rh.theassassinsapprentice-第11节

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t　brought　to　Burrich's　quarters　some　little　wooden　toys；　soldiers　and　horses　and　a　cart；　their　paint　much　worn；　with　a　message　that　Verity　had　found　them　in　a　corner　of　his　clothing　chest　and　thought　I　might　enjoy　them。　I　cannot　think　of　any　other　possession　I　ever　valued　more。
　　　　　　　Cob　in　the　stables　was　another　danger　zone。　If　Burrich　were　about；　he　spoke　me　fair　and　treated　me　evenly；　but　had　small　use　for　me　at　other　times。　He　gave　me　to　understand　he　did　not　want　me　about　and　underfoot　where　he　was　working。　I　found　out　eventually　that　he　was　jealous　of　me　and　felt　my　care　had　replaced　the　interest　Burrich　had　once　taken　in　him。　He　was　never　overtly　cruel；　he　never　struck　me　or　scolded　me　unfairly。　But　I　could　sense　his　distaste　for　me；　and　avoided　him。
　　　　　　　All　the　men…at…arms　showed　a　great　tolerance　for　me。　After　the　street　children　of　Buckkeep　Town；　they　were　probably　the　closest　I　had　to　friends。　But　no　matter　how　tolerant　men　may　be　of　a　boy　of　nine　or　ten；　there　is　precious　little　in　mon。　I　watched　their　bone　games　and　listened　to　their　stories；　but　for　every　hour　I　spent　among　their　pany；　there　were　days　when　I　did　not　go　among　them　at　all。　And　while　Burrich　never　forbade　me　the　guardroom；　he　did　not　conceal　that　he　disapproved　of　the　time　I　spent　there。
　　　　　　　So　I　was　and　was　not　a　member　of　the　keep　munity。　I　avoided　some　and　I　observed　some　and　I　obeyed　some。　But　with　none　did　I　feel　a　bond。
　　　　　　　Then　one　morning；　when　I　was　still　a　bit　shy　of　my　tenth　year；　I　was　at　play　under　the　tables　in　the　Great　Hall；　tumbling　and　teasing　with　the　puppies。　It　was　quite　early　in　the　day。　There　had　been　an　occasion　of　some　sort　the　day　before；　and　the　feasting　had　lasted　the　whole　day　and　well　into　the　night。　Burrich　had　drunk　himself　senseless。　Almost　everyone；　noble　or　servants；　was　still　abed；　and　the　kitchen　had　not　yielded　up　much　to　my　hungry　venturing　that　morning。　But　the　tables　in　the　Great　Hall　were　a　trove　of　broken　pastries　and　dishes　of　meat。　There　were　bowls　of　apples　as　well；　slabs　of　cheese；　in　short；　all　a　boy　could　wish　for　plundering。　The　great　dogs　had　taken　the　best　bones　and　retreated　to　their　own　corners　of　the　hall；　leaving　various　pups　to　scrabble　for　the　smaller　bits。　I　had　taken　a　rather　large　meat　pasty　under　the　table　and　was　sharing　it　out　with　my　chosen　favorites　among　the　pups。　Ever　since　Nosy；　I　had　taken　care　that　Burrich　should　not　see　me　to　have　too　great　an　affinity　with　any　one　puppy。　I　still　did　not　understand　why　he　objected　to　my　closeness　to　a　hound；　but　I　would　not　risk　the　life　of　a　puppy　to　dispute　it　with　him。　So　I　was　alternating　bites　with　three　whelps　when　I　heard　slow　footsteps　threshing　across　the　reed…strewn　floor。　Two　men　were　speaking；　discussing　something　in　low　tones。
　　　　　　　I　thought　it　was　the　kitchen　servants；　e　to　clear　away。　I　scrabbled　from　beneath　the　table　to　snare　a　few　more　choice　leavings　before　they　were　gone。
