rh.theassassinsapprentice-第69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！


bered　had　a　peppering　of　gray。　He　smiled　absently　at　me；　and　then；　as　if　it　had　suddenly　occurred　to　him；　he　stopped　me。
　　　　　　　〃You're　leaving　for　the　Mountain　Kingdom？　For　the　wedding　ceremony？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　me　a　favor；　boy？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course；〃　I　said；　taken　aback　by　the　rust　in　his　voice。
　　　　　　　〃Speak　well　of　me　to　her。　Truthfully；　mind　you；　I'm　not　asking　for　lies。　But　speak　well　of　me。　I've　always　thought　that　you　thought　well　of　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　do；〃　I　said　to　his　retreating　back。　〃I　do；　sir。〃　But　he　didn't　turn　or　make　a　reply；　and　I　felt　much　as　I　had　when　the　Fool　left　me。
　　　　　　　The　courtyard　was　a　milling　of　folk　and　animals。　There　were　no　carts　this　time；　the　roads　into　the　mountains　were　notoriously　bad；　and　it　had　been　decided　that　pack　animals　would　have　to　suffice　for　the　sake　of　swiftness。　It　would　not　do　for　the　royal　entourage　to　be　late　for　the　wedding；　it　was　bad　enough　that　the　groom　was　not　attending。
　　　　　　　The　flocks　and　herds　had　been　sent　on　days　before。　It　was　expected　that　our　trip　would　take　two　weeks；　and　three　had　been　allowed　for　it。　I　saw　to　fastening　the　cedar　chest　onto　a　pack　animal；　and　then　stood　beside　Sooty　and　waited。　Even　in　the　cobbled　courtyard；　dust　stirred　thick　in　the　hot　summer　air。　Despite　all　the　careful　planning　that　had　gone　into　it；　the　caravan　seemed　chaotic。　I　glimpsed　Sevrens；　Regal's　favorite　valet。　Regal　had　sent　him　back　to　Buckkeep　a　month　ago；　with　specific　instructions　about　certain　garments　he　wished　created。　Sevrens　was　following　Hands；　dithering　and　expostulating　about　something；　and　whatever　it　was；　Hands　was　not　looking　patient　about　it。　When　Mistress　Hasty　had　been　giving　me　final　instructions　on　the　care　of　my　new　garments；　she　had　divulged　that　Sevrens　was　taking　so　many　new　garments；　hats；　and　accoutrements　for　Regal　that　he　had　been　allotted　three　pack　animals　to　carry　them。　I　imagined　that　caring　for　the　three　animals　had　fallen　to　Hands；　for　Sevrens　was　an　excellent　valet；　but　timid　around　the　larger　animals。　Rowd；　Regal's　ready　man；　hulked　after　both　of　them；　looking　ill…tempered　and　impatient。　On　one　wide　shoulder　he　carried　yet　another　trunk；　and　perhaps　the　loading　of　this　additional　item　was　what　was　fretting　Sevrens。　I　soon　lost　sight　of　them　in　the　crowd。
　　　　　　　I　was　surprised　to　discover　Burrich　checking　the　lead　lines　on　the　breeding　horses　and　the　Princess's　gift　mare。　Surely　whoever　was　in　charge　of　them　could　do　that；　I　thought。　And　then；　as　I　saw　him　mount；　I　realized　that　he；　too；　would　be　part　of　this　procession。　I　looked　about　to　see　who　was　acpanying　him；　but　saw　none　of　the　stable　boys　I　knew；　save　Hands。　Cob　was　already　in　Jhaampe　with　Regal。　So　Burrich　had　taken　this　on　himself。　I　was　not　surprised。
　　　　　　　August　was　there；　astride　a　fine　gray　mare；　waiting　with　an　impassivity　that　was　almost　inhuman。　Already　his　time　in　the　coterie　had　changed　him。　Once　he　had　been　a　chubby　youth；　quiet　but　pleasant。　He　had　the　same　black　bushy　hair　as　Verity；　and　I　had　heard　it　said　that　he　resembled　his　cousin　as　a　boy。　I　reflected　that　as　his　Skill　duties　increased；　he　would　probably　resemble　Verity　even　more。　He　would　be　present　at　the　wedding；　as　a　sort　of　window　for　Verity　as　Regal　uttered　the　vows　on　his　brother's　behalf。　Regal's　voice；　August's　eyes；　I　mused　to　myself。　What　did　I　go　as？　His　poniard？
