rh.theassassinsapprentice-第18章
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e； or if they accepted my sudden disappearance as easily as they had accepted my ing。 But mostly I ached with loneliness； for in all that great keep； there were none I sensed as friend。 None save the beasts； and Burrich had forbidden me to have any closeness with them。
One evening I had gone wearily to bed； only to torment myself with my fears until sleep grudgingly pulled me under。 Light in my face awoke me； but I came awake knowing something was wrong。 I hadn't slept long enough； and this light was yellow and wavering； unlike the whiteness of the sunlight that usually spilled in my window。 I stirred unwillingly and opened my eyes。
He stood at the foot of my bed； holding aloft a lamp。 This in itself was a rarity at Buckkeep； but more than the buttery light from the lamp held my eyes。 The man himself was strange。 His robe was the color of undyed sheep's wool that had been washed； but only intermittently and not recently。 His hair and beard were about the same color and their untidiness gave the same impression。 Despite the color of his hair； I could not decide how old he was。 There are some poxes that will scar a man's face with their passage。 But I had never seen a man marked as he was； with scores of tiny pox scars； angry pinks and reds like small burns； and livid even in the lamp's yellow light。 His hands were all bones and tendons wrapped in papery white skin。 He was peering at me； and even in the lamplight； his eyes were the most piercing green I had ever seen。 They reminded me of a cat's eyes when it is hunting something； the same bination of joy and fierceness。 I pulled my quilt up higher under my chin。
〃You're awake；〃 he said。 〃Good。 Get up and follow me。〃
He turned abruptly from my bedside and walked away from the door； to a shadowed corner of my room between the hearth and the wall。 I didn't move。 He glanced back at me； held the lamp higher。 〃Hurry up； boy；〃 he said irritably； and rapped the stick he leaned on against my bedpost。
I got out of bed； wincing as my bare feet hit the cold floor。 I reached for my clothes and shoes； but he wasn't waiting for me。 He glanced back once to see what was delaying me； and the piercing look was enough to make me drop my clothes and quake。
And I followed； wordlessly； in my nightshirt； for no reason I could explain to myself。 Except that he had suggested it。 I followed him to a door that had never been there； and up a narrow flight of winding steps that were lit only by the lamp he held above his head。 His shadow fell behind him and over me； so that I walked in a shifting darkness； feeling each step with my feet。 The stairs were cold stone； worn and smooth and remarkably even。 And they went up； and up； and up； until it seemed to me that we had climbed past the height of any tower the keep possessed。 A chill breeze flowed up those steps； and up my nightshirt； shriveling me with more than mere cold。 And we went up； and then finally he was pushing open a substantial door that nonetheless moved silently and easily。 We entered a chamber。
It was lit warmly by several lamps； suspended from an unseen ceiling on fine chains。 The chamber was large； easily three times the size of my own。 One end of it beckoned me。 It was dominated by a massive wooden bed frame fat with feather beds and cushions。 There were carpets on the floor； overlapping one another with their scarlets and verdant greens and blues both deep and pale。 There was a table made of wood the color of wild honey； and on it sat a bowl of fruit so perfectly ripe that I could smell their fragrances。 Parchment books and scrolls were scattered about carelessly； as if their rarity were of no concern。 All three walls were draped with tapestries that depicted open rolling country with wooded foothills in the distance。 I started toward it。
〃This way；〃 said my guide； and relentlessly led me to the other end of the chamber。
Here was a different spectacle。 A stone slab of a table dominated it； its surface much stained and scorched。 Upon it were various tools； containers and implements； a scale； a mortar and pestle； and many things I couldn't name。 A fine layer of dust overlaid much of it； as if projects had been abandoned in midcourse； months or even years ago。 Beyond the table was a rack that held an untidy collection of scrolls； some edged in blue or gilt。 The scent of the room was at once pungent and aromatic； bundles of herbs were drying on another rack。 I heard a rustling and caught a glimpse of movement in a far corner； but the man gave me no time to investigate。 The fireplace that should have warmed this end of the room gaped black and cold。 The old embers in it looked damp and settled。 I lifted my eyes from my perusal to look at my guide。 The dismay on my face seemed to surprise him。 He turned from me and slowly surveyed the room himself。 He considered it a bit； and then I sensed an embarrassed disgruntlement from him。
〃It is a mess。 More than a mess； I suppose。 But； well。 It's been a while； I suppose。 And longer than a while。 Well。 It's soon put to rights。 But first； introductions are in order。 And I suppose it is a bit nippy to be standing about in just a nightshirt。 This way； boy。〃
I followed him to the fortable end of the room。 He seated himself in a battered wooden chair that was overdraped with blankets。 My bare toes dug gratefully into the nap of a woolen rug。 I stood before him； waiting； as those green eyes prowled over me。 For some minutes the silence held。 Then he spoke。
〃First； let me introduce you to yourself。 Your pedigree is written all over you。 Shrewd chose to acknowledge it； for all his denials wouldn't have sufficed to convince anyone otherwise。〃 He paused for an instant and smiled as if something amused him。 〃A shame Galen refuses to teach you the Skill。 But years ago it was restricted； for fear it would bee too mon a tool。 I'll wager if old Galen were to try to teach you； he'd find you apt。 But we have no time to worry about what won't happen。〃 He sighed meditatively and was silent for a moment。 Abruptly he went on； 〃Burrich's shown you both how to work； and how to obey。 Two things that Burrich himself excels at。 You're not especially strong； or fast； or bright。 Don't think you are。 But you'll have the stubbornness to wear down anyone stronger； or faster； or brighter than yourself。 And that's more of a danger to you than to anyone else。 But that is not what is now most important about you。
〃You are the King's man now。 And you must begin to understand； now； right now； that that is the most important thing about you。 He feeds you； he clothes you； he sees you are educated。 And all he asks in return； for now； is your loyalty。 Later he will ask your service。 Those are the conditions under which I will teach you。 That you are the King's man； and loyal to him pletely。 For if you are otherwise； it would be too dangerous to educate you in my art。〃 He paused and for a long moment we simply looked at one another。 〃Do you agree？〃 he asked； and it was not a simple question but the sealing of a bargain。
〃I do；〃 I said； and then； as he waited： 〃I give you my word。〃
〃Good。〃 He spoke the word heartily。 〃Now。 On to other things。 Have you ever seen me before？〃
〃No。〃 I realized for an instant how strange that was。 For； though there were often strangers in the keep； this man had obviously been a resident for a long； long time。 And almost all those who lived there； I knew by sight if not name。
〃Do you know who I am； boy？ Or why you're here？〃
I shook my head a quick negative to each question。 〃Well； no one else does either。 So you mind it stays that way。 Make yourself clear on that： you speak to no one of what we do here； nor of anything you learn。 Understand that？〃
My nod must have satisfied him； for he seemed to relax in the chair。 His bony hands gripped the knobs of his knees through his woolen robe。 〃Good。 Good。 Now。 You can call me Chade。 And I shall call you？〃 He paused and waited； but when I did not offer a name； he filled in； 〃Boy。 That's not names for either of us； but they'll do； for the time we'll have together。 So。 I'm Chade； and I'm yet another teacher that Shrewd has found for you。 It
