rh.theassassinsapprentice-第31部分

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　　　　　　　〃Well；　at　least　it's　not　likely　to　be　poisonous　to　him。　Right　now；　it's　just　the　bone。　But　if　he　gets　it　down；　it's　still　likely　to　kill　him。〃
　　　　　　　She　gasped。　〃No；　it　can't！　He　mustn't　die。　He'll　be　fine。　He　just　has　an　upset　stomach。　I　just　fed　him　too　much。　He'll　be　fine！　What　do　you　know　about　it　anyway；　kitchen　boy？〃
　　　　　　　I　watched　the　feist　go　through　another　round　of　almost　convulsive　retching。　Nothing　came　up　but　yellow　bile。　〃I'm　not　a　kitchen　boy。　I'm　a　dog　boy。　Verity's　own　dog　boy；　if　you　must　know。　And　if　we　don't　help　this　little　mutt；　he's　going　to　die。　Very　soon。〃
　　　　　　　She　watched；　her　face　a　mixture　of　awe　and　horror；　as　I　gripped　her　little　pet　firmly。　I'm　trying　to　help。　He　didn't　believe　me。　I　prized　his　jaws　open　and　forced　my　two　fingers　down　his　gullet。　The　feist　gagged　even　more　fiercely　and　pawed　at　me　frantically　with　his　front　paws。　His　claws　needed　cutting；　too。　With　the　tips　of　my　fingers　I　could　feel　the　bone。　I　twiddled　my　fingers　against　it　and　felt　it　move。　But　it　was　wedged　sideways　in　the　little　beast's　throat。　The　dog　gave　a　strangled　howl　and　struggled　frantically　in　my　arms。　I　let　him　go。　〃Well。　He's　not　going　to　get　rid　of　that　without　some　help；〃　I　observed。
　　　　　　　I　left　her　wailing　and　sniveling　over　him。　At　least　she　didn't　snatch　him　up　and　squeeze　him。　I　got　myself　a　handful　of　butter　from　the　keg　and　plopped　it　into　my　stew　bowl。　Now　I　needed　something　hooked；　or　sharply　curved；　but　not　too　large。　I　rattled　through　bins　and　finally　came　up　with　a　curved　hook　of　metal　with　a　handle　on　it。　Possibly　it　was　used　to　lift　hot　pots　off　the　fire。
　　　　　　　〃Sit　down；〃　I　told　the　maid。
　　　　　　　She　gaped　at　me；　and　then　sat　obediently　on　the　bench　I'd　pointed　to。
　　　　　　　〃Now　hold　him　firmly；　between　your　knees。　And　don't　let　him　go；　no　matter　how　he　claws　and　wiggles　or　yelps。　And　hold　on　to　his　front　feet　so　he　doesn't　claw　me　to　ribbons　while　I'm　doing　this。　Understand？〃
　　　　　　　She　took　a　deep　breath；　then　gulped　and　nodded。　Tears　were　streaming　down　her　face。　I　set　the　dog　on　her　lap　and　put　her　hands　on　him。
　　　　　　　〃Hold　tight；〃　I　told　her。　I　scooped　up　a　gobbet　of　butter。　〃I'm　going　to　use　the　fat　to　grease　things　up。　Then　I've　got　to　force　his　jaws　open；　and　hook　the　bone　and　jerk　it　out。　Are　you　ready？〃
　　　　　　　She　nodded。　The　tears　had　stopped　flowing　and　her　lips　were　set。　I　was　glad　to　see　she　had　some　strength　to　her。　I　nodded　back。
　　　　　　　Getting　the　butter　down　was　the　easy　part。　It　blocked　his　throat；　though；　and　his　panic　increased；　pounding　at　my　self…control　with　his　waves　of　terror。　I　had　no　time　to　be　gentle　as　I　forced　his　jaws　open　and　then　put　the　hook　down　his　throat。　I　hoped　I　wouldn't　snag　his　flesh。　But　if　I　did；　well；　he　would　die　anyway。　I　turned　the　tool　in　his　throat　as　he　wiggled　and　yelped　and　pissed　all　over　his　mistress。　The　hook　caught　on　the　bone　and　I　pulled；　evenly　and　firmly。
　　　　　　　It　came　up　in　a　welter　of　froth　and　bile　and　blood。　A　nasty　little　bone；　not　a　fishbone　at　all；　but　the　partial　breastbone　of　a　small　bird。　I　flipped　it　onto　the　table。　〃And　he　shouldn't　have　poultry　bones　either；〃　I　told　her　severely。
　　　　　　　I　don't　think　she　even　heard　me。　Doggy　was　wheezing　gratefully　on　her　lap。　I　picked　up　the　dish　of　water　and　held　it　out　to　him。　He　sniffed　it；　lapped　a　bit；　and　then　curled　up；　exhausted。　She　picked　him　up　and　cradled　him　in　her　arms；　her　head　bent　over　his。
