rh.theassassinsapprentice-第38部分

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　a　dog　or　cat　lurking。
　　　　　　　〃There's　nothing　here！〃　he　exclaimed。
　　　　　　　〃Just　manure　and　straw；〃　I　agreed；　rubbing　the　back　of　my　head。
　　　　　　　〃Then　what　were　you　doing？〃
　　　　　　　〃Daydreaming；〃　I　muttered。　〃That　was　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　can't　fool　me；　Fitz；〃　he　growled。　〃And　I　won't　have　it。　Not　in　my　stables。　You　won't　pervert　my　beasts　that　way。　Or　degrade　Chivalry's　blood。　Mind　what　I've　told　you。
　　　　　　　I　clenched　my　jaws　and　lowered　my　eyes　and　kept　on　working。　After　a　time　I　heard　him　sigh　and　move　away。　I　went　on　raking；　inwardly　seething　and　resolving　never　to　let　Burrich　e　up　on　me　unawares　again。
　　　　　　　The　rest　of　that　summer　was　such　a　whirlpool　of　events　that　I　find　it　hard　to　recall　their　progression。　Overnight；　the　very　feeling　of　the　air　seemed　to　change。　When　I　went　into　town；　all　of　the　talk　was　of　fortifications　and　readiness。　Only　two　more　towns　were　Forged　that　summer；　but　it　seemed　a　hundred；　for　the　stories　of　it　were　repeated　and　enlarged　from　lip　to　lip。
　　　　　　　〃Until　it　seems　as　if　that　is　all　folk　talk　about　anymore；〃　Molly　plained　to　me。
　　　　　　　We　were　walking　on　Long　Beach；　in　the　light　of　the　summer　evening　sun。　The　wind　off　the　water　was　a　wele　bit　of　cool　after　a　muggy　day。　Burrich　had　been　called　away　to　Springmouth　to　see　if　he　could　figure　out　why　all　the　cattle　there　were　developing　huge　hide　sores。　It　meant　no　morning　lessons　for　me；　but　many；　many　more　chores　with　the　horses　and　hounds　in　his　absence；　especially　as　Cob　had　gone　to　Turlake　with　Regal；　to　manage　his　horses　and　hounds　for　a　summer　hunt。
　　　　　　　But　the　opposite　weight　of　the　balance　was　that　my　evenings　were　less　supervised；　and　I　had　more　time　to　visit　town。
　　　　　　　My　evening　walks　with　Molly　were　almost　a　routine　now。　Her　father's　health　was　failing　and　he　scarcely　needed　to　drink　to　fall　into　an　early　and　deep　sleep　each　night。　Molly　would　pack　a　bit　of　cheese　and　sausage　for　us；　or　a　small　loaf　and　some　smoked　fish；　and　we　would　take　a　basket　and　a　bottle　of　cheap　wine　and　walk　out　down　the　beach　to　the　breakwater　rocks。　There　we　would　sit　on　the　rocks　as　they　gave　up　the　last　heat　of　the　day；　and　Molly　would　tell　me　about　her　day's　work　and　the　day's　gossip　and　I　would　listen。　Sometimes　our　elbows　bumped　as　we　walked。
　　　　　　　〃Sara；　the　butcher's　daughter；　told　me　that　she　positively　yearns　for　winter　to　e。　The　winds　and　ice　will　beat　the　Red…Ships　back　to　their　own　shores　for　a　bit；　and　give　us　a　rest　from　fear；　she　says。　But　then　Kelty　up　and　says　that　maybe　we'll　be　able　to　stop　fearing　more　Forging；　but　that　we'll　still　have　to　fear　the　Forged　folk　that　are　loose　in　our　land。　Rumor　says　that　some　from　Forge　have　left　there；　now　that　there's　nothing　left　for　them　to　steal；　and　that　they　travel　about　as　bandits；　robbing　travelers。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　doubt　it。　More　than　likely　it's　other　folk　doing　the　robbing；　but　trying　to　pass　themselves　off　as　Forged　folk　to　send　revenge　looking　elsewhere。　Forged　folk　don't　have　enough　kinship　left　in　them　to　be　a　band　of　anything；〃　I　contradicted　her　lazily。　I　was　looking　out　across　the　bay；　my　eyes　almost　closed　against　the　glare　of　the　sun　on　the　water。　I　didn't　have　to　look　at　Molly　to　feel　her　there　beside　me。　It　was　an　interesting　tension；　one　I　didn't　fully　understand。　She　was　sixteen；　and　I　about　fourteen；　and　those　two　years　loomed　between　us　like　an　insurmountable　wall。　