rh.theassassinsapprentice-第14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！


that　some　people；　like　some　animals；　were　totally　unaware　of　my　reaching　out　toward　them。　I　might　have　quested　farther　into　her　mind；　except　that　I　was　so　relieved　at　not　finding　any　hostility　that　I　feared　to　stir　any。　So　I　stood　small　and　still　before　her　inspection。
　　　　　　　〃Boy；　what　are　you　called？〃　she　demanded　suddenly。
　　　　　　　Again。　〃Fitz。〃
　　　　　　　She　frowned　at　my　soft　words。　I　drew　myself　up　straighter　and　spoke　louder。　〃Fitz　is　what　Burrich　calls　me。〃
　　　　　　　She　flinched　slightly。　〃He　would。　Calls　a　bitch　a　bitch；　and　a　bastard　a　bastard；　does　Burrich。　Well　。。。　I　suppose　I　see　his　reasons。　Fitz　you　are；　and　Fitz　you'll　be　called　by　me　as　well。　Now。　I　shall　show　you　why　the　pole　you　selected　was　too　long　for　you；　and　too　thick。　And　then　you　shall　select　another。〃
　　　　　　　And　she　did；　and　I　did；　and　she　took　me　slowly　through　an　exercise　that　seemed　infinitely　plex　then；　but　by　the　end　of　the　week　was　no　more　difficult　than　braiding　my　horse's　mane。　We　finished　just　as　the　rest　of　her　students　came　trooping　in。　There　were　four　of　them；　all　within　a　year　or　two　of　my　age；　but　all　more　experienced　than　I。　It　made　for　an　awkwardness；　as　there　were　now　an　odd　number　of　students；　and　no　one　particularly　wanted　the　new　one　as　a　sparring　partner。
　　　　　　　Somehow　I　survived　the　day；　though　the　memory　of　how　fades　into　a　blessedly　vague　haze。　I　remember　how　sore　I　was　when　she　finally　dismissed　us；　how　the　others　raced　up　the　path　and　back　to　the　keep　while　I　trailed　dismally　behind　them；　berating　myself　for　ever　ing　to　the　King's　attention。　It　was　a　long　climb　to　the　keep；　and　the　hall　was　crowded　and　noisy。　I　was　too　weary　to　eat　much。　Stew　and　bread；　I　think；　were　all　I　had；　and　I　had　left　the　table　and　was　limping　toward　the　door；　thinking　only　of　the　warmth　and　quiet　of　the　stables；　when　Brant　again　accosted　me。
　　　　　　　〃Your　chamber　is　ready；〃　was　all　he　said。
　　　　　　　I　shot　a　desperate　look　at　Burrich；　but　he　was　engaged　in　conversation　with　the　man　next　to　him。　He　didn't　notice　my　plea　at　all。　So　once　more　I　found　myself　following　Brant；　this　time　up　a　wide　flight　of　stone　steps；　into　a　part　of　the　keep　I　had　never　explored。
　　　　　　　We　paused　on　a　landing　and　he　took　up　a　candelabra　from　a　table　there　and　kindled　its　tapers。　〃Royal　family　lives　down　this　wing；〃　he　casually　informed　me。　〃The　King　has　a　bedroom　big　as　the　stable　at　the　end　of　this　hallway。〃　I　nodded；　blindly　believing　all　he　told　me；　though　I　later　found　that　an　errand　boy　such　as　Brant　would　never　have　penetrated　the　royal　wing。　That　would　be　for　more　important　lackeys。　Up　another　flight　he　took　me　and　again　paused。　〃Visitors　get　rooms　here；〃　he　said；　gesturing　with　the　light；　so　that　the　wind　of　his　motion　set　the　flames　to　streaming。　〃Important　ones；　that　is。〃
