rh.theassassinsapprentice-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


see　what　the　night　excitement　was　about。　Burrich　absently　calmed　him　with　a　touch。
　　　　　　　〃It's　rough　quarters　here　for　all　of　us　at　this　outpost。　You'll　find　Buckkeep　a　more　hospitable　place。　But　for　tonight；　you'll　be　warm　here；　and　safe。〃　He　stood　a　moment　longer；　looking　down　at　us。　〃Horse；　hound；　and　hawk；　Chivalry。　I've　minded　them　all　for　you　for　many　a　year；　and　minded　them　well。　But　this　by…blow　of　yours；　well；　what　to　do　with　him　is　beyond　me。〃
　　　　　　　I　knew　he　wasn't　speaking　to　me。　I　watched　him　over　the　edge　of　the　blanket　as　he　took　the　lantern　from　its　hook　and　wandered　off；　muttering　to　himself。　I　remember　that　first　night　well；　the　warmth　of　the　hounds；　the　prickling　straw；　and　even　the　sleep　that　finally　came　as　the　pup　cuddled　close　beside　me。　I　drifted　into　his　mind　and　shared　his　dim　dreams　of　an　endless　chase；　pursuing　a　quarry　I　never　saw；　but　whose　hot　scent　dragged　me　onward　through　nettle；　bramble；　and　scree。
　　　　　　　And　with　the　hound's　dream；　the　precision　of　the　memory　wavers　like　the　bright　colors　and　sharp　edges　of　a　drug　dream。　Certainly　the　days　that　follow　that　first　night　have　no　such　clarity　in　my　mind。
　　　　　　　I　recall　the　spitting…wet　days　of　winter's　end　as　I　learned　the　route　from　my　stall　to　the　kitchen。　I　was　free　to　e　and　go　there　as　I　pleased。　Sometimes　there　was　a　cook　in　attendance；　setting　meat　onto　the　hearth　hooks　or　pummeling　bread　dough　or　breaching　a　cask　of　drink。　More　often　there　was　not；　and　I　helped　myself　to　whatever　had　been　left　out　on　the　table；　and　shared　generously　with　the　pup　that　swiftly　became　my　constant　panion。　Men　came　and　went；　eating　and　drinking；　and　regarding　me　with　a　speculative　curiosity　that　I　came　to　accept　as　normal。　The　men　had　a　sameness　about　them；　with　their　rough　wool　cloaks　and　leggings；　their　hard　bodies　and　easy　movements；　and　the　crest　of　a　leaping　buck　that　each　bore　over　his　heart。　My　presence　made　some　of　them　unfortable。　I　grew　accustomed　to　the　mutter　of　voices　that　began　whenever　I　left　the　kitchen。
　　　　　　　Burrich　was　a　constant　in　those　days；　giving　me　the　same　care　he　gave　to　Chivalry's　beasts；　I　was　fed；　watered；　groomed；　and　exercised；　said　exercise　usually　ing　in　the　form　of　trotting　at　his　heels　as　he　performed　his　other　duties。　But　those　memories　are　blurry；　and　details；　such　as　those　of　washing　or　changing　garments；　have　probably　faded　with　a　six…year…olds　calm　assumptions　of　such　things　as　normal。　Certainly　I　remember　the　hound　pup；　Nosy。　His　coat　was　red　and　slick　and　short；　and　bristly　in　a　way　that　prickled　me　through　my　clothes　when　we　shared　the　horse　blanket　at　night。　His　eyes　were　green　as　copper　ore；　his　nose　the　color　of　cooked　liver；　and　the　insides　of　his　mouth　and　tongue　were　mottled　pink　and　black。　When　we　were　not　eating　in　the　kitchen；　we　wrestled　in　the　courtyard　or　in　the　straw　of　the　box　stall。　Such　was　my　world　for　however　long　it　was　I　was　there。　Not　too　long；　I　think；　for　I　do　not　recall　the　weather　changing。　All　my　memories　of　that　time　are　of　raw　days　and　blustery　wind；　and　snow　and　ice　that　partially　melted　each　day　but　were　restored　by　night's　freezes。
　　　　　　　One　other　memory　I　have　of　that　time；　but　it　is　not　sharp…edged。　Rather　it　is　warm　and　softly　tinted；　like　a　rich　old　tapestry　seen　in　a　dim　room。　I　recall　being　roused　from　sleep　by　the　pup's　wriggling　and　the　yellow　light　of　a　lantern　being　held　over　me。　Two　men　bent　over　me；　but　Burrich　stood　stiffly　behind　them　and　I　was　not　afraid。
　　　　　　　〃Now　you've　wakened　him；〃　warned　the　one；　and　he　was　Prince　Verity；　the　man　from　the　warmly　lit　chamber　of　my　first　evening。
　　　　　　　〃So？　He'll　go　back　to　sleep　as　soon　as　we　leave。　Damn　him；　he　has　his　father's　eyes　as　well。　I　swear；　I'd　have　known　his　blood　no　matter　where　I　saw　him。　There'll　be　no　denying　it　to　any　that　see　him。　But　have　neither　you　nor　Burrich　the　sense　of　a　flea？　Bastard　or　not；　you　don't　stable　a　child　among　beasts。　Was　there　nowhere　else　you　could　put　him？〃
