rh.theassassinsapprentice-第35节

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p　Raiders　could　not　breach。　She　stood　before　them；　and　jewels　were　in　her　hands；　and　she　said；　'Let　the　watchtowers　shine　brighter　than　the　gems　in　these　rings。　Let　the　vigilant　soldiers　who　man　them　encircle　our　coast　as　these　pearls　used　to　encircle　my　neck。　Let　the　keeps　be　strengthened　anew　against　those　who　threaten　our　people。　For　I　would　be　glad　to　walk　plain　in　the　sight　of　both　King　and　moner；　and　let　the　defenses　that　guard　our　people　bee　the　jewels　of　our　land。'　And　the　King　and　his　dukes　were　astounded　at　her　wise　heart　and　noble　ways。　But　her　people　loved　her　best　of　all；　for　they　knew　she　loved　them　better　than　gold　or　silver。〃
　　　　　　　It　was　awkward；　not　near　as　cleverly　spoken　as　I　had　hoped　to　make　it。　But　it　caught　her　fancy。　I　could　see　her　imagining　herself　standing　straight　and　noble　before　the　King…in…Waiting　and　astonishing　him　with　her　sacrifice。　I　sensed　in　her　the　burning　desire　to　distinguish　herself；　to　be　spoken　of　admiringly　by　the　people　she　had　e　from。　Perhaps　she　had　once　been　a　milkmaid　or　a　kitchen　wench；　and　was　still　perceived　as　such　by　those　who　knew　her。　This　would　show　them　she　was　now　a　duchess　in　more　than　name。　Lord　Shemshy　and　his　entourage　would　carry　word　of　her　deed　back　to　Shoaks　Duchy。　Minstrels　would　celebrate　her　words　in　song。　And　her　husband　for　once　would　be　surprised　by　her。　Let　him　see　her　as　someone　who　cared　for　the　land　and　folk；　rather　than　the　pretty　little　thing　he　had　snared　with　his　title。　Almost　I　could　see　the　thoughts　parade　through　her　mind。　Her　eyes　had　gone　distant　and　she　wore　an　abstract　smile。
　　　　　　　〃Good　night；　dog　boy；〃　she　said　softly；　and　glided　from　the　kitchen；　her　dog　cuddled　against　her　breast。　She　wore　the　blanket　around　her　shoulders　as　if　it　were　a　cloak　of　ermine。　She　would　play　her　role　tomorrow　very　well。　I　grinned　suddenly；　wondering　if　I　had　acplished　my　mission　without　poison。　Not　that　I　had　really　investigated　whether　or　not　Kelvar　was　guilty　of　treason；　but　I　had　a　feeling　that　I　had　chopped　the　root　of　the　problem。　I　was　willing　to　bet　that　the　watchtowers　would　be　well　manned　before　the　week　was　out。
　　　　　　　I　made　my　way　back　up　to　my　bed。　I　had　pilfered　a　loaf　of　fresh　bread　from　the　kitchen　and　this　I　offered　to　the　guards　who　readmitted　me　to　Verity's　bedchamber。　In　some　distant　part　of　Bayguard　someone　brayed　out　the　hour。　I　didn't　pay　much　attention。　I　burrowed　back　into　my　bedding；　my　belly　satisfied　and　my　spirit　anticipating　the　spectacle　that　Lady　Grace　would　present　tomorrow。　As　I　dozed　off　I　was　wagering　with　myself　that　she　would　wear　something　straight　and　simple　and　white；　and　that　her　hair　would　be　unbound。
　　　　　　　I　never　got　to　find　out。　It　seemed　but　moments　later　that　I　was　shaken　awake。　I　opened　my　eyes　to　find　Charim　crouched　over　me。　A　dim　light　from　a　lit　candle　made　elongated　shadows　on　the　chamber　walls。　〃Wake　up；　Fitz；〃　he　whispered　hoarsely。　〃A　runner's　e　to　the　keep；　from　Lady　Thyme。　She　requires　you　immediately。　Your　horse　is　being　made　ready。〃
　　　　　　　〃Me？〃　I　asked　stupidly。
