rh.theassassinsapprentice-第67部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


sistence　was　backed　by　a　sudden　increase　in　the　frequency　of　the　raids。　In　the　space　of　a　month；　two　villages　were　burned；　and　had　a　total　of　thirty…two　inhabitants　taken　for　Forging。　Nineteen　of　them　apparently　carried　the　now　popular　poison　vials　and　chose　to　mit　suicide。　A　third　town；　a　more　populous　one；　was　successfully　defended；　not　by　the　royal　troops；　but　by　a　mercenary　militia　the　townsfolk　had　organized　and　hired　themselves。　Many　of　the　fighters；　ironically；　were　immigrant　Outislanders；　using　one　of　the　few　skills　they　had。　And　the　mutterings　against　the　King's　apparent　inactivity　increased。
　　　　　　　It　did　little　good　to　try　to　explain　to　them　about　Verity　and　the　coterie's　work。　What　the　people　needed　and　wanted　were　warships　of　their　own；　defending　the　coastline。　But　ships　take　time　to　build；　and　the　converted　merchant　ships　that　were　already　in　the　water　were　tubby；　wallowing　things　pared　with　the　sleek　Red…Ships　that　harassed　us。　Promises　of　warships　by　spring　were　small　fort　to　farmers　and　herders　trying　to　protect　this　year's　crops　and　flocks。　And　the　landlocked　Duchies　were　being　more　and　more　vociferous　about　paying　heavier　taxes　to　build　warships　to　protect　a　coastline　they　didn't　share。　For　their　part；　the　leaders　of　the　Coastal　Duchies　sarcastically　wondered　how　well　the　inland　folk　would　do　without　their　seaports　and　trading　vessels　to　outlet　their　goods。　During　at　least　one　High　Council　meeting；　there　was　a　noisy　altercation　in　which　Duke　Ram　of　Tilth　suggested　that　it　would　be　little　loss　to　cede　the　Near　Islands　and　Fur　Point　to　the　Red…Ships　if　that　would　slacken　their　raiding；　and　Duke　Brawndy　of　Bearns　retaliated　by　threatening　to　stop　all　trade　traffic　along　the　Bear　River　and　see　if　Tilth　found　that　as　small　a　loss。　King　Shrewd　managed　to　bring　the　council　to　adjournment　before　they　came　to　blows；　but　not　before　the　Farrow　Duke　had　made　it　clear　that　he　sided　with　Tilth。　The　lines　of　division　were　being　made　more　sharp　with　each　passing　month　and　each　allotment　of　taxes。　Clearly　something　was　needed　to　rebuild　the　kingdom's　unity；　and　Shrewd　was　convinced　it　was　a　royal　marriage。
　　　　　　　So　Regal　danced　his　diplomatic　steps；　and　it　was　arranged　that　the　Princess　Kettricken　would　make　her　pledges　to　Regal　in　his　brother's　stead；　with　all　of　her　own　folk　to　witness；　and　Verity's　word　would　be　given　by　his　brother。　With　a　second　ceremony　to　follow；　of　course；　at　Buckkeep；　with　suitable　representatives　from　Kettricken's　folk　to　witness　it。　And　for　the　nonce；　Regal　remained　in　the　Mountain　Kingdom's　capital　at　Jhaampe。　His　presence　there　created　a　regular　flow　of　emissaries；　gifts；　and　supplies　between　Buckkeep　and　Jhaampe。　Seldom　did　a　week　pass　without　a　cavalcade　either　leaving　or　arriving。　It　kept　Buckkeep　in　a　constant　stir。
　　　　　　　It　seemed　to　me　an　awkward　and　ungainly　way　to　assemble　a　marriage。　Each　would　be　wed　almost　a　month　before　glimpsing　the　other。　But　the　political　expedients　were　more　important　than　the　feelings　of　the　principals；　and　the　separate　celebrations　were　planned。
　　　　　　　I　had　long　since　recovered　from　Verity　tapping　my　strength。　It　was　taking　me　longer　to　grasp　pletely　what　Galen's　misting　of　my　mind　had　done　to　me。　I　believe　I　would　have　confronted　him；　despite　Verity's　counsel；　except　that　Galen　had　left　Buckkeep。　He　had　departed　in　pany　of　a　cavalcade　bound　for　Jhaampe；　to　ride　with　them　as　far　as　Farrow；　where　he　had　relatives　he　wished　to　visit。　By　the　time　he　returned；　I　myself　would　be　on　my　way　to　Jhaampe；　so　Galen　remained　out　of　my　reach。