　　　　　　　I　mounted　Sooty；　as　much　to　be　up　and　away　from　the　folk　exchanging　good…byes　and　last…minute　instructions　as　for　any　other　reason。　I　wished　to　Eda　we　could　be　away　and　on　the　road。　It　seemed　to　take　forever　for　the　straggling　line　to　form　and　for　the　last…minute　tying　and　strapping　of　bundles　to　be　acplished。　And　then；　almost　abruptly；　the　standards　were　lifted；　a　horn　was　blown；　and　the　line　of　horses；　laden　pack　animals；　and　folk　began　to　move。　I　looked　up　once；　to　see　that　Verity　had　actually　e　out　to　stand　atop　the　tower　and　watch　us　depart。　I　waved　up　at　him；　but　doubted　that　he　knew　me　amidst　so　many。　And　then　we　were　out　of　the　gates　and　winding　up　the　hilly　path　that　led　away　from　Buckkeep　and　to　the　west。
　　　　　　　Our　path　would　lead　us　up　the　banks　of　the　Buckriver；　which　we　would　ford　at　its　wide　shallows　near　where　the　borders　of　Buck　and　Farrow　Duchies　touched。　From　there　we　would　journey　across　Farrow's　wide　plains；　in　baking　heat　I　had　never　encountered　before；　until　we　reached　Blue　Lake。　From　Blue　Lake；　we　would　follow　a　river　named　simply　Cold　whose　origins　were　in　the　Mountain　Kingdom。　From　the　Cold　Ford　the　trading　road　began；　that　led　between　the　mountains　and　through　their　shadows　and　up；　ever　up；　to　Storm　Pass；　and　thence　to　the　thick　green　forests　of　the　Rain　Wilds。　But　we　would　not　go　so　far　as　that；　but　would　stop　at　Jhaampe；　which　was　as　close　to　a　city　as　the　Mountain　Kingdom　possessed。
　　　　　　　In　some　ways；　it　was　an　unremarkable　journey；　if　one　discounts　all　that　inevitably　goes　with　such　journeys。　After　the　first　three　days　or　so；　things　settled　into　a　remarkably　monotonous　routine；　varied　only　by　the　different　countryside　we　passed。　Every　little　village　or　hamlet　along　our　road　turned　out　to　greet　us　and　delay　us；　with　official　best　wishes　and　felicitations　for　the　Crown　Prince's　wedding　festivities。
　　　　　　　But　after　we　reached　the　wide　plains　of　Farrow；　such　hamlets　were　few　and　far　between。　Farrow's　rich　farms　and　trading　cities　were　far　to　the　north　of　our　path；　along　the　Vin　River。　We　traveled　Farrow's　plains；　where　people　were　mostly　nomadic　herders；　creating　towns　only　in　the　winter　months　when　they　settled　along　the　trade　routes　for　what　they　called　the　〃green　season。〃　We　passed　herds　of　sheep；　or　goats；　or　horses；　or　more　rarely；　the　dangerous；　rangy　swine　they　called　haragars；　but　our　contact　with　the　people　of　that　region　was　usually　limited　to　the　sight　of　their　conical　tents　in　the　distance；　or　some　herder　standing　tall　in　his　saddle　and　holding　aloft　his　crook　in　greeting。
　　　　　　　Hands　and　I　became　reacquainted。　We　would　share　food　and　a　small　cook　fire　in　the　evenings；　and　he　would　regale　me　with　tales　of　Sevrens's　nattering　worries　of　dust　getting　into　silk　robes　or　bugs　getting　into　fur　collars　and　velvet　getting　chafed　to　pieces　during　the　long　trek。　Grimmer　were　his　plaints　about　Rowd。　I　myself　had　no　fond　memories　of　the　man；　and　Hands　found　him　an　oppressive　traveling　panion；　for　he　seemed　to　constantly　suspect　Hands　of　trying　to　steal　from　the　packs　of　Regal's　belongings。　One　evening　Rowd　even　found　his　way　to　our　fire；　where　he　laboriously　delivered　a　vague　and　indirect　warning　against　any　who　might　conspire　to　steal　from　his　master。　But　other　than　such　unpleasantness；　our　evenings　were　peaceful。