　　　　　　　And　up　another　flight　we　went；　the　steps　perceptibly　narrowing　from　the　first　two。　At　the　next　landing　we　paused　again；　and　I　looked　with　dread　up　an　even　narrower　and　steeper　flight　of　steps。　But　Brant　did　not　take　me　that　way。　Instead　we　went　down　this　new　wing；　three　doors　down；　and　then　he　slid　a　latch　on　a　plank　door　and　shouldered　it　open。　It　swung　heavily　and　not　smoothly。　〃Room　hasn't　been　used　in　a　while；〃　he　observed　cheerily。　〃But　now　it's　yours　and　you're　wele　to　it。〃　And　with　that　he　set　the　candelabra　down　on　a　chest；　plucked　one　candle　from　it；　and　left。　He　pulled　the　heavy　door　closed　behind　him　as　he　went；　leaving　me　in　the　semidarkness　of　a　large　and　unfamiliar　room。
　　　　　　　Somehow　I　refrained　from　running　after　him　or　opening　the　door。　Instead；　I　took　up　the　candelabra　and　lit　the　wall　sconces。　Two　other　sets　of　candles　set　the　shadows　writhing　back　into　the　corners。　There　was　a　fireplace　with　a　pitiful　effort　at　a　fire　in　it。　I　poked　it　up　a　bit；　more　for　light　than　for　heat；　and　set　to　exploring　my　new　quarters。
　　　　　　　It　was　a　simple　square　room　with　a　single　window。　Stone　walls；　of　the　same　stone　as　that　under　my　feet；　were　softened　only　by　a　tapestry　hung　on　one　wall。　I　held　my　candle　high　to　study　it；　but　could　not　illuminate　much。　I　could　make　out　a　gleaming　and　winged　creature　of　some　sort；　and　a　kingly　personage　in　supplication　before　it。　I　was　later　informed　it　was　King　Wisdom　being　befriended　by　the　Elderling。　At　the　time　it　seemed　menacing　to　me。　I　turned　aside　from　it。
　　　　　　　Someone　had　made　a　perfunctory　effort　at　freshening　the　room。　There　was　a　scattering　of　clean　reeds　and　herbs　on　the　floor；　and　the　feather　bed　had　a　fat；　freshly　shaken　look　to　it。　The　two　blankets　on　it　were　good　wool。　The　bed　curtains　had　been　pulled　back　and　the　chest　and　bench　that　were　the　other　furnishings　had　been　dusted。　To　my　inexperienced　eyes；　it　was　a　rich　room　indeed。　A　real　bed；　with　coverings　and　hangings　about　it；　and　a　bench　with　a　cushion　to　it；　and　a　chest　to　put　things　in　were　more　furniture　than　I　could　recall　having　to　myself　before。　That　they　were　for　my　exclusive　use　made　them　larger　somehow。　There　was　also　the　fireplace；　that　I　boldly　added　another　piece　of　wood　to；　and　the　window；　with　an　oak　seat　before　it；　shuttered　now　against　the　night　air；　but　probably　looking　out　over　the　sea。
　　　　　　　The　chest　was　a　simple　one；　cornered　with　brass　fittings。　The　outside　of　it　was　dark；　but　when　I　opened　it；　the　interior　was　light…colored　and　fragrant。　Inside　the　chest　I　found　my　limited　wardrobe；　brought　up　from　the　stables。　Two　nightshirts　had　been　added　to　it；　and　a　woolen　blanket　was　rolled　up　in　the　corner　of　the　chest。　That　was　all。　I　took　out　a　nightshirt　and　closed　the　chest。
　　　　　　　I　set　the　nightshirt　down　on　the　bed　and　then　clambered　up　myself。　It　was　early　to　be　thinking　of　sleep；　but　my　body　ached　and　there　seemed　nothing　else　for　me　to　do。　Down　in　the　stable　room；　by　now　Burrich　would　be　sitting　and　drinking　and　mending　harness　or　whatever。　There　would　be　a　fire　in　the　hearth；　and　the　muffled　sounds　of　horses　as　they　shifted　in　their　stalls　below。　The　room　would　smell　of　leather　and　oil　and　Burrich　himself；　not　dank　stone　and　dust。　I　pulled　the　nightshirt　over　my　head　and　nudged　my　clothes　to　the　foot　of　the　bed。　I　nestled　into　the　feather　bed；　it　was　cool　and　my　skin　stood　up　in　goose　bumps。　Slowly　my　body　heat　warmed　it　and　I　began　to　relax。　