rh.theassassinsapprentice-第37部分

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　　　　　　　But　Verity　himself；　I　knew；　had　no　time　to　think　about　well…warmed　beds；　or　any　sort　of　bed　at　all。　Forge　had　been　both　an　example　and　a　threat。　Word　of　others　followed；　three　in　swift　succession。　Croft；　up　in　the　Near　Islands；　had　apparently　been　〃Raider…Forged〃　as　it　came　to　be　known；　some　weeks　earlier。　Word　was　slow　to　e　from　icy　shores；　but　when　it　came；　it　was　grim。　Croft　folk；　too；　had　been　taken　hostage。　The　council　of　the　town　had；　like　Shrewd；　been　mystified　by　the　Red…Ships'　ultimatum　that　they　pay　tribute　or　their　hostages　would　be　returned。　They　had　not　paid。　And　like　Forge；　their　hostages　had　been　returned；　mostly　sound　of　body；　but　bereft　of　any　of　the　kinder　emotions　of　humanity。　The　whispered　word　was　that　Croft　had　been　more　direct　in　their　solution。　The　harsh　climates　of　the　Near　Islands　bred　a　harsh　people。　Yet　even　they　had　deemed　it　kindness　when　they　took　the　sword　to　their　now　heartless　kin。
　　　　　　　Two　other　villages　were　raided　after　Forge。　At　Rockgate　the　folk　had　paid　the　ransom。　Parts　of　bodies　had　washed　up　the　next　day；　and　the　village　had　gathered　to　bury　them。　The　news　came　to　Buckkeep　with　no　apologies；　only　with　the　unvoiced　assumption　that　had　the　King　been　more　vigilant；　they　would　have　had　warning　of　the　raid　at　least。
　　　　　　　Sheepmire　met　the　challenge　squarely。　They　refused　to　pay　the　tribute；　but　with　the　rumors　of　Forge　running　hot　through　the　land；　they　prepared　themselves。　They　had　met　their　returned　hostages　with　halters　and　shackles。　They　took　their　own　folk　back；　clubbing　them　senseless　in　some　cases；　before　tying　them　and　taking　them　back　into　their　rightful　homes。　The　village　was　united　in　attempting　to　bring　them　back　to　their　former　selves。　The　tales　from　Sheepmire　were　the　most　told　ones；　of　a　mother　who　snapped　at　a　child　brought　to　her　for　nursing；　declaring　as　she　cursed　at　it　that　she　had　no　use　for　the　whimpering；　wet　creature。　Of　the　little　child　who　cried　and　screamed　at　his　bonds；　only　to　fly　at　his　own　father　with　a　toasting　fork　as　soon　as　the　heartbroken　sire　released　him。　Some　cursed　and　fought　and　spat　at　their　kin。　Others　settled　into　a　life　of　bondage　and　idleness；　eating　the　food　and　drinking　the　ale　set　before　them；　but　offering　no　words　of　thanks　or　affection。　Freed　of　restraints；　those　ones　did　not　attack　their　own　families；　but　neither　did　they　work；　nor　even　join　with　them　in　their　evening　pastimes。　They　stole　without　remorse；　even　from　their　own　children；　and　squandered　coin　and　gobbled　food　like　gluttons。　No　joy　they　gave　to　anyone；　not　even　a　kind　word。　But　the　word　from　Sheepmire　was　that　the　folk　there　intended　to　persevere　until　the　〃Red…Ship　sickness〃　passed。　That　gave　the　nobles　at　Buckkeep　a　bit　of　hope　to　cling　to。　They　spoke　of　the　courage　of　the　villagers　with　admiration　and　vowed　that　they；　too；　would　do　the　same；　if　kin…of　theirs　were　Raider…Forged。
　　　　　　　Sheepmire　and　its　brave　inhabitants　became　a　rallying　point　for　the　Six　Duchies。　King　Shrewd　levied　more　taxes　in　their　name。　Some　went　to　provide　grain　for　those　so　occupied　with　caring　for　bound　kin　that　they　had　no　time　to　rebuild　their　ravaged　flocks　or　replant　their　burned　fields。　And　some　went　to　build　more　ships　and　hire　more　men　to　patrol　the　coastlines。
