rh.royalassassin-第114节

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！


　　　　　　　He　knows　it　is　his　name。　It　is　what　they　called　him；　all　those　dogs　that　worshiped　him；　when　they　all　gave　tongue　in　the　chase。　It　was　what　they　taunted　one　another　with。　〃Heart　of　the　Pack；　here；　here；　the　game　is　here；　and　I　have　found　it　for　you；　for　you！〃　So　they　all　yelped　and　tried　to　be　first　to　yelp　it　to　him。　But　now　they　are　all　gone；　taken　far　away。　They　did　not　like　to　leave　him。　They　knew　he　heard；　even　if　he　would　not　reply。　Had　you　never　heard　them？
　　　　　　　I　suppose　I　tried　not　to。
　　　　　　　A　waste。　Why　choose　to　be　deaf？　Or　mute？
　　　　　　　〃Must　you　do　this　in　my　presence？〃　Burrich's　voice　was　stiff：
　　　　　　　〃Beg　pardon；〃　I　said；　gravely　aware　that　he　was　truly　offended。　Nighteyes　snickered　again。　I　ignored　him。　Burrich　would　not　look　at　me。　After　a　bit　he　nudged　Ruddy　and　cantered　forward　to　overtake　Kettricken's　guard。　I　hesitated；　then　kept　pace　with　him。　He　formally　reported　to　Kettricken　of　all　he　had　done　before　leaving　Buckkeep；　and　she　nodded　gravely　as　if　accustomed　to　taking　such　reports。　At　a　signal　from　her；　we　were　honored　to　fall　back　and　ride　to　her　left；　while　her　captain　of　the　guard；　one　Foxglove；　rode　to　her　right。　Before　dawn　found　us；　the　rest　of　the　mounted　soldiers　from　Buckkeep　had　caught　up　with　us。　When　they　joined　us；　Foxglove　slowed　the　pace　for　a　time；　to　allow　their　winded　horses　to　breathe。　But　after　we　had　e　to　a　stream　and　let　all　the　beasts　water；　we　pushed　on　determinedly。　Burrich　did　not　speak　to　me。
　　　　　　　Years　earlier；　I　had　made　a　trip　to　Neatbay　as　part　of　Verity's　entourage。　Then　it　had　taken　us　five　days；　but　we　had　traveled　with　wagons　and　litters；　jugglers　and　musicians　and　valets。　This　time　we　traveled　by　horse；　with　seasoned　warriors；　and　we　need　not　keep　to　the　wide　coast　road。　The　only　thing　that　did　not　favor　us　was　the　weather。　By　midmorning　of　our　first　day　out；　a　winter　storm　swept　in。　It　was　miserable　riding；　not　just　for　the　physical　disfort　but　in　the　unsettling　knowledge　that　the　driving　winds　would　slow　our　panion　ships。　Whenever　our　path　took　us　overlooking　the　water；　I　watched　for　sails；　but　never　saw　any。
　　　　　　　The　pace　Foxglove　set　was　demanding　but　not　destructive　to　horse　or　rider。　While　stops　were　not　frequent；　she　varied　the　pace　and　saw　that　no　animal　wanted　for　water。　At　such　stops；　there　was　grain　for　the　horses　and　hard　bread　and　dried　fish　for　their　riders。　If　anyone　ever　noticed　a　wolf　shadowing　us；　no　one　spoke　of　it。　Two　full　days　later；　as　dawn　and　a　gap　in　the　weather　found　us；　we　were　looking　out　over　the　wide　river　valley　that　opened　onto　Neatbay。
　　　　　　　Bayguard　was　the　Keep　of　Neatbay。　And　Bayguard　was　the　home　Keep　of　Duke　Kelvar　and　Lady　Grace；　the　heart　of　Rippon　Duchy。　The　watchtower　was　on　a　sandy　cliff　above　the　town。　The　Keep　itself　had　been　built　on　fairly　level　land；　but　fortified　with　a　series　of　earthen　walls　and　ditches。　Once　I　had　been　told　that　no　enemy　had　ever　made　it　past　the　second　wall。　It　was　no　longer　true。　We　halted　and　looked　out　over　the　destruction。
　　　　　　　The　five　Red…Ships　were　still　drawn　up　on　the　beach。　The　boats　of　Neatbay；　mostly　small　fishing　vessels；　were　a　burned　and　scuttled　wreckage　spread　along　the　beach。　The　tides　had　played　with　them　since　the　Raiders　had　destroyed　them。　Blackened　buildings　and　smoldering　wreckage　fanned　out　from　where　they　had　landed；　marking　their　path　like　a　spreading　contagion。　Foxglove　stood　in　her　stirrups　and　pointed　out　over　Neatbay；　bining　her　observations　with　what　she　knew　of　the　town　and　Keep。　〃It's　a　shallow；　sandy　bay；　all　the　way　out。　So　when　the　tide　goes　out；　it　goes　way　out。　They've　drawn　their　boats　up　too　high。　If　we　can　force　them　to　retreat；　we　want　to　do　it　on　a　low　tide；　when　their　ships　are　sitting　high　and　dry。　They've　cut　through　the　town　like　a　hot　knife　through　butter：　I　doubt　there　was　much　of　an　effort　to　defend　it；　it's　not　really　defensible。　Probably　everyone　headed　for　the　Keep　at　the　first　sight　of　a　red　keel。　It　looks　to　me　like　the　Outislanders　have　battered　their　way　in　past　the　third　circle。　But　Kelvar　should　be　able　to　hold　them　off　almost　indefinitely　now。　The　fourth　wall　is　worked　stone。　It　took　years　to　build。　Bayguard　has　a　good　well；　and　her　warehouses　should　still　be　fat　with　grain；　this　early　in　winter。　She　won't　fall　unless　she　falls　to　treachery。〃　Foxglove　stopped　gesturing　and　settled　in　her　saddle　again。　〃It　makes　no　sense；　this　attack；〃　she　said　more　softly。　〃How　can　the　Red…Ships　expect　to　sustain　a　long　siege？　Especially　if　they　are；　in　turn；　attacked　by　our　forces？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　answer　could　be　that　they　did　not　expect　anyone　to　e　to　Bayguard's　aid；〃　Kettricken　said　succinctly。　〃They　have　the　town　to　pillage　for　supplies；　and　perhaps　other　ships　are　expected。〃　She　turned　to　Kerf；　motioned　him　alongside　Foxglove。　〃I　have　no　battle　experience；〃　she　said　simply。　〃You　two　will　have　to　plan　this。　I　listen　now；　as　a　soldier。　What　should　we　do　next？〃
　　　　　　　I　saw　Burrich　wince。　Such　honesty　is　admirable；　but　not　always　good　leadership。　I　saw　Foxglove　and　Kerf　exchange　measuring　glances。　〃My　queen；　Kerf　has　more　battle　experience　than　I。　I　would　accept　his　mand；〃　Foxglove　offered　quietly。
　　　　　　　Kerf　looked　down；　as　if　mildly　ashamed。　〃Burrich　was　Chivalry's　man。　He　has　seen　far　more　battles　than　I　have；〃　he　observed　to　his　mare's　neck。　He　looked　up　suddenly。　〃I　mend　him　to　you；　my　queen。〃
　　　　　　　Burrich's　face　was　a　struggle　of　conflicting　emotions。　For　a　moment　his　eyes　lit。　Then　I　saw　a　hesitation　build。
　　　　　　　Heart　of　the　Pack；　they　will　hunt　well　for　you；　Nighteyes　urged　him。
　　　　　　　〃Burrich；　take　mand。　They　will　fight　with　heart　for　you。〃
　　　　　　　My　skin　prickled　to　hear　Queen　Kettricken　virtually　echo　Nighteyes'　thought。　From　where　I　sat；　I　could　actually　see　a　shiver　run　over　Burrich。　He　straightened　in　his　saddle。　〃We　have　no　hope　of　surprising　them　in　this　flat　country。　And　the　three　circles　they　have　already　gained　can　bee　defenses　for　them。　We　are　not　a　vast　force。　What　we　have　most　of；　my　queen；　is　time。　We　can　pen　them。　They　have　no　access　to　fresh　water。　If　Bayguard　stands；　and　we　keep　the　Outislanders　trapped　where　they　are；　between　the　third　earthwork　and　the　wall；　we　can　simply　wait　for　our　ships　to　arrive。　At　that　time　we　can　judge　if　we　wish　to　join　an　attack　on　them；　or　simply　starve　them　out。〃
