rh.theassassinsapprentice-第2节

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d　against　winter's　chill；　and　finally　to　another　set　of　closed　doors；　these　of　rich；　mellow　wood　embellished　with　carvings。　There　he　paused　and　straightened　his　own　garments　briefly。　I　remember　quite　clearly　how　he　went　down　on　one　knee　to　tug　my　shirt　straight　and　smooth　my　hair　with　a　rough　pat　or　two；　but　whether　this　was　from　some　kindhearted　impulse　that　I　make　a　good　impression；　or　merely　a　concern　that　his　package　look　well　tended；　I　will　never　know。　He　stood　again　and　knocked　once　at　the　double　doors。　Having　knocked；　he　did　not　wait　for　a　reply；　or　at　least　I　never　heard　one。　He　pushed　the　doors　open；　herded　me　in　before　him；　and　shut　the　doors　behind　him。
　　　　　　　This　room　was　as　warm　as　the　corridor　had　been　chill；　and　alive　as　the　other　chambers　had　been　deserted。　I　recall　a　quantity　of　furniture　in　it；　rugs　and　hangings；　and　shelves　of　tablets　and　scrolls　overlaid　with　the　scattering　of　clutter　that　any　well…used　and　fortable　chamber　takes　on。　There　was　a　fire　burning　in　a　massive　fireplace；　filling　the　room　with　heat　and　a　pleasantly　resinous　scent。　An　immense　table　was　placed　at　an　angle　to　the　fire；　and　behind　it　sat　a　stocky　man；　his　brows　knit　as　he　bent　over　a　sheaf　of　papers　in　front　of　him。　He　did　not　look　up　immediately；　and　so　I　was　able　to　study　his　rather　bushy　disarray　of　dark　hair　for　some　moments。
　　　　　　　When　he　did　look　up；　he　seemed　to　take　in　both　myself　and　the　guard　in　one　quick　glance　of　his　black　eyes。　〃Well；　Jason？〃　he　asked；　and　even　at　that　age　I　could　sense　his　resignation　to　a　messy　interruption。　〃What's　this？〃
　　　　　　　The　guard　gave　me　a　gentle　nudge　on　the　shoulder　that　propelled　me　a　foot　or　so　closer　to　the　man。　〃An　old　plowman　left　him；　Prince　Verity；　sir。　Says　it's　Prince　Chivalry's　bastid；　sir。〃
　　　　　　　For　a　few　moments　the　harried　man　behind　the　desk　continued　to　regard　me　with　some　confusion。　Then　something　very　like　an　amused　smile　lightened　his　features　and　he　rose　and　came　around　the　desk　to　stand　with　his　fists　on　his　hips；　looking　down　on　me。　I　did　not　feel　threatened　by　his　scrutiny；　rather　it　was　as　if　something　about　my　appearance　pleased　him　inordinately。　I　looked　up　at　him　curiously。　He　wore　a　short　dark　beard；　as　bushy　and　disorderly　as　his　hair；　and　his　cheeks　were　weathered　above　it。　Heavy　brows　were　raised　above　his　dark　eyes。　He　had　a　barrel　of　a　chest；　and　shoulders　that　strained　the　fabric　of　his　shirt。　His　fists　were　square　and　work…scarred；　yet　ink　stained　the　fingers　of　his　right　hand。　As　he　stared　at　me　his　grin　gradually　widened；　until　finally　he　gave　a　snort　of　laughter。
　　　　　　　〃Be　damned；〃　he　finally　said。　〃Boy　does　have　Chiv's　look　to　him；　doesn't　he？　Fruitful　Eda。　Who'd　have　believed　it　of　my　illustrious　and　virtuous　brother？〃
　　　　　　　The　guard　made　no　response　at　all；　nor　was　one　expected　from　him。　He　continued　to　stand　alertly；　awaiting　the　next　mand。　A　soldier's　soldier。
　　　　　　　The　other　man　continued　to　regard　me　curiously。　〃How　old？〃　he　asked　the　guard。