　　　　　　　Again；　I　had　too　much　time　on　my　hands。　I　still　tended　Leon；　but　he　did　not　take　more　than　an　hour　or　two　of　my　time　each　day。　I　had　been　able　to　discover　nothing　more　about　the　attack　on　Burrich；　nor　did　Burrich　show　any　signs　of　relenting　on　my　ostracism。　I　had　made　one　jaunt　into　Buckkeep　Town；　but　when　I　chanced　to　wander　by　the　chandlery；　it　was　shuttered　and　silent。　My　inquiries　at　the　shop　next　door　brought　me　the　information　that　the　chandlery　had　been　closed　for　ten　days　or　more；　and　that　unless　I　wished　to　buy　some　leather　harness；　I　could　go　elsewhere　and　stop　bothering　him。　I　thought　of　the　young　man　I　had　last　seen　with　Molly；　and　bitterly　wished　them　no　good　of　each　other。
　　　　　　　For　no　other　reason　than　that　I　was　lonely；　I　decided　to　seek　out　the　Fool。　Never　before　had　I　tried　to　initiate　a　meeting　with　him。　He　proved　more　elusive　than　I　had　ever　imagined。
　　　　　　　After　a　few　hours　of　randomly　wandering　the　keep；　hoping　to　encounter　him；　I　made　brave　enough　to　go　to　his　chamber。　I　had　known　for　years　where　it　was；　but　had　never　gone　there　before；　and　not　simply　because　it　was　in　an　out…of…the…way　part　of　the　keep。　The　Fool　did　not　invite　intimacy；　except　of　the　kind　he　chose　to　offer；　and　only　when　he　chose　to　offer　it。　His　chambers　were　a　tower…top　room。　Fedwren　had　told　me　that　it　had　once　been　a　map　room　and　had　offered　an　unobstructed　view　of　the　land　surrounding　Buckkeep。　But　later　additions　to　Buckkeep　had　blocked　the　views；　and　higher　towers　supplanted　it。　It　had　outlived　its　usefulness　for　anything；　save　chambers　for　a　fool。
　　　　　　　I　climbed　to　it；　that　one　day　toward　the　beginning　of　harvest　time。　It　was　already　a　hot　and　sticky　day。　The　tower　was　a　closed　one；　save　for　arrow　slits　that　did　little　more　than　illuminate　the　dust　motes　my　feet　set　to　dancing　in　the　still　air。　At　first　the　darkness　of　the　tower　had　seemed　cooler　than　the　stuffy　day　outside；　but　as　I　climbed；　it　seemed　to　get　hotter　and　more　close；　so　that　by　the　time　I　reached　the　last　landing；　I　felt　as　if　there　were　no　air　left　to　breathe　at　all。　I　lifted　a　weary　fist　and　pounded　on　the　stout　door。　〃It's　me；　Fitz！〃　I　called；　but　the　still　hot　air　muffled　my　voice　like　a　wet　blanket　smothering　a　flame。
　　　　　　　Shall　I　use　that　as　an　excuse？　Shall　I　say　I　thought　perhaps　he　could　not　hear　me；　and　so　I　went　in　to　see　if　he　was　there？　Or　shall　I　say　that　I　was　so　hot　and　thirsty　that　I　entered　to　see　if　his　chambers　offered　any　hint　of　air　or　water？　Why　doesn't　matter；　I　suppose。　I　put　my　hand　to　the　door　latch；　and　it　lifted　and　I　went　inside。
　　　　　　　〃Fool？〃　I　called；　but　I　could　feel　he　wasn't　there。　Not　as　I　usually　felt　folk's　presence　or　absence；　but　by　the　stillness　that　met　me。　Yet　I　stood　in　the　door　and　gawked　at　a　soul　laid　bare。
　　　　　　　Here　was　light；　and　flowers；　and　colors　in　profusion。　There　was　a　loom　in　the　corner；　and　baskets　of　fine；　thin　thread　in　bright；　bright　colors。　The　woven　coverlet　on　the　bed　and　the　drapings　on　the　open　windows　were　unlike　anything　I　had　ever　seen；　woven　in　geometric　patterns　that　somehow　suggested　fields　of　flowers　beneath　a　blue　sky。　A　wide　pottery　bowl　held　floating　flowers　and　a　slim　silver　fingerling　swam　about　the　stems　and　above　the　bright　pebbles　that　floored　it。　I　tried　to　imagine　the　colorless；　cynical　Fool　in　the　midst　of　all　this　color　and　art。　I　took　a　step　farther　into　the　room；　and　saw　something　that　moved　my　heart　aside　in　my　chest。
