rh.theassassinsapprentice-第34章
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see him pass know that without being told。 The news must run ahead to Kelvar； and to Shemshy。 The imperial hand is about to reconcile their differences。 They must both be left wishing they had never had any differences at all。 That is the trick of good government。 To make folk desire to live in such a way that there is no need for its intervention。〃
So Verity traveled with a pomp that clearly irritated the soldier in him。 His picked troop of men wore his colors as well as the Farseer buck badges； and rode ahead of the regular troops。 To my young eyes； that was impressive enough。 But to keep the impact from being too martial； Verity brought with him noble panions to provide conversation and diversion at the end of the day。 Hawks and hounds with their handlers； musicians and bards； one puppeteer； those who fetched and carried for the lords and ladies； those who saw to their garments and hair and the cooking of favorite dishes； baggage beasts； all trailed behind the well…mounted nobles； and made the tail of our procession。
My place was about midway in the procession。 I sat a restive Sooty beside an ornate litter borne between two sedate gray geldings。 Hands； one of the brighter stable boys； had been assigned a pony and given charge of the horses bearing the litter。 I would manage our baggage mule and see to the litter's occupant。 This was the very elderly Lady Thyme； who I had never met before。 When she at last appeared to mount her litter； she was so swathed in cloaks； veils； and scarves that I received only the impression that she was elderly in a gaunt rather than plump way； and that her perfume caused Sooty to sneeze。 She settled herself in the litter amidst a nest of cushions； blankets； furs； and wraps； then immediately ordered that the curtains be drawn and fastened despite the fineness of the morning。 The two little maids who had attended her darted happily away； and I was left； her sole servant。 My heart sank。 I had expected at least one of them to travel within the litter with her。 Who was going to see to her personal needs when her pavilion was set up？ I had no notion as to waiting on a woman； let alone a very elderly one。 I resolved to follow Burrich's advice for a young man dealing with elderly women： be attentive and polite； cheerful and pleasant of mien。 Old women were easily won over by a personable young man。 Burrich said so。 I approached the litter。
〃Lady Thyme？ Are you fortable？〃 I inquired。 A long interval passed with no response。 Perhaps she was slightly deaf。 〃Are you fortable？〃 I asked more loudly。
〃Stop bothering me； young man！〃 was the surprisingly vehement response。 〃If I want you； I'll tell you。〃
〃I beg pardon；〃 I quickly apologized。
〃Stop bothering me； I said！〃 she rasped indignantly。 And added in an undertone； 〃Stupid churl。〃
At this； I had the sense to be quiet； though my dismay increased tenfold。 So much for a merry and panionable ride。 Eventually I heard the horns cry out and saw Verity's pennant lifted far ahead of us。 Dust drifting back told me that our foreguard had begun the journey。 Long minutes passed before the horses in front of us moved。 Hands started the litter horses and I chirruped to Sooty。 She stepped out eagerly and the mule followed resignedly。
I well recall that day。 I remember the dust hanging thick in the air from all those who preceded us； and how Hands and I conversed in lowered voices； for the first time we laughed aloud； Lady Thyme scolded； 〃Stop that noise！〃 I also remember bright blue skies arching from hill to hill as we followed the gentle undulations of the coast road。 There were breathtaking views of the sea from the hilltops； and flower…scented air thick and drowsy in the vales。 There were also the shepherdesses； all in a row atop a stone wall to giggle and point and blush at us while we passed。 Their fleecy charges dotted the hillside behind them； and Hands and I exclaimed softly at the way they had bundled their bright skirts to one side and knotted them up； leaving their knees and legs bare to the sun and wind。 Sooty was restive and bored with our slow pace； while poor Hands was constantly nudging his old pony in the ribs to make it keep up。
We stopped twice during the day to allow riders to dismount and stretch and to let the horses water。 Lady Thyme did not emerge from her litter； but one time tartly reminded me that I should have brought her water by now。 I bit my tongue and fetched her a drink。 It was as close as we came to conversation。
We halted when the sun was still above the horizon。 Hands and I erected Lady Thyme's small pavilion while she dined within her litter from a wicker basket of cold meat； cheese； and wine that she had thoughtfully provided for herself。 Hands and I fared more poorly； on soldier's rations of hard bread and harder cheese and dried meat。 In the midst of my meal； Lady Thyme demanded that I escort her from the litter to her pavilion。 She emerged draped and veiled as if for a blizzard。 Her finery was of varying colors and degrees of age； but all had been both expensive and well cut at one time。 Now； as she leaned heavily on me and tottered along； I smelled a repulsive conglomeration of dust and mildew and perfume； with an underlying scent of urine。 She tartly dismissed me at the door and warned me that she had a knife and would use it if I attempted to enter and bother her in any way。 〃And well do I know how to use it； young man！〃 she threatened me。
Our sleeping acmodations were also the same as the soldiers'： the ground and our cloaks。 But the night was fine and we made a small fire。 Hands teased and giggled about my supposed lust for Lady Thyme and the knife that awaited me if I should attempt to satisfy it。 That led to a wrestling match between us； until Lady Thyme shrilled threats at us for keeping her awake。 Then we spoke softly as Hands told me that no one had envied my assignment to her； that anyone who had ever journeyed with her avoided her ever after。 He warned me also that my worst task was yet to e； but adamantly refused； though his eyes brimmed with tears of laughter； to let me know what it was。
I fell asleep easily； for boy like； I had put my true mission out of my head until I should have to face it。
I awoke at dawn to the twittering of birds and the overwhelming stench of a brimming chamber pot outside Lady Thyme's pavilion。 Though my stomach had been hardened by cleaning stables and kennels； it was all I could force myself to do to dump it and cleanse it before returning it to her。 By then she was harping at me through the tent door that I had not yet brought her water； hot or cold； nor cooked her porridge； whose ingredients she had set out。 Hands had disappeared； to share the troop's fire and rations； leaving me to deal with my tyrant。 By the time I had served her on a tray that she assured me was slovenly arranged； and cleaned the dishes and pot and returned all to her； the rest of the procession was almost ready to leave。 But she would not allow her pavilion to be struck until she was safely within her litter。 We acplished that packing in frantic haste and I found myself finally on my horse without a crumb of breakfast inside me。
I was ravenous after my morning's work。 Hands regarded my glum face with some sympathy and motioned me to ride closer to him。 He leaned over to speak to me。
〃Everyone but us had heard of her before。〃 This with a furtive nod toward Lady Thyme's litter。 〃The stench she makes every morning is a legend。 Whitelock says she used to go along on a lot of Chivalry's trips 。。。。 She has relatives all over the Six Duchies； and not much to do except go visit them。 All the men in the troop say they learned a long time ago to stay out of her range or she puts them to a bunch of useless errands。 Oh； and Whitelock sent you this。 He says not to expect to sit down and eat as long as you're tending her。 But he'll try to set aside a bit for you each morning。
Hands passed me a wad of camp bread with three rashers of bacon greasily cold inside it。 It tasted wonderful。 I wolfed down the first few bites greedily。
〃Churl！〃 shrilled Lady Thyme from inside her pavilion。 〃What are you doing up t