　　　　　　　〃Of　course。　I've　laid　out　clothes　for　you。　Dress　quietly。　Verity　is　still　asleep。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　does　she　need　me　for？〃
　　　　　　　〃Why；　I　don't　know。　The　message　wasn't　specific。　Perhaps　she's　taken　ill。　Fitz。　The　runner　said　only　that　she　required　you　immediately。　I　suppose　you'll　find　out　when　you　get　there。〃
　　　　　　　That　was　slim　fort。　But　it　was　enough　to　stir　curiosity　in　me；　and　in　any　case；　I　had　to　go。　I　didn't　know　exactly　what　relation　Lady　Thyme　was　to　the　King；　but　she　was　far　above　me　in　importance。　I　didn't　dare　ignore　her　mand。　I　dressed　quickly　by　candlelight　and　left　my　room　for　the　second　time　that　night。　Hands　had　Sooty　saddled　and　ready；　along　with　a　ribald　jest　or　two　about　my　summons。　I　suggested　how　he　might　amuse　himself　the　rest　of　the　night　and　then　left。　I　was　waved　out　of　the　keep　and　through　the　fortifications　by　guards　who　had　been　advised　of　my　ing。
　　　　　　　I　turned　wrong　twice　in　the　town。　It　all　appeared　different　by　night；　and　I　had　not　paid　much　attention　to　where　I　had　been　going　earlier。　At　last　I　found　the　inn　yard。　A　worried　innkeeper　was　awake　and　had　a　light　in　the　window。　〃She's　been　groaning　and　calling　for　you　for　most　of　an　hour　now；　sirrah；〃　she　told　me　anxiously。　〃I　fear　it's　serious；　but　she　will　let　no　one　in　but　you。〃
　　　　　　　I　hurried　down　the　hall　to　her　door。　I　tapped　cautiously；　half　expecting　her　shrill　voice　to　tell　me　to　go　away　and　stop　bothering　her。　Instead；　a　quavering　voice　called　out；　〃Oh；　Fitz；　is　that　finally　you？　Hurry　in；　boy。　I　need　you。
　　　　　　　I　took　a　deep　breath　and　lifted　the　latch。　I　went　into　the　semidarkness　of　the　stuffy　room；　holding　my　breath　against　the　various　smells　that　assaulted　my　nostrils。　Death　stench　could　hardly　be　worse　than　this；　I　thought　to　myself。
　　　　　　　Heavy　hangings　draped　the　bed。　The　only　light　in　the　room　came　from　a　single　candle　guttering　in　its　holder。　I　picked　it　up　and　ventured　closer　to　the　bed。　〃Lady　Thyme？〃　I　asked　softly。　〃What's　wrong？〃
　　　　　　　〃Boy。〃　The　voice　came　quietly　from　a　dark　corner　of　the　room。
　　　　　　　〃Chade；〃　I　said；　and　instantly　felt　more　foolish　than　I　care　to　remember。
　　　　　　　〃There's　no　time　to　explain　all　the　reasons。　Don't　feel　bad；　boy。　Lady　Thyme　has　fooled　many　folk　in　her　time；　and　will　continue　to。　At　least　I　hope　so。　Now。　Trust　me　and　don't　ask　questions。　Just　do　what　I　tell　you。　First；　go　to　the　innkeeper。　Tell　her　that　Lady　Thyme　has　had　one　of　her　attacks　and　must　rest　quietly　for　a　few　days。　Tell　her　on　no　account　to　disturb　her。　Her　great…granddaughter　will　be　ing　in　to　care　for　her…〃
　　　　　　　〃Who…〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　been　arranged　already。　And　her　great…granddaughter　will　be　bringing　in　food　for　her　and　everything　else　she　needs。　Just　emphasize　that　Lady　Thyme　needs　quiet　and　to　be　left　alone。　Go　and　do　that　now。〃
　　　　　　　And　I　did；　and　I　appeared　jolted　enough　that　I　was　very　convincing。　The　innkeeper　promised　me　that　she　would　let　no　one　so　much　as　tap　on　a　door；　for　she　would　be　most　reluctant　to　lose　Lady　Thyme's　good　opinion　of　her　inn　and　her　trade。　By　which　I　surmised　that　Lady　Thyme　paid　her　generously　indeed。
