FitzChivalry Farseer just ca n’t hold out taking in orphans and creature in need . And that trait will continue to get him into major trouble , judging from our exclusive excerpt fromFool ’s Quest , the second volume in Robin Hobb ’s Fitz and the Fool trilogy .
Winterfest might lionize the lengthening of the day but it did not stand for that we were on the route to spring . Yesterday ’s cloud had snowed themselves to nothing . The sky overhead was as rich and virgin a blue as a Buck lady ’s skirts , but more clouds clustered on the horizon . Frost cake the festal garlands that festooned the shopfronts . The packed snowfall on the street squeaked under my boot . The low temperature had subdued the vacation purport , but dust seller of winter sweet and toys still shouted their product to hasty passersby . I passed a miserable donkey with icy sensory hair , and a hot - chestnut vendor who could just keep his brazier light up . He warmed his work force over his wares , and I purchase a dozen just to extend them in my chilled fingers . Overhead , the gulls wheeled and yell as they always did . brag were noisily pile a tardy owl they had constitute . By the time I make the street of the tailors , my drunkard ’s nose was as red from the cold as Chade could ever have wish . My cheeks were stiff and my cilium clung together briefly each metre I blinked . I cumulate my cloak more closely around myself and hoped that the new clothing that look me was not as foolish as what I was wearing .
I had just settle the correct shop when I heard a voice call , “ Tom ! Tom ! Tom ! ”
I call up in time that I was Lord Feldspar . So I did not sour , but a boy on the street shouted to his Quaker , “ Look , it ’s a peach crow ! He said ‘ Tom . ’ ”
That gave me the excuse to turn and look where the lad was pointing . Perched on a signboard across the street was a ramshackle line-shooting . It look at me and screamed shrilly , “ Tom , Tom ! ”
Before I could react , another crowing dived on it , pecking and flapping and cawing . In response to that attack , a XII more birds appeared as if from nowhere to join in the mobbing . As the beleaguered bird charter flight , I caught a glimpse of blank pinion among her bleak ones . To my repulsion , one of the other crows struck her in midair . She tumbled in her flight of stairs and then in her desperation took refuge under the eaves of a nearby shop . Two of her attackers made passes but could not strive her . The others settle down down on nearby rooftops to waitress . With the instincts of all bullies , they knew that eventually she would have to emerge .
Then , in the way of their variety , they would peck her to death for being different .
Oh , Web , what have you gotten me into ? I could not , could not , take in another orphan . She would have to fend for herself . That was all . I would have to hope that she would make her mode back to him . I wished he had not sent her in hunt of me . I indurate my heart and fit into the tailor ’s shop .
My new accoutrements began with a very poor blue cape reduce in layers of Plectrophenax nivalis lacing . I marvel if the tailor had jumbled Chade ’s order with one for a peeress , but the tailor and her married man gathered around me to try it on and make some accommodation to the ties . They then make for out the pair manacle for my articulatio radiocarpea and ankles . The sartor made a backtalk at the sight of my distinctly unfashionable boots but correspond that they were probably more worthy for the Charles Percy Snow . I promised her that the lacing cuffs would be tire out with my most fashionable bell - toed skid , and she appeared mollified . The cub who had delivered the order had paid them in advance , so all I had to do was take the package and be on my way .
As I add up out of the shop , the light of the short winter good afternoon was starting to leak out out . Cold was settling on the Ithiel Town , and the traffic in the streets had reduce . I did not appear toward the crow hunch under the eaves nor at her gathered tormentors . I turn my steps toward Buckkeep . “ Tom ! Tom ! ” she cried after me , but I hold walking .
Then , “ Fitz ! Fitz ! ” she cawed shrilly . Despite myself , my stride faltered . I kept my eyes on the way of life before me as I saw others turning to gaze at the crow . I heard the frantic whipping of annexe and then get wind her screech , “ Fitz — Chivalry ! Fitz — Chivalry ! ”
Beside me , a slight woman clasped her gnarled hands to her breast . “ He ’s come back ! ” she cried . “ As a crowing ! ” To that , I had to turn , lest others tick off how I ignore this sensation .
“ Ar , it ’s just some fellow ’s tame crow , ” a man declared disdainfully . We all turn our eyes skyward . The misfortunate bird was flying up as gamy as she could , with the mob in sideline .
“ I get a line you split a crow ’s glossa , you may teach it to peach , ” the chestnut tree seller volunteered .
“ Fitz — Chivalry ! ” she shrieked again as a great line-shooting struck her . She fall behind her momentum and tumbled in the air , catch herself , and flapped bravely , but she had fallen to a level below the murder of line-shooting and now they all pile her . In twos and threes they dived on her , striking her , buck out plume that swim in the still melodic line . She push the air travel to try out to appease aloft , incapacitated to protect herself from the bird that were mobbing her .
“ It ’s an omen ! ” someone shouted .
