rh.theassassinsapprentice-第3部分

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　I　was；　I　still　wondered　what　kind　of　man　this　was　who；　with　one　leg　bandaged；　could　quell　a　room　full　of　rough　men　with　a　look　or　a　word。
　　　　　　　〃Boy　don't　have　a　name；〃　Jason　volunteered　into　the　silence。　〃Just　goes　by　'boy。'　〃
　　　　　　　This　statement　seemed　to　put　everyone；　even　Burrich；　at　a　loss　for　words。　The　silence　lingered　as　I　finished　bread　and　cheese　and　meat；　and　washed　it　down　with　a　swallow　or　two　of　beer　that　Burrich　offered　me。　The　other　men　left　the　room　gradually；　in　twos　and　threes；　and　still　he　sat　there；　drinking　and　looking　at　me。　〃Well；〃　he　said　at　long　last。　〃If　I　know　your　father；　he'll　face　up　to　it　square　and　do　what's　right。　But　Eda　only　knows　what　he'll　think　is　the　right　thing　to　do。　Probably　whatever　hurts　the　most。〃　He　watched　me　silently　a　moment　longer。　〃Had　enough　to　eat？〃　he　asked　at　last。
　　　　　　　I　nodded；　and　he　stood　stiffly；　to　swing　me　off　the　table　and　onto　the　floor。　〃e　on；　then；　Fitz；〃　he　said；　and　moved　out　of　the　kitchen　and　down　a　different　corridor。　His　stiff　leg　made　his　gait　ungainly；　and　perhaps　the　beer　had　something　to　do　with　it　as　well。　Certainly　I　had　no　trouble　in　keeping　up。　We　came　at　last　to　a　heavy　door；　and　a　guard　who　nodded　us　through　with　a　devouring　stare　at　me。
　　　　　　　Outside；　a　chill　wind　was　blowing。　All　the　ice　and　snow　that　had　softened　during　the　day　had　gone　back　to　sharpness　with　the　ing　of　night。　The　path　cracked　under　my　feet；　and　the　wind　seemed　to　find　every　crack　and　gap　in　my　garments。　My　feet　and　leggings　had　been　warmed　by　the　kitchen's　fire；　but　not　quite　dried；　so　the　cold　seized　on　them。　I　remember　darkness；　and　the　sudden　tiredness　that　came　over　me；　a　terrible　weepy　sleepiness　that　dragged　at　me　as　I　followed　the　strange　man　with　the　bandaged　leg　through　the　chill；　dark　courtyard。　There　were　tall　walls　around　us；　and　guards　moved　intermittently　atop　them；　dark　shadows　visible　only　as　they　blotted　the　stars　occasionally　from　the　sky。　The　cold　bit　at　me；　and　I　stumbled　and　slipped　on　the　icy　pathway。　But　something　about　Burrich　did　not　permit　me　to　whimper　or　beg　quarter　from　him。　Instead　I　followed　him　doggedly。　We　reached　a　building　and　he　dragged　open　a　heavy　door。
　　　　　　　Warmth　and　animal　smells　and　a　dim　yellow　light　spilled　out。　A　sleepy　stable　boy　sat　up　in　his　nest　of　straw；　blinking　like　a　rumpled　fledgling。　At　a　word　from　Burrich　he　lay　down　again；　curling　up　small　in　the　straw　and　closing　his　eyes。　We　moved　past　him；　Burrich　dragging　the　door　to　behind　us。　He　took　the　lantern　that　burned　dimly　by　the　door　and　led　me　on。
　　　　　　　I　entered　a　different　world　then；　a　night　world　where　animals　shifted　and　breathed　in　stalls；　where　hounds　lifted　their　heads　from　their　crossed　forepaws　to　regard　me　with　lambent　eyes　green　or　yellow　in　the　lantern's　glow。　Horses　stirred　as　we　passed　their　stalls。　〃Hawks　are　down　at　the　far　end；〃　Burrich　said　as　we　passed　stall　after　stall。　I　accepted　it　as　something　he　thought　I　should　know。
　　　　　　　〃Here；〃　he　said　finally。　〃This'll　do。　For　now；　anyway。　I'm　jigged　if　I　know　what　else　to　do　with　you。　If　it　weren't　for　the　Lady　Patience；　I'd　be　thinking　this　a　fine　god's　jest　on　the　master。　Here；　Nosy；　you　just　move　over　and　make　this　boy　a　place　in　the　straw。　That's　right；　you　cuddle　up　to　Vixen；　there。　She'll　take　you　in；　and　give　a　good　slash　to　any　that　think　to　bother　you。〃
