rh.theassassinsapprentice-第6部分

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　　　　　　　The　light　spread；　and　Burrich　seated　himself　on　a　wooden　chair　by　the　table。　He　looked　different；　dressed　in　fine　thin　cloth　of　brown　and　yellow；　with　a　bit　of　silver　chain　across　his　jerkin。　He　put　his　hand　out；　palm　up；　on　his　knee　and　Nosy　went　to　him　immediately。　Burrich　scratched　his　hanging　ears　and　then　thumped　his　ribs　affectionately；　grimacing　at　the　dust　that　rose　from　his　coat。　〃You're　a　fine　pair；　the　two　of　you；〃　he　said；　speaking　more　to　the　pup　than　to　me。　〃Look　at　you。　Filthy　as　beggars。　I　lied　to　my　king　today　for　you。　First　time　ever　in　my　life　I've　done　that。　Appears　as　if　Chivalry's　fall　from　grace　will　take　me　down　as　well。　Told　him　you　were　washed　up　and　sound　asleep；　exhausted　from　your　journey。　He　was　not　pleased　he　would　have　to　wait　to　see　you；　but　luckily　for　us；　he　had　weightier　things　to　handle。　Chivalry's　abdication　has　upset　a　lot　of　lords。　Some　are　seeing　it　as　a　chance　to　push　for　an　advantage；　and　others　are　disgruntled　to　be　cheated　of　a　king　they　admired。　Shrewd's　trying　to　calm　them　all。　He's　letting　it　be　noised　about　that　Verity　was　the　one　who　negotiated　with　the　Chyurda　this　time。　Those　as　will　believe　that　shouldn't　be　allowed　to　walk　about　on　their　own。　But　they　came；　to　look　at　Verity　anew；　and　wonder　if　and　when　he'd　be　their　next　king；　and　what　kind　of　a　king　he　would　be。　Chivalry's　dumping　it　over　and　leaving　for　Withywoods　has　stirred　all　the　Duchies　as　if　he'd　poked　a　stick　in　a　hive。〃
　　　　　　　Burrich　lifted　his　eyes　from　Nosy's　eager　face。　〃Well；　Fitz。　Guess　you　got　a　taste　of　it　today。　Fair　scared　poor　Cob　to　death；　your　running　off　like　that。　Now；　are　you　hurt？　Did　anyone　rough　you　up？　I　should　have　known　there　would　be　those　would　blame　all　the　stir　on　you。　e　here；　then。　e　on。〃
　　　　　　　When　I　hesitated；　he　moved　over　to　a　pallet　of　blankets　made　up　near　the　fire　and　patted　it　invitingly。　〃See。　There's　a　place　here　for　you；　all　ready。　And　there's　bread　and　meat　on　the　table　for　both　of　you。〃
　　　　　　　His　words　made　me　aware　of　the　covered　platter　on　the　table。　Flesh；　Nosy's　senses　confirmed；　and　I　was　suddenly　full　of　the　smell　of　the　meat。　Burrich　laughed　at　our　rush　to　the　table　and　silently　approved　how　I　shared　a　portion　out　to　Nosy　before　filling　my　own　jaws。　We　ate　to　repletion；　for　Burrich　had　not　underestimated　how　hungry　a　pup　and　a　boy　would　be　after　the　day's　misadventures。　And　then；　despite　our　long　nap　earlier；　the　blankets　so　close　to　the　fire　were　suddenly　immensely　inviting。　Bellies　full；　we　curled　up　with　the　flames　baking　our　backs　and　slept。
　　　　　　　When　we　awoke　the　next　day；　the　sun　was　well　risen　and　Burrich　already　gone。　Nosy　and　I　ate　the　heel　of　last　night's　loaf　and　gnawed　the　leftover　bones　clean　before　we　descended　from　Burrich's　quarters。　No　one　challenged　us　or　appeared　to　take　any　notice　of　us。
　　　　　　　Outside；　another　day　of　chaos　and　revelry　had　begun。　The　keep　was；　if　anything；　more　swollen　with　people。　Their　passage　stirred　the　dust　and　their　mixing　voices　were　an　overlay　to　the　shushing　of　the　wind　and　the　more　distant　muttering　of　the　waves。　Nosy　drank　it　all　in；　every　scent；　every　sight；　every　sound。　The　doubled　sensory　impact　dizzied　me。　As　I　walked　I　gathered　from　snatches　of　conversation　that　our　arrival　had　coincided　with　some　spring　rite　of　merriment　and　gathering。　Chivalry's　abdication　was　still　the　main　topic；　but　it　did　not　prevent　the　puppet　shows　and　jugglers　from　making　every　corner　a　stage　for　their　antics。　At　least　one　puppet　show　had　already　incorporated　Chivalry's　fall　from　grace　into　its　bawdy　edy；　and　I　stood　anonymous　in　the　crowd　and　puzzled　over　dialogue　about　sowing　the　neighbor's　fields　that　had　the　adults　roaring　with　laughter。
