rh.theassassinsapprentice-第27部分

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e　beyond　negligence　to　treachery？　Does　Kelvar　confer　with　the　enemy　to　his　profit？　We　want　you　to　sniff　about　and　see　what　you　can　discover。　If　all　you　find　is　innocence；　or　if　you　have　but　strong　suspicions；　bring　news　back　to　us。　But　if　you　discover　treachery；　and　you　are　certain　of　it；　then　we　cannot　be　rid　of　him　too　soon。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　the　means？〃　I　was　not　sure　that　was　my　voice。　It　was　so　casual；　so　contained。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　prepared　a　powder；　tasteless　in　a　dish；　colorless　in　a　wine。　We　trust　to　your　ingenuity　and　discretion　in　applying　it。〃　He　lifted　a　cover　from　an　earthenware　dish　on　the　table。　Within　it　was　a　packet　made　of　very　fine　paper；　thinner　and　finer　than　anything　Fedwren　had　ever　shown　me。　Odd；　how　my　first　thought　was　how　much　my　scribe　master　would　love　to　work　with　paper　like　that。　Within　the　packet　was　the　finest　of　white　powders。　It　clung　to　the　paper　and　floated　in　the　air。　Chade　shielded　his　mouth　and　nose　with　a　cloth　as　he　tapped　a　careful　measure　of　it　into　a　twist　of　oiled　paper。　He　held　it　out　to　me；　and　I　took　death　upon　my　open　palm。
　　　　　　　〃And　how　does　it　work？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　too　quickly。　He　will　not　fall　dead　at　the　table；　if　that　is　what　you　are　asking。　But　if　he　lingers　over　his　cup；　he　will　feel　ill。　Knowing　Kelvar；　I　suspect　he　will　take　his　bubbling　stomach　to　bed；　and　never　awaken　in　the　morning。〃
　　　　　　　I　slipped　it　into　my　pocket。　〃Does　Verity　know　anything　of　this？〃
　　　　　　　Chade　considered。　〃Verity　is　as　good　as　his　name。　He　could　not　sit　at　table　with　a　man　he　was　poisoning　and　conceal　it。　No；　in　this　endeavor；　stealth　will　serve　us　better　than　truth。〃　He　looked　me　directly　in　the　eyes。　〃You　will　work　alone；　with　no　counsel　other　than　your　own。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　see。〃　I　shifted　on　my　tall　wooden　stool。　〃Chade？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes？〃
　　　　　　　〃Is　this　how　it　was　for　you？　Your　first　time？〃
　　　　　　　He　looked　down　at　his　hands；　and　for　a　moment　he　fingered　the　angry　red　scars　that　dotted　the　back　of　his　left　hand。　The　silence　grew　long；　but　I　waited。
　　　　　　　〃I　was　a　year　older　than　you　are；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃And　it　was　simply　the　doing　of　it；　not　the　deciding　if　it　should　be　done。　Is　that　enough　for　you？〃
　　　　　　　I　was　suddenly　embarrassed　without　knowing　why。　〃I　suppose；〃　I　mumbled。
　　　　　　　〃Good。　I　know　you　meant　no　harm　by　it；　boy。　But　men　don't　talk　about　times　spent　among　the　pillows　with　a　lady。　And　assassins　don't　talk　about　。。。　our　business。〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　even　teacher　to　pupil？〃
　　　　　　　Chade　looked　away　from　me；　to　a　dark　corner　of　the　ceiling。　〃No。〃　After　a　moment　more　he　added；　〃Two　weeks　from　now；　you'll　perhaps　understand　why。〃　And　that　was　all　we　ever　said　about　it。　By　my　count；　I　was　thirteen　years　old。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　EIGHT
　　　　　　　Lady　Thyme
　　　　　　　A　HISTORY　OF　THE　DUCHIES　is　a　study　of　their　geography。　The　court　scribe　of　King　Shrewd；　one　Fedwren；　was　very　fond　of　this　saying。　I　cannot　say　I　have　ever　found　it　wrong。　Perhaps　all　histories　are　recountings　of　natural　boundaries。　The　seas　and　ice　that　stood　between　us　and　the　Outislanders　made　us　separate　peoples　and　the　rich　grasslands　and　fertile　meadows　of　the　Duchies　created　the　riches　that　made　us　enemies；　perhaps　that　would　be　the　first　chapter　of　a　history　of　the　Duchies。　The　Bear　and　the　Vin　rivers　are　what　created　the　rich　vineyards　and　orchards　of　Tilth；　as　surely　as　the　Painted　Edges　Mountains　rising　above　Sandsedge　both　sheltered　and　isolated　the　folk　there　and　left　them　vulnerable　to　our　organized　armies。