　　　　　　　〃Plowman　says　six。〃　The　guard　raised　a　hand　to　scratch　at　his　cheek；　then　suddenly　seemed　to　recall　he　was　reporting。　He　dropped　his　hand。　〃Sir；〃　he　added。
　　　　　　　The　other　didn't　seem　to　notice　the　guard's　lapse　in　discipline。　The　dark　eyes　roved　over　me；　and　the　amusement　in　his　smile　grew　broader。　〃So　make　it　seven　years　or　so；　to　allow　for　her　belly　to　swell。　Damn。　Yes。　That　was　the　first　year　the　Chyurda　tried　to　close　the　pass。　Chivalry　was　up　this　way　for　three；　four　months；　chivying　them　into　opening　it　to　us。　Looks　like　it　wasn't　the　only　thing　he　chivied　open。　Damn。　Who'd　have　thought　it　of　him？〃　He　paused；　then：　〃Who's　the　mother？〃　he　demanded　suddenly。
　　　　　　　The　guardsman　shifted　unfortably。　〃Don't　know；　sir。　There　was　only　the　old　plowman　on　the　doorstep；　and　all　him　said　was　that　this　was　Prince　Chivalry's　bastid；　and　he　wasn't　going　to　feed　him　ner　put　clothes　on　his　back　no　more。　Said　him　what　got　him　could　care　for　him　now。〃
　　　　　　　The　man　shrugged　as　if　the　matter　were　of　no　great　importance。　〃The　boy　looks　well　tended。　I　give　it　a　week；　a　fortnight　at　most；　before　she's　whimpering　at　the　kitchen　door　because　she　misses　her　pup。　I'll　find　out　then　if　not　before。　Here；　boy；　what　do　they　call　you？〃
　　　　　　　His　jerkin　was　closed　with　an　intricate　buckle　shaped　like　a　buck's　head。　It　was　brass；　then　gold；　then　red　as　the　flames　in　the　fireplace　moved。　〃Boy；〃　I　said。　I　do　not　know　if　I　was　merely　repeating　what　he　and　the　guardsman　had　called　me；　or　if　I　truly　had　no　name　besides　the　word。　For　a　moment　the　man　looked　surprised　and　a　look　of　what　might　have　been　pity　crossed　his　face。　But　it　disappeared　as　swiftly；　leaving　him　looking　only　disfited；　or　mildly　annoyed。　He　glanced　back　at　the　map　that　still　awaited　him　on　the　table。
　　　　　　　〃Well；〃　he　said　into　the　silence。　〃Something's　got　to　be　done　with　him；　at　least　until　Chiv　gets　back。　Jason；　see　the　boy's　fed　and　bedded　somewhere；　at　least　for　tonight。　I'll　give　some　thought　to　what's　to　be　done　with　him　tomorrow。　Can't　have　royal　bastards　cluttering　up　the　countryside。〃
　　　　　　　〃Sir；〃　said　Jason；　neither　agreeing　nor　disagreeing；　but　merely　accepting　the　order。　He　put　a　heavy　hand　on　my　shoulder　and　turned　me　back　toward　the　door。　I　went　somewhat　reluctantly；　for　the　room　was　bright　and　pleasant　and　warm。　My　cold　feet　had　started　to　tingle；　and　I　knew　if　I　could　stay　a　little　longer；　I　would　be　warmed　through。　But　the　guardsman's　hand　was　inexorable；　and　I　was　steered　out　of　the　warm　chamber　and　back　into　the　chill　dimness　of　the　dreary　corridors。
　　　　　　　They　seemed　all　the　darker　after　the　warmth　and　light；　and　endless　as　I　tried　to　match　the　guard's　stride　as　he　wound　through　them。　Perhaps　I　whimpered；　or　perhaps　he　grew　tired　of　my　slower　pace；　for　he　spun　suddenly；　seized　me；　and　tossed　me　up　to　sit　on　his　shoulder　as　casually　as　if　I　weighed　nothing　at　all。　〃Soggy　little　pup；　you；〃　he　observed；　without　rancor；　and　then　bore　me　down　corridors　and　around　turns　and　up　and　down　steps　and　finally　into　the　yellow　light　and　space　of　a　large　kitchen。