Yet　she　always　made　time　for　me　and　seemed　to　enjoy　my　pany。　She　seemed　as　aware　of　me　as　I　was　of　her。　But　if　I　quested　toward　her　at　all；　she　would　draw　back；　halting　to　shake　a　pebble　from　her　shoe　or　suddenly　speaking　of　her　father's　illness　and　how　much　he　needed　her。　Yet　if　I　drew　my　sensings　back　from　that　tension；　she　became　uncertain　and　shyer　of　speech；　and　would　try　to　look　at　my　face　and　the　set　of　my　mouth　and　eyes。　I　didn't　understand　it；　but　it　was　as　if　we　held　a　string　taut　between　us。　But　now　I　heard　an　edge　of　annoyance　in　her　speech。
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　I　see。　And　you　know　so　much　of　Forged　folk；　do　you；　more　than　those　who　have　been　robbed　by　them？〃
　　　　　　　Her　tart　words　caught　me　off　balance　and　it　was　a　moment　or　two　before　I　could　speak。　Molly　knew　nothing　of　Chade　and　me；　let　alone　of　my　side　trip　with　him　to　Forge。　To　her；　I　was　an　errand　boy　for　the　keep；　working　for　the　stablemaster　when　I　wasn't　fetching　for　the　scribe。　I　couldn't　betray　my　firsthand　knowledge；　let　alone　how　I　had　sensed　what　Forging　was。
　　　　　　　〃I've　heard　the　talk　of　the　guards；　when　they're　around　the　stables　and　kitchens　at　night。　Soldiers　like　them　have　seen　much　of　all　kinds　of　folk；　and　they're　the　ones　who　say　that　the　Forged　ones　have　no　friendships；　no　family；　no　kinship　ties　at　all　left。　Still；　I　suppose　if　one　of　them　took　to　robbing　travelers；　others　would　copy　him；　and　it　would　be　almost　the　same　as　a　band　of　robbers。〃
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps。〃　She　seemed　mollified　by　my　ments。　〃Look；　let's　climb　up　there　to　eat。〃
　　　　　　　〃Up　there〃　was　a　shelf　on　the　cliff's　edge　rather　than　the　breakwater。　But　I　assented　with　a　nod；　and　the　next　handful　of　minutes　were　spent　in　getting　ourselves　and　our　basket　up　there。　It　required　more　arduous　climbing　than　our　earlier　expeditions　had。　I　caught　myself　watching　to　see　how　Molly　would　manage　her　skirts；　and　taking　opportunities　to　catch　at　her　arm　to　balance　her；　or　take　her　hand　to　help　her　up　a　steep　bit　while　she　kept　hold　of　the　basket。　In　a　flash　of　insight　I　knew　that　Molly's　suggestion　that　we　climb　had　been　her　way　of　manipulating　the　situation　to　cause　this。　We　finally　gained　the　ledge　and　sat；　looking　out　over　the　water　with　her　basket　between　us；　and　I　was　savoring　my　awareness　of　her　awareness　of　me。　It　reminded　me　of　the　clubs　of　the　Springfest　jugglers　as　they　handed　them　back　and　forth；　back　and　forth；　more　and　more　and　faster　and　faster。　The　silence　lasted　until　a　time　when　one　of　us　had　to　speak。　I　looked　at　her；　but　she　looked　aside。　She　looked　into　the　basket　and　said；　〃Oh；　dandelion　wine？　I　thought　that　wasn't　any　good　until　after　midwinter。〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　last　year's　。。。　it's　had　a　winter　to　age；〃　I　told　her；　and　took　it　from　her　to　work　the　cork　loose　with　my　knife。　She　watched　me　worry　at　it　for　a　while；　and　then　took　it　from　me；　and　drawing　her　own　slender　sheath　knife；　she　speared　and　twisted　it　out　with　a　practiced　knack　that　I　envied。
　　　　　　　She　caught　my　look　and　shrugged。　〃I've　been　pulling　corks　for　my　father　for　as　long　as　I　can　remember。　It　used　to　be　because　he　was　too　drunk。　Now　he　doesn't　have　the　strength　in　his　hands　anymore；　even　when　he's　sober。〃　Pain　and　bitterness　mingled　in　her　words。
　　　　　　　〃Ah。〃　I　floundered　for　a　more　pleasant　topic。　〃Look；　the　Rainmaiden。〃　I　pointed　out　over　the　water　to　a　sleek　hulled　ship　ing　into　the　harbor　under　oars。　〃I've　always　thought　her　the　most　beautiful　ship　in　the　harbor。〃