　　　　　　　At　first　folk　took　pride　in　what　they　would　do。　Those　who　lived　on　the　sea　cliffs　began　to　keep　volunteer　watch。　Runners　and　messenger　birds　and　signal　fires　were　kept　in　place。　Some　villages　sent　sheep　and　supplies　to　Sheepmire；　to　be　given　to　those　who　needed　help　most。　But　as　the　long　weeks　passed　and　there　was　no　sign　that　any　of　the　returned　hostages　had　recovered　their　sensibilities；　those　hopes　and　devotions　began　to　seem　pathetic　rather　than　noble。　Those　who　had　most　supported　these　efforts　now　declared　that；　were　they　taken　hostage；　they　would　choose　to　be　hacked　to　pieces　and　thrown　into　the　sea　rather　than　returned　to　cause　their　families　such　hardship　and　heartbreak。
　　　　　　　Worst；　I　think；　was　that　in　such　a　time　the　throne　itself　had　no　firm　idea　of　what　to　do。　Had　a　royal　edict　been　issued；　to　say　either　that　folk　must　or　must　not　pay　the　demanded　tribute　for　hostages；　it　would　have　gone　better。　No　matter　which；　some　folk　would　have　disagreed。　But　at　least　the　King　would　have　taken　a　stand；　and　people　would　have　had　some　sense　that　this　threat　was　being　faced。　Instead；　the　increased　patrols　and　watches　only　made　it　seem　that　Buckkeep　itself　was　in　terror　of　this　new　threat；　but　had　no　strategy　for　facing　it。　In　the　absence　of　royal　edict；　the　coastal　villages　took　things　into　their　own　hands。　The　councils　met；　to　decide　what　they　would　do　if　Forged。　And　some　decided　one　way；　and　some　the　other。
　　　　　　　〃But　in　every　case；〃　Chade　told　me　wearily；　〃it　matters　not　what　they　decide；　it　weakens　their　loyalty　to　the　kingdom。　Whether　they　pay　the　tribute　or　not；　the　Raiders　may　laugh　over　their　blood　ale　at　us。　For　in　deciding；　our　villagers　are　saying　in　their　minds；　not　'if　we　are　Forged'　but　'when　we　are　Forged。'　And　thus　they　have　already　been　raped　in　spirit；　if　not　in　flesh。　They　look　at　their　kin；　mother　at　child；　man　at　parents；　and　already　they　have　given　them　up　to　death　or　Forging。　And　the　kingdom　fails；　for　as　each　town　must　decide　alone；　so　it　is　separated　from　the　whole。　We　will　shatter　into　a　thousand　little　townships；　each　worrying　only　about　what　it　will　do　for　itself　if　it　is　raided。　If　Shrewd　and　Verity　do　not　act　quickly；　the　kingdom　will　bee　a　thing　that　exists　only　in　name；　and　in　the　minds　of　its　former　rulers。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　what　can　they　do？〃　I　demanded。　〃No　matter　what　edict　is　passed；　it　will　be　wrong。〃　I　picked　up　the　tongs　and　pushed　the　crucible　I　was　tending　a　bit　deeper　into　the　flames。
　　　　　　　〃Sometimes；〃　grumbled　Chade；　〃it　is　better　to　be　defiantly　wrong　than　silent。　Look；　boy；　if　you；　a　mere　lad；　can　realize　that　either　decision　is　wrong；　so　can　all　folk。　But　at　least　such　an　edict　would　give　us　a　mon　response。　It　would　not　be　as　if　each　village　were　left　to　lick　its　own　wounds。　And　in　addition　to　such　an　edict；　Shrewd　and　Verity　should　take　other　actions。〃　He　leaned　closer　to　peer　at　the　bubbling　liquid。　〃More　heat；〃　he　suggested。
　　　　　　　I　picked　up　a　small　bellows；　plied　it　carefully。　〃Such　as？〃
　　　　　　　〃Organize　raids　on　the　Outislanders　in　return。　Provide　vessels　and　supplies　to　any　willing　to　undertake　such　a　raid。　Forbid　that　herds　and　flocks　be　grazed　so　temptingly　on　the　coast　pastures。　Supply　more　arms　to　the　villages　if　we　cannot　give　each　one　men　to　protect　it。　By　Eda's　plow；　give　them　pellets　of　carris　seed　and　nightshade　to　carry　in　pouches　about　their　wrists　so　that　if　they　are　captured　in　a　raid；　they　can　take　their　own　lives　instead　of　being　hostages。　Anything；　boy。　Anything　the　King　did　at　this　point　would　be　better　than　this　damn　indecisiveness。〃
