Chapter 170 Chapter 170 We Are Really Lean

"I swear that my beliefs are with you, Fitz Junki, son of Junki." Shocked, I let the war-torn elder take my hands and place them on his forehead, an expression of loyalty. In the old fashioned way, I can only try not to pull my hand back. Allegiance to Verity, I told myself, I began this way and I will always remain so. "I'll tell the others," Prondi continued calmly, "I'll tell them it's what you want. In fact we don't want to cause bloodshed, as you said, let Regal, the little dog Flee inland with your tail on your back, for this is where the wolves fight their battles."

His choice of words really makes my scalp tingle. "We will attend his succession ceremony, and even stand in front of him and renew our allegiance to the king of the Zhanyuan family, but he is not a king, and he will never be a king. I understand that he will leave for the interior on the day the ceremony is over. Lu, then let's let him go! Even if according to tradition, the new crown prince should stand before his duke and listen to their advice. We may have to stay here for a day or two, at least after Regal is gone, Buckkeep is yours That's right, and we need to confirm this before we leave. There are still many things waiting for us to discuss, such as how to configure our battleship. By the way, there should be other unfinished battleships in the dock?"

I nodded quickly, and Prondi gave a sly smile of satisfaction. "We'll see them set sail, you and I. We all know Regal has plundered Buckkeep's supplies, and we'll have to find a way to restock your storehouses. Farmers and shepherds of the Buck Duchy must know They'll have to find more food, and they'll have to hand over what they've hoarded, so the soldiers can have enough strength to defend the coast. It's going to be a tough winter for us, but lean wolves are the strongest, Like they say." We're so lean, my brother.Oh, we are indeed lean. A terrifying premonition rose in me, and I really wanted to know what I had done.I've got to try to reassure her before Kettricken leaves, that I'm not against her, and then I have to gamble with Verity as soon as possible, but will he understand?He will, of course he will understand my intentions.Where is King Shrewd?Long, long ago, when he first bought my loyalty, he said to me: "If anyone, male or female, wants to turn you against me by giving you more, come and tell me they I will give you as much as I will." Will you give me Buckkeep, old king?I can't help but wonder.

I noticed that Prondi fell silent. "Don't be afraid, Fitz Horseman." He said calmly. "Don't doubt the rightness of what we're doing, or we haven't done it. If you don't reach out and take Buckkeep, someone else will. We can't leave Buckkeep without someone to rule, so go with us Be happy for yourselves together! We won't follow Regal and let him flee inland and hide under his mother's bed. We must stand on our own feet, and all the omens and signs point us in that direction. They say pockmarked Men drank blood by the well at Buckkeep, and a great snake crouched in front of the great-hall fireplace and audaciously attacked a child. And I myself rode down here to see a young eagle killed by a flock of The crows besieged. Just when I was thinking that it must rush into the sea to dodge them, it turned around in mid-air and bit a crow that was attacking it from above, and then threw the bloody crow into the sea after the bite, and the others The crow fled, flapping its wings and squawking. These are signs, Fitzjourney, and we would be fools to ignore them."

Despite my doubts about these omens, I shuddered and the hairs on my arms stood on end.Prondi turned his head and glanced at the inner door of the room. I followed his line of sight and saw Jiemin standing there. Her short dark hair set off a confident face, and her blue eyes were piercing. "Daughter, your choice is quite correct." The elder told her. "I once wondered which point in the document you read, maybe I can see it now." He nodded to let her into the room, and she walked over with a rustling skirt, standing beside her father and looking at me bravely.My first glimpse of the steel of purpose hidden within this shy child was unnerving.

"I asked you to wait, and you did," said the Duke of Prondi to me. "It can be seen from this matter that you are a respectable person. Today I hand over my loyalty to you. I wonder if you are willing to accept my daughter and make her your wife?" How I stumbled into this predicament.I looked into Jie Min's eyes, she didn't hesitate at all.If I had never met Molly, I would have thought she was such a beauty.However, when I looked at her, there was no such feeling in my heart.There is no room in my heart for another woman, let alone during this difficult time.I turned to her father and decided to take a firm stand.

"You have honored me far more than I deserve, my lord. But, Duke Prondi, as you have just said, times are difficult and uncertain. Your daughter is safe with you , but in my case, she will only face more uncertainty. What we are discussing here today is tantamount to treason to some people, so I will not let others say that I married your daughter to marry you Bind it so that you can try a questionable effort, and never let others think that you betrothed your daughter to me." I forced myself to turn my head and look into Jiemin's eyes. "Being the daughter of Prondi is safer than being the wife of Fitz Junqi. Before my status is uncertain, I will not promise anyone in any way. However, I value you very much, Ms. Jiemin. I Not a duke, not even a lord, I am but the illegitimate son of a prince, as my name suggests. I shall take no wife, nor associate with any lady, until I leave that title."

Jiemin was obviously upset, but her father nodded slowly in agreement with me. "I understand the meaning of your words, but my daughter probably only saw things being delayed." Seeing Jie Min's serious face, he smiled happily. "One day she'll understand that the people who are trying to protect her are the ones who care about her." He looked at me like a horse. "I believe," he said quietly, "that the Buck Principality will rise again, and that the child of Verity will be king." I said goodbye to him, those words still in my head, telling myself over and over again that I had done nothing wrong.If I don't step up to take over Buckkeep, someone else will.

"What?" Chade asked me angrily a few hours later. I sat and looked down at my legs. "I don't know, whether it's me or not, they're bound to find someone who is likely to spark bloodshed at the crown prince's succession and prevent us from getting Kettricken and Shrewd out of this mess." "If the dukes of the coast are on the brink of mutiny, as you report, perhaps we should rethink that plan." I sneezed and I used so much bitter bark that the whole room still smells of that. "Prondi wasn't talking about mutiny with me, but he wanted to serve a true and legitimate king, and that's a collection of spirits that resonated with me. I don't want to overthrow the king, Chade, I just want to make sure it's legal heir to the throne."