　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　I　jerked　awake　before　the　moon　had　surrendered　her　reign　over　the　sky；　amazed　that　I　had　slept　at　all。　Burrich　had　supervised　my　travel　preparations　so　thoroughly　the　night　before　that；　had　it　been　left　to　me；　I　would　have　departed　a　minute　after　I　had　swallowed　my　morning　porridge。
　　　　　　　But　such　is　not　the　way　when　a　group　of　folk　set　out　together　to　do　anything。　The　sun　was　well　over　the　horizon　before　we　were　all　assembled　and　ready。　〃Royalty；〃　Chade　had　warned　me；　〃never　travels　light。　Verity　goes　on　this　journey　with　the　weight　of　the　King's　sword　behind　him。　All　folk　who　see　him　pass　know　that　without　being　told。　The　news　must　run　ahead　to　Kelvar；　and　to　Shemshy。　The　imperial　hand　is　about　to　reconcile　their　differences。　They　must　both　be　left　wishing　they　had　never　had　any　differences　at　all。　That　is　the　trick　of　good　government。　To　make　folk　desire　to　live　in　such　a　way　that　there　is　no　need　for　its　intervention。〃
　　　　　　　So　Verity　traveled　with　a　pomp　that　clearly　irritated　the　soldier　in　him。　His　picked　troop　of　men　wore　his　colors　as　well　as　the　Farseer　buck　badges；　and　rode　ahead　of　the　regular　troops。　To　my　young　eyes；　that　was　impressive　enough。　But　to　keep　the　impact　from　being　too　martial；　Verity　brought　with　him　noble　panions　to　provide　conversation　and　diversion　at　the　end　of　the　day。　Hawks　and　hounds　with　their　handlers；　musicians　and　bards；　one　puppeteer；　those　who　fetched　and　carried　for　the　lords　and　ladies；　those　who　saw　to　their　garments　and　hair　and　the　cooking　of　favorite　dishes；　baggage　beasts；　all　trailed　behind　the　well…mounted　nobles；　and　made　the　tail　of　our　procession。
　　　　　　　My　place　was　about　midway　in　the　procession。　I　sat　a　restive　Sooty　beside　an　ornate　litter　borne　between　two　sedate　gray　geldings。　Hands；　one　of　the　brighter　stable　boys；　had　been　assigned　a　pony　and　given　charge　of　the　horses　bearing　the　litter。　I　would　manage　our　baggage　mule　and　see　to　the　litter's　occupant。　This　was　the　very　elderly　Lady　Thyme；　who　I　had　never　met　before。　When　she　at　last　appeared　to　mount　her　litter；　she　was　so　swathed　in　cloaks；　veils；　and　scarves　that　I　received　only　the　impression　that　she　was　elderly　in　a　gaunt　rather　than　plump　way；　and　that　her　perfume　caused　Sooty　to　sneeze。　She　settled　herself　in　the　litter　amidst　a　nest　of　cushions；　blankets；　furs；　and　wraps；　then　immediately　ordered　that　the　curtains　be　drawn　and　fastened　despite　the　fineness　of　the　morning。　The　two　little　maids　who　had　attended　her　darted　happily　away；　and　I　was　left；　her　sole　servant。　My　heart　sank。　I　had　expected　at　least　one　of　them　to　travel　within　the　litter　with　her。　Who　was　going　to　see　to　her　personal　needs　when　her　pavilion　was　set　up？　I　had　no　notion　as　to　waiting　on　a　woman；　let　alone　a　very　elderly　one。　I　resolved　to　follow　Burrich's　advice　for　a　young　man　dealing　with　elderly　women：　be　attentive　and　polite；　cheerful　and　pleasant　of　mien。　Old　women　were　easily　won　over　by　a　personable　young　man。　Burrich　said　so。　I　approached　the　litter。
　　　　　　　〃Lady　Thyme？　Are　you　fortable？〃　I　inquired。　A　long　interval　passed　with　no　response。　Perhaps　she　was　slightly　deaf。　〃Are　you　fortable？〃　I　asked　more　loudly。