　　　　　　　〃She's　been　on　patrol。　The　cloth　merchants　took　up　a　collection。　Almost　every　merchant　in　town　contributed。　Even　I；　although　all　I　could　spare　was　candles　for　her　lanterns。　She's　manned　with　fighters　now；　and　escorts　the　ships　between　here　and　Highdowns。　The　Greenspray　meets　them　there　and　takes　them　farther　up　the　coast。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　hadn't　heard　that。〃　And　it　surprised　me　that　I　had　not　heard　such　a　thing　up　in　the　keep　itself。　My　heart　sank　in　me；　that　even　Buckkeep　Town　was　taking　measures　independent　of　the　King's　advice　or　consent。　I　said　as　much。
　　　　　　　〃Well；　folk　have　to　do　whatever　they　can　if　all　King　Shrewd　is　going　to　do　is　click　his　tongue　and　frown　about　it。　It's　well　enough　for　him　to　bid　us　to　be　strong　when　he　sits　secure　up　in　his　castle。　It　isn't　as　if　his　son　or　brother　or　little　girl　will　be　Forged。〃
　　　　　　　It　shamed　me　that　I　could　think　of　nothing　to　say　in　my　king's　defense。　And　shame　stung　me　to　say；　〃Well；　you're　almost　as　safe　as　the　King　himself；　living　here　below　in　Buckkeep　Town。〃
　　　　　　　Molly　looked　at　me　levelly。　〃I　had　a　cousin；　apprenticed　out　in　Forge　Town。〃　She　paused；　then　said　carefully；　〃Will　you　think　me　cold　when　I　say　that　we　were　relieved　to　hear　he　had　only　been　killed？　It　was　uncertain　for　a　week　or　so；　but　finally　we　had　word　from　one　who　had　seen　him　die。　And　my　father　and　I　were　both　relieved。　We　could　grieve；　knowing　that　his　life　was　simply　over　and　we　would　miss　him。　We　no　longer　had　to　wonder　if　he　was　still　alive　and　behaving　like　a　beast；　causing　misery　to　others　and　shame　to　himself。〃
　　　　　　　I　was　silent　for　a　bit。　Then：　〃I'm　sorry。〃　It　seemed　inadequate；　and　I　reached　out　to　pat　her　motionless　hand。　For　a　second　it　was　almost　as　if　I　couldn't　feel　her　there；　as　if　her　pain　had　shocked　her　into　an　emotional　numbness　the　equal　of　a　Forged　one。　But　then　she　sighed　and　I　felt　her　presence　again　beside　me。　〃You　know；〃　I　ventured；　〃perhaps　the　King　himself　does　not　know　what　to　do　either。　Perhaps　he　is　at　as　great　a　loss　for　a　solution　as　we　are。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　is　the　King！〃　Molly　protested。　〃And　named　Shrewd　to　be　shrewd。　Folk　are　saying　now　he　but　holds　back　to　keep　the　strings　of　his　purse　tight。　Why　should　he　pay　out　of　his　hoard　when　desperate　merchants　will　hire　mercenaries　of　their　own？　But；　enough　of　this　。。。〃　and　she　held　up　a　hand　to　stop　my　words。　〃This　is　not　why　we　came　out　here　into　the　peace　and　coolness；　to　talk　of　politics　and　fears。　Tell　me　instead　of　what　you've　been　doing。　Has　the　speckled　bitch　had　her　pups　yet？〃
　　　　　　　And　so　we　spoke　of　other　things；　of　Motley's　puppies　and　of　the　wrong　stallion　getting　at　a　mare　in　season；　and　then　she　told　me　of　gathering　greencones　to　scent　her　candles　and　picking　blackberries；　and　how　busy　she　would　be　for　the　next　week；　trying　to　make　blackberry　preserves　for　the　winter　while　still　tending　the　shop　and　making　candles。
　　　　　　　We　talked　and　ate　and　drank　and　watched　the　late　sun　of　summer　as　it　lingered　low　on　the　horizon；　almost　but　not　quite　setting。　I　felt　the　tension　as　a　pleasant　thing　between　us；　as　a　suspension　and　a　wonder　both。　I　viewed　it　as　an　extension　of　my　strange　new　sense；　and　so　I　marveled　that　Molly　seemed　to　feel　and　react　to　it　as　well。　I　wanted　to　speak　to　her　about　it；　to　ask　her　if　she　was　aware　of　other　folk　in　a　similar　way。　But　I　feared　that　if　I　asked　her；　I　might　reveal　myself　as　I　had　to　Chade；　or　that　she　might　be　disgusted　by　it　as　I　knew　Burrich　would　be。　So　I　smiled；　and　we　talked；　and　I　kept