“Nor do you come to visit him, no matter how many times I have urged it.”
“I was at his door just yesterday. I was turned away. They said he was not well.”
“And if that were to happen at Verity’s door, would you take it so meekly?”
That made me stop and think. “No. I don’t suppose I would.”
“Why do you give him up so easily?” The Fool spoke softly, like a man grieved. “Why does not Verity bestir himself for his father, instead of luring away Shrewd’s men to his side?”
“I have not been lured away. Rather Shrewd has not seen fit to see me. As for Verity, well, I cannot speak for him. But all know it is Regal that Shrewd favors of his sons.”
“Do all know that? Then do all know as well where Regal’s heart is truly set?”
“Some do,” I said briefly. This was dangerous talk.
“Reflect on this. Both of us serve the King we love best. Yet there is another that we love least. I do not think we have a conflict of loyalty, Fitz, while we are united in who we love least. Come. Confess to me that you have scarce had time to set your eyes upon the scrolls, and I shall remind you that the time you have not had has fled us all too swiftly. This is not a task that can wait upon your convenience.”
I teetered on the decision. The Fool came suddenly closer. His eyes were always hard to meet and harder to read. But the set of his mouth showed me his desperation. “I will trade you. I offer you a bargain you will find nowhere else. A secret I hold, promised to you, after you have let me search the scrolls for a secret which may not even be there.”