　　　　　　　A　baby。　That　was　what　I　took　it　for　at　first；　and　without　thinking；　I　took　the　next　two　steps　and　knelt　beside　the　basket　that　cradled　it。　But　it　was　not　a　living　child；　but　a　doll；　crafted　with　such　incredible　art　that　almost　I　expected　to　see　the　small　chest　move　with　breath。　I　reached　a　hand　to　the　pale；　delicate　face；　but　dared　not　touch　it。　The　curve　of　the　brow；　the　closed　eyelids；　the　faint　rose　that　suffused　the　tiny　cheeks；　even　the　small　hand　that　rested　atop　the　coverlets　were　more　perfect　than　I　supposed　a　made　thing　could　be。　Of　what　delicate　clay　it　had　been　crafted；　I　could　not　guess；　nor　what　hand　had　inked　the　tiny　eyelashes　that　curled　on　the　infant's　cheek。　The　tiny　coverlet　was　embroidered　all　over　in　pansies；　and　the　pillow　was　of　satin。　I　don't　know　how　long　I　knelt　there；　as　silent　as　if　it　were　truly　a　sleeping　babe。　But　eventually　I　rose；　and　backed　out　of　the　Fool's　room；　and　then　drew　the　door　silently　closed　behind　me。　I　went　slowly　down　the　myriad　steps；　torn　between　dread　that　I　might　encounter　the　Fool　ing　up　and　burdened　with　the　knowledge　that　I　had　discovered　one　denizen　of　the　keep　who　was　at　least　as　alone　as　I　was。
　　　　　　　Chade　summoned　me　that　night；　but　when　I　went　to　him；　he　seemed　to　have　no　more　purpose　in　calling　me　than　to　see　me。　We　sat　almost　silently　before　the　black　hearth；　and　I　thought　he　looked　older　than　he　ever　had。　As　Verity　was　devoured；　so　Chade　was　consumed。　His　bony　hands　appeared　almost　desiccated；　and　the　whites　of　his　eyes　were　webbed　with　red。　He　needed　to　sleep；　but　instead　had　chosen　to　call　me。　Yet　he　sat；　still　and　silent；　scarce　nibbling　at　the　food　he　had　placed　before　us。　At　length；　I　decided　to　help　him。
　　　　　　　〃Are　you　afraid　I　won't　be　able　to　do　it？〃　I　asked　him　softly。
　　　　　　　〃Do　what？〃　he　asked　absently。
　　　　　　　〃Kill　the　mountain　Prince。　Rurisk。〃
　　　　　　　Chade　turned　to　look　at　me　full　face。　The　silence　held　for　a　long　moment。
　　　　　　　〃You　didn't　know　King　Shrewd　had　given　me　this；〃　I　faltered。
　　　　　　　Slowly　he　turned　back　to　the　empty　hearth　and　studied　it　as　carefully　as　if　there　were　flames　to　read。　〃I'm　only　the　toolmaker；〃　he　said　at　last；　quietly。　〃Another　man　uses　what　I　make。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　think　this　is　a　bad　。。。　task？　Wrong？〃　I　took　a　breath。　〃From　what　I've　been　told；　he　has　not　that　much　longer　to　live　anyway。　It　might　almost　be　a　mercy；　if　death　were　to　e　quietly　in　the　night；　instead　of…〃
　　　　　　　〃Boy；〃　Chade　remarked　quietly。　〃Never　pretend　we　are　anything　but　what　we　are。　Assassins。　Not　merciful　agents　of　a　wise　king。　Political　assassins　dealing　death　for　the　furtherance　of　our　monarchy。　That　is　what　we　are。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　my　turn　to　study　the　ghosts　of　the　flames。　〃You　are　making　this　very　hard　for　me。　Harder　than　it　already　was。　Why？　Why　did　you　make　me　what　I　am；　if　you　then　try　to　weaken　my　resolve　。。。　？〃　My　question　died　away；　half…formed。
　　　　　　　〃I　think　。。。　never　mind。　Maybe　it　is　a　kind　of　jealousy　in　me；　my　boy。　I　wonder；　I　suppose；　why　Shrewd　uses　you　instead　of　me。　Maybe　I　fear　I　have　outlived　my　usefulness　to　him。　Maybe；　now　that　I　know　you；　I　wish　I　had　never　set　out　to　make　you　what　。。。〃　And　it　was　Chade's　turn　to　fall　silent；　his　thoughts　going　where　his　words　could　not　follow　them。
　　　　　　　We　sat　contemplating　my　assignment。　This　was　not