“I live in danger, Fitzy-fitz. As do you. We are all in danger. I should like to stay here for part of the day, and try to find a way out of that danger. Or at least a way to lessen it.” He shrugged significantly toward the scatter of scrolls.
“Verity entrusted those to me,” I said uneasily.
“Obviously because he feels you are a man whose judgment he trusts. So, perhaps you shall judge it safe to entrust them to me?”
It is one thing to trust a friend with one’s own possessions. It is another to allow him those another has put in your safe keeping. I found I had no doubt of my own trust of the Fool. But. “Perhaps it would be wiser to ask Verity first,” I offered.
“The less connection between Verity and me, the better it is for both of us.” The Fool spoke flatly.
“You do not care for Verity?” I was startled.
“I am the King’s fool. He is the King-in-Waiting. Let him wait. When he is king, I shall be his. If he does not get us all killed before then.”
“I will hear nothing spoken against Prince Verity,” I told him softly.
“No? Then you must walk about with your ears closely stoppered these days.”
I walked to the door, set my hand to the latch. “We must leave now, Fool. I am already late.” I kept my voice steady. His sneer at Verity had cut me as deeply as if aimed at me.
“Do not be the Fool, Fitz. That is my role. Think. A man can serve only one master. No matter what your lips may say, Verity is your king. I fault you not for that. Do you fault me that Shrewd is mine?”
“I do not fault you. Nor do I make mock of him before you.”