rh.theassassinsapprentice-第86章
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bered had a peppering of gray。 He smiled absently at me； and then； as if it had suddenly occurred to him； he stopped me。
〃You're leaving for the Mountain Kingdom？ For the wedding ceremony？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Do me a favor； boy？〃
〃Of course；〃 I said； taken aback by the rust in his voice。
〃Speak well of me to her。 Truthfully； mind you； I'm not asking for lies。 But speak well of me。 I've always thought that you thought well of me。〃
〃I do；〃 I said to his retreating back。 〃I do； sir。〃 But he didn't turn or make a reply； and I felt much as I had when the Fool left me。
The courtyard was a milling of folk and animals。 There were no carts this time； the roads into the mountains were notoriously bad； and it had been decided that pack animals would have to suffice for the sake of swiftness。 It would not do for the royal entourage to be late for the wedding； it was bad enough that the groom was not attending。
The flocks and herds had been sent on days before。 It was expected that our trip would take two weeks； and three had been allowed for it。 I saw to fastening the cedar chest onto a pack animal； and then stood beside Sooty and waited。 Even in the cobbled courtyard； dust stirred thick in the hot summer air。 Despite all the careful planning that had gone into it； the caravan seemed chaotic。 I glimpsed Sevrens； Regal's favorite valet。 Regal had sent him back to Buckkeep a month ago； with specific instructions about certain garments he wished created。 Sevrens was following Hands； dithering and expostulating about something； and whatever it was； Hands was not looking patient about it。 When Mistress Hasty had been giving me final instructions on the care of my new garments； she had divulged that Sevrens was taking so many new garments； hats； and accoutrements for Regal that he had been allotted three pack animals to carry them。 I imagined that caring for the three animals had fallen to Hands； for Sevrens was an excellent valet； but timid around the larger animals。 Rowd； Regal's ready man； hulked after both of them； looking ill…tempered and impatient。 On one wide shoulder he carried yet another trunk； and perhaps the loading of this additional item was what was fretting Sevrens。 I soon lost sight of them in the crowd。
I was surprised to discover Burrich checking the lead lines on the breeding horses and the Princess's gift mare。 Surely whoever was in charge of them could do that； I thought。 And then； as I saw him mount； I realized that he； too； would be part of this procession。 I looked about to see who was acpanying him； but saw none of the stable boys I knew； save Hands。 Cob was already in Jhaampe with Regal。 So Burrich had taken this on himself。 I was not surprised。
August was there； astride a fine gray mare； waiting with an impassivity that was almost inhuman。 Already his time in the coterie had changed him。 Once he had been a chubby youth； quiet but pleasant。 He had the same black bushy hair as Verity； and I had heard it said that he resembled his cousin as a boy。 I reflected that as his Skill duties increased； he would probably resemble Verity even more。 He would be present at the wedding； as a sort of window for Verity as Regal uttered the vows on his brother's behalf。 Regal's voice； August's eyes； I mused to myself。 What did I go as？ His poniard？
I mounted Sooty； as much to be up and away from the folk exchanging good…byes and last…minute instructions as for any other reason。 I wished to Eda we could be away and on the road。 It seemed to take forever for the straggling line to form and for the last…minute tying and strapping of bundles to be acplished。 And then； almost abruptly； the standards were lifted； a horn was blown； and the line of horses； laden pack animals； and folk began to move。 I looked up once； to see that Verity had actually e out to stand atop the tower and watch us depart。 I waved up at him； but doubted that he knew me amidst so many。 And then we were out of the gates and winding up the hilly path that led away from Buckkeep and to the west。
Our path would lead us up the banks of the Buckriver； which we would ford at its wide shallows near where the borders of Buck and Farrow Duchies touched。 From there we would journey across Farrow's wide plains； in baking heat I had never encountered before； until we reached Blue Lake。 From Blue Lake； we would follow a river named simply Cold whose origins were in the Mountain Kingdom。 From the Cold Ford the trading road began； that led between the mountains and through their shadows and up； ever up； to Storm Pass； and thence to the thick green forests of the Rain Wilds。 But we would not go so far as that； but would stop at Jhaampe； which was as close to a city as the Mountain Kingdom possessed。
In some ways； it was an unremarkable journey； if one discounts all that inevitably goes with such journeys。 After the first three days or so； things settled into a remarkably monotonous routine； varied only by the different countryside we passed。 Every little village or hamlet along our road turned out to greet us and delay us； with official best wishes and felicitations for the Crown Prince's wedding festivities。
But after we reached the wide plains of Farrow； such hamlets were few and far between。 Farrow's rich farms and trading cities were far to the north of our path； along the Vin River。 We traveled Farrow's plains； where people were mostly nomadic herders； creating towns only in the winter months when they settled along the trade routes for what they called the 〃green season。〃 We passed herds of sheep； or goats； or horses； or more rarely； the dangerous； rangy swine they called haragars； but our contact with the people of that region was usually limited to the sight of their conical tents in the distance； or some herder standing tall in his saddle and holding aloft his crook in greeting。
Hands and I became reacquainted。 We would share food and a small cook fire in the evenings； and he would regale me with tales of Sevrens's nattering worries of dust getting into silk robes or bugs getting into fur collars and velvet getting chafed to pieces during the long trek。 Grimmer were his plaints about Rowd。 I myself had no fond memories of the man； and Hands found him an oppressive traveling panion； for he seemed to constantly suspect Hands of trying to steal from the packs of Regal's belongings。 One evening Rowd even found his way to our fire； where he laboriously delivered a vague and indirect warning against any who might conspire to steal from his master。 But other than such unpleasantness； our evenings were peaceful。
The fair weather held； and if we sweated by day； it was mild by night。 I slept atop my blanket and seldom bothered with any other shelter。 Each night I checked over the contents of my trunk and did my best to keep the roots from being pletely desiccated； and to keep the shifting from putting wear on the scrolls and tablets。 There was one night I awoke to a loud whinnying from Sooty and thought that the cedar chest had been moved slightly from where I had placed it。 But a brief check of its contents proved all was in order； and when I mentioned it to Hands； he merely asked if I was catching Rowd's disease。
The hamlets and herds we passed frequently provided us with fresh foods and were most generous in their allocation of it； so we had little hardship on the journey。 Open water was not as plentiful as we could have wished as we crossed Farrow； but each day we found some spring or dusty well to water at； so even that was not as bad as it might have been。
I saw very little of Burrich。 He arose earlier than the rest of us and preceded the main caravan； that his charges might have the best grazing and the cleanest water。 I knew he would want his horses in prime condition when they arrived at Jhaampe。 August； too； was almost invisible。 While he was technically in charge of our expedition； he left the running of it to the captain of his honor guard。 I could not decide if he did this out of wisdom or laziness。 In any event； he kept mostly to himself； although he did allow Sevrens to tend him and share his tent and meals。
For me； it was almost a return to
