rh.theassassinsapprentice-第28部分

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mmed　with　tears　of　laughter；　to　let　me　know　what　it　was。
　　　　　　　I　fell　asleep　easily；　for　boy　like；　I　had　put　my　true　mission　out　of　my　head　until　I　should　have　to　face　it。
　　　　　　　I　awoke　at　dawn　to　the　twittering　of　birds　and　the　overwhelming　stench　of　a　brimming　chamber　pot　outside　Lady　Thyme's　pavilion。　Though　my　stomach　had　been　hardened　by　cleaning　stables　and　kennels；　it　was　all　I　could　force　myself　to　do　to　dump　it　and　cleanse　it　before　returning　it　to　her。　By　then　she　was　harping　at　me　through　the　tent　door　that　I　had　not　yet　brought　her　water；　hot　or　cold；　nor　cooked　her　porridge；　whose　ingredients　she　had　set　out。　Hands　had　disappeared；　to　share　the　troop's　fire　and　rations；　leaving　me　to　deal　with　my　tyrant。　By　the　time　I　had　served　her　on　a　tray　that　she　assured　me　was　slovenly　arranged；　and　cleaned　the　dishes　and　pot　and　returned　all　to　her；　the　rest　of　the　procession　was　almost　ready　to　leave。　But　she　would　not　allow　her　pavilion　to　be　struck　until　she　was　safely　within　her　litter。　We　acplished　that　packing　in　frantic　haste　and　I　found　myself　finally　on　my　horse　without　a　crumb　of　breakfast　inside　me。
　　　　　　　I　was　ravenous　after　my　morning's　work。　Hands　regarded　my　glum　face　with　some　sympathy　and　motioned　me　to　ride　closer　to　him。　He　leaned　over　to　speak　to　me。
　　　　　　　〃Everyone　but　us　had　heard　of　her　before。〃　This　with　a　furtive　nod　toward　Lady　Thyme's　litter。　〃The　stench　she　makes　every　morning　is　a　legend。　Whitelock　says　she　used　to　go　along　on　a　lot　of　Chivalry's　trips　。。。。　She　has　relatives　all　over　the　Six　Duchies；　and　not　much　to　do　except　go　visit　them。　All　the　men　in　the　troop　say　they　learned　a　long　time　ago　to　stay　out　of　her　range　or　she　puts　them　to　a　bunch　of　useless　errands。　Oh；　and　Whitelock　sent　you　this。　He　says　not　to　expect　to　sit　down　and　eat　as　long　as　you're　tending　her。　But　he'll　try　to　set　aside　a　bit　for　you　each　morning。
　　　　　　　Hands　passed　me　a　wad　of　camp　bread　with　three　rashers　of　bacon　greasily　cold　inside　it。　It　tasted　wonderful。　I　wolfed　down　the　first　few　bites　greedily。
　　　　　　　〃Churl！〃　shrilled　Lady　Thyme　from　inside　her　pavilion。　〃What　are　you　doing　up　there？　Discussing　your　betters；　I've　no　doubt。　Get　back　to　your　position！　How　are　you　to　see　to　my　needs　if　you're　gallivanting　ahead　like　that？〃
　　　　　　　I　quickly　reined　Sooty　in　and　dropped　back　to　a　position　alongside　the　litter。　I　swallowed　a　great　lump　of　bread　and　bacon　and　managed　to　ask；　〃Is　there　anything　your　ladyship　requires？〃
　　　　　　　〃Don't　talk　with　your　mouth　full；〃　she　snapped。　〃And　stop　bothering　me。　Stupid　clod。〃
　　　　　　　And　so　it　went。　The　road　followed　the　coastline；　and　at　our　leaden　pace　it　took　us　a　full　five　days　to　reach　Neatbay。　Other　than　two　small　villages；　our　scenery　consisted　of　windswept　cliffs；　gulls；　meadows；　and　occasional　stands　of　twisted　and　stunted　trees。　Yet　to　me　it　seemed　full　of　beauties　and　wonders；　for　every　bend　in　the　road　brought　me　to　a　place　I　had　never　seen　before。
　　　　　　　As　our　journey　wore　on；　Lady　Thyme　became　more　tyrannical。　By　the　fourth　day　she　had　a　constant　stream　of　plaints；　few　of　which　I　could　do　anything　about。　Her　litter　swayed　too　much；　it　was　making　her　ill。　The　water　I　brought　from　a　stream　was　too　cold；　that　from　my　own　water　bags　too　warm。　The　men　and　horses　ahead　of　us　were　raising　too　much　dust；　they　were　doing　it　on　purpose；　she　was　sure。　And　tell　them　to　stop　singing　those　rude　songs。　With　her　to　deal　with　I　had　no　time　to　think　about　killing　or　not　killing　Lord　Kelvar；　even　if　I　had　wanted　to。