　　　　　　　〃Stop　bothering　me；　young　man！〃　was　the　surprisingly　vehement　response。　〃If　I　want　you；　I'll　tell　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　beg　pardon；〃　I　quickly　apologized。
　　　　　　　〃Stop　bothering　me；　I　said！〃　she　rasped　indignantly。　And　added　in　an　undertone；　〃Stupid　churl。〃
　　　　　　　At　this；　I　had　the　sense　to　be　quiet；　though　my　dismay　increased　tenfold。　So　much　for　a　merry　and　panionable　ride。　Eventually　I　heard　the　horns　cry　out　and　saw　Verity's　pennant　lifted　far　ahead　of　us。　Dust　drifting　back　told　me　that　our　foreguard　had　begun　the　journey。　Long　minutes　passed　before　the　horses　in　front　of　us　moved。　Hands　started　the　litter　horses　and　I　chirruped　to　Sooty。　She　stepped　out　eagerly　and　the　mule　followed　resignedly。
　　　　　　　I　well　recall　that　day。　I　remember　the　dust　hanging　thick　in　the　air　from　all　those　who　preceded　us；　and　how　Hands　and　I　conversed　in　lowered　voices；　for　the　first　time　we　laughed　aloud；　Lady　Thyme　scolded；　〃Stop　that　noise！〃　I　also　remember　bright　blue　skies　arching　from　hill　to　hill　as　we　followed　the　gentle　undulations　of　the　coast　road。　There　were　breathtaking　views　of　the　sea　from　the　hilltops；　and　flower…scented　air　thick　and　drowsy　in　the　vales。　There　were　also　the　shepherdesses；　all　in　a　row　atop　a　stone　wall　to　giggle　and　point　and　blush　at　us　while　we　passed。　Their　fleecy　charges　dotted　the　hillside　behind　them；　and　Hands　and　I　exclaimed　softly　at　the　way　they　had　bundled　their　bright　skirts　to　one　side　and　knotted　them　up；　leaving　their　knees　and　legs　bare　to　the　sun　and　wind。　Sooty　was　restive　and　bored　with　our　slow　pace；　while　poor　Hands　was　constantly　nudging　his　old　pony　in　the　ribs　to　make　it　keep　up。
　　　　　　　We　stopped　twice　during　the　day　to　allow　riders　to　dismount　and　stretch　and　to　let　the　horses　water。　Lady　Thyme　did　not　emerge　from　her　litter；　but　one　time　tartly　reminded　me　that　I　should　have　brought　her　water　by　now。　I　bit　my　tongue　and　fetched　her　a　drink。　It　was　as　close　as　we　came　to　conversation。
　　　　　　　We　halted　when　the　sun　was　still　above　the　horizon。　Hands　and　I　erected　Lady　Thyme's　small　pavilion　while　she　dined　within　her　litter　from　a　wicker　basket　of　cold　meat；　cheese；　and　wine　that　she　had　thoughtfully　provided　for　herself。　Hands　and　I　fared　more　poorly；　on　soldier's　rations　of　hard　bread　and　harder　cheese　and　dried　meat。　In　the　midst　of　my　meal；　Lady　Thyme　demanded　that　I　escort　her　from　the　litter　to　her　pavilion。　She　emerged　draped　and　veiled　as　if　for　a　blizzard。　Her　finery　was　of　varying　colors　and　degrees　of　age；　but　all　had　been　both　expensive　and　well　cut　at　one　time。　Now；　as　she　leaned　heavily　on　me　and　tottered　along；　I　smelled　a　repulsive　conglomeration　of　dust　and　mildew　and　perfume；　with　an　underlying　scent　of　urine。　She　tartly　dismissed　me　at　the　door　and　warned　me　that　she　had　a　knife　and　would　use　it　if　I　attempted　to　enter　and　bother　her　in　any　way。　〃And　well　do　I　know　how　to　use　it；　young　man！〃　she　threatened　me。
　　　　　　　Our　sleeping　acmodations　were　also　the　same　as　the　soldiers'：　the　ground　and　our　cloaks。　But　the　night　was　fine　and　we　made　a　small　fire。　Hands　teased　and　giggled　about　my　supposed　lust　for　Lady　Thyme　and　the　knife　that　awaited　me　if　I　should　attempt　to　satisfy　it。　That　led　to　a　wrestling　match　between　us；　until　Lady　Thyme　shrilled　threats　at　us　for　keeping　her　awake。　Then　we　spoke　softly　as　Hands　told　me　that　no　one　had　envied　my　assignment　to　her；　that　anyone　who　had　ever　journeyed　with　her　avoided　her　ever　after。　He　warned　me　also　that　my　worst　task　was　yet　to　e；　but　adamantly　refused；　though　his　eyes　brimmed　with　tears　of　laughter；　to　let　me　know　what　it　was。
　　　　　　　I　fell　asleep　easily；　for　boy　like；