rh.theassassinsapprentice-第43部分

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　out　at　her　or　soil　the　carpets。　I　could　tell　that　it　afforded　Lacey　much　amusement。
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　I　already　knew　that；　you　see；　because　I　was　the　one　who　had　asked　the　King　that　you　be　sent　here；〃　Lady　Patience　explained　carefully　to　me。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　ma'am。〃　I　shifted　on　my　bit　of　seat　space　and　tried　to　look　intelligent　and　well　mannered。　Recalling　the　earlier　times　we　had　met；　I　could　scarcely　blame　her　for　treating　me　like　a　dolt。
　　　　　　　A　silence　fell。　I　looked　around　at　things　in　the　room。　Lady　Patience　looked　toward　a　window。　Lacey　sat　and　smirked　to　herself　and　pretended　to　be　tatting　lace。
　　　　　　　〃Oh。　Here。〃　Swift　as　a　diving　hawk；　Lady　Patience　stooped　down　and　seized　the　black　terrier　pup　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck。　He　yelped　in　surprise；　and　his　mother　looked　up　in　annoyance　as　Lady　Patience　thrust　him　into　my　arms。　〃This　one's　for　you。　He's　yours　now。　Every　boy　should　have　a　pet。〃
　　　　　　　I　caught　the　squirming　puppy　and　managed　to　support　his　body　before　she　let　go　of　him。　〃Or　maybe　you'd　rather　have　a　bird？　I　have　a　cage　of　finches　in　my　bedchamber。　You　could　have　one　of　them；　if　you'd　rather。〃
　　　　　　　〃Uh；　no。　A　puppy's　fine。　A　puppy　is　wonderful。〃　The　second　half　of　the　statement　was　made　to　the　pup。　My　instinctive　response　to　his　high…pitched　yi…yi…yi　had　been　to　quest　out　to　him　with　calm。　His　mother　had　sensed　my　contact　with　him　and　approved。　She　settled　back　into　her　basket　with　the　white　pup　with　blithe　unconcern。　The　puppy　looked　up　at　me　and　met　my　eyes　directly。　This；　in　my　experience；　was　rather　unusual。　Most　dogs　avoided　prolonged　direct　eye　contact。　But　also　unusual　was　his　awareness。　I　knew　from　surreptitious　experiments　in　the　stable　that　most　puppies　his　age　had　little　more　than　fuzzy　self…awareness；　and　were　mostly　tuned　to　mother　and　milk　and　immediate　needs。　This　little　fellow　had　a　solidly　established　identity　within　himself；　and　a　deep　interest　in　all　that　was　going　on　around　him。　He　liked　Lacey；　who　fed　him　bits　of　meat；　and　was　wary　of　Patience；　not　because　she　was　cruel；　but　because　she　stumbled　over　him　and　kept　putting　him　back　in　the　basket　each　time　he　laboriously　clambered　out。　He　thought　I　smelled　very　exciting；　and　the　scents　of　horses　and　birds　and　other　dogs　were　like　colors　in　his　mind；　images　of　things　that　as　yet　had　no　shape　or　reality　for　him；　but　that　he　nonetheless　found　fascinating。　I　imaged　the　scents　for　him　and　he　climbed　my　chest；　wriggling；　sniffing　and　licking　me　in　his　excitement。　Take　me；　show　me；　take　me。
　　　　　　　〃。。。　even　listening？〃
　　　　　　　I　winced；　expecting　a　rap　from　Burrich；　then　came　back　to　awareness　of　where　I　was　and　of　the　small　woman　standing　before　me　with　her　hands　on　her　hips。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　something's　wrong　with　him；〃　she　abruptly　observed　to　Lacey。　〃Did　you　see　how　he　was　sitting　there；　staring　at　the　puppy？　I　thought　he　was　about　to　go　off　into　some　sort　of　fit。〃
　　　　　　　Lacey　smiled　benignly　and　went　on　with　her　tatting。　〃Fair　reminded　me　of　you；　lady；　when　you　start　pottering　about　with　your　leaves　and　bits　of　plants　and　end　up　staring　at　the　dirt。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　said　Patience；　clearly　displeased。　〃It　is　quite　one　thing　for　an　adult　to　be　pensive；〃　she　observed　firmly；　〃and　another　for　a　boy　to　stand　about　looking　daft。〃
