rh.theassassinsapprentice-第103章

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dom　sought　and　found　the　Elderlings'　homeland　by　a　secret　path　through　the　Mountain　Kingdom。　Could　these　figures　represent　an　Elderling　and　King　Wisdom？　Does　this　tapestry　record　the　path　through　the　Mountain　Kingdom　to　the　Elderlings'　homeland　in　the　Rain　Wilds？
　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　Much　later　I　learned　how　I　had　been　found；　leaning　against　Burrich's　body　on　the　tile　floor　of　the　steams。　I　was　shaking　as　with　an　ague　and　could　not　be　roused。　Jonqui　found　us；　though　how　she　knew　to　look　in　the　steams　I　will　never　know。　I　will　always　suspect　that　she　was　to　Eyod　as　Chade　was　to　Shrewd；　not　as　assassin　perhaps；　but　as　one　who　had　ways　of　knowing　or　finding　out　almost　anything　that　happened　within　the　palace。　However　it　was；　she　took　mand　of　the　situation。　Burrich　and　I　were　isolated　in　a　chamber　separate　from　the　palace；　and　I　suspect　that　for　a　while　no　one　from　Buckkeep　knew　where　we　were　or　if　we　lived。　She　tended　us　herself　with　the　aid　of　one　old　manservant。
　　　　　　　I　awoke　some　two　days　after　the　wedding。　Four　of　the　most　miserable　days　of　my　life　were　spent　lying　in　bed；　limbs　a　twitch　but　not　at　my　mand。　I　dozed　often；　in　a　deadened　way　that　was　not　pleasant；　and　either　dreamed　vividly　of　Verity；　or　sensed　him　trying　to　Skill　to　me。　The　Skill　dreams　conveyed　no　sense　to　me；　other　than　that　he　was　concerned　for　me。　I　grasped　only　isolated　bits　of　knowledge　from　them；　such　as　the　color　of　the　curtains　in　the　room　he　Skilled　from；　or　the　feel　of　a　ring　on　his　finger　that　he　absently　twisted　as　he　tried　to　reach　me。　Some　more　violent　jerk　of　my　muscles　would　shake　me　from　my　dreams；　and　my　spasming　would　torment　me　until；　exhausted；　I　dozed　again。
　　　　　　　My　periods　of　alertness　were　as　bad；　for　Burrich　lay　on　a　pallet　in　the　same　room；　breathing　hoarsely；　but　doing　little　more　than　that。　His　features　were　swollen　and　discolored　such　that　he　was　barely　recognizable。　From　the　beginning　Jonqui　gave　me　little　hope　for　him；　either　that　he　would　live；　or　that　he　would　be　himself　if　he　did　survive。
　　　　　　　But　Burrich　had　cheated　death　before。　The　swelling　gradually　subsided；　the　purpling　faded；　and　when　he　did　awaken；　he　proceeded　to　recover　himself　swiftly。　He　had　no　memories　of　anything　that　occurred　after　he　took　me　from　the　stable。　I　told　him　only　what　he　needed　to　know。　It　was　more　than　it　was　safe　for　him　to　know；　but　I　owed　it　to　him。　He　was　up　and　about　before　I　was；　though　at　first　he　had　times　of　dizziness　and　headaches。　But　before　long　Burrich　was　getting　to　know　the　Jhaampe　stables　and　exploring　the　town　at　his　leisure。　In　the　evenings　he　would　return；　and　we　had　many　long；　quiet　conversations。　We　both　avoided　topics　where　we　knew　we　would　disagree；　and　there　were　areas；　such　as　Chade's　teachings；　where　I　could　not　be　open　with　him。　Mostly；　though；　we　talked　about　dogs　he　had　known；　and　horses　he'd　trained；　and　sometimes　he　spoke；　a　little；　of　his　early　days　with　Chivalry。　One　evening　I　told　him　about　Molly。　He　was　quiet　for　a　time；　and　then　told　me　that　he'd　heard　the　owner　of　the　Beebalm　Chandlery　had　died　in　debt；　and　that　his　daughter　who　had　expected　to　inherit　it　had　gone　to　live　with　relatives　in　a　village　instead。　He　did　not　remember　what　village；　but　knew　someone　who　would　know。　He　did　not　mock　me；　but　told　me　seriously　that　I　should　know　my　own　mind　before　I　saw　her　again。
　　　　　　　August　never　Skilled　again。　He　was　carried　from　the　dais　that　day；　but　as　soon　as　he　recovered　from　his　faint；　he　demanded　to　see　Regal　immediately。　I　trust　he　delivered　Verity's　message。　For　while　Regal　did　not　e　to　visit　either　Burrich　or　me　during　our　convalescence；　Kettricken　did；　and　she　mentioned　that　Regal　was　most　concerned　that　we　recover　quickly　and　pletely　from　our　accidents；　for　as　he　had　promised　her；　he　had　forgiven　me　pletely。　She　told　me　how　Burrich　had　slipped　and　struck　his　head　trying　to　pull　me　from　the　pool　when　I　went　into　a　seizure。　I　do　not　know　who　concocted　that　tale。　Jonqui　herself；　perhaps。　I　doubt　if　even　Chade　could　have　e　up　with　a　better　one。　But　Verity's　message　was　the　end　of　August's　leadership　of　the　coterie；　and　all　Skilling　as　far　as　I　know。　I　do　not　know　if　he　was　too　afraid　after　that　day；　or　if　the　talent　was　blasted　out　of　him　by　that　force。　He　left　court；　and　went　to　Withywoods；　where　Chivalry　and　Patience　had　once　ruled。　I　believe　he　became　wise。