　　　　　　　There；　half　a　dozen　other　guards　lounged　on　benches　and　ate　and　drank　at　a　big　scarred　table　before　a　fire　fully　twice　as　large　as　the　one　in　the　study　had　been。　The　room　smelled　of　food；　of　beer　and　men's　sweat；　of　wet　wool　garments　and　the　smoke　of　the　wood　and　drip　of　grease　into　flames。　Hogsheads　and　small　casks　ranged　against　the　wall；　and　smoked　joints　of　meats　were　dark　shapes　hung　from　the　rafters。　The　table　bore　a　clutter　of　food　and　dishes。　A　chunk　of　meat　on　a　spit　was　swung　back　from　the　flames　and　dripping　fat　onto　the　stone　hearth。　My　stomach　clutched　suddenly　at　my　ribs　at　the　rich　smell。　Jason　set　me　rather　firmly　on　the　corner　of　the　table　closest　to　the　fire's　warmth；　jogging　the　elbow　of　a　man　whose　face　was　hidden　by　a　mug。
　　　　　　　〃Here；　Burrich；〃　Jason　said　matter…of…factly。　〃This　pup's　for　you；　now。〃　He　turned　away　from　me。　I　watched　with　interest　as　he　broke　a　corner　as　big　as　his　fist　off　a　dark　loaf；　and　then　drew　his　belt　knife　to　take　a　wedge　of　cheese　off　a　wheel。　He　pushed　these　into　my　hands；　and　then　stepping　to　the　fire；　began　sawing　a　man…sized　portion　of　meat　off　the　joint。　I　wasted　no　time　in　filling　my　mouth　with　bread　and　cheese。　Beside　me；　the　man　called　Burrich　set　down　his　mug　and　glared　around　at　Jason。
　　　　　　　〃What's　this？〃　he　asked；　sounding　very　much　like　the　man　in　the　warm　chamber。　He　had　the　same　unruly　blackness　to　his　hair　and　beard；　but　his　face　was　angular　and　narrow。　His　face　had　the　color　of　a　man　much　outdoors。　His　eyes　were　brown　rather　than　black；　and　his　hands　were　long…fingered　and　clever。　He　smelled　of　horses　and　dogs　and　blood　and　leathers。
　　　　　　　〃He's　yours　to　watch　over；　Burrich。　Prince　Verity　says　so。
　　　　　　　〃Why？〃
　　　　　　　〃You're　Chivalry's　man；　ain't　you？　Care　for　his　horse；　his　hounds；　and　his　hawks？〃
　　　　　　　〃So？〃
　　　　　　　〃So；　you　got　his　little　bastid；　at　least　until　Chivalry　gets　back　and　does　otherwise　with　him。〃　Jason　offered　me　the　slab　of　dripping　meat。　I　looked　from　the　bread　to　the　cheese　I　gripped；　loath　to　surrender　either；　but　longing　for　the　hot　meat；　too。　He　shrugged　at　seeing　my　dilemma；　and　with　a　fighting　man's　practicality；　flipped　the　meat　casually　onto　the　table　beside　my　hip。　I　stuffed　as　much　bread　into　my　mouth　as　I　could　and　shifted　to　where　I　could　watch　the　meat。
　　　　　　　〃Chivalry's　bastard？〃
　　　　　　　Jason　shrugged；　busy　with　getting　himself　bread　and　meat　and　cheese　of　his　own。　〃So　said　the　old　plowman　what　left　him　here。〃　He　layered　the　meat　and　cheese　onto　a　slab　of　bread；　took　an　immense　bite；　and　then　spoke　through　it。　〃Said　Chivalry　ought　to　be　glad　he'd　seeded　one　child；　somewhere；　and　should　feed　and　care　for　him　himself　now。
　　　　　　　An　unusual　quiet　bloomed　suddenly　in　the　kitchen。　Men　paused　in　their　eating；　gripping　bread　or　mugs　or　trenchers；　and　turned　eyes　to　the　man　called　Burrich。　He　himself　set　his　mug　carefully　away　from　the　edge　of　the　table。　His　voice　was　quiet　and　even；　his　words　precise。　〃If　my　master　has　no　heir；　'tis　Eda's　will；　and　no　fault　of　his　manhood。　The　Lady　Patience　has　always　been　delicate；　and…〃
　　　　　　　〃Even　so；　even　so；〃　Jason　was　quickly　agreeing。　〃And　there　sits　the　very　proof　that　there's　nowt　wrong　with　him　as　a　man；　as　is　all　I　was　saying；