　　　　　　　But　very　soon　the　crowds　and　the　noise　became　oppressive　to　both　of　us；　and　I　let　Nosy　know　I　wished　to　escape　it　all。　We　left　the　keep；　passing　out　of　the　thick…walled　gate　past　guards　intent　upon　flirting　with　the　merrymakers　as　they　came　and　went。　One　more　boy　and　dog　leaving　on　the　heels　of　a　fishmongering　family　were　nothing　to　notice。　And　with　no　better　distraction　in　sight；　we　followed　the　family　as　they　wound　their　way　down　the　streets　away　from　the　keep　and　toward　the　town　of　Buckkeep。　We　dropped　farther　and　farther　behind　them　as　new　scents　demanded　that　Nosy　investigate　and　then　urinate　at　every　corner；　until　it　was　just　he　and　I　wandering　in　the　city。
　　　　　　　Buckkeep　then　was　a　windy；　raw　place。　The　streets　were　steep　and　crooked；　with　paving　stones　that　rocked　and　shifted　out　of　place　under　the　weight　of　passing　carts。　The　wind　blasted　my　inland　nostrils　with　the　scent　of　beached　kelp　and　fish　guts；　while　the　keening　of　the　gulls　and　seabirds　was　an　eerie　melody　above　the　rhythmic　shushing　of　the　waves。　The　town　clings　to　the　rocky　black　cliffs　much　like　limpets　and　barnacles　cling　to　the　pilings　and　quays　that　venture　out　into　the　bay。　The　houses　were　of　stone　and　wood；　with　the　more　elaborate　wooden　ones　built　higher　up　the　rocky　face　and　cut　more　deeply　into　it。
　　　　　　　Buckkeep　Town　was　relatively　quiet　pared　with　the　festivity　and　crowds　up　in　the　keep。　Neither　of　us　had　the　sense　or　experience　to　know　the　waterfront　town　was　not　the　best　place　for　a　six…year…old　and　a　puppy　to　wander。　Nosy　and　I　explored　eagerly；　sniffing　our　way　down　Bakers'　Street　and　through　a　near…deserted　market　and　then　along　the　warehouses　and　boat　sheds　that　were　the　lowest　level　of　the　town。　Here　the　water　was　close；　and　we　walked　on　wooden　piers　as　often　as　we　did　sand　and　stone。　Business　here　was　going　on　as　usual　with　little　allowance　for　the　carnival　atmosphere　up　in　the　keep。　Ships　must　dock　and　unload　as　the　rising　and　falling　of　the　tides　allow；　and　those　who　fish　for　a　living　must　follow　the　schedules　of　the　finned　creatures；　not　those　of　men。
　　　　　　　We　soon　encountered　children；　some　busy　at　the　lesser　tasks　of　their　parents'　crafts；　but　some　idlers　like　ourselves。　I　fell　in　easily　with　them；　with　little　need　for　introductions　or　any　of　the　adult　pleasantries。　Most　of　them　were　older　than　I；　but　several　were　as　young　or　younger。　None　of　them　seemed　to　think　it　odd　I　should　be　out　and　about　on　my　own。　I　was　introduced　to　all　the　important　sights　of　the　city；　including　the　swollen　body　of　a　cow　that　had　washed　up　at　the　last　tide。　We　visited　a　new　fishing　boat　under　construction　at　a　dock　littered　with　curling　shavings　and　strong　smelling　pitch　spills。　A　fish…smoking　rack　left　carelessly　untended　furnished　a　midday　repast　for　a　half　dozen　of　us。　If　the　children　I　was　with　were　more　ragged　and　boisterous　than　those　who　passed　at　their　chores；　I　did　not　notice。　And　had　anyone　told　me　I　was　passing　the　day　with　a　pack　of　beggar　brats　denied　entrance　to　the　keep　because　of　their　light…fingered　ways；　I　would　have　been　shocked。　At　the　time　I　knew　only　that　it　was　suddenly　a　lively　and　pleasant　day；　full　of　places　to　go　and　things　to　do。