　　　　　　　But　it　was　no　servant　who　startled　at　my　sudden　appearance　but　the　old　King；　my　grandfather　himself。　A　scant　step　behind　him；　at　his　elbow；　was　Regal。　His　bleary　eyes　and　rumpled　doublet　attested　to　his　participation　in　last　night's　revelries。　The　King's　new　fool；　but　recently　acquired；　pattered　after　them；　pale　eyes　agoggle　in　an　eggshell　face。　He　was　so　strange　a　creature；　with　his　pasty　skin　and　motley　all　of　blacks　and　whites；　that　I　scarce　dared　to　look　at　him。　In　contrast；　King　Shrewd　was　clear　of　eye；　his　beard　and　hair　freshly　groomed；　and　his　clothing　immaculate。　For　an　instant　he　was　surprised；　and　then　remarked；　〃You　see；　Regal；　it　is　as　I　was　telling　you。　An　opportunity　presents　itself；　and　someone　seizes　it；　often　someone　young；　or　someone　driven　by　the　energies　and　hungers　of　youth。　Royalty　has　no　leisure　to　ignore　such　opportunities；　or　to　let　them　be　created　for　others。〃
　　　　　　　The　King　continued　his　stroll　past　me；　extolling　on　his　theme　while　Regal　gave　me　a　baleful　look　from　bloodshot　eyes。　A　flap　of　his　hand　indicated　that　I　should　disappear　myself。　I　indicated　my　understanding　with　a　quick　nod；　but　darted　first　to　the　table。　I　stuffed　two　apples　into　my　jerkin　and　took　up　a　mostly　whole　gooseberry　tart　when　the　King　suddenly　rounded　and　gestured　at　me。　His　fool　mimed　an　imitation。　I　froze　where　I　stood。
　　　　　　　〃Look　at　him；〃　the　old　King　manded。
　　　　　　　Regal　glared　at　me；　but　I　dared　not　move。
　　　　　　　〃What　will　you　make　of　him？〃
　　　　　　　Regal　looked　perplexed。　〃Him？　It's　the　Fitz。　Chivalry's　bastard。　Sneaking　and　thieving　as　always。〃
　　　　　　　〃Fool。〃　King　Shrewd　smiled；　but　his　eyes　remained　flinty。　The　Fool；　thinking　himself　addressed；　smiled　sweetly。　〃Are　your　ears　stopped　with　wax？　Do　you　hear　nothing　I　say？　I　asked　you；　not　'what　do　you　make　of　him？'　but　'what　will　you　make　of　him？'　There　he　stands；　young；　strong；　and　resourceful。　His　lines　are　every　bit　as　royal　as　yours；　for　all　that　he　was　born　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　sheets。　So　what　will　you　make　of　him？　A　tool？　A　weapon？　A　rade？　An　enemy？　Or　will　you　leave　him　lying　about；　for　someone　else　to　take　up　and　use　against　you？〃
　　　　　　　Regal　squinted　at　me；　then　glanced　past　me　and；　finding　no　one　else　in　the　hall；　returned　his　puzzled　gaze　to　me。　At　my　ankle；　a　pup　whined　a　reminder　that　earlier　we　had　been　sharing。　I　warned　him　to　hush。
　　　　　　　〃The　bastard？　He's　only　a　child。〃
　　　　　　　The　old　King　sighed。　〃Today。　This　morning　and　now　he　is　a　child。　When　next　you　turn　around　he　will　be　a　youth；　or　worse；　a　man；　and　then　it　will　be　too　late　for　you　to　make　anything　of　him。　But　take　him　now；　Regal；　and　shape　him；　and　a　decade　hence　you　will　mand　his　loyalty。　Instead　of　a　discontented　bastard　who　may　be　persuaded　to　bee　a　pretender　to　the　throne；　he　will　be　a　henchman；　united　to　the　family　by　spirit　as　well　as　blood。　A　bastard；　Regal；　is　a　unique　thing。　Put　a　signet　ring　on　his　hand　and　send　him　forth；　and　you　have　created　a　diplomat　no　foreign　ruler　will　dare　to　turn　away。　He　may　safely　be　sent　where　a　prince　of　the　blood　may　not　be　risked。　Imagine　the　uses　for　one　who　is　and　yet　is　not　of　the　royal　bloodline。　Hostage　exchanges。　Marital　alliances。　Quiet　work。　The　diplomacy　of　the　knife。〃