　　　　　　　Early　on　the　fifth　day　we　saw　the　rising　smoke　of　Neatbay。　By　noon　we　could　pick　out　the　larger　buildings　and　the　Neatbay　watchtower　on　the　cliffs　above　the　town。　Neatbay　was　a　much　gentler　piece　of　land　than　Buckkeep。　Our　road　wound　down　through　a　wide　valley。　The　blue　waters　of　Neatbay　itself　opened　wide　before　us。　The　beaches　were　sandy；　and　their　fishing　fleet　was　all　shallow　draft　vessels　with　flat　bottoms；　or　spunky　little　dories　that　rode　the　waves　like　gulls。　Neatbay　didn't　have　the　deep　anchorage　that　Buckkeep　did；　so　it　was　not　the　shipping　and　trading　port　that　we　were；　but　all　the　same　it　seemed　to　me　it　would　have　been　a　fine　place　to　live。
　　　　　　　Kelvar　sent　an　honor　guard　to　meet　us；　so　there　was　a　delay　as　they　exchanged　formalities　with　Verity's　troops。　〃Like　two　dogs　sniffing　each　other's　bung　holes；〃　Hands　observed　sourly。　By　standing　in　my　stirrups；　I　was　able　to　see　far　enough　down　the　line　to　observe　the　official　posturings；　and　grudgingly　nodded　my　agreement。　Eventually　we　got　under　way　again；　and　were　soon　riding　through　the　streets　of　Neatbay　Town　itself。
　　　　　　　Everyone　else　proceeded　straight　up　to　Kelvar's　keep；　but　Hands　and　I　were　obliged　to　escort　Lady　Thyme's　litter　through　several　back　streets　to　reach　the　particular　inn　that　she　insisted　on　using。　From　the　look　on　the　chambermaid's　face；　she　had　guested　there　before。　Hands　took　the　litter　horses　and　litter　to　the　stables；　but　I　had　to　endure　her　leaning　heavily　on　my　arm　as　I　escorted　her　to　her　chamber。　I　wondered　what　she　had　eaten　that　had　been　so　foully　spiced　as　to　make　her　every　breath　a　trial　to　me。　She　dismissed　me　at　the　door；　warning　myriad　punishments　if　I　didn't　return　promptly　in　seven　days。　As　I　left　I　felt　sympathy　for　the　chambermaid；　for　Lady　Thyme's　voice　was　lifted　in　a　loud　tirade　about　thieving　maids　she　had　encountered　in　the　past；　and　exactly　how　she　wanted　the　bed　linens　arranged　on　the　bed。
　　　　　　　With　a　light　heart　I　mounted　Sooty　and　called　to　Hands　to　make　haste。　We　cantered　through　the　streets　of　Neatbay　and　managed　to　rejoin　the　tail　of　Verity's　procession　as　they　entered　Kelvar's　keep。　Bayguard　was　built　on　flat　land　that　offered　little　natural　defense；　but　was　fortified　by　a　series　of　walls　and　ditches　that　an　enemy　would　have　had　to　surmount　before　facing　the　stout　stone　walls　of　the　keep。　Hands　told　me　that　raiders　had　never　gotten　past　the　second　ditch　and　I　believed　him。　Workmen　were　doing　maintenance　on　the　walls　and　ditches　as　we　passed；　but　they　halted　and　watched　in　wonder　as　the　King…in…Waiting　came　to　Bayguard。
　　　　　　　Once　keep　gates　closed　behind　us；　there　was　another　interminable　weling　ceremony。　Men　and　horses　and　all；　we　were　kept　standing　in　the　midday　sun　while　Kelvar　and　Bayguard　weled　Verity。　Horns　sounded　and　then　the　mutter　of　official　voicings　muted　by　shifting　horses　and　men。　But　at　last　it　was　over。　This　was　signaled　by　a　sudden　general　movement　of　men　and　beasts　as　the　formations　ahead　of　us　broke　up。
　　　　　　　Men　dismounted　and　Kelvar's　stable　folk　were　suddenly　among　us；　directing　us　where　to　water　our　mounts；　where　we　might　rest　for　the　night；　and　most　important　to　any　soldier；　where　we　might　wash　ourselves　and　eat。　I　fell　in　beside　Hands　as　we　led　Sooty　and　his　pony　toward　the　stables。　I　heard　my　name　called　and　turned　to　see　Sig　from　Buckkeep　pointing　me　out　to　someone　in　Kelvar's　colors。
