rh.theassassinsapprentice-第79章

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　　　　　　　And　thrice　a　day　I　climbed　the　steeply　winding　steps；　to　coax　Verity　to　eat；　and　to　a　few　words　of　conversation。　Some　days　it　was　like　speaking　to　a　child　or　a　doddering　oldster。　On　others；　he　asked　after　Leon　and　quizzed　me　about　matters　down　in　Buckkeep　Town。　Sometimes　I　was　absent　for　days　on　my　other　assignments。　Usually；　he　seemed　not　to　have　noticed；　but　once；　after　the　foray　in　which　I　took　my　knife　wound；　he　watched　me　awkwardly　load　his　empty　dishes　onto　the　tray。　〃How　they　must　laugh　in　their　beards；　if　they　knew　we　slay　our　own。〃
　　　　　　　I　froze；　wondering　what　answer　to　make　to　that；　for　as　far　as　I　knew；　my　tasks　were　known　only　to　Shrewd　and　Chade。　But　Verity's　eyes　had　gone　afar　again；　and　I　left　silently。
　　　　　　　Without　intending　to；　I　began　to　make　changes　around　him。　One　day；　while　he　was　eating；　I　swept　the　room；　and　later　that　evening；　brought　up　in　a　separate　trip　a　sackful　of　strewing　reeds　and　herbs。　I　had　worried　that　I　might　be　a　distraction　to　him；　but　Chade　had　taught　me　to　move　quietly。　I　worked　without　speaking　to　him；　and　as　for　Verity；　he　acknowledged　neither　my　ing　nor　going。　But　the　room　was　freshened；　and　the　ververia　blossoms　mixed　in　with　the　strewing　herbs　were　an　enlivening　scent。　ing　in　once；　I　discovered　him　dozing　in　his　hard…backed　chair。　I　brought　up　cushions；　which　he　ignored　for　several　days；　and　then　one　day　had　arranged　to　his　liking。　The　room　remained　bare；　but　I　sensed　he　needed　it　so；　to　preserve　his　single…mindedness。　So　what　I　brought　him　were　the　barest　items　of　fort；　no　tapestries　or　wall　hangings；　no　vases　of　flowers　or　tinkling　wind　chimes；　but　flowering　rhymes　in　pots　to　ease　the　headaches　that　plagued　him；　and　on　one　stormy　day；　a　blanket　against　the　rain　and　chill　from　the　open　window。
　　　　　　　On　that　day　I　found　him　sleeping　in　his　chair；　limp　as　a　dead　thing。　I　tucked　the　blanket　around　him　as　if　he　were　an　invalid；　and　set　the　tray　before　him；　but　left　it　covered；　to　keep　the　good　heat　in　the　food。　I　sat　down　on　the　floor　next　to　his　chair；　propped　against　one　of　his　discarded　cushions；　and　listened　to　the　silence　of　the　room。　It　seemed　almost　peaceful　today；　despite　the　driving　summer　rain　outside　the　open　window；　and　the　gale　wind　that　gusted　in　from　time　to　time。　I　must　have　dozed；　for　I　woke　to　his　hand　on　my　hair。
　　　　　　　〃Do　they　tell　you　to　watch　over　me　so；　boy；　even　when　I　sleep？　What　do　they　fear；　then？〃
　　　　　　　〃Naught　that　I　know；　Verity。　They　tell　me　only　to　bring　you　food；　and　see　as　best　I　can　that　you　eat　it。　No　more　than　that。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　blankets　and　cushions；　and　pots　of　sweet　flowers？〃
　　　　　　　〃My　own　doing；　my　prince。　No　man　should　live　in　such　a　desert　as　this。〃　And　in　that　moment　I　realized　we　were　not　speaking　aloud；　and　sat　bolt　upright　and　looked　at　him。
　　　　　　　Verity；　too；　seemed　to　e　to　himself。　He　shifted　in　his　fortless　chair。　〃I　bless　this　storm；　that　lets　me　rest。　I　hid　it　from　three　of　their　ships；　persuading　those　who　looked　to　the　sky　that　it　was　no　more　than　a　summer　squall。　Now　they　ply　their　oars　and　peer　through　the　rain；　trying　to　keep　their　courses。　And　I　can　snatch　a　few　moments　of　honest　sleep。〃　He　paused。　〃I　ask　your　pardon；　boy。　Sometimes；　now；　the　Skilling　seems　more　natural　than　speaking。　I　did　not　mean　to　intrude　on　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃No　matter；　my　prince。　I　was　but　startled。　I　cannot　Skill　myself；　except　weakly　and　erratically。　I　do　not　know　how　I　opened　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Verity；　boy；　not　your　prince。　No　one's　prince　sits　still　in　a　sweaty　shirt；　with　two　days　of　beard。　But　what　is　this　nonsense？　Surely　it　was　arranged　for　you　to　learn　the　Skill？　I　remember　well　how　Patience's　tongue　battered　away　my　father's　resolve。〃　He　permitted　himself　a　weary　smile。
　　　　　　　〃Galen　tried　to　teach　me；　but　I　had　not　the　aptitude。　With　bastards；　I　am　told　it　is　often…〃