　　　　　　　I　reentered　the　room　quietly；　shutting　the　door　softly　behind　me。　Chade　shot　the　bolt　and　kindled　a　fresh　candle　from　the　glimmering　stump。　He　spread　a　small　map　on　the　table　beside　it。　I　noticed　he　was　dressed　for　traveling…cloak；　boots；　jerkin；　and　trousers　all　of　black。　He　looked　a　different　man；　suddenly；　very　fit　and　energetic。　I　wondered　if　the　old　man　in　the　worn　robe　was　also　a　pose。　He　glanced　up　at　me；　and　for　a　moment　I　would　have　sworn　it　was　Verity　the　soldier　I　was　facing。　He　gave　me　no　time　to　muse。
　　　　　　　〃Things　will　have　to　go　here　however　they　will　go　between　Verity　and　Kelvar。　You　and　I　have　business　elsewhere。　I　received　a　message　tonight。　Red…Ship　Raiders　have　struck；　here；　at　Forge。　So　close　to　Buckkeep　that　it's　more　than　just　an　insult；　it's　a　real　threat。　And　done　while　Verity　is　at　Neatbay。　Don't　tell　me　they　didn't　know　he　was　here；　away　from　Buckkeep。　But　that's　not　all。　They've　taken　hostages；　dragged　them　back　to　their　ships。　And　they've　sent　words　to　Buckkeep；　to　King　Shrewd　himself。
　　　　　　　They're　demanding　gold；　lots　of　it；　or　they'll　return　the　hostages　to　the　village。〃
　　　　　　　〃Don't　you　mean　they'll　kill　them　if　they　don't　get　the　gold？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。〃　Chade　shook　his　head　angrily；　a　bear　bothered　by　bees。　〃No；　the　message　was　quite　clear。　If　the　gold　is　paid；　they'll　kill　them。　If　not；　they'll　release　them。　The　messenger　was　from　Forge；　a　man　whose　wife　and　son　had　been　taken。　He　insisted　he　had　the　threat　correct。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　see　that　we　have　a　problem；〃　I　snorted。
　　　　　　　〃On　the　surface；　neither　do　I。　But　the　man　who　carried　the　message　to　Shrewd　was　still　shaking；　despite　his　long　ride。　He　couldn't　explain　it；　not　even　say　if　he　thought　the　gold　should　be　paid　or　not。　All　he　could　do　was　repeat；　over　and　over；　how　the　ship's　captain　had　smiled　as　he　delivered　the　ultimatum；　and　how　the　other　raiders　had　laughed　and　laughed　at　his　words。
　　　　　　　〃So；　we　go　to　see；　you　and　I。　Now。　Before　the　King　makes　any　official　response；　before　Verity　even　knows。　Now　attend。　This　is　the　road　we　came　by。　See　how　it　follows　the　curve　of　the　coast？　And　this　is　the　trail　we　go　by。　Straighter；　but　much　steeper　and　boggy　in　places；　so　that　it　has　never　been　used　by　wagons。　But　faster　for　men　on　horseback。　Here；　a　small　boat　awaits　us；　crossing　the　bay　will　cut　a　lot　of　miles　and　time　from　our　journey。　We'll　beach　here；　and　then　on　up　to　Forge。〃
　　　　　　　I　studied　the　map。　Forge　was　north　of　Buckkeep；　I　wondered　how　long　our　messenger　had　taken　to　reach　us；　and　if　by　the　time　we　got　there　the　Red…Ship　Raiders'　threat　would　have　already　been　carried　out。　But　it　was　no　use　wasting　time　on　wondering。
　　　　　　　〃What　about　a　horse　for　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　been　arranged。　By　the　one　who　brought　this　message。　There's　a　bay　outside　with　three　white　feet。　He's　for　me。　The　messenger　will　also　provide　a　great…granddaughter　for　Lady　Thyme；　and　the　boat　is　waiting。　Let's　go。
　　　　　　　〃One　thing；〃　I　said；　and　ignored　his　scowl　at　the　delay。
　　　　　　　〃I　have　to　ask　this；　Chade。　Were　you　here　because　you　didn't　trust　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃A　fair　question；　I　suppose。　No。　I　was　her