　　　　　　　I　found　myself　facing　an　ample　box　stall；　populated　with　three　hounds。　They　had　roused　and　lay；　stick　tails　thumping　in　the　straw　at　Burrich's　voice。　I　moved　uncertainly　in　amongst　them　and　finally　lay　down　next　to　an　old　bitch　with　a　whitened　muzzle　and　one　torn　ear。　The　older　male　regarded　me　with　a　certain　suspicion；　but　the　third　was　a　half…grown　pup；　and　Nosy　weled　me　with　ear　lickings；　nose　nipping；　and　much　pawing。　I　put　an　arm　around　him　to　settle　him；　and　then　cuddled　in　amongst　them　as　Burrich　had　advised。　He　threw　a　thick　blanket　that　smelled　much　of　horse　down　over　me。　A　very　large　gray　horse　in　the　next　stall　stirred　suddenly；　thumping　a　heavy　hoof　against　the　partition；　and　then　hanging　his　head　over　to　see　what　the　night　excitement　was　about。　Burrich　absently　calmed　him　with　a　touch。
　　　　　　　〃It's　rough　quarters　here　for　all　of　us　at　this　outpost。　You'll　find　Buckkeep　a　more　hospitable　place。　But　for　tonight；　you'll　be　warm　here；　and　safe。〃　He　stood　a　moment　longer；　looking　down　at　us。　〃Horse；　hound；　and　hawk；　Chivalry。　I've　minded　them　all　for　you　for　many　a　year；　and　minded　them　well。　But　this　by…blow　of　yours；　well；　what　to　do　with　him　is　beyond　me。〃
　　　　　　　I　knew　he　wasn't　speaking　to　me。　I　watched　him　over　the　edge　of　the　blanket　as　he　took　the　lantern　from　its　hook　and　wandered　off；　muttering　to　himself。　I　remember　that　first　night　well；　the　warmth　of　the　hounds；　the　prickling　straw；　and　even　the　sleep　that　finally　came　as　the　pup　cuddled　close　beside　me。　I　drifted　into　his　mind　and　shared　his　dim　dreams　of　an　endless　chase；　pursuing　a　quarry　I　never　saw；　but　whose　hot　scent　dragged　me　onward　through　nettle；　bramble；　and　scree。
　　　　　　　And　with　the　hound's　dream；　the　precision　of　the　memory　wavers　like　the　bright　colors　and　sharp　edges　of　a　drug　dream。　Certainly　the　days　that　follow　that　first　night　have　no　such　clarity　in　my　mind。
　　　　　　　I　recall　the　spitting…wet　days　of　winter's　end　as　I　learned　the　route　from　my　stall　to　the　kitchen。　I　was　free　to　e　and　go　there　as　I　pleased。　Sometimes　there　was　a　cook　in　attendance；　setting　meat　onto　the　hearth　hooks　or　pummeling　bread　dough　or　breaching　a　cask　of　drink。　More　often　there　was　not；　and　I　helped　myself　to　whatever　had　been　left　out　on　the　table；　and　shared　generously　with　the　pup　that　swiftly　became　my　constant　panion。　Men　came　and　went；　eating　and　drinking；　and　regarding　me　with　a　speculative　curiosity　that　I　came　to　accept　as　normal。　The　men　had　a　sameness　about　them；　with　their　rough　wool　cloaks　and　leggings；　their　hard　bodies　and　easy　movements；　and　the　crest　of　a　leaping　buck　that　each　bore　over　his　heart。　My　presence　made　some　of　them　unfortable。　I　grew　accustomed　to　the　mutter　of　voices　that　began　whenever　I　left　the　kitchen。
　　　　　　　Burrich　was　a　constant　in　those　days；　giving　me　the　same　care　he　gave　to　Chivalry's　beasts；　I　was　fed；　watered；　groomed；　and　exercised；　said　exercise　usually　ing　in　the　form　of　trotting　at　his　heels　as　he　performed　his　other　duties。　But　those　memories　are　blurry；　and　details；　such　as　those　of　washing　or　changing　garments；　have　probably　faded　with　a　six…year…olds　calm　assumptions　of　such　things　as　normal。　Certainly　I　remember　the　hound　pup；　Nosy。　His　coat　was　red　and　slick　and　short；　and　bristly　in　a　way　that　prickled　me　through　my　clothes　when　we　shared　the　horse　blanket　at　night。　His　eyes　were　green　as　copper　ore；　his　nose　the　color　of　cooked　liver；　and　the　insides　of　his　mouth　and　tongue　were　mottled　pink　and　black。　When　we　were　not　eating　in　the　kitchen；　we　wrestled　in　the　courtyard　or　in　the　straw　of　the　box　stall。　Such　was　my　world　for　however　long　it　was　I　was　there。　Not　too　long；　I　think；　for　I　do　not　recall　the　weather　changing。　All　my　memories　of　that　time　are　of　raw　days　and　blustery　wind；　and　snow　and　ice　that　partially　melted　each　day　but　were　restored　by　night's　freezes。