　　　　　　　The　man　who　spoke　was　like　Verity　around　the　jaw　and　eyes；　but　there　the　resemblance　ended。　This　man　was　younger　by　far。　His　cheeks　were　beardless；　and　his　scented　and　smoothed　hair　was　finer　and　brown。　His　cheeks　and　forehead　had　been　stung　to　redness　by　the　night's　chill；　but　it　was　a　new　thing；　not　Verity's　weathered　ruddiness。　And　Verity　dressed　as　his　men　dressed；　in　practical　woolens　of　sturdy　weave　and　subdued　colors。　Only　the　crest　on　his　breast　showed　brighter；　in　gold　and　silver　thread。　But　the　younger　man　with　him　gleamed　in　scarlets　and　primrose；　and　his　cloak　drooped　with　twice　the　width　of　cloth　needed　to　cover　a　man。　The　doublet　that　showed　beneath　it　was　a　rich　cream；　and　laden　with　lace。　The　scarf　at　his　throat　was　secured　with　a　leaping　stag　done　in　gold；　its　single　eye　a　winking　green　gem。　And　the　careful　turn　of　his　words　was　like　a　twisted　chain　of　gold　pared　to　the　simple　links　of　Verity's　speech。
　　　　　　　〃Regal；　I　had　given　it　no　thought。　What　do　I　know　of　children？　I　turned　him　over　to　Burrich。　He　is　Chivalry's　man；　and　as　such　he's　cared　for　。。。　。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　meant　no　disrespect　to　the　blood；　sir；〃　Burrich　said　in　honest　confusion。　〃I　am　Chivalry's　man；　and　I　saw　to　the　boy　as　I　thought　best。　I　could　make　him　up　a　pallet　in　the　guardroom；　but　he　seems　small　to　be　in　the　pany　of　such　men；　with　their　ings　and　goings　at　all　hours；　their　fights　and　drinking　and　noise。〃　The　tone　of　his　words　made　his　own　distaste　for　their　pany　obvious。　〃Bedded　here；　he　has　quiet；　and　the　pup　has　taken　to　him。　And　with　my　Vixen　to　watch　over　him　at　night；　no　one　could　do　him　harm　without　her　teeth　taking　a　toll。　My　lords；　I　know　little　of　children　myself；　and　it　seemed　to　me…〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　fine；　Burrich；　it's　fine；〃　Verity　said　quietly；　cutting　him　off。　〃If　it　had　to　be　thought　about；　I　should　have　done　the　thinking。　I　left　it　to　you；　and　I　don't　find　fault　with　it。　It's　better　than　a　lot　of　children　have　in　this　village；　Eda　knows。　For　here；　for　now；　it's　fine。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　will　have　to　be　different　when　he　es　back　to　Buckkeep。〃　Regal　did　not　sound　pleased。
　　　　　　　〃Then　our　father　wishes　him　to　return　with　us　to　Buckkeep？〃　The　question　came　from　Verity。
　　　　　　　〃Our　father　does。　My　mother　does　not。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh。〃　Verity's　tone　indicated　he　had　no　interest　in　further　discussing　that。　But　Regal　frowned　and　continued。
　　　　　　　〃My　mother　the　Queen　is　not　at　all　pleased　about　any　of　this。　She　has　counseled　the　King　long；　but　in　vain。　Mother　and　I　were　for　putting　the　boy　。。。　aside。　It　is　only　good　sense。　We　scarcely　need　more　confusion　in　the　line　of　succession。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　see　no　confusion　in　it　now；　Regal。〃　Verity　spoke　evenly。　〃Chivalry；　me；　and　then　you。　Then　our　cousin　August。　This　bastard　would　be　a　far　fifth。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　well　aware　that　you　precede　me；　you　need　not　flaunt　it　at　me　at　every　opportunity；〃　Regal　said　coldly。　He　glared　down　at　me。　〃I　still　think　it　would　be　better　not　to　have　him　about。　What　if　Chivalry　never　does　get　a　legal　heir　on　Patience？　What　if　he　chooses　to　recognize　this　。。。　boy？　It　could　be　very　divisive　to　the　nobles。　Why　should　we　tempt　trouble？　So　say　my　mother　and　I。　But　our　father　the　King　is　not　a　hasty　man；　as　well　we　know。　Shrewd　is　as　Shrewd　does；　as　the　mon　folk　say。　He　forbade　any　settling　of　the　matter。　'Regal；'　he　said；　in　that　way　he　has。　'Don't　do　what　you　can't　undo；　until　you've　considered　what　you　can't　do　once　you've　done　it。'　Then　he　laughed。〃　Regal　himself　gave　a　short；　bitter　laugh。　〃I　weary　so　of　his　humor。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；〃　said　Verity　again；　and　I　lay　still　and　wondered　if　he　were　trying　to　sort　out　the　King's　words；　or　refraining　from　replying　to　his　brother's　plaint。
　　　　　　　〃You　discern　his　real　reasons；　of　course；〃　Regal　informed　him。
　　　　　　　〃Which　is？〃
　　　　　　　〃He　still　favors　Chivalry。〃　Regal　sounded　disgusted。　〃Despite　everything。　Despite　his　foolish　marriage　and　his　eccentric　wife。　Despite　this　mess。　And　now　he　thinks　this　will　sway　the　people；　make　them　warmer　toward　him。　Prove　he's　a　man；　that　Chivalry　can　father　a　child。　Or　maybe　prove　he's　a　human；　and　can　make　mistakes　like　the　rest　of　them。〃　Regal's　tone　betrayed　that　he　agreed　with　none　of　this。
　　　　　　　〃And　this　will　make　the　people　like　him　more；　support　his　future　kingship　more？　That　he　fathered　a　chil