　　　　　　　Later；　I　promised　the　pup。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　I　said；　and　tried　to　look　repentant。　〃I　was　just　distracted　by　the　puppy。〃　He　had　cuddled　into　the　crook　of　my　arm　and　was　casually　chewing　the　edge　of　my　jerkin。　It　is　difficult　to　explain　what　I　felt。　I　needed　to　pay　attention　to　Lady　Patience；　but　this　small　being　snuggled　against　me　was　radiating　delight　and　contentment。　It　is　a　heady　thing　to　be　suddenly　proclaimed　the　center　of　someone's　world；　even　if　that　someone　is　an　eight…week…old　puppy。　It　made　me　realize　how　profoundly　alone　I　had　felt；　and　for　how　long。　〃Thank　you；〃　I　said；　and　even　I　was　surprised　at　the　gratitude　in　my　voice。　〃Thank　you　very　much。〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　just　a　puppy；〃　Lady　Patience　said；　and　to　my　surprise　she　looked　almost　ashamed。　She　turned　aside　and　stared　out　the　window。　The　puppy　licked　his　nose　and　closed　his　eyes。　Warm。　Sleep。　〃Tell　me　about　yourself；〃　she　demanded　abruptly。
　　　　　　　It　took　me　aback。　〃What　would　you　like　to　know；　lady？〃
　　　　　　　She　made　a　small　frustrated　gesture。　〃What　do　you　do　each　day？　What　have　you　been　taught？〃
　　　　　　　So　I　attempted　to　tell　her；　but　I　could　see　it　didn't　satisfy　her。　She　folded　her　lips　tightly　at　each　mention　of　Burrich's　name。　She　wasn't　impressed　with　any　of　my　martial　training。　Of　Chade；　I　could　say　nothing。　She　nodded　in　grudging　approval　at　my　study　of　languages；　writing；　and　ciphering。
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　she　interrupted　suddenly。　〃At　least　you're　not　totally　ignorant。　If　you　can　read；　you　can　learn　anything。　If　you've　a　will　to。　Have　you　a　will　to　learn？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　so。〃　It　was　a　lukewarm　answer；　but　I　was　beginning　to　feel　badgered。　Not　even　the　gift　of　the　puppy　could　outweigh　her　belittlement　of　my　learning。
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　you　will　learn；　then。　For　I　have　a　will　that　you　will；　even　if　you　do　not　yet。〃　She　was　suddenly　stern；　in　a　shifting　of　attitude　that　left　me　bewildered。　〃And　what　do　they　call　you；　boy？〃
　　　　　　　The　question　again。　〃Boy　is　fine；〃　I　muttered。　The　sleeping　puppy　in　my　arms　whimpered　in　agitation。　I　forced　myself　to　be　calm　for　him。
　　　　　　　I　had　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　a　stricken　look　flit　briefly　across　Patience's　face。　〃I　shall　call　you；　oh；　Thomas。　Tom　for　every　day。　Does　that　suit　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　so；〃　I　said　deliberately。　Burrich　gave　more　thought　to　naming　a　dog　than　that。　We　had　no　Blackies　or　Spots　in　the　stables。　Burrich　named　each　beast　as　if　they　were　royalty；　with　names　that　described　them　or　traits　he　aspired　to　for　them。　Even　Sooty's　name　masked　a　gentle　fire　I　had　e　to　respect。　But　this　woman　named　me　Tom　after　no　more　than　an　indrawn　breath。　I　looked　down　so　she　couldn't　see　my　eyes。
　　　　　　　〃Fine；　then；〃　she　said；　a　trifle　briskly。　〃e　tomorrow　at　the　same　time。　I　shall　have　some　things　ready　for　you。　I　warn　you；　I　shall　expect　willing　effort　from　you。　Good　day；　Tom。〃
　　　　　　　〃Good　day；　lady。〃
　　　　　　　I　turned　and　left。　Lacey's　eyes　followed　me；　and　then　darted　back　to　her　mistress。　I　sensed　her　disappointment；　but　did　not　know　what　it　was　about。
　　　　　　　It　was　still　early　in　the　day。　This　first　audience　had　taken　less　than　an　hour。　I　wasn't　expected　anywhere；　this　time　was　my　own。　I　headed　for　the　kitchens；　to　wheedle　scraps　for　my　pup。　It　would　have　been　easy　to　take　him　down　to　the　stables；　but　then　Burrich　would　have　known　about　him。　I　had　no　illusions　about　what　would　happen　next。　The　pup　would　stay　in　the　stables。　He　would　be　nominally　mine；　but　Burrich　would　see　that　this　new　bond　was　severed。　I　had　no　intention　of　allowing　that　to　happen。