　　　　　　　One　other　memory　I　have　of　that　time；　but　it　is　not　sharp…edged。　Rather　it　is　warm　and　softly　tinted；　like　a　rich　old　tapestry　seen　in　a　dim　room。　I　recall　being　roused　from　sleep　by　the　pup's　wriggling　and　the　yellow　light　of　a　lantern　being　held　over　me。　Two　men　bent　over　me；　but　Burrich　stood　stiffly　behind　them　and　I　was　not　afraid。
　　　　　　　〃Now　you've　wakened　him；〃　warned　the　one；　and　he　was　Prince　Verity；　the　man　from　the　warmly　lit　chamber　of　my　first　evening。
　　　　　　　〃So？　He'll　go　back　to　sleep　as　soon　as　we　leave。　Damn　him；　he　has　his　father's　eyes　as　well。　I　swear；　I'd　have　known　his　blood　no　matter　where　I　saw　him。　There'll　be　no　denying　it　to　any　that　see　him。　But　have　neither　you　nor　Burrich　the　sense　of　a　flea？　Bastard　or　not；　you　don't　stable　a　child　among　beasts。　Was　there　nowhere　else　you　could　put　him？〃
　　　　　　　The　man　who　spoke　was　like　Verity　around　the　jaw　and　eyes；　but　there　the　resemblance　ended。　This　man　was　younger　by　far。　His　cheeks　were　beardless；　and　his　scented　and　smoothed　hair　was　finer　and　brown。　His　cheeks　and　forehead　had　been　stung　to　redness　by　the　night's　chill；　but　it　was　a　new　thing；　not　Verity's　weathered　ruddiness。　And　Verity　dressed　as　his　men　dressed；　in　practical　woolens　of　sturdy　weave　and　subdued　colors。　Only　the　crest　on　his　breast　showed　brighter；　in　gold　and　silver　thread。　But　the　younger　man　with　him　gleamed　in　scarlets　and　primrose；　and　his　cloak　drooped　with　twice　the　width　of　cloth　needed　to　cover　a　man。　The　doublet　that　showed　beneath　it　was　a　rich　cream；　and　laden　with　lace。　The　scarf　at　his　throat　was　secured　with　a　leaping　stag　done　in　gold；　its　single　eye　a　winking　green　gem。　And　the　careful　turn　of　his　words　was　like　a　twisted　chain　of　gold　pared　to　the　simple　links　of　Verity's　speech。
　　　　　　　〃Regal；　I　had　given　it　no　thought。　What　do　I　know　of　children？　I　turned　him　over　to　Burrich。　He　is　Chivalry's　man；　and　as　such　he's　cared　for　。。。　。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　meant　no　disrespect　to　the　blood；　sir；〃　Burrich　said　in　honest　confusion。　〃I　am　Chivalry's　man；　and　I　saw　to　the　boy　as　I　thought　best。　I　could　make　him　up　a　pallet　in　the　guardroom；　but　he　seems　small　to　be　in　the　pany　of　such　men；　with　their　ings　and　goings　at　all　hours；　their　fights　and　drinking　and　noise。〃　The　tone　of　his　words　made　his　own　distaste　for　their　pany　obvious。　〃Bedded　here；　he　has　quiet；　and　the　pup　has　taken　to　him。　And　with　my　Vixen　to　watch　over　him　at　night；　no　one　could　do　him　harm　without　her　teeth　taking　a　toll。　My　lords；　I　know　little　of　children　myself；　and　it　seemed　to　me…〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　fine；　Burrich；　it's　fine；〃　Verity　said　quietly；　cutting　him　off。　〃If　it　had　to　be　thought　about；　I　should　have　done　the　thinking。　I　left　it　to　you；　and　I　don't　find　fault　with　it。　It's　better　than　a　lot　of　children　have　in　this　village；　Eda　knows。　For　here；　for　now；　it's　fine。〃
　　　　　　　〃It　will　have　to　be　different　when　he　es　back　to　Buckkeep。〃　Regal　did　not　sound　pleased。
　　　　　　　〃Then　our　father　wishes　him　to　return　with　us　to　Buckkeep？〃　The　question　came　from　Verity。
　　　　　　　〃Our　father　does。　My　mother　does　not。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh。