Assassin's Apprentice

"Sometimes I think there was something in Patience that Chivalry instinctively knew he needed. He was a thoughtful, orderly man, always correct in his manners, always aware of precisely what was going on around him. He was chivalrous, boy, in the best sense of that word. He did not give in to ugly or petty impulses. That meant he exuded a certain air of restraint at all times. So those who did not know him well thought him cold or cavalier.

"And then he met this girl ... and she was scarcely more than a girl. And there was no more substance to her than to cobwebs and sea foam. Thoughts and tongue always flying from this to that, nitterdy-natterdy, with never a pause or connection I could see. It used to exhaust me just to listen to her. But Chivalry would smile, and marvel. Perhaps it was that she had absolutely no awe of him. Perhaps it was that she didn't seem particularly eager to win him. But with a score of more eligible ladies, of better birth and brighter brains, pursuing him, he chose Patience.

And it wasn't even timely for him to wed; when he took her to wife, he shut the gate on a dozen possible alliances that a wife could have brought him. There was no good reason for him to get married at that time. Not one."

"Except that he wanted to," I said, and then I could have bitten out my tongue. For Chade nodded, and then gave himself a bit of a shake. He took his gaze off the fire and looked at me.

"Well. Enough of that. I won't ask you how you made such an impression on her, or what changed her heart toward you. But last week she came to Shrewd and demanded that you be recognized as Chivalry's son and heir and given an education appropriate to a prince."

I was dizzied. Did the wall tapestries move before me, or was it a trick of my eyes?

"Of course he refused," Chade continued mercilessly. "He tried to explain to her why such a thing is totally impossible. All she kept saying was, 'But you are the King. How can it be impossible for you?' 'The nobles would never accept him. It would mean civil war. And think what it would do to an unprepared boy, to plunge him suddenly into this.' So he told her."

"Oh," I said quietly. I couldn't remember what I had felt for the one instant. Elation? Anger? Fear? I only knew that the feeling was gone now, and I felt oddly stripped and humiliated that I had felt anything at all.

"Patience, of course, was not convinced at all. 'Prepare the boy,' she told the King. 'And when he is ready, judge for yourself.' Only Patience would ask such a thing, and in front of both Verity and Regal. Verity listened quietly, knowing how it must end, but Regal was livid. He becomes overwrought far too easily. Even an idiot should know Shrewd could not accede to Patience's demand. But he knows when to compromise. In all else, he gave way to her, mostly I think to stop her tongue."

"In all else?" I repeated stupidly.

"Some for our good, some for our detriment. Or at least, for our damned inconvenience." Chade sounded both annoyed and elated. "I hope you can find more hours in the day, boy, for I'm not willing to sacrifice any of my plans for hers. Patience has demanded that you be educated as befits your bloodlines. And she has vowed to undertake such educating herself. Music, poetry, dance, song, manners ... I hope you've a better tolerance for it than I did. Though it never seemed to hurt Chivalry. Sometimes he even put such knowledge to good use. But it will take up a good part of your day. You'll be acting as page for Patience as well. You're old for it, but she insisted. Personally, I think she regrets much and is trying to make up for lost time, something that never works. You'll have to cut back your weapons training. And Burrich will have to find himself another stable boy."

I didn't give a peg about the weapons training. As Chade had often pointed out to me, a really good assassin worked close and quietly. If I learned my trade well, I wouldn't be swinging a long blade at anyone. But my time with Burrich – again I had the odd sensation of not knowing how I felt. I hated Burrich. Sometimes. He was overbearing, dictatorial, and insensitive. He expected me to be perfect, yet bluntly told me that I would never be rewarded for it. But he was also open, and blunt, and believed I could achieve what he demanded ....

"You're probably wondering what advantage she won us," Chade went on obliviously. I heard suppressed excitement in his voice. "It's something I've tried for twice for you, and been twice refused. But Patience nattered at Shrewd until he surrendered. It's the Skill, boy. You're to be trained in the Skill."

"The Skill," I repeated, without sense of what I was saying. It was all going too fast for me.

"Yes."