Chapter 113 Chapter 113 The distance between assassins

"Just some routine." The stable boy was on the verge of tears when I saw the argument.Now, though, he has someone to help him, so his tone is firmer, and he stands taller and looks me in the eyes. "That's easy, then. We'll take the horse back to the stables to wait for your orders. Buckkeep Stable horses can't be taken out unless the Deputy Steward of the Stables is informed." The reins, and now I put the reins back in his hands. "So do I, my lord," he told me, stammering, heels together in greeting. "Thank you, my lord. Come on, Little Cliff." The stable boy led the slow-moving horse proudly.

"I was ordered to take that horse. The Duke of Ram in Tirs wants me to send it to the river immediately." The man in Tirs' costume spoke to me with his nostrils. "Did he say that? So he got permission from our stable master?" I'm sure he didn't. "What happened here?" Ah Shou ran over, his ears and cheeks flushed.On someone else's face, the redness would be funny, but I knew it meant he was angry. "This man, and one of your assistants, interfered with us while we were taking our animals from the stables!" he declared haughtily. "The Cliff is not an animal of Tirs. It was born in Buckkeep six years ago, and I was there." I made a statement.

The man looked at me haughtily. "I'm not talking to you, I'm talking to him." He pointed at A's hand with his finger. "I have a name, my lord." Ah Shou pointed out coldly. "Hand, I am acting steward of the stables, acting for Burrich when he accompanied Crown Prince Verity on his expeditions. He also has a name, Fitz's steed, and comes to my aid from time to time. He, my stable boy, and my The horses belong to this stable. As for you, my lord, if you have a name, no one has told me, and I don't know why you appear in my stable." Sure enough, Burrich taught Hands well.We exchanged glances, then turned and walked back to the stable at the same time.

"I'm Lance, groom to the Duke of the Ram. That horse has been sold to my Duke, and not only her, but two other dappled mares and a gelding. See my papers here .” As we slowly turned around, the Tirsi brought out a scroll.When I saw a red wax seal from Buckkeep, my heart skipped a beat. It seemed real.A hand slowly took the scroll and squinted at me, and I stepped forward to stand beside him.He could read some words, but reading had always been difficult for him, and although Burrich had taught him some, it was still not easy for him.I watched over his shoulder as he unfolded the scroll and studied it.

"It's clearly written on it," said the Tirsi man, reaching out to take back the scroll. "Let me read it to you?" "Don't bother," I said to the Tyrs as Hand rolled up the scroll, "it's written in great detail, but something is obviously missing. Although Prince Regal signed it, the cliff is not his horse. He, the mare, and the gelding are Buckkeep horses, and only King Shrewd can sell them." "Crown Prince Verity is not here, and now Prince Regal is acting for him." I put my hand on Ah Shou's shoulder to stop his anger. "Crown Prince Verity is not there, but King Shrewd and Princess Kettricken are, and one of them must sign the papers before the horses in the stables at Buckkeep can be sold."

Lance snatched his scroll back and examined the signature for himself. "I think Prince Regal's signature should be enough for you when Verity isn't around. Everyone knows the old king is delirious most of the time, and Kettricken, well... isn't she looking The Far Clan, really. So, in Verity's absence, Regal is—" "Prince." I said the word precisely. "It's treason to belittle him with words, but it's the same to make him a king or a queen because he's neither." I planted the suggestive threat deep in his mind.I wouldn't accuse him of treason outright, or he'd die; but even a pompous bastard like Lance isn't worth dying for repeating his master's bold words.I watched him widen his eyes.

"I don't have any malice..." "It's all right," I said now, "just remember never to buy a horse from a man who doesn't have one. These are all Buckkeep horses owned by the King." "Of course." Lance trembled with panic. "Perhaps it was a wrong document, and I believe there must be some mistake somewhere. I will go back to my master." "A wise choice." Ah Shou said softly beside me, regaining his authority. "Okay, let's go!" Lance squeezed his valet and gave him a push. The boy followed his master and glared back at us.I don't blame him, because Lance is one of those guys who has to take his anger out elsewhere.

"Do you think they will come back?" Shou asked me calmly. "They'll come back, or Regal will give the money back to Duke Ram." We ponder that possibility in silence. "So, when they come back, what are we going to do?" "If only Regal's signature is there, do nothing. If the document bears the signature of a king or queen, you must surrender the horse." "One of the mares is pregnant!" Hand protested. "Burrich has high hopes for the pony. If the pony leaves, what will he say when he comes back?" "We've got to keep in mind that these are the king's horses, and Burrich won't blame you for following orders."

"I don't like this." He looked up at me with worried eyes. "I don't think this would have happened if Burrich had been here." "I think it will, Hand, and don't think it's your fault. I suspect it's not the worst thing that can happen to us before the end of winter. But if they do come back, don't forget to tell I say." He nodded heavily, and I left.This visit to the stables turned out to be an unpleasant one, and I didn't want to walk past the rows of stables and wonder how many horses would be left before winter was over. I walked slowly across the courtyard, and then went into the castle to go upstairs to my room.I stopped on the steps.Verity?

no response.I can feel him expressing his will in my heart, sometimes even expressing his thoughts, but every time I try to find him, there is no follow-up, which makes me panic.These things would not have happened if I had been able to transmit my technique accurately.I paused to curse Galen and the good he had done to me, for he had burned away all the psychic powers I had, leaving only unpredictable crippled ones. But what about Duanning and Zegu, and the rest of the Skill Group?Why didn't Verity use them to probe the situation and let them know his will? A wave of fear spread in my heart.Bearnes' carrier pigeons, signal flares, and the men in the beacon tower.All the communication lines in the kingdom, and the communication channels with the king don't seem to work very well.These channels of communication united the six duchies into a unified kingdom rather than an alliance of dukes.In these turbulent times, we need them more than ever, but why are they losing their effectiveness?

I leave the question to Chade, hoping he will summon me soon.He hasn't seen me as much as he used to lately, and I don't feel like I'm having as many private conversations with him as I used to.Well, don't I exclude him from my life too?Perhaps, it was because I kept my secret from him that I felt this way, or it could be the natural distance between assassins.