　　　　　　　The　fair　weather　held；　and　if　we　sweated　by　day；　it　was　mild　by　night。　I　slept　atop　my　blanket　and　seldom　bothered　with　any　other　shelter。　Each　night　I　checked　over　the　contents　of　my　trunk　and　did　my　best　to　keep　the　roots　from　being　pletely　desiccated；　and　to　keep　the　shifting　from　putting　wear　on　the　scrolls　and　tablets。　There　was　one　night　I　awoke　to　a　loud　whinnying　from　Sooty　and　thought　that　the　cedar　chest　had　been　moved　slightly　from　where　I　had　placed　it。　But　a　brief　check　of　its　contents　proved　all　was　in　order；　and　when　I　mentioned　it　to　Hands；　he　merely　asked　if　I　was　catching　Rowd's　disease。
　　　　　　　The　hamlets　and　herds　we　passed　frequently　provided　us　with　fresh　foods　and　were　most　generous　in　their　allocation　of　it；　so　we　had　little　hardship　on　the　journey。　Open　water　was　not　as　plentiful　as　we　could　have　wished　as　we　crossed　Farrow；　but　each　day　we　found　some　spring　or　dusty　well　to　water　at；　so　even　that　was　not　as　bad　as　it　might　have　been。
　　　　　　　I　saw　very　little　of　Burrich。　He　arose　earlier　than　the　rest　of　us　and　preceded　the　main　caravan；　that　his　charges　might　have　the　best　grazing　and　the　cleanest　water。　I　knew　he　would　want　his　horses　in　prime　condition　when　they　arrived　at　Jhaampe。　August；　too；　was　almost　invisible。　While　he　was　technically　in　charge　of　our　expedition；　he　left　the　running　of　it　to　the　captain　of　his　honor　guard。　I　could　not　decide　if　he　did　this　out　of　wisdom　or　laziness。　In　any　event；　he　kept　mostly　to　himself；　although　he　did　allow　Sevrens　to　tend　him　and　share　his　tent　and　meals。
　　　　　　　For　me；　it　was　almost　a　return　to　a　sort　of　childhood。　My　responsibilities　were　very　limited。　Hands　was　a　genial　panion；　and　it　took　very　little　encouragement　to　have　him　telling　from　his　vast　store　of　tales　and　gossip。　I　often　went　for　almost　the　whole　day　before　I　would　recall　that　at　the　end　of　this　journey；　I　would　kill　a　prince。
　　　　　　　Such　thoughts　usually　came　on　me　when　I　awoke　in　the　dark　part　of　the　night。　Farrow's　sky　seemed　to　be　much　thicker　with　stars　than　the　night　over　Buckkeep；　and　I　would　stare　up　at　them　and　mentally　rehearse　ways　to　put　an　end　to　Rurisk。　There　was　another　chest；　a　tiny　one；　packed　carefully　within　the　bag　that　held　my　clothing　and　personal　items。　I　had　packed　it　with　much　thought　and　anxiety。　For　this　assignment　must　be　carried　out　perfectly。　It　must　be　done　cleanly；　with　not　even　the　tiniest　suspicion　raised。　And　timing　was　critical。　The　Prince　must　not　die　while　we　were　at　Jhaampe。　Nothing　must　cast　the　slightest　shadow　upon　the　nuptials。　Nor　must　he　die　before　the　ceremonies　were　observed　at　Buckkeep　and　the　wedding　safely　consummated；　for　that　might　be　seen　as　an　ill　omen　for　the　couple。　It　would　not　be　an　easy　death　to　arrange。
　　　　　　　Sometimes　I　wondered　why　it　had　been　entrusted　to　me　instead　of　to　Chade。　Was　it　a　test　of　some　sort；　one　that　if　I　failed　would　see　me　put　to　death？　Was　Chade　too　old　for　this　challenge；　or　too　valuable　to　be　risked　for　this？　Could　he　simply　not　be　spared　from　tending　Verity's　health？　And　when　I　reined　my　mind　away　from　these　questions；　I　was　left　wondering　whether　to　use　a　powder　that　would　irritate　Rurisk's　damaged　lungs　so　he　might　cough　himself　to　death。　Perhaps　I　might　treat　his　pillows　and　bedding　with　it。　Should　I　offer　him　a　pain　remedy；　one　that　would　slowly　addict　him　and　lure　him　into　a　sleeping　death？　I　had　a　blood…thinning　tonic。　If　his　lungs　were　chronically　bleeding　already；　it　might　be　enough　to　send　him　on　his　way。　I　had　one　poison；　swift　and　deadly　and　tasteless　as　water；　if　I　could　devise　a　way　to　be　sure　he　would　encounter　it　at　a　safely　distant　time。