　　　　　　　Following　her　wedding；　Kettricken　joined　with　all　of　Jhaampe　in　a　month　of　mourning　for　her　brother。　From　my　sickbed；　I　was　aware　of　it　mostly　as　chimes；　chantings；　and　great　burnings　of　incense。　All　Rurisk's　possessions　were　given　away。　To　me　Eyod　himself　came；　and　brought　a　simple　silver　ring　his　son　had　worn。　And　the　head　of　the　arrow　that　had　pierced　his　chest。　He　did　not　say　much　to　me；　except　to　tell　me　what　the　objects　were；　and　that　I　should　cherish　these　reminders　of　an　exceptional　man。　He　left　me　to　wonder　why　these　items　had　been　selected　for　me。
　　　　　　　At　the　end　of　a　month；　Kettricken　set　her　mourning　aside。　She　came　to　bid　Burrich　and　me　a　swift　recovery　and　to　bid　us　farewell　until　she　saw　us　at　Buckkeep。　The　brief　moment　of　Skilling　from　Verity　had　eliminated　all　her　reservations　about　him。　She　spoke　of　her　husband　with　a　quiet　pride　and　went　willingly　to　Buckkeep；　knowing　herself　given　to　an　honorable　man。
　　　　　　　It　was　not　for　me　to　ride　alongside　her　at　the　head　of　that　homeward　procession；　or　to　enter　Buckkeep　preceded　by　horns　and　tumblers　and　children　ringing　bells。　That　was　Regal's　place；　and　he　put　a　gracious　face　on　it。　Regal　appeared　to　take　Verity's　warning　to　heart。　I　do　not　think　Verity　ever　pletely　forgave　him。　But　he　dismissed　Regal's　plottings　as　if　they　were　nasty　boyish　tricks；　and　I　think　that　cowed　Regal　more　than　any　public　reprimand　could　have。　The　poisoning　was　eventually　blamed　on　Rowd　and　Sevrens；　by　those　who　knew　of　it。　Sevrens　had；　after　all；　obtained　the　poison；　and　Rowd　had　delivered　the　gift　of　apple　wine。　Kettricken　pretended　to　be　convinced　that　it　was　a　misplaced　ambition　by　servants　on　behalf　of　an　unknowing　master。　And　Rurisk's　death　was　never　openly　spoken　of　as　a　poisoning。　Nor　did　I　bee　known　as　an　assassin。　Whatever　was　in　Regal's　heart；　his　outward　demeanor　was　that　of　a　younger　prince　graciously　escorting　his　brother's　bride　home。
　　　　　　　I　had　a　long　convalescence。　Jonqui　treated　me　with　herbs　she　said　would　rebuild　what　had　been　damaged。　I　should　have　tried　to　learn　her　herbs　and　techniques；　but　my　mind　could　not　seem　to　hold　things　any　better　than　my　hands　could。　I　actually　remember　little　of　that　time。　My　recovery　from　the　poisoning　was　frustratingly　slow。　Jonqui　sought　to　make　it　less　tedious　by　arranging　time　for　me　in　the　Great　Library；　but　my　eyes　wearied　quickly　and　seemed　as　prone　to　trembling　disorders　as　my　hands。　I　spent　most　days　lying　in　my　bed；　thinking。　For　a　time　I　wondered　if　I　wanted　to　return　to　Buckkeep。　I　wondered　if　I　could　still　be　Shrewd's　assassin。　I　knew　if　I　returned；　I　would　have　to　sit　down　table　from　Regal；　and　look　up；　to　see　him　at　my　king's　left　hand。　I　would　have　to　treat　him　as　if　he　had　never　tried　to　kill　me；　nor　used　me　in　the　poisoning　of　a　man　I　had　admired。　I　spoke　of　it　frankly　one　evening　to　Burrich。　He　sat　and　listened　quietly。　Then　he　said；　〃I　cannot　imagine　it　will　be　easier　for　Kettricken　than　it　would　be　for　you。　Nor　for　me；　to　look　at　a　man　who　has　tried　to　kill　me　twice；　and　call　him　'my　prince。'　You　must　decide。　I　should　hate　to　have　him　think　he　had　frightened　us　away。　But　if　you　decide　we　are　going　elsewhere；　then　we　shall。〃　I　think　I　finally　guessed　then　what　the　earring　signified。
　　　　　　　Winter　was　no　longer　a　threat；　but　a　reality；　when　we　left　the　mountains。　Burrich；　Hands；　and　I　returned　much　later　to　Buckkeep　than　the　others；　for　we　took　our　time　on　the　journey。　I　tired　easily；　and　my　strength　was　still　very　unpredictable。　I　would　crumple　at　odd　moments；　falling　from　the　saddle　like　a　sack　of　grain。　Then　they　would　stop　to　help　me　remount；　and　I　would　force　myself　to　go　on。　Many　nights　I　awoke　shaking；　without　even　the　strength　to　call　out。　These　lapses　were　slow　to　pass。　Worst；　I　think；　were　the　nights　when　I　could　not　waken；　but　dreamed　only　of　endlessly　drowning。　From　one　such　dream　I　woke　to　Verity　standing　over　me。