　　　　　　　〃This　seems　wise　to　me；〃　the　Queen　approved。
　　　　　　　〃They　are　fools　if　they　have　not　left　at　least　a　small　force　with　their　ships。　Those　we　will　have　to　contend　with　immediately。　Then　we　must　set　our　own　guards　to　the　ships；　with　orders　to　destroy　them　if　it　looks　like　any　of　the　Outislanders　have　gotten　past　us　and　are　trying　to　escape。　If　not；　you　will　have　ships　to　add　to　King…in…Waiting　Verity's　fleet。〃
　　　　　　　〃This；　too；　seems　sensible。〃　The　idea　clearly　pleased　Kettricken。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　tidy；　but　only　if　we　act　swiftly。　They　will　soon　be　aware　of　us；　if　they　are　not　already。　Certainly　they　will　see　the　situation　as　clearly　as　we　have。　We　need　to　get　down　there；　and　contain　those　besieging　the　Keep　and　destroy　those　guarding　the　ships。〃
　　　　　　　Kerf　and　Foxglove　were　both　nodding。　Burrich　looked　at　them。　〃I　want　your　archers　for　our　circle　around　the　Keep。　We　want　to　contain　them　there；　not　get　into　any　close　fighting。　Simply　pin　them　down　where　they　are。　Wherever　they　breached　the　walls　is　where　they　will　try　to　trickle　out　again。　Guard　most　heavily　there；　but　watch　all　along　the　outer　wall。　And　for　now；　do　not　try　to　go　within　the　outer　wall　at　all。　Let　them　scuttle　about　like　crabs　in　a　pot。〃
　　　　　　　Terse　nods　from　both　captains。　Burrich　continued。
　　　　　　　〃I　want　swords　for　the　ships。　Expect　the　fighting　to　be　nasty。　They'll　be　defending　their　only　escape　routes。　Send　a　few　lesser　archers；　and　have　them　prepare　fire　arrows。　If　all　else　fails；　burn　the　ships　where　they're　beached。　But　try　to　take　them　first。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Rurisk　！　〃　Someone　in　the　back　ranks　gave　a　cry。　All　heads　turned　to　the　water。　There　was　the　Rurisk；　rounding　the　north　tooth　of　Neatbay。　In　a　moment　a　second　sail　appeared。　Behind　us；　the　mounted　warriors　raised　a　shout。　But　out　beyond　our　ships；　anchored　in　deep　water；　white　as　a　dead　man's　belly　and　her　sails　as　bloated；　floated　the　white　ship。　The　moment　I　saw　it；　an　icicle　of　terror　sliced　my　guts。
　　　　　　　〃The　white　ship！〃　I　choked。　Fear　sent　a　shudder　through　me　that　was　almost　like　pain。
　　　　　　　〃What？〃　Burrich　asked；　startled。　It　was　the　first　word　he　had　spoken　to　me　that　day。
　　　　　　　〃The　white　ship！〃　I　repeated；　and　pointed　a　hand。
　　　　　　　〃What？　Where？　That？　That's　a　fog　bank。　Our　ships　are　ing　into　the　harbor　over　there。〃
　　　　　　　I　looked。　He　was　right。　A　fog　bank；　melting　in　the　morning　sun　even　as　I　watched。　My　terror　receded　like　the　ghost　of　mocking　laughter。　But　the　day　seemed　suddenly　chillier；　and　the　sun　that　had　briefly　parted　the　storm　clouds　a　weak　and　watery　thing。　An　evil　cast　lingered　on　the　day；　like　a　bad　smell。
　　　　　　　〃Split　your　forces　and　deploy　them　now；〃　Burrich　said　quietly。　〃We　don't　want　our　ships　to　meet　any　resistance　as　they　e　into　shore。　Quickly；　now。　Fitz。　You're　to　go　with　the　force　that　attacks　the　Red…Ships。　Be　there　when　the　Rurisk　beaches；　and　let　those　on　board　know　what　we've　decided。　As　quickly　as　those　Red…Ships　are　cleaned　o