“ It ’s FitzChivalry in beast form ! ” a woman outcry out . “ The Witted Bastard has returned ! ”
And in that split second , affright swept through me . Had I thought earlier I recalled what the Fool was imperishable ? No . I had forgotten the icy floodlight of sure thing that every mitt was against me , that the proficient people of Buck dressed in their vacation finery would tear me apart with their scanty hand , just as the deal of crows was displume that lone bird aside . I felt sick with fear , in my legs and in my belly . I began to walk off and at every stair I thought they must see how my legs pulsate , how blank my face had gone . I transfix my package with both hands and tried to walk on as if I were the only one uninterested in the aerial battle overhead .
“ He ’s fall ! ” someone shout out , and I had to halt and look up .
But she was n’t fall . She ’d tucked her wings as if she were a hawk and she was diving . diving event directly at me .
An instant to see that , and then she had stumble me . “ I ’ll aid you , sir ! ” the chestnut vendor shouted and started toward me , his tongs raised to come to the flapping bird dishevel in my cloak . I hunched my shoulders and turned to take the blow for her as I wind her in the framework .
Be still . You ’re dead ! It was the Wit I used to speak to her , with no approximation if she would discover my thoughts . She had become still as shortly as I covered her and I think it likely she really was dead . What would Web say to me ? Then I see my foolish hat and flopping wig lie in the street before me . I snatched it up and under the pretext of beguile my piece of ground to my chest I held the crow house as well . I whirled on the well - mean chestnut tree vendor . “ What do you mean by assaulting me ? ” I squall at him as I jammed lid and wig back onto my head . “ How dare you humiliate me like this ! ”
“ Sir , I meant no complaint ! ” the seller cried , falling back from me . “ That crow — ! ”
“ Really ? Then why did you charge at me and nearly knock me to the ground , if not to expose me to jest at ? ” I lug vainly at my lopsided wig , settling it curiously on my head . I take heed a son express mirth , and a female parent jaw him with barely contained merriment . I glare in their counsel and then one - handedly made my wig and hat bad . There were several guffaw from behind me . I whirled , allow my hat and wig nearly leave my head again . “ Imbeciles ! Ruffians ! I shall see the Buckkeep town guards know about the dangers on this street ! round visitant ! Mocking a guest of the mogul ! I need you to bed , I am cousin-german to the Duke of Farrow , and he will be hearing about this from me ! ” I puffed out my cheeks and let my blue lip tremble in feigned rage . My shaking voice I did not have to manufacture . I felt half - sick with fright that someone would recognize me . The echo of my name seemed to hang in the air . I rick on my heel and did my best to flounce with indignation as I stride hastily forth . I heard a little fille ’s voice ask , “ But where did that hoot go ? ”
I did not loiter to see if anyone would answer her . My apparent discomposure at losing my lid and wig seemed to have provided them with some amusement , as I had desire . Several times before I was out of mass I made seemingly vain attempt to adjust both . When I gauge I was far enough by , I stepped into an alley and drew my hood up over my hat and wigging . The brag was so still within the flexure of my cloak that I revere she was rightfully dead . She had struck me quite hard , knockout enough to fail a boo ’s neck , I surmise . But my Wit secernate me that while she might be stun and lull , life still beat in her . I traversed the alleyway and walked down the wandering way of Tinker Street until I found another , narrower alley . There I eventually unfolded the wrapper of cloak that cradle her still , sinister chassis .
Her eye were closed . Her wings were clapped neatly to her body . I have always been impressed with how birds could fold two limbs so swimmingly that , had you never find out a bird before , you would consider it only had legs . I touched her glint contraband beak .
She spread a shine eye . I put a hand on her back , trapping her wings to her side . Not yet . remain still until we are somewhere safe .
I sense no return of the Wit from her , but her obedience made me believe she had understand me . I arranged crowing and parcel under my cloak and rush on toward Buckkeep Castle . The road was comfortably asseverate and more go than it had once been , but it was still outrageous and icy in some places . The light was fade and the wind rising . The wind picked up snow quartz glass as scathing as sand and blasted them at me . handcart and Big Dipper endure commissariat for this net evening of jollification passed me . I was going to be late .
Inside my cloak , the line-shooting had become restive . She shifted and clung to my dickie with beak and claw . I reached in to touch her and offer her support . She fluttered violently and the hand I drew back had fingertips of blood . I make her with the Wit . Are you hurt ?
My intellection bounced back to me as if I had thrown a pebble at a wall . Despite that , her infliction rinse against me and prickled up my spine . I speak aloud in a quiet articulation . “ Stay under my cloak . Climb up to my shoulder . I ’ll keep still while you do that . ”
For a prison term , she did not move . Then she gripped my shirt with her beak and climbed me , reach to claim a fresh beak - hold with every few steps . She became a lump on my shoulder under my cloak and then proceed around to make me a hunchback . When she seemed settled , I straightened up slowly .
“ I think we ’ll be fine , ” I told my passenger .
The winds had shepherded in the cloud and now they relinquish a fresh dusk of snow . It came down in heavyset clumps of bit that whirled and danced in the tip . I deform my head and trudged up the steep hill , toward the keep .
Copyright © 2015 by Robin Hobb . Excerpted by permit of Del Rey , a variance of Random House LLC . All right field reserve . No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permit in writing from the publisher .
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