I nodded, as confused as ever.
“Recite it for me.”
“`Six Wisemen went to Jhaampe-town, climbed a hill and never came down, turned to stone and flew away ….’ “ The old nursery rhyme eluded me suddenly. “I don’t recall it all. It’s nonsense anyway, one of those rhyming things that sticks in your head but means nothing.”
“That, of course, is why it is enscrolled with the knowledge verses,” the Fool concluded.
“I don’t know!” I retorted. I suddenly felt irritated beyond endurance. “Fool, you are doing it again. All you speak is riddles, ever! You claim to speak plain, but your truth eludes me. “
“Riddles, dear Fitzy-fitz, are supposed to make folk. think. To find new truth in old saws. But, be that as it may …. Your brain eludes me. How shall I reach it? Perhaps if I came to you, by dark of night, and sang under your window:
“`Bastard Princeling, Fitz my sweet,
You waste your hours to your own defeat.
You work to stop, you strive to refrain,
When all your effort should go to a gain.
He had flung himself to one knee, and plucked nonexistent strings on his scepter. He sang quite lustily, and even well. The tune belonged to a popular love ballad. He looked at me, sighed theatrically, wet his lips, and continued mournfully:
“`Why does a Farseer look never afar,
Why dwells he completely in things as they are?
Your coasts are besieged, your people beset.
I warn and I urge, but they all say, “not yet!”
O Bastard Princeling, gentle Fitz,
Will you delay until chopped to bits?’ “
A passing servant girl paused to stand bemused and listen. A page came to the door of one chamber and peeped out at us, grinning widely. A slow flush began to heat my cheeks, for the Fool’s expression was both tender and ardent as he looked up at me. I tried to walk casually away from him, but he followed me on his knees, clutching at my sleeve. I was forced to stand, or engage in a ridiculous struggle to free myself. I stood, feeling foolish. He simpered a smile up at me. The page giggled, and down the hall I heard two voices conferring in amusement. I refused to lift my eyes to see who was so enjoying my discomfort. The Fool mouthed a kiss up at me. He let his voice sink to a confidential whisper as he sang on: