rh.theassassinsapprentice-第11部分

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　　　　　　　Shrewd　nodded　to　himself。　〃Yes；　I　thought　she　had　planted　such　festering　treason　in　your　mind。　Listen；　boy。　She　may　scold　and　fling　crockery　at　the　servants；　but　she　will　never　do　more　than　that。　Because　she　knows　it　is　better　to　be　Queen　of　a　peaceful　kingdom　than　Duchess　of　a　Duchy　in　rebellion。　And　Farrow　has　no　reason　to　rise　up　against　me；　save　the　ones　she　invents　in　her　head。　Her　ambitions　have　always　exceeded　her　abilities。〃　He　paused；　and　looked　directly　at　Regal。　〃In　royalty；　that　is　a　most　lamentable　failing。〃
　　　　　　　I　could　feel　the　waves　of　anger　Regal　suppressed　as　he　looked　at　the　floor。
　　　　　　　〃e　along；〃　the　King　said；　and　Regal　heeled　after　him；　obedient　as　any　hound。　But　the　parting　glance　he　cast　me　was　venomous。
　　　　　　　I　stood　and　watched　as　the　old　King　departed　the　hall。　I　felt　an　echoing　loss。　Strange　man。　Bastard　though　I　was；　he　could　have　declared　himself　my　grandfather；　and　had　for　the　asking　what　he　instead　chose　to　buy。　At　the　door；　the　pale　Fool　paused。　For　an　instant　he　looked　back　at　me　and　made　an　inprehensible　gesture　with　his　narrow　hands。　It　could　have　been　an　insult　or　a　blessing。　Or　simply　the　fluttering　of　a　fool's　hands。　Then　he　smiled；　waggled　his　tongue　at　me；　and　turned　to　hurry　after　the　King。
　　　　　　　Despite　the　King's　promises；　I　stuffed　my　jerkin　front　with　sweet　cakes。　The　pups　and　I　shared　them　all　in　the　shade　behind　the　stables。　It　was　a　bigger　breakfast　than　any　of　us　were　accustomed　to；　and　my　stomach　murmured　unhappily　for　hours　afterward。　The　pups　curled　up　and　slept；　but　I　wavered　between　dread　and　anticipation。　Almost　I　hoped　that　nothing　would　e　of　it；　that　the　King　would　forget　his　words　to　me。　But　he　did　not。
　　　　　　　Late　that　evening　I　finally　wandered　up　the　steps　and　let　myself　into　Burrich's　chamber。　I　had　spent　the　day　pondering　what　the　morning's　words　might　mean　for　me。　I　could　have　saved　myself　the　trouble。　For　as　I　entered；　Burrich　set　aside　the　bit　of　harness　he　was　mending　and　focused　all　his　attention　on　me。　He　considered　me　in　silence　for　a　bit；　and　I　returned　his　stare。　Something　had　changed；　and　I　feared。　Ever　since　he　had　disappeared　Nosy；　I　had　believed　that　Burrich　had　the　power　of　life　and　death　over　me　as　well；　that　a　fitz　could　be　disposed　of　as　easily　as　a　pup。
　　　　　　　That　hadn't　stopped　me　from　developing　a　feeling　of　closeness　for　him；　one　needn't　love　in　order　to　depend。　That　sense　of　being　able　to　rely　on　Burrich　was　the　only　real　stability　I　had　in　my　life；　and　now　I　felt　it　trembling　under　me。
　　　　　　　〃So。〃　He　spoke　at　last；　and　put　a　finality　into　the　word。　〃So。　You　had　to　put　yourself　before　his　eyes；　did　you？　Had　to　call　attention　to　yourself。　Well。　He's　decided　what　to　do　with　you。〃　He　sighed；　and　his　silence　changed。　For　a　brief　time　I　almost　felt　he　pitied　me。　But　after　a　bit　he　spoke。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　to　choose　a　horse　for　you　tomorrow。　He　suggested　that　it　be　a　young　one；　that　I　train　you　up　together。　But　I　talked　him　into　starting　you　with　an　older；　steadier　beast。　One　student　at　a　time；　I　told　him。　But　I've　my　own　reasons　for　putting　you　with　an　animal　that's　。。。　less　impressionable。　See　that　you　behave；　I'll　know　if　you're　playing　about。　Do　we　understand　one　another？〃
　　　　　　　I　gave　him　a　quick　nod。
　　　　　　　〃Answer；　Fitz。　You'll　have　to　use　your　tongue；　if　you'll　be　dealing　with　tutors　and　masters。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　so　like　Burrich。　Entrusting　a　horse　to　me　had　been　uppermost　in　his　mind。　With　his　own　concern　attended　to；　he　announced　the　rest　quite　casually。
　　　　　　　〃You'll　be　up　with　the　sun　from　now　on；　boy。　You'll　learn　from　me　in　the　morning。　Caring　for　a　horse；　and　mastering　it。　And　how　to　hunt　your　hounds　properly；　and　have　them　mind　you。　A　man's　way　of　controlling　beasts　is　what　I'll　teach　you。〃　The　last　he　emphasized　heavily　and　paused　to　be　sure　I　understood。　My　heart　sank；　but　I　began　a　nod；　then　amended　it　to　〃Yes；　sir。〃
　　　　　　　〃Afternoons；　they've　got　you。　For　weapons　and　such。　Probably　the　Skill；　eventually。　In　winter　months；　there　will　be　indoor　learning。　Languages　and　signs。　Writing　and　reading　and　numbers；　I　don't　doubt。　Histories；　too。　What　you'll　do　with　it　all；　I've　no　idea；　but　mind　you　learn　it　well　to　please　the　King。　He's　not　a　man　to　displease；　let　alone　cross。　Wisest　course　of　all　is　not　to　have　him　notice　you。　But　I　didn't　warn　you　about　that；　and　now　it's　too　late。〃
　　　　　　　He　cleared　his　throat　suddenly　and　took　a　breath。　〃Oh；　and　there's　another　thing　that's　to　change。〃　He　took　up　the　bit　of　leather　he'd　been　working　on　and　bent　over　it　again。　He　seemed　to　speak　to　his　fingers。　〃You'll　have　a　proper　room　of　your　own　now。　Up　in　the　keep　where　all　those　of　noble　blood　sleep。　You'd　be　sleeping　there　right　now；　if　you'd　bothered　to　e　in　on　time。〃
　　　　　　　〃What？　I　don't　understand。　A　room？〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　so　you　can　be　swift　spoken；　when　you've　a　mind？　You　heard　me；　boy。　You'll　have　a　room　of　your　own；　up　at　the　keep。〃　He　paused；　then　went　on　heartily；　〃I'll　finally　get　my　privacy　back。　Oh；　and　you're　to　be　measured　for　clothes　tomorrow　as　well。　And　boots。　Though　what's　the　sense　of　putting　a　boot　on　a　foot　that's　still　growing；　I　don't…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　want　a　room　up　there。〃　As　oppressive　as　living　with　Burrich　had　bee；　I　suddenly　found　it　preferable　to　the　unknown。　I　imagined　a　large；　cold　stone　room；　with　shadows　lurking　in　the　corners。
　　　　　　　〃Well；　you're　to　have　one；〃　Burrich　announced　relentlessly。　〃And　it's　time　and　past　time　for　it。　You're　Chivalry's　get；　even　if　you're　not　a　proper…born　son；　and　to　put　you　down　here　in　the　stable；　like　a　stray　pup；　well；　it's　just　not　fitting。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　mind　it；〃　I　ventured　desperately。
　　　　　　　Burrich　lifted　his　eyes　and　regarded　me　sternly。　〃My；　my。　Positively　chatty　tonight；　aren't　we？〃
　　　　　　　I　lowered　my　eyes　from　his。　〃You　live　down　here；〃　I　pointed　out　sullenly：　〃You　aren't　a　stray　pup。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　not　a　prince's　bastard；　either；〃　he　said　tersely。　〃You'll　live　in　the　keep　now；　Fitz；　and　that's　all。〃
　　　　　　　I　dared　to　look　at　him。　He　was　speaking　to　his　fingers　again。
　　　　　　　〃I'd　rather　I　was　a　stray　pup；〃　I　made　bold　to　say。　And　then　all　my　fears　broke　my　voice　as　I　added；　〃You　wouldn't　let　them　do　this　to　a　stray　pup；　changing　everything　all　at　once。　When　they　gave　the　bloodhound　puppy　to　Lord　Grimbsy；　you　sent　your　old　shirt　with　it　so　it　would　have　something　that　smelled　of　home　until　it　settled　in。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　didn't　。。。　e　here；　Fitz。　e　here；　boy。〃
　　　　　　　And　puppylike；　I　went　to　him；　the　only　master　I　had；　and　he　thumped　me　lightly　on　the　back　and　rumpled　up　my　hair；　very　much　as　if　I　had　been　a　hound。
　　　　　　　〃Don't　be　scared；　now。　There's　nothing　to　be　afraid　of。　And；　anyway；〃　he　said；　and　I　heard　him　relenting；　〃they've　only　told　us　that　you're　to　have　a　room　up　at　the　keep。　No　one's　said　that　you've　got　to　sleep　in　it　every　night。　Some　nights；　if　things　are　a　bit　too　quiet　for　you；　you　can　find　your　way　down　here。　Ey；　Fitz？　Does　that　sound　right　to　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　so；〃　I　muttered。
　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　Change　rained　fast　and　furious　on　me　for　the　next　fortnight。　Burrich　had　me　up　at　dawn；　and　I　was　tubbed　and　scrubbed；　the　hair　cut　back　from　my　eyes　and　the　rest　bound　down　my　back　in　a　tail　such　as　I　had　seen　on　the　older　men　of　the　keep。　He　told　me　to　dress　in　the　best　clothing　I　had；　then　clicked　his　tongue　over　how　small　it　had　bee　on　me。　With　a　shrug　he　said　it　would　have　to　do。
　　　　　　　Then　it　was　into　the　stables；　where　he　showed　me　the　mare　that　now　was　mine。　She　was　gray；　with　a　hint　of　dapple　in　her　coat。　Her　mane　and　tail；　nose　and　stockings　were　blackened　as　if　she'd　gotten　into　soot。　And　that；　too；　was　her　name。　She　was　a　placid　beast；　well　shaped　and　well　cared　for。　A　less　challenging　mount　would　be　hard　to　imagine。　Boyish；　I　had　hoped　for　at　least　a　spirited　gelding。　But　Sooty　was　my　mount　instead。　I　tried　to　conceal　my　disappointment；　but　Burrich　must　have　sensed　it。　〃You　don't　think　she's　much；　do　you？　Well；　how　much　of　a　horse　did　you　have　yesterday；　Fitz；　that　you'd　turn　up　your　nose　at　a　willing；　healthy　beast　like　Sooty？　She's　with　foal　by　that　nasty　bay　stallion　of　Lord　Temperance；　so　see　you　treat　her　gently。　Cob's　had　her　training　until　now；　he'd　hoped　to　make　a　chase　horse　out　of　her。　But　I　decided　she'd　suit　you　better。　He's　a　bit　put　out　over　it；　but　I've　promised　him　he　can　start　over　with　the　foal。〃
　　　　　　　Burrich　had　adapted　an　old　saddle　for　me；　vowing　that　regardless　of　what　the　King　might　say；　I'd　have　to　show　myself　a　horseman　before　he'd　let　a　new　one　be　made　for　me。　Sooty　stepped　out　smoothly　and　answered　the　reins　and　my　knees　promptly。　Cob　had　done　wonderfully　with　her。　Her　temperament　and　mind　reminded　me　of　a　quiet　pond。　If　she　had　thoughts；　they　were　not　about　what　we　were　doing；　and　Burrich　was　watching　me　too　closely　for　me　to　risk　trying　to　know　her　mind。　So　I　rode　her　blind；　talking　to　her　only　through　my　knees　and　the　reins　and　the　shifting　of　my　weight。　The　physical　effort　of　it　exhausted　me　long　before　my　first　lesson　was　over；　and　Burrich　knew　it。　But　that　did　not　mean　he　excused　me　from　cleaning　and　feeding　her；　and　then　cleaning　my　saddle　and　tack。　Every　tangle　was　out　of　her　mane；　and　the　old　leather　shone　with　oil　before　I　was　allowed　to　go　to　the　kitchens　and　eat；　myself。
　　　　　　　But　as　I　darted　away　to　the　kitchen's　back　door；　Burrich's　hand　fell　on　my　shoulder。
　　　　　　　〃No　more　of　that　for　you；〃　he　told　me　firmly。　〃That's　fine　for　men…at…arms　and　gardeners　and　such。　But　there's　a　hall　where　the　high　folk；　and　their　special　servants；　eat。　And　that　is　where　you　eat　now。〃
　　　　　　　And　so　saying；　he　propelled　me　into　a　dim　room　dominated　by　a　long　table；　with　another；　higher　table　at　the　head　of　it。　There　were　all　manner　of　foods　set　out　upon　it；　and　folk　busy　at　various　stages　of　their　meals。　For　when　the　King　and　Queen　and　Princes　were　absent　from　the　high　table；　as　was　the　case　today；　no　one　stood　upon　formalities。
　　　　　　　Burrich　nudged　me　to　a　place　on　the　left　side　of　the　table；　above　the　midpoint　but　not　by　much。　He　himself　ate　on　the　same　side；　but　lower。　I　was　hungry；　and　no　one　was　staring　hard　enough　to　unnerve　me；　so　I　made　short　work　of　a　largish　meal。　Food　pilfered　directly　from　the　kitchen　had　been　hotter　and　fresher。　But　such　matters