　　　　　　　〃Wait；〃　he　growled；　and　in　an　instant　was　within　my　mind。　〃This　is　faster；〃　he　offered；　by　way　of　apology；　and　then；　muttering　to　himself；　〃What　is　this　that　clouds　you　so？　Ah！〃　and　was　gone　again　from　my　mind；　and　all　as　deft　and　easy　as　Burrich　taking　a　tick　off　a　hound's　ear。　He　sat　long；　quiet；　and　so　did　I；　wondering。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　strong　in　it；　as　was　your　father。　Galen　is　not。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　how　did　he　bee　Skillmaster？〃　I　asked　quietly。　I　wondered　if　Verity　was　saying　this　only　to　somehow　make　me　feel　my　failure　less。
　　　　　　　Verity　paused　as　if　skirting　a　delicate　subject。　〃Galen　was　Queen　Desire's　。。。　pet。　A　favorite。　The　Queen　emphatically　suggested　Galen　as　apprentice　to　Solicity。　Often　I　think　our　old　Skillmaster　was　desperate　when　she　took　him　as　apprentice。　Solicity　knew　she　was　dying；　you　see。　I　believe　she　acted　in　haste；　and　toward　the　end；　regretted　her　decision。　And　I　do　not　think　he　had　half　the　training　he　should　have　had　before　being　'master。'　But　there　he　is；　he　is　what　we　have。〃
　　　　　　　Verity　cleared　his　throat　and　looked　unfortable。　〃I　will　speak　as　plainly　as　I　can；　boy；　for　I　see　that　you　know　how　to　hold　your　tongue　when　it　is　wise。　Galen　was　given　that　place　as　a　plum；　not　because　he　merited　it。　I　do　not　think　he　has　ever　fully　grasped　what　it　means　to　be　the　Skillmaster。　Oh；　he　knows　the　position　carries　power；　and　he　has　not　scrupled　to　wield　it。　But　Solicity　was　more　than　someone　who　swaggered　about　secure　in　a　high　position。　Solicity　was　adviser　to　Bounty；　and　a　link　between　the　King　and　all　who　Skilled　for　him。　She　made　it　her　business　to　seek　out　and　teach　as　many　as　manifested　real　talent　and　the　judgment　to　use　it　well。　This　coterie　is　the　first　group　Galen　has　trained　since　Chivalry　and　I　were　boys。　And　I　do　not　find　them　well　taught。　No；　they　are　trained；　as　monkeys　and　parrots　are　taught　to　mimic　men；　with　no　understanding　of　what　they　do。　But　they　are　what　I　have。〃　Verity　looked　out　the　window　and　spoke　softly。　〃Galen　has　no　finesse。　He　is　as　coarse　as　his　mother　was；　and　just　as　presumptuous。〃　Verity　paused　suddenly；　and　his　cheeks　flushed　as　if　he　had　said　something　ill　considered。　He　resumed　more　quietly。　〃The　Skill　is　like　language；　boy。　I　need　not　shout　at　you　to　let　you　know　what　I　want。　I　can　ask　politely；　or　hint；　or　let　you　know　my　wish　with　a　nod　and　a　smile。　I　can　Skill　a　man；　and　leave　him　thinking　it　was　all　his　own　idea　to　please　me。　But　all　that　eludes　Galen；　both　in　the　use　of　the　Skill　and　the　teaching　of　it。　He　uses　force　to　batter　his　way　in。　Privation　and　pain　are　one　way　to　lower　a　man's　defenses；　it　is　the　only　way　Galen　believes　in。　But　Solicity　used　guile。　She　would　have　me　watch　a　kite；　or　a　bit　of　dust　floating　in　a　sunbeam；　focusing　on　it　as　if　there　were　nothing　else　in　the　world。　And　suddenly　there　she　would　be；　inside　my　mind　with　me；　smiling　and　praising　me。　She　taught　me　that　being　open　was　simply　not　being　closed。　And　going　into　another's　mind　is　mostly　done　by　being　willing　to　go　outside　of　your　own。　Do　you　see；　boy？〃
　　　　　　　〃Somewhat；〃　I　hedged。
　　　　　　　〃Somewhat。〃　He　sighed。　〃I　could　teach　you　to　Skill；　had　I　but　the　time。　I　do　not。　But　tell　me　this　…　were　your　lessons　going　well；　before　he　tested　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　I　never　had　any　aptitude　。。。　wait！　That's　not　true！　What　am　I　saying；　what　have　I　been　thinking？〃　Though　I　was　sitting；　I　swayed　suddenly；　my　head　bounding　off　the　arm　of　Verity's　chair。　He　reached　out　a　hand　and　steadied　me。
　　　　　　　〃I　was　too　swift；　I　suppose。　Steady　now；　boy。　Someone　had　misted　you。　Befuddled　you；　much　as　I　do　Red…Ship　navigators　and　steersmen。　Convince　them　they've　taken　a　sighting　already　and　their　course　is　true　when　really　they　are　steering　into　a　cross　current。　Convince　them　they've　passed　a　point　they　haven't　sighted　yet。　Someone　convinced　you　that　you　could　not　Skill。〃
　　　　　　　〃Galen。〃　I　spoke　with　certainty。　I　almost　knew　the　moment。　He　had　slammed　into　me　that　afternoon；　and　from　that　time　nothing　had　been　the　same。　I　had　been　living　in　a　fog；　all　those　months　。。。。
　　　　　　　〃Probably。　Though　if　you　Skilled　into　him　at　all；　I'm　sure　you've　seen　what　Chivalry　did　to　him。　He　hated　your　father　with　a　passion；　prior　to　Chiv　turning　him　into　a　lapdog。　We　felt　badly　about　it。　We'd　have　undone　it；　if　we　could　have　figured　out　how　to　do　it；　and　escape　Solicity's　detection。　But　Chiv　was　strong　with　the　Skill；　and　we　were　all　but　boys　then；　and　Chiv　was　an