rh.theassassinsapprentice-第98章
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nough to acplish； in this trusting place。 I watched Rurisk arch again； knowing there was nothing I could do。 Already； there was the spreading numbness in my own mouth。 I wondered； almost idly； how strong the dose had been。 I had only had a sip。 Would I die here； or on a scaffold？
Kettricken herself understood； a moment later； that her brother was truly dying。 〃You soulless filth！〃 she spat at me； and then sank down at Rurisk's side。 〃To lull him with jests and smoke； to smile with him as he dies！〃 Her eyes flashed to Cob。 〃I demand his death。 Tell Regal to e here； now！〃
I was moving for the door； but Cob was faster。 Of course。 No smoke for Cob this night。 He was faster and more muscular than I； clearer of head。 His arms closed around me and he bore me down to the floor。 His face was close to mine as he drove his fist into my belly。 I knew this breath； this scent of sweat。 Smithy had scented this； before he died。 But this time the knife was in my sleeve and very sharp and treated with the swiftest poison Chade knew。 After I put it into him； he managed to hit me twice； good solid punches； before he fell back； dying。 Good…bye； Cob。 As he fell I suddenly saw a freckly stable boy saying； 〃e along now； there's some good fellows。〃 It could have gone so many different ways。 I had known this man； killing him killed a part of my own life。
Burrich was going to be very upset with me。
All those thoughts had taken but a fraction of a second。 Cob's outflung hand had not struck the floor before I was moving for the door。
Kettricken was even faster。 I think it was a brass water ewer。 I saw it as a white burst of light。
When I came to myself； everything hurt。 The most immediate pain was in my wrists； for the cords that knotted them together behind my back were unbearably tight。 I was being carried。 Sort of。 Neither Rowd nor Sevrens seemed to much care if parts of me dragged。 Regal was there； with a torch； and a Chyurda I didn't know leading the way with another。 I didn't know where I was； either； except that we were outdoors。
〃Is there nowhere else we can put him？ No place especially secure？〃 Regal was demanding。 There was a muttered reply； and Regal said； 〃No； you are right。 We do not want to raise a great outcry right now。 Tomorrow is soon enough。 Not that I think he will live that long。〃
A door was opened and I was flung headlong to an earthen floor barely cushioned by straw。 I breathed dust and chaff。 I could not cough。 Regal gestured with his torch。 〃Go to the Princess；〃 he instructed Sevrens。 〃Tell her I will be there shortly。 See if there is anything we can do to make the Prince more fortable。 You； Rowd； summon August from his chambers。 We will need his Skill so that King Shrewd may know how he has succored a scorpion。 I will need his approval before the bastard dies。 If he lives long enough to be condemned。 Go on； now。 Go。〃
And they left； the Chyurda lighting their way for them。 Regal remained； looking down on me。 He waited until their footfalls were distant before he kicked me savagely in the ribs。 I cried out wordlessly； for my mouth and throat were numb。 〃It seems to me we have been here before； have we not？ You wallowing in straw； and me looking down on you； wondering what misfortune had brought you into my life？ Odd； how so many things end as they begin。
〃And so much of justice is a circle； also。 Consider how you fall to poison and treachery。 Just as my mother did。 Ah； you start。 Did you think I did not know？ I knew。 I know much you do not think I know。 Everything from the stench of Lady Thyme to how you lost your Skill when Burrich would no longer let you tap his strength。 He was swift enough to abandon you when he saw it might otherwise cost him his life。〃
A tremor shook me。 Regal threw back his head and laughed。 Then he gave a sigh and turned。 〃A pity I cannot stay and watch。 But I have a princess to console。 Poor thing； pledged to a man she already hates。〃
Either Regal left then； or I did。 I am not clear。 It was as if the sky opened up and I flowed out into it。 〃Being open；〃 Verity told me； 〃is simply not being closed。〃 Then I dreamed； I think； of the Fool。 And of Verity； sleeping with his arms wrapped around his head； as if to keep his thoughts in。 And of Galen's voice； echoing in a dark； cold chamber。 〃Tomorrow is better。 When he Skills now； he scarce has any sense of the room he sits in。 We do not have enough bond for me to do this from a distance。 A touch will be required。〃
There was a squeaking in the dark； a disagreeable mouse of a mind that I did not know。 〃Do it now；〃 it insisted。
〃Do not be foolish；〃 Galen rebuked it。 〃Shall we lose it all now； for the sake of haste？ Tomorrow is soon enough。 Let me worry about that part。 You must tidy things there。 Rowd and Sevrens know too much。 And the stablemaster has annoyed us too long。〃
〃You leave me standing in a bloodbath；〃 the mouse squeaked angrily。
〃Wade through it to a throne；〃 Galen suggested。
〃And Cob is dead。 Who will see to my horses on the way home？〃
〃Leave the stablemaster； then；〃 Galen said in disgust。 And then； considering： 〃I will do him myself； when you get home。 I shall not mind。 But the others were better done quickly。 Perhaps the bastard poisoned other wine； in your quarters。 A pity your servants got into it。〃
〃I suppose。 You must find me a new valet。〃
〃We will have your wife do that for you。 You should be with her now。 She has just lost her brother。 You must be horrified at what has e to pass。 Try to blame the bastard rather than Verity。 But not too convincingly。 And tomorrow； when you are as bereaved as she； well； we shall see what mutual sympathy leads to。〃
〃She is big as a cow and pale as a fish。〃
〃But with the mountain lands； you will have a defensible inland kingdom。 You know the Coastal Duchies will not stand for you； and Farrow and Tilth cannot stand alone between the mountains and the Coastal Duchies。 Besides； she need not live longer than her first child's birth。〃
〃FitzChivalry Farseer；〃 Verity said in his sleep。 King Shrewd and Chade played at dice bones together。 Patience stirred in her sleep。 〃Chivalry？〃 she asked softly。 〃Is that you？〃
〃No；〃 I said。 〃It's no one。 No one at all。〃
She nodded and slept on。
When my eyes focused again； it was dark and I was alone。 My jaws trembled； and my chin and shirtfront were wet with my own saliva。 The numbness seemed less。 I wondered if that meant the poison wouldn't kill me。 I doubted that it mattered； I would have small chance to speak in my own behalf。 My hands had gone numb。 At least they didn't hurt anymore。 I was horribly thirsty。 I wondered if Rurisk was dead yet。 He had taken a lot more of the wine than I had。 And Chade had said it was quick。
As if in answer to my question； a cry of purest pain rose to the moon。 The ululation seemed to hang there； and to pull my heart out with it as it rose。 Nosy's master was dead。
I flung myself toward him； wrapped the Wit around him。 I know； I know； and we shivered together as one he had loved passed beyond reach。 The great aloneness wrapped us together。
Boy？ Faint； but true。 A paw and a nose； and a door edged open。 He padded toward me； his nose telling me how bad I smelled。 Smoke and blood and fear sweat。 When he reached me； he lay down beside me and put his head on my back。 With the touch came the bond again。 Stronger now that Rurisk was gone。
He left me。 It hurts。
I know。 A long time passed。 Free me？ The old dog lifted his head。 Men cannot grieve as dogs do。 We should be grateful for that。 But from the depths of his anguish； he still rose； and set worn teeth to my bonds。 I felt them loosen； a strand at a time； but had not even the strength to pull them apart。 Nosy turned his head to set his back teeth to them。
At last the thongs parted。 I pulled my arms forward。 That made everything hurt differently。 I still could not feel my hands； but I could roll over and get my face out of the straw。 Nosy and I sighed together。 He put his head on my chest and I wrapped a stiff arm around him。 Another tremor shook me。 My muscles clenched