　　　　　　　I　made　my　plans。　A　basket　from　the　launderers；　an　old　shirt　over　straw　for　his　bed。　His　messes　now　would　be　small；　and　as　he　got　older　my　bond　with　him　would　make　him　easy　to　train。　For　now；　he'd　have　to　stay　by　himself　for　part　of　each　day。　But　as　he　got　older　he　could　go　about　with　me。　Eventually；　Burrich　would　find　out　about　him。　I　resolutely　pushed　that　thought　aside。　I'd　deal　with　that　later。　For　now；　he　needed　a　name。　I　looked　him　over。　He　was　not　the　curly…haired　yappy　type　of　terrier。　He　would　have　a　short　smooth　coat；　a　thick　neck；　and　a　mouth　like　a　coal　scuttle。　But　grown；　he'd　be　less　than　knee　high；　so　it　couldn't　be　too　weighty　of　a　name。　I　didn't　want　him　to　be　a　fighter。　So　no　Ripper　or　Charger。　He　would　be　tenacious；　and　alert。　Grip；　maybe。　Or　Sentry。
　　　　　　　〃Or　Anvil。　Or　Forge。〃
　　　　　　　I　looked　up。　The　Fool　stepped　out　of　an　alcove　and　followed　me　down　the　hall。
　　　　　　　〃Why？〃　I　asked。　I　no　longer　questioned　the　way　the　Fool　could　guess　what　I　was　thinking。
　　　　　　　〃Because　your　heart　will　be　hammered　against　him；　and　your　strength　will　be　tempered　in　his　fire。〃
　　　　　　　〃Sounds　a　bit　dramatic　to　me；〃　I　objected。　〃And　Forge　is　a　bad　word　now。　I　don't　want　to　mark　my　pup　with　it。　Just　the　other　day；　down　in　town；　I　heard　a　drunk　yell　at　a　cutpurse；　'May　your　woman　be　Forged。'　Everyone　in　the　street　stopped　and　stared。〃
　　　　　　　The　Fool　shrugged。　〃Well　they　might。〃　He　followed　me　into　my　room。　〃Smith；　then。　Or　Smithy。　Let　me　see　him？〃
　　　　　　　Reluctantly　I　gave　over　my　puppy。　He　stirred；　awakened；　and　then　wiggled　in　the　Fool's　hands。　No　smell；　no　smell。　I　was　astonished　to　agree　with　the　pup。　Even　with　his　little　black　nose　working　for　me；　the　Fool　had　no　detectable　scent。　〃Careful。　Don't　drop　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　a　fool；　not　a　dolt；〃　said　the　Fool；　but　he　sat　on　my　bed　and　put　the　pup　beside　him。　Smithy　instantly　began　snuffling　and　rucking　my　bed。　I　sat　on　the　other　side　of　him　lest　he　venture　too　near　the　edge。
　　　　　　　〃So；〃　the　Fool　asked　casually；　〃are　you　going　to　let　her　buy　you　with　gifts？〃
　　　　　　　〃Why　not？〃　I　tried　to　be　disdainful。
　　　　　　　〃It　would　be　a　mistake；　for　both　of　you。〃　The　Fool　tweaked　Smithy's　tiny　tail；　and　he　spun　'round　with　a　puppy　growl。　〃She's　going　to　want　to　give　you　things。　You'll　have　to　take　them；　for　there's　no　polite　way　to　refuse。　But　you'll　have　to　decide　whether　they'll　make　a　bridge　between　you；　or　a　wall。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　know　Chade？〃　I　asked　abruptly；　for　the　Fool　sounded　so　like　him　I　suddenly　had　to　know。　I　had　never　mentioned　Chade　to　anyone　else；　save　Shrewd；　nor　heard　talk　of　him　from　anyone　around　the　keep。
　　　　　　　〃Shade　or　sunlight；　I　know　when　to　keep　a　grip　on　my　tongue。　It　would　be　a　good　thing　for　you　to　learn　as　well。〃　The　Fool　rose　suddenly　and　went　to　the　door。　He　lingered　there　a　moment。　〃She　only　hated　you　for　the　first　few　months。　And　it　wasn't　truly　hate　of　you；　it　was　blind　jealousy　of　your　mother；　that　she　could　bear　a　babe　to　Chivalry；　but　Patience　could　not。　After　that；　her　heart　softened。　She　wanted　to　send　for　you；　to　raise　you　as　her　own。　Some　might　say　she　merely　wanted　to　possess　anything　that　touched　Chivalry。　But　I　don't　think　so。〃
　　　　　　　I　was　staring　at　the　Fool。
　　　　　　　〃You　look　like　a　fish；　with　your　mouth　open　like　that；〃　he　observed。　〃But　of　course；　your　father　refused。　He　said　it　might　appear　he　was　formally　acknowledging　his　bastard。　But　I　don't　think　that　was　it　at　all。　I　think　it　would　have　been　dangerous　for　you。〃　The　Fool　made　an　odd　pass　with　his　h