　　　　　　　I　sat　staring　at　Chade。　I　had　never　heard　him　speak　so　forcefully；　nor　had　I　ever　known　him　to　criticize　Shrewd　so　openly。　It　shocked　me。　I　held　my　breath；　hoping　he'd　say　more　but　almost　fearful　of　what　I　might　hear。　He　seemed　unaware　of　my　stare。　〃Poke　that　a　bit　deeper。　But　be　careful。　If　it　explodes；　King　Shrewd　may　have　himself　two　pocked　men　instead　of　one。〃　He　glanced　at　me。　〃Yes；　that's　how　I　was　marked。　But　it　might　have　well　and　truly　been　a　pox；　for　how　Shrewd　hears　me　lately。　'Ill　omens　and　warnings　and　cautions　fill　you；'　he　said　to　me。　'But　I　think　you　want　the　boy　trained　in　the　Skill　simply　because　you　were　not。　It's　a　bad　ambition；　Chade。　Put　it　from　you。　There　speaks　the　Queen's　ghost　with　the　King's　tongue。〃
　　　　　　　Chade's　bitterness　filled　me　with　stillness。
　　　　　　　〃Chivalry。　That's　who　we　need　now；〃　he　went　on　after　a　moment。　〃Shrewd　holds　back；　and　Verity　is　a　good　soldier；　but　he　listens　to　his　father　too　much。　Verity　was　raised　to　be　second；　not　first。　He　does　not　take　the　initiative。　We　need　Chivalry。　He'd　go　into　those　towns；　talk　to　the　folk　who　have　lost　loved　ones　to　Forging。　Damn；　he'd　even　talk　to　the　Forged　ones　themselves　。。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　think　it　would　do　any　good？〃　I　asked　softly。　I　scarcely　dared　to　move。　I　sensed　that　Chade　was　talking　more　to　himself　than　to　me。
　　　　　　　〃It　wouldn't　solve　it；　no。　But　our　folk　would　have　a　sense　of　their　ruler's　involvement。　Sometimes　that's　all　it　takes；　boy。　But　all　Verity　does　is　march　his　toy　soldiers　about　and　weigh　strategies。　And　Shrewd　watches　it　happen；　and　thinks　not　of　his　people；　but　only　of　how　to　assure　that　Regal　can　be　kept　safe　and　yet　readied　in　power　should　Verity　manage　to　get　himself　killed。〃
　　　　　　　〃Regal？〃　I　blurted　in　amazement。　Regal；　with　his　pretty　clothes　and　cockerel　posturings？　Always　he　was　at　Shrewd's　heels；　but　never　had　I　thought　of　him　as　a　real　prince。　To　hear　his　name　e　up　in　such　a　discussion　jolted　me。
　　　　　　　〃He　has　bee　his　father's　favorite；〃　Chade　growled。　〃Shrewd　has　done　nothing　but　spoil　him　since　the　Queen　died。　He　tries　to　buy　the　boy's　heart　with　gifts；　now　that　his　mother　is　no　longer　around　to　claim　his　allegiance。　And　Regal　takes　full　advantage。　He　speaks　only　what　the　old　man　loves　to　hear。　And　Shrewd　gives　him　too　much　rein。　He　lets　him　wander　about；　squandering　coin　on　useless　visits　to　Farrow　and　Tilth；　where　his　mother's　people　fill　Regal　full　of　ideas　of　his　self…importance。　The　boy　should　be　kept　at　home　and　made　to　give　some　account　for　how　he　spends　his　time。　And　the　King's　money。　What　he　spends　gallivanting　about　would　have　outfitted　a　warship。〃　And　then；　suddenly　annoyed：　〃That's　too　hot！　You'll　lose　it；　fish　it　out　quickly。〃
　　　　　　　But　his　words　came　too　late；　for　the　crucible　cracked　with　a　noise　like　breaking　ice　and　its　contents　filled　Chade's　tower　room　with　an　acrid　smoke　that　brought　all　lessons　and　talk　to　an　end　for　that　night。
　　　　　　　I　was　not　soon　summoned　again。　My　other　lessons　went　on；　but　I　missed　Chade　as　the　weeks　passed　and　he　did　not　call　for　me。　I　knew　he　was　not　displeased　with　me；　but　only　preoccupied。　When；　idle　one　day；　I　pushed　my　awareness　toward　him；　I　felt　only　secrecy　and　discordance。　And　a　wallop　to　the　back　of　my　head　when　Burrich　caught　me　at　it。
　　　　　　　〃Stop　it；〃　he　hissed；　and　ignored　my　studied　look　of　shocked　innocence。　He　glanced　about　the　stall　I　was　mucking　out　as　if　he　expected　to　find　a　dog　or　cat　lurking。
　　　　　　　〃There's　nothing　here！