rh.royalassassin-第51节

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winter；　especially　with　the　wind　howling　and　the　snow　dropping　as　it　was　today。　No　reason　save　the　terrible　attraction　of　the　Skill　itself。
　　　　　　　I　had　felt　that　lure；　I　reminded　myself　as　I　gritted　my　teeth　and　began　the　long　climb　to　the　top。　I　had　known；　for　a　time；　the　heady　exuberance　of　the　Skill。　Like　the　clotted　memory　of　long…ago　pain；　Galen　the　Skill　Master's　words　came　back　to　me。　〃If　you　are　weak；〃　he　had　threatened　us；　〃if　you　lack　focus　and　discipline；　if　you　are　indulgent　and　inclined　to　pleasure；　you　will　not　master　the　Skill。　Rather；　the　Skill　will　master　you。　Practice　the　denial　of　all　pleasures　to　yourself；　deny　all　weaknesses　that　tempt　you。　Then；　when　you　are　as　steel；　perhaps　you　will　be　ready　to　encounter　the　lure　of　the　Skill　and　turn　aside　from　it。　If　you　give　in　to　it；　you　will　bee　as　a　great　babe；　mindless　and　drooling。〃　Then　he　had　schooled　us；　with　privations　and　punishments　that　went　far　past　any　sane　level。　Yet　when　I　had　encountered　the　Skill　joy；　I　had　not　found　it　the　tawdry　pleasure　Galen　had　implied。　Rather；　it　had　been　the　same　rush　of　blood　and　thunder　of　heart　that　sometimes　music　brought　to　me；　or　a　sudden　flight　of　bright　pheasant　in　an　autumn　wood；　or　even　the　pleasure　of　taking　a　horse　perfectly　over　a　difficult　jump。　That　instant　when　all　things　e　into　balance；　and　for　a　moment　turn　together　as　perfectly　as　birds　wheeling　in　flight。　The　Skill　gave　that　to　one；　but　not　for　just　a　moment。　Rather　it　lasted　for　as　long　as　a　man　could　sustain　it；　and　became　stronger　and　purer　as　one's　ability　with　the　Skill　refined。　Or　so　I　believed。　My　own　abilities　with　the　Skill　had　been　permanently　damaged　in　a　battle　of　wills　with　Galen。　The　defensive　mental　walls　I　had　erected　were　such　that　not　even　someone　as　strongly　Skilled　as　Verity　could　always　reach　me。　My　own　ability　to　reach　out　of　myself　had　bee　an　intermittent　thing；　skittish　and　flighty　as　a　spooky　horse。
　　　　　　　I　paused　outside　Verity's　door。　I　took　a　very　deep　breath；　then　breathed　it　out　slowly；　refusing　to　let　the　blackness　of　spirit　settle　on　me。　Those　things　were　done；　that　time　was　gone。　No　sense　railing　to　myself　about　it。　As　was　my　old　habit；　I　entered　without　knocking；　lest　the　noise　break　Verity's　concentration。
　　　　　　　He　should　not　have　been　Skilling。　He　was。　The　shutters　of　the　window　were　open　and　he　leaned　out　on　the　sill。　Wind　and　snow　swirled　throughout　the　room；　speckling　his　dark　hair　and　dark　blue　shirt　and　jerkin。　He　was　breathing　in　deep；　long　steady　breaths；　a　cadence　somewhere　between　a　very　deep　sleep　and　that　of　a　runner　at　rest　and　catching　his　wind。　He　seemed　oblivious　of　me。　〃Prince　Verity？〃　I　said　softly。
　　　　　　　He　turned　to　me；　and　his　gaze　was　like　heat；　like　light；　like　wind　in　my　face。　He　Skilled　into　me　with　such　force　that　I　felt　driven　out　of　myself；　his　mind　possessing　mine　so　pletely　that　there　was　no　room　left　to　be　myself　in　it。　For　a　moment　I　was　drowning　in　Verity；　and　then　he　was　gone；　withdrawing　so　rapidly　that　I　was　left　stumbling　and　gasping　like　a　fish　deserted　by　a　high　wave。　In　a　step　he　was　beside　me；　catching　my　elbow　and　steadying　me　on　my　feet。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　apologized。　〃I　was　not　expecting　you。　You　startled　me。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　should　have　knocked；　my　prince；〃　I　replied；　and　then　gave　a　quick　nod　to　him　that　I　could　stand。　〃What's　out　there；　that　you　watch　so　intently？〃
　　　　　　　He　glanced　aside　from　me。　〃Not　much。　Some　boys　on　the　cliffs；　watching　a　pod　of　whales　sporting。　Two　of　our　own　boats；　fishing　halibut。　Even　in　this　weather；　though　not　enjoying　it　much。〃
　　　　　　　〃Then　you　are　not　Skilling　for　Outislanders　。。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃There　are　not　any　out　there；　this　time　of　year。　But　I　keep　a　watch。〃　He　glanced　down　at　my　forearm；　the　one　he　had　just　released；　and　changed　the　subject。　〃What　happened　to　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　what　I　came　to　see　you　about。　Forged　ones　attacked　me。　Out　on　the　face　of　the　ridge；　the　one　where　the　spruce…hen　hunting　is　good。　Near　the　goatherd's　shed。〃
　　　　　　　He　nodded　quickly；　his　dark　brows　knitting。　〃I　know　the　area。　How　many？　Describe　them。〃
　　　　　　　I　quickly　sketched　my　attackers　for　him　and　he　nodded　briefly；　unsurprised。　〃I　had　a　report　of　them；　four　days　ago。　They　should　not　be　this　close　to　Buckkeep　this　soon；　not　unless　they　are　consistently　moving　in　this　direction；　every　day。　Are　they　finished？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　You　expected　this？〃　I　was　aghast。　〃I　thought　we　had　wiped　them　out。〃
　　　　　　　〃We　wiped　out　the　ones　who　were　here　then。　There　are　others；　moving　in　this　direction。　I　have　been　keeping　track　of　them　by　the　reports；　but　I　had　not　expected　them　to　be　so　close　so　soon。〃
　　　　　　　I　struggled　briefly；　got　my　voice　under　control。　〃My　prince；　why　do　we　simply　keep　track　of　them？　Why　do　not　we　。。。　take　care　of　this　problem？〃
　　　　　　　Verity　made　a　small　noise　in　his　throat　and　turned　back　to　his　window。　〃Sometimes　one　has　to　wait；　and　let　the　enemy　plete　a　move；　in　order　to　discover　what　the　full　strategy　is。　Do　you　understand　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Forged　ones　have　a　strategy？　I　think　not；　my　prince。　They　were…〃
　　　　　　　〃Report　to　me　in　full；〃　Verity　directed　me　without　looking　at　me。　I　hesitated　briefly；　then　launched　into　a　plete　retelling。　Toward　the　end　of　the　struggle；　my　account　became　a　bit　incoherent。　I　let　the　words　die　on　my　lips。　〃But　I　did　manage　to　break　his　grip　on　me。　And　all　three　of　them　died　there。〃
　　　　　　　He　did　not　take　his　eyes　from　the　sea。　〃You　should　avoid　physical　struggles；　FitzChivalry。　You　always　seem　to　get　hurt　in　them。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know；　my　prince；〃　I　admitted　humbly。　〃Hod　did　her　best　with　me…〃
　　　　　　　〃But　you　were　not　really　trained　to　be　a　fighter。　You　have　other　talents。　And　those　are　the　ones　you　should　be　putting　to　use　to　preserve　yourself。　Oh；　you're　a　petent　swordsman；　but　you've　not　the　brawn　and　weight　to　be　a　brawler。　At　least；　not　yet。　And　that　is　what　you　always　seem　to　revert　to　in　a　fight。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　was　not　offered　the　selection　of　weapons；〃　I　said；　a　bit　testily；　and　then　added；　〃my　prince。〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　You　won't　be。〃　He　seemed　to　speak　from　afar。　