　　　　　　　〃There's　something　I　want　from　you；〃　I　began。
　　　　　　　〃Anything。〃　She　spoke　into　his　fur。　〃Ask；　and　it's　yours。〃
　　　　　　　〃First；　stop　giving　him　your　food。　Give　him　only　red　meat　and　boiled　grain　for　a　while。　And　for　a　dog　that　size；　no　more　than　you　can　cup　in　your　hand。　And　don't　carry　him　everywhere。　Make　him　run　about；　to　give　him　some　muscle　and　wear　down　his　nails。　And　wash　him。　He　smells　foul；　coat　and　breath；　from　too　rich　food。　Or　he　won't　live　but　another　year　or　two。〃
　　　　　　　She　looked　up；　stricken。　Her　hand　went　up　to　her　mouth。　And　something　in　her　motion；　so　like　her　self…conscious　touching　of　her　jewelry　at　dinner；　suddenly　made　me　realize　who　I　was　scolding。　Lady　Grace。　And　I　had　made　her　dog　piss　on　her　night　robe。
　　　　　　　Something　in　my　face　must　have　given　me　away。　She　smiled　delightedly　and　held　her　doggy　closer。　〃I'll　do　as　you　suggest；　dog　boy。　But　for　yourself？　Is　there　nothing　you'd　ask　as　reward？〃
　　　　　　　She　thought　I'd　ask　for　a　coin　or　ring　or　even　a　position　with　her　household。　Instead；　as　steadily　as　I　could；　I　looked　at　her　and　said；　〃Please；　Lady　Grace。　I　ask　that　you　ask　your　lord　to　man　Watch　Island's　tower　with　the　best　of　his　men；　to　put　an　end　to　the　strife　between　Rippon　and　Shoaks　Duchies。〃
　　　　　　　〃What？〃
　　　　　　　That　single…word　question　told　me　volumes　about　her。　The　accent　and　inflection　hadn't　been　learned　as　Lady　Grace。
　　　　　　　〃Ask　your　lord　to　man　his　towers　well。　Please。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　does　a　dog　boy　care　about　such　things？〃
　　　　　　　Her　question　was　too　blunt。　Wherever　Kelvar　had　found　her；　she　hadn't　been　highborn；　or　wealthy　before　this。　Her　delight　when　I　recognized　her；　the　way　she　had　brought　her　dog　down　to　the　familiar　fort　of　a　kitchen；　by　herself；　wrapped　in　her　blanket；　told　of　a　mon　girl　elevated　too　quickly　and　too　far　above　her　previous　station。　She　was　lonely；　and　uncertain；　and　uneducated　as　to　what　was　expected　of　her。　Worse；　she　knew　that　she　was　ignorant；　and　that　knowledge　ate　at　her　and　soured　her　pleasures　with　fear。　If　she　did　not　learn　how　to　be　a　duchess　before　her　youth　and　beauty　faded；　only　years　of　loneliness　and　ridicule　could　await　her。　She　needed　a　mentor；　someone　secret；　like　Chade。　She　needed　the　advice　I　could　give　her；　right　now。　But　I　had　to　go　carefully；　for　she　would　not　accept　advice　from　a　dog　boy。　Only　a　mon　girl　might　do　that；　and　the　only　thing　she　knew　about　herself　right　now　was　that　she　was　no　longer　a　mon　girl；　but　a　duchess。
　　　　　　　〃I　had　a　dream；〃　I　said；　suddenly　inspired。　〃So　clear。　Like　a　vision。　Or　a　warning。　It　woke　me　and　I　felt　I　must　e　to　the　kitchen。〃　I　let　my　eyes　unfocus。　Her　eyes　went　wide。　I　had　her。　〃I　dreamed　of　a　woman；　who　spoke　wise　words　and　turned　three　strong　men　into　a　united　wall　that　the　Red…Ship　Raiders　could　not　breach。　She　stood　before　them；　and　jewels　were　in　her　hands；　and　she　said；　'Let　the　watchtowers　shine　brighter　than　the　gems　in　these　rings。　Let　the　vigilant　soldiers　who　man　them　encircle　our　coast　as　these　pearls　used　to　encircle　my　neck。　Let　the　keeps　be　strengthened　anew　against　those　who　threaten　our　people。　For　I　would　be　glad　to　walk　plain　in　the　sight　of　both　King　and　moner；　and　let　the　defenses　that　guard　our　people　bee　the　jewels　of　our　land。'　And　the　King　and　his　dukes　were　astounded　at　her　wise　heart　and　noble　ways。　But　her　people　loved　her　best　of　all；　for　they　knew　she　loved　them　better　than　gold　or　silver。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　awkward；　not　near　as　cleverly　spoken　as　I　had　hoped　to　make　it。　