back up to my room intending to tidy away all that had been dragged out for Burrich’s use. But as I walked softly down the hall, I was startled to see the door of my room open slowly. I eased to another doorway and flattened myself inside it. After a moment, Justin and Serene emerged from my room. I stepped out to confront them.

  ‘Still looking for a spot for your tryst?’ I asked acidly.

  They both froze. Justin stepped back, stood almost behind Serene. Serene glared at him, then stood firm before me. ‘We don’t have to answer to you for anything.’

  ‘Not even for being in my room? Did you find anything interesting there?’

  Justin was breathing as if he’d just run a race. I met his eyes deliberately. He was speechless. I smiled at him.

  ‘We need not speak to you at all,’ Serene announced. ‘We know what you are. Come, Justin.’

  ‘You know what I am? Interesting. Rest assured that I know what you are. And that I am not the only one who knows.’

  ‘Beast-man!’ Justin hissed. ‘You wallow in the filthiest of magics. Did you think you could go undetected amongst us? No wonder Galen found you unfit to Skill!’

  His arrow had struck home and quivered in my most secret fear. I tried not to let it show. ‘I am loyal to King Shrewd.’ Face composed, I gazed at them steadily. I said no more than that. Not in words. But I looked them up and down, measuring them against what they should be, and found them lacking. In the minute shifting of their feet, in their quick glances at one another, I decided that they knew they were traitors. They reported to Regal; they knew they should report to the King. They were not deceived as to what they were; they understood. Perhaps Galen had burned a loyalty to Regal into their minds; perhaps they could not conceive of turning against him. But parts of them still knew that Shrewd was king, and that they were disloyal to a king they had sworn to. I tucked away that bit of knowledge; it was a crack that might someday hold a wedge.

  I stepped forward, and enjoyed watching Serene shrink away from me while Justin cowered between her and the wall. But I made no attack. I turned my back to them and opened my door. As I entered my room, I felt a sneaky little wisp of Skill grope at the edges of my mind. Without thinking, I blocked as Verity had taught me to. ‘Keep your thoughts to yourself,’ I warned them, and did not dignify them by looking back at them. I shut the door.

  For a moment, I stood breathing. Calm. Calm. I did not relax my mind-guards. Then quietly, carefully, I worked my latches. Once the door was secured, I moved cautiously through my room. Chade had once told me that assassins must always believe the other person has more skill than they do. It is the only way to remain alive and keep sharp. So I touched nothing lest it had been coated with poison. Instead, I stood in the centre of my room, closed my eyes, and tried to recall exactly how it had looked when I last left it. Then I opened my eyes and looked for changes in the room.

  The small tray of herbs was squarely on top of my clothing chest. I had left it to one end, within easy reach of Burrich. So they had been through my clothing chest. The tapestry of King Wisdom, that had been slightly askew for months, now hung straight. That was all I could see. It puzzled me. I had no idea what they had been looking for. That they had dug through my clothing chest seemed to suggest it was a small enough item to fit in there. But why lift a tapestry and look behind it? I stood still, thinking a moment. This had not been a random search. I was not sure what they had been hoping to find. But I suspected they had been told to look for a secret passageway in my room. That meant that Regal had concluded that killing Lady Thyme had not been enough. His suspicions were stronger than Chade had led me to believe. I was almost grateful I had never been able to discover how to work the entry to Chade’s apartments. It gave me more confidence in its secrecy.

  I inspected every item in my room before I handled it. I saw that every scrap of food that had remained on Cook’s trays was disposed of where no one and nothing would taste it. I discarded the water in the buckets as well as that in my ewer. I inspected my supply of firewood and candles for powders or resins, checked my bedding for powder and reluctantly discarded my complete supply of herbs. I would take no chances. I could discover no possessions missing, nor that anything had been added to my room. Some time later, I sat down on my bed, feeling exhausted and unnerved. I would have to be more on my guard, I concluded. I recalled the Fool’s experience and pondered it. I did not want to encounter a bag and a beating the next time I entered my room.