It　had　been　a　full　and　strenuous　day。　Every　muscle　I　possessed　seemed　to　be　both　aching　and　tired。　I　knew　I　should　rise　once　more；　to　put　the　candles　out；　but　I　could　not　summon　the　energy。　Nor　the　willpower　to　blow　them　out　and　let　a　deeper　darkness　flood　the　chamber。　So　I　drowsed；　halflidded　eyes　watching　the　struggling　flames　of　the　small　hearth　fire。　I　idly　wished　for　something　else；　for　any　situation　that　was　neither　this　forsaken　chamber　nor　the　tenseness　of　Burrich's　room。　For　a　restfulness　that　perhaps　I　had　once　known　somewhere　else　but　could　no　longer　recall。　And　so　I　drowsed　into　oblivion。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　FOUR
　　　　　　　Apprenticeship
　　　　　　　A　STORY　IS　TOLD　OF　King　Victor；　he　who　conquered　the　inland　territories　that　became　eventually　the　Duchy　of　Farrow。　Very　shortly　after　adding　the　lands　of　Sandsedge　to　his　rulings；　he　sent　for　the　woman　who　would；　had　Victor　not　conquered　her　land；　have　been　the　Queen　of　Sandsedge。　She　traveled　to　Buckkeep　in　much　trepidation；　fearing　to　go；　but　fearing　more　the　consequences　to　her　people　if　she　appealed　to　them　to　hide　her。　When　she　arrived；　she　was　both　amazed　and　somewhat　chagrined　that　Victor　intended　to　use　her　not　as　a　servant　but　as　a　tutor　to　his　children；　that　they　might　learn　both　the　language　and　customs　of　her　folk。　When　she　asked　him　why　he　chose　to　have　them　learn　of　her　folk's　ways；　he　replied；　〃A　ruler　must　be　of　all　his　people；　for　one　can　only　rule　what　one　knows。〃　Later　she　became　the　willing　wife　of　his　eldest　son　and　took　the　name　Queen　Graciousness　at　her　coronation。
　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　I　awoke　to　sunlight　in　my　face。　Someone　had　entered　my　chamber　and　opened　the　window　shutters　to　the　day。　A　basin；　cloth；　and　jug　of　water　had　been　left　on　top　of　the　chest。　I　was　grateful　for　them；　but　not　even　washing　my　face　refreshed　me。　Sleep　had　left　me　sodden　and　I　recall　feeling　uneasy　that　someone　could　enter　my　chamber　and　move　freely　about　without　awakening　me。
　　　　　　　As　I　had　guessed；　the　window　looked　out　over　the　sea；　but　I　didn't　have　much　time　to　devote　to　the　view。　A　glance　at　the　sun　told　me　that　I　had　overslept。　I　flung　on　my　clothes　and　hastened　down　to　the　stables　without　pausing　for　breakfast。
　　　　　　　But　Burrich　had　little　time　for　me　that　morning。　〃Get　back　up　to　the　keep；〃　he　advised　me。　〃Mistress　Hasty　already　sent　Brant　down　here　to　look　for　you。　She's　to　measure　you　for　clothing。　Best　go　find　her　quickly；　she　lives　up　to　her　name；　and　won't　appreciate　your　upsetting　her　morning　routine。〃
　　　　　　　My　trot　back　up　to　the　keep　reawakened　all　my　aches　of　the　day　before。　Much　as　I　dreaded　seeking　out　this　Mistress　Hasty　and　being　measured　for　clothing　I　was　certain　I　didn't　need；　I　was　relieved　not　to　be　on　horseback　again　this　morning。
　　　　　　　After　querying　my　way　up　from　the　kitchens；　I　finally　found　Mistress　Hasty　in　a　room　several　doors　down　from　my　bedchamber。　I　paused　shyly　in　the　door　and　peered　in。　Three　tall　windows　were　flooding　the　room　with　sunlight　and　a　mild　salt　breeze。　Baskets　of　yam　and　dyed　wool　were　stacked　against　one