Assassin's Quest (The Farseer Trilogy, #3)

by Robin Hobb

I should have left it alone. I did not. “It is only that she thinks that you love me,” I tried to explain. He gave me an odd look. “I do.” “I mean, as a man and a woman love.” He took a breath. “And how is that?” “I mean…” It half-angered me that he pretended not to understand me. “For bedding. For…” “And is that how a man loves a woman?” he interrupted me suddenly. “For bedding?” “It’s a part of it!” I felt suddenly defensive but could not say why. He arched an eyebrow at me and said calmly, “You are confusing plumbing and love again.” “It’s more than plumbing!” I shouted at him. A bird abruptly flew off, cawing. I glanced back at Kettle and Starling, who exchanged puzzled glances. “I see,” he said. He thought a bit as I strode ahead of him on the path. Then, from behind me he called out, “Tell me, Fitz, did you love Molly or that which was under her skirts?” Now it was my turn to be affronted. But I was not going to let him baffle me into silence. “I love Molly and all that is a part of her,” I declared. I hated the heat that rose in my cheeks. “There, now you have said it,” the Fool replied as if I had proven his point for him. “And I love you, and all that is a part of you.” He cocked his head and the next words held a challenge. “And do you not return that to me?” He waited. I desperately wished I had never started this discussion. “You know I love you,” I said at last, grudgingly. “After all that has been between us, how can you even ask? But I love you as a man love...