　　　　　　　〃There　he　be…that's　the　Fitz。　Ho；　Fitz！　Sitswell　here　says　you're　summoned。　Verity　wants　you　in　his　chamber；　Leon's　sick。　Hands；　you　take　Sooty　for　the　Fitz。〃
　　　　　　　I　could　almost　feel　the　food　being　snatched　from　my　jaws。　But　I　took　a　breath　and　presented　a　cheerful　countenance　to　Sitswell；　as　Burrich　had　counseled　me。　I　doubt　that　dour　man　even　noticed。　To　him　I　was　just　one　more　boy　underfoot　on　a　hectic　day。　He　took　me　to　Verity's　chamber　and　left　me；　obviously　relieved　to　return　to　his　stables。　I　tapped　softly　and　Verity's　man　opened　the　door　at　once。
　　　　　　　〃Ah！　Thank　Eda　it's　you。　e　in；　then；　for　the　beast　won't　eat　and　Verity's　sure　it's　serious。　Hurry　up；　Fitz。〃
　　　　　　　The　man　wore　Verity's　badge；　but　was　no　one　I　remembered　having　met。　Sometimes　it　was　disconcerting　how　many　folk　knew　who　I　was　when　I　had　no　inkling　who　they　were。　In　an　adjoining　chamber　Verity　was　splashing　and　instructing　someone　loudly　about　what　garments　he　wished　for　the　evening。　But　he　was　not　my　concern。　Leon　was。
　　　　　　　I　quested　toward　him；　for　I　had　no　qualms　about　it　when　Burrich　wasn't　about。　Leon　lifted　his　bony　head　and　regarded　me　with　martyred　eyes。　He　was　lying　on　Verity's　sweaty　shirt　in　a　corner　by　a　cold　hearth。　He　was　too　hot；　he　was　bored；　and　if　we　weren't　going　to　hunt　anything；　he　wanted　to　go　home。
　　　　　　　I　made　a　show　of　running　my　hands　over　him　and　lifting　his　lips　to　examine　his　gums　and　then　pressing　my　hand　down　firmly　on　his　belly。　I　finished　all　this　by　scratching　behind　his　ears　and　then　told　Verity's　man；　〃There's　nothing　wrong　with　him；　he　just　isn't　hungry。　Let's　give　him　a　bowl　of　cold　water　and　wait。　When　he　wants　to　eat；　he'll　let　us　know。　And　let's　take　away　all　this　before　it　spoils　in　this　heat　and　he　eats　it　anyway　and　bees　really　sick。〃　I　referred　to　a　dish　already　overfilled　with　scraps　of　pastries　from　a　tray　that　had　been　set　for　Verity。　None　of　it　was　fit　for　the　dog；　but　I　was　so　hungry　I　wouldn't　have　minded　dining　off　the　scraps　myself；　in　fact　my　stomach　growled　at　the　sight　of　it。　〃I　wonder　if　I　found　the　kitchens；　if　they　would　have　a　fresh　beef　bone　for　him？　Something　that's　more　toy　than　food　is　what　he　would　wele　most　now　。。。。
　　　　　　　〃Fitz？　Is　that　you？　In　here；　boy！　What's　troubling　my　Leon？〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　fetch　the　bone；〃　the　man　assured　me；　and　I　rose　and　stepped　to　the　entry　of　the　adjoining　room。
　　　　　　　Verity　rose　dripping　from　his　bath　and　took　the　proffered　towel　from　his　serving　man。　He　toweled　his　hair　briskly　and　then　again　demanded　as　he　dried　himself；　〃What's　the　matter　with　Leon？〃
　　　　　　　That　was　Verity's　way。　Weeks　had　passed　since　we　had　last　spoken；　but　he　took　no　time　for　greetings。　Chade　said　it　was　a　lack　in　him；　that　he　didn't　make　his　men　feel　their　importance　to　him。　I　think　he　believed　that　if　anything　significant　had　happened　to　me；　someone　would　have　told　him。　He　had　a　bluff　heartiness　to　him　that　I　enjoyed；　an　attitude　that　things　must　be　going　well　unless　someone　had　told　him　otherwise。
　　　　　　　〃Not　much　is　wrong　with　him；　sir。　He's　a　bit　out　of　sorts　from　the　heat　and　from　traveling。　A　night's　rest　in　a　cool　place　will　perk　him　up；　but　I'd　not　fill　him　full　of　pastry　bits　and　suety　things；　not　in　this　hot　weather。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well。〃　Verity　bent　down　to　dry　his　legs。　〃Like　as　not；　you're　right；　boy。　Burrich　says　you've　a　way　with　the　hounds；　and　I　won't　ignor