But　it　caught　her　fancy。　I　could　see　her　imagining　herself　standing　straight　and　noble　before　the　King…in…Waiting　and　astonishing　him　with　her　sacrifice。　I　sensed　in　her　the　burning　desire　to　distinguish　herself；　to　be　spoken　of　admiringly　by　the　people　she　had　e　from。　Perhaps　she　had　once　been　a　milkmaid　or　a　kitchen　wench；　and　was　still　perceived　as　such　by　those　who　knew　her。　This　would　show　them　she　was　now　a　duchess　in　more　than　name。　Lord　Shemshy　and　his　entourage　would　carry　word　of　her　deed　back　to　Shoaks　Duchy。　Minstrels　would　celebrate　her　words　in　song。　And　her　husband　for　once　would　be　surprised　by　her。　Let　him　see　her　as　someone　who　cared　for　the　land　and　folk；　rather　than　the　pretty　little　thing　he　had　snared　with　his　title。　Almost　I　could　see　the　thoughts　parade　through　her　mind。　Her　eyes　had　gone　distant　and　she　wore　an　abstract　smile。
　　　　　　　〃Good　night；　dog　boy；〃　she　said　softly；　and　glided　from　the　kitchen；　her　dog　cuddled　against　her　breast。　She　wore　the　blanket　around　her　shoulders　as　if　it　were　a　cloak　of　ermine。　She　would　play　her　role　tomorrow　very　well。　I　grinned　suddenly；　wondering　if　I　had　acplished　my　mission　without　poison。　Not　that　I　had　really　investigated　whether　or　not　Kelvar　was　guilty　of　treason；　but　I　had　a　feeling　that　I　had　chopped　the　root　of　the　problem。　I　was　willing　to　bet　that　the　watchtowers　would　be　well　manned　before　the　week　was　out。
　　　　　　　I　made　my　way　back　up　to　my　bed。　I　had　pilfered　a　loaf　of　fresh　bread　from　the　kitchen　and　this　I　offered　to　the　guards　who　readmitted　me　to　Verity's　bedchamber。　In　some　distant　part　of　Bayguard　someone　brayed　out　the　hour。　I　didn't　pay　much　attention。　I　burrowed　back　into　my　bedding；　my　belly　satisfied　and　my　spirit　anticipating　the　spectacle　that　Lady　Grace　would　present　tomorrow。　As　I　dozed　off　I　was　wagering　with　myself　that　she　would　wear　something　straight　and　simple　and　white；　and　that　her　hair　would　be　unbound。
　　　　　　　I　never　got　to　find　out。　It　seemed　but　moments　later　that　I　was　shaken　awake。　I　opened　my　eyes　to　find　Charim　crouched　over　me。　A　dim　light　from　a　lit　candle　made　elongated　shadows　on　the　chamber　walls。　〃Wake　up；　Fitz；〃　he　whispered　hoarsely。　〃A　runner's　e　to　the　keep；　from　Lady　Thyme。　She　requires　you　immediately。　Your　horse　is　being　made　ready。〃
　　　　　　　〃Me？〃　I　asked　stupidly。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course。　I've　laid　out　clothes　for　you。　Dress　quietly。　Verity　is　still　asleep。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　does　she　need　me　for？〃
　　　　　　　〃Why；　I　don't　know。　The　message　wasn't　specific。　Perhaps　she's　taken　ill。　Fitz。　The　runner　said　only　that　she　required　you　immediately。　I　suppose　you'll　find　out　when　you　get　there。〃
　　　　　　　That　was　slim　fort。　But　it　was　enough　to　stir　curiosity　in　me；　and　in　any　case；　I　had　to　go。　I　didn't　know　exactly　what　relation　Lady　Thyme　was　to　the　King；　but　she　was　far　above　me　in　importance。　I　didn't　dare　ignore　her　mand。　I　dressed　quickly　by　candlelight　and　left　my　room　for　the　second　time　that　night。　Hands　had　Sooty　saddled　and　ready；　along　with　a　ribald　jest　or　two　about　my　summons。　I　suggested　how　he　might　amuse　himself　the　rest　of　the　night　and　then　left。　I　was　waved　out　of　the　keep　and　through　the　fortifications　by　guards　who　had　been　advised　of　my　ing。
　　　　　　　I　turned　wrong　twice　in　the　town。　It　all　appeared　different　by　night；　and　I　had　not　paid　much　attention　to　where　I　had　been　going　earlier。　At　last　I　found　the　inn　yard。　A