　　　　　　　Regal's　eyes　grew　round　at　the　King's　last　words。　For　a　pause；　we　all　breathed　in　silence；　regarding　one　another。　When　Regal　spoke；　he　sounded　as　if　he　had　dry　bread　caught　in　his　throat。　〃You　speak　of　these　things　in　front　of　the　boy。　Of　using　him；　as　a　tool；　a　weapon。　You　think　he　will　not　remember　your　words　when　he　is　grown？〃
　　　　　　　King　Shrewd　laughed；　and　the　sound　rang　against　the　stone　walls　of　the　Great　Hall。　〃Remember　them？　Of　course　he　will。　I　count　on　it。　Look　at　his　eyes；　Regal。　There　is　intelligence　there；　and　possibly　potential　Skill。　I'd　be　a　fool　to　lie　to　him。　Stupider　still　to　simply　begin　his　training　and　education　with　no　explanation。　For　that　would　leave　his　mind　fallow　for　whatever　seeds　others　might　plant　there。　Isn't　it　so；　boy？〃
　　　　　　　He　was　regarding　me　steadily　and　I　suddenly　realized　I　was　returning　his　look。　For　all　of　his　speech　our　gazes　had　been　locked　as　we　read　one　another。　In　the　eyes　of　the　man　who　was　my　grandfather　was　honesty；　of　a　rocky；　bony　sort。　There　was　no　fort　in　it；　but　I　knew　I　could　always　count　on　it　to　be　there。　I　nodded　slowly。
　　　　　　　〃e　here。〃
　　　　　　　I　walked　to　him　slowly。　When　I　reached　him；　he　got　down　on　one　knee；　to　be　eye　to　eye　with　me。　The　Fool　knelt　solemnly　beside　us；　looking　earnestly　from　face　to　face。　Regal　glared　down　at　all　of　us。　At　the　time　I　never　grasped　the　irony　of　the　old　King　genuflecting　to　his　bastard　grandson。　So　I　was　solemn　as　he　took　the　tart　from　my　hands　and　tossed　it　to　the　puppies　who　had　trailed　after　me。　He　drew　a　pin　from　the　folds　of　silk　at　his　throat　and　solemnly　pushed　it　through　the　simple　wool　of　my　shirt。
　　　　　　　〃Now　you　are　mine；〃　he　said；　and　made　that　claiming　of　me　more　important　than　any　blood　we　shared。　〃You　need　not　eat　any　man's　leavings。　I　will　keep　you；　and　I　will　keep　you　well。　If　any　man　or　woman　ever　seeks　to　turn　you　against　me　by　offering　you　more　than　I　do；　then　e　to　me；　and　tell　me　of　the　offer；　and　I　shall　meet　it。　You　will　never　find　me　a　stingy　man；　nor　be　able　to　cite　ill　use　as　a　reason　for　treason　against　me。　Do　you　believe　me；　boy？〃
　　　　　　　I　nodded；　in　the　mute　way　that　was　still　my　habit；　but　his　steady　brown　eyes　demanded　more。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；　Sir。〃
　　　　　　　〃Good。　I　will　be　issuing　some　mands　regarding　you。　See　that　you　go　along　with　them。　If　any　seem　strange　to　you；　speak　to　Burrich。　Or　to　myself。　Simply　e　to　the　door　of　my　chamber；　and　show　that　pin。　You'll　be　admitted。〃
　　　　　　　I　glanced　down　at　the　red　stone　that　winked　in　a　nest　of　silver。　〃Yes；　sir；〃　I　managed　again。
　　　　　　　〃Ah；〃　he　said　softly；　and　I　sensed　a　trace　of　regret　in　his　voice　and　wondered　what　it　was　for。　His　eyes　released　me；　and　suddenly　I　was　once　more　aware　of　my　surroundings；　of　the　puppies　and　the　Great　Hall　and　Regal　watching　me　with　fresh　distaste　on　his　face；　and　the　Fool　nodding　enthusiastically　in　his　vacant　way。　Then　the　King　stood。　When　he　turned　away　from　me；　a　chill　went　over　me；　as　if　I　had　suddenly　shed　a　cloak。　It　was　my　first　experience　of　the　Skill　at　the　hands　of　a　master。
　　　　　　　〃You　don't　approve；　do　you；　Regal？〃　The　King's　tone　was　conversational。