　　　　　　　There　were　a　few　youngsters；　larger　and　more　rambunctious；　who　would　have　taken　the　opportunity　to　set　the　newer　on　his　ear　had　Nosy　not　been　with　me　and　showing　his　teeth　at　the　first　aggressive　shove。　But　as　I　did　not　show　any　signs　of　wanting　to　challenge　their　leadership；　I　was　allowed　to　follow。　I　was　suitably　impressed　by　all　their　secrets；　and　I　would　venture　to　say　that　by　the　end　of　the　long　afternoon；　I　knew　the　poorer　quarter　of　town　better　than　many　who　had　grown　up　above　it。
　　　　　　　I　was　not　asked　for　a　name；　but　simply　was　called　Newboy。　The　others　had　names　as　simple　as　Dirk　or　Kerry；　or　as　descriptive　as　Nitpicker　and　Nosebleed。　The　last　might　have　been　a　pretty　little　thing　in　better　circumstances。　She　was　a　year　or　two　older　than　I；　but　very　outspoken　and　quick…witted。　She　got　into　one　dispute　with　a　big　boy　of　twelve；　but　she　showed　no　fear　of　his　fists；　and　her　sharp…tongued　taunts　soon　had　everyone　laughing　at　him。　She　took　her　victory　calmly　and　left　me　awed　with　her　toughness。　But　the　bruises　on　her　face　and　thin　arms　were　layered　in　shades　of　purple；　blue；　and　yellow；　while　a　crust　of　dried　blood　below　one　ear　belied　her　name。　Even　so；　Nosebleed　was　a　lively　one；　her　voice　shriller　than　the　gulls　that　wheeled　above　us。　Late　afternoon　found　Kerry；　Nosebleed；　and　me　on　a　rocky　shore　beyond　the　net　menders'　racks；　with　Nosebleed　teaching　me　to　scour　the　rocks　for　tight…clinging　sheel。　These　she　levered　off　expertly　with　a　sharpened　stick。　She　was　showing　me　how　to　use　a　nail　to　pry　the　chewy　inmates　out　of　their　shells　when　another　girl　hailed　us　with　a　shout。
　　　　　　　The　neat　blue　cloak　that　blew　around　her　and　the　leather　shoes　on　her　feet　set　her　apart　from　my　panions。　Nor　did　she　e　to　join　our　harvesting；　but　only　came　close　enough　to　call；　〃Molly；　Molly；　he's　looking　for　you；　high　and　low。　He　waked　up　near　sober　an　hour　ago；　and　took　to　calling　you　names　as　soon　as　he　found　you　gone　and　the　fire　out。〃
　　　　　　　A　look　mixed　of　defiance　and　fear　passed　over　Nosebleed's　face。　〃Run　away；　Kittne；　but　take　my　thanks　with　you。　I'll　remember　you　next　time　the　tides　bare　the　kelpcrab　beds。〃
　　　　　　　Kittne　ducked　her　head　in　a　brief　acknowledgment　and　immediately　turned　and　hastened　back　the　way　she　had　e。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　in　trouble？〃　I　asked　Nosebleed　when　she　did　not　go　back　to　turning　over　stones　for　sheels。
　　　　　　　〃Trouble？〃　She　gave　a　snort　of　disdain。　〃That　depends。　If　my　father　can　stay　sober　long　enough　to　find　me；　I　might　be　in　for　a　bit　of　it。　More　than　likely　he'll　be　drunk　enough　tonight　that　not　a　one　of　whatever　he　hurls　at　me　will　hit。　More　than　likely！〃　she　repeated　firmly　when　Kerry　opened　his　mouth　to　object　to　this。　And　with　that　she　turned　back　to　the　rocky　beach　and　our　search　for　sheel。
　　　　　　　We　were　crouched　over　a　many…legged　gray　creature　that　we　found　stranded　in　a　tide　pool　when　the　crunch　of　a　heavy　boot　on　the　barnacled　rocks　brought　all　our　heads　up。　With　a　shout　Kerry　fled　down　the　beach；　never　pausing　to　look　back。　Nosy　and　I　sprang　back；　Nosy　crowding　against　me；　teeth　bared　bravely　as　his　tail　tickled　his　cowardly　little　belly。　Molly　Nosebleed　was　either　not　so　fast　to　react　or　resigned　to　what　was　to　e。　A　gangly　man　caught　her　a　smack　on　the　side　of　the　head。　He　was　a　skinny　man；　red　nosed　and　rawboned；　so　that　his　fist　was　like　a　knot　at　the　end　of　his　bony　arm；　but　the　blow　was　still　enough　to　send　Mo