A　slight　tension　in　the　air　told　me　that　he　Skilled　out　even　as　we　spoke。　〃Yet　I'm　afraid　I　must　send　you　out　again。　I　think　you　are　perhaps　right。　I　have　watched　what　is　happening　long　enough。　The　Forged　ones　are　converging　on　Buckkeep。　I　cannot　fathom　why；　and　yet　perhaps　knowing　that　is　not　as　important　as　preventing　them　from　attaining　their　goal。　You　will　again　undertake　the　removal　of　this　problem；　Fitz。　Perhaps　this　time　I　can　keep　my　own　lady　from　being　involved　in　it。　I　understand　that　if　she　wishes　to　go　riding；　she　now　has　a　guard　of　her　own？〃
　　　　　　　〃As　you　have　been　told；　sir；〃　I　told　him；　cursing　myself　for　not　ing　to　speak　to　him　sooner　of　the　Queen's　guard。
　　　　　　　He　turned　to　regard　me　levelly。　〃The　rumor　I　heard　was　that　you　had　authorized　the　creation　of　such　a　guard。　Not　to　steal　your　glory；　but　when　such　rumor　reached　me；　I　let　it　be　supposed　that　I　had　requested　it　of　you。　As；　I　suppose；　I　did。　Very　indirectly。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　prince；〃　I　said；　and　had　the　good　sense　to　keep　quiet。
　　　　　　　〃Well。　If　she　must　ride；　at　least　she　is　guarded　now。　Though　I　would　greatly　prefer　she　had　no　more　encounters　with　Forged　ones。　Would　I　could　think　of　something　to　busy　her；〃　he　added　wearily。
　　　　　　　〃The　Queen's　Garden；〃　I　suggested；　recalling　Patience's　account　of　it。
　　　　　　　Verity　cocked　his　eye　at　me。
　　　　　　　〃The　old　ones；　atop　the　tower；〃　I　explained。　〃They　have　been　unused　for　years。　I　saw　what　was　left　of　them；　before　Galen　ordered　us　to　dismantle　them　to　clear　space　for　our　Skill　lessons。　It　must　have　been　a　charming　place　at　one　time。　Tubs　of　earth　and　greenery；　statuary；　climbing　vines。〃
　　　　　　　Verity　smiled　to　himself。　〃And　basins　of　water；　too；　with　pond　lilies　in　them；　and　fish；　and　even　tiny　frogs。　The　birds　came　there　often　in　summer；　to　drink　and　to　splash。　Chivalry　and　I　used　to　play　up　there。　She　had　little　charms　hung　on　strings；　made　of　glass　and　bright　metal。　And　when　the　wind　stirred　them；　they　would　chime　together；　or　flash　like　jewels　in　the　sun。〃　I　could　feel　myself　warming　with　his　memory　of　that　place　and　time。　〃My　mother　kept　a　little　hunting　cat；　and　it　would　lounge　on　the　warm　stone　when　the　sun　struck　it。　Hisspit；　that　was　her　name。　Spotted　coat　and　tufted　ears。　And　we　would　tease　her　with　string　and　tufts　of　feathers；　and　she　would　stalk　us　among　the　pots　of　flowers。　While　we　were　supposed　to　be　studying　tablets　on　herbs。　I　never　properly　learned　them。　There　was　too　much　else　to　do　there。　Except　for　thyme。　I　knew　every　kind　of　thyme　she　had。　My　mother　grew　a　lot　of　thyme。　And　catmint。〃　He　was　smiling。
　　　　　　　〃Kettricken　would　love　such　a　place；〃　I　told　him。　〃She　gardened　much　in　the　Mountains。〃
　　　　　　　〃Did　she？〃　He　looked　surprised。　〃I　would　have　thought　her　occupied　with　more　。。。　physical　pastimes。〃
　　　　　　　I　felt　an　instant　of　annoyance　with　him。　No；　of　something　more　than　annoyance。　How　could　it　be　that　I　knew　more　of　his　wife　than　he　did？　〃She　kept　gardens；〃　I　said　quietly。　〃Of　many　herbs；　and　knew　all　the　uses　of　those　that　grew　therein。　I　have　told　you　of　them　myself。〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　I　suppose　you　have。〃　He　sighed。　〃You　are　right；　Fitz。　Visit　her　for　me；　and　tell　her　of　the　Queen's　Garden。　It　is　winter　now；　and　there