  My room suddenly seemed confining, a trap that I must return to each day. I left it, not bothering to lock it as I went. Locks were useless. Let them see I did not fear their intrusion. Even though I did.

  Outside it was a mild, clear, late afternoon. The unseasonably kind weather ate at me, even as I enjoyed my walk through the inner circle of the keep. I decided I would walk down to the town, to pay a visit to the Rurisk and my shipmates there, and then perhaps go into a tavern for a beer. It had been too long since I’d walked to town, and far too long since I’d listened to the gossip of town folk. It would be a relief to get away from Buckkeep intrigues for a while.

  I was going out of the gate when a young guardsman stepped into my path. ‘Stand!’ he commanded me, then, ‘Please, sir,’ he added as he recognized me.

  I halted obediently. ‘Yes?’

  He cleared his throat, then suddenly went scarlet all the way to his hairline. He took a breath, then stood silent.

  ‘Did you need something from me?’ I asked.

  ‘Please to wait a moment, sir,’ the boy blurted.

  The lad disappeared back into the guardhouse, and a moment later an older watch-officer emerged. She regarded me gravely, took a breath as if to steel herself, then said quietly, ‘You are denied passage out of the keep.’

  ‘What?’ I could not believe my ears.

  She drew herself up. When she spoke, her voice was firmer. ‘You are denied passage out of the keep.’

  A surge of anger heated me. I forced it down. ‘By whose command?’

  She stood firm before me. ‘My commands come from the captain of the watch, sir. That is all I know of it.’

  ‘I would speak to that captain.’ I kept my voice courteous.

  ‘He is not in the guard-room. Sir.’

  ‘I see.’ But I did not, quite. I could perceive all the nooses tightening about me, but could not understand why just now. The other obvious question to ask, however, was ‘why not’? With Shrewd’s enfeeblement, Verity had become my protector. But he was away. I could turn to Kettricken, but only if I were willing to bring her into open conflict with Regal. I was not. Chade was, as always, a shadow power. All of this passed through my mind quickly. I was turning away from the gate when I heard my name called. I turned back.

  Coming up the hill from town was Molly. Her servant’s blue dress flapped around her calves as she ran. And she ran heavily, uneven
ly, unlike her usual graceful stride. She was exhausted, or nearly so. ‘Fitz!’ she cried out again, and there was fear in her voice.

  I started to go to her, but the guard stepped suddenly into my path. Fear was on her face, too, but also determination. ‘I cannot let you go out of the gate. I have my orders.’

  I wanted to smash her from my path. I forced my rage down. A struggle with her would not help Molly. ‘Then you go to her, damn you! Can’t you see the woman is in trouble of some kind?’

  She stood eye to eye with me, unmoving. ‘Miles!’ she called, and the boy leaped out. ‘Go see what is wrong with that woman. Quickly now!’

  The boy took off like a shot. I stood, with the guard standing squarely before me, and watched helplessly over her shoulder as Miles raced to Molly. When he reached her, he put an arm around her, and took her basket on his other arm. Leaning heavily on him, gasping and near weeping, Molly came toward the gate. It seemed to take forever before she was through the gate and in my arms. ‘Fitz, oh Fitz,’ she sobbed.

  ‘Come,’ I told her. I turned her away from the guard, walked her away from the gate. I knew I had done the sensible thing, the calm thing, but I felt shamed and small from it.

  ‘Why didn’t you … come to me?’ Molly panted.

  ‘The guard would not let me. They have orders that I am not to leave Buckkeep,’ I said quietly. I could feel her trembling as she leaned against me. I took her around the corner of a warehouse, out of sight of the guards standing gaping in the gate. I held her in my arms until she quieted. ‘What’s wrong? What happened?’ I tried to make my voice soothing. I brushed back the hair that hung about her face. After a few moments, she quieted in my arms. Her breathing steadied, but she still trembled.

  ‘I had gone into town. Lady Patience had given me the afternoon. And I needed to get a few things … for my candles.’ As she spoke, her trembling lessened. I tilted her chin up so that she looked into my eyes.

  ‘And then?’