rh.theassassinsapprentice-第36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！


　　　　　　　〃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　here　to　listen　in　the　town；　to　women's　talk；　as　you　were　to　listen　in　the　keep。　Bonnet　makers　and　button　sellers　may　know　more　than　a　high　king's　adviser；　without　even　knowing　they　know　it。　Now。　Do　we　ride？〃
　　　　　　　We　did。　We　left　by　the　side　entrance；　and　the　bay　was　tethered　right　outside。　Sooty　didn't　much　care　for　him；　but　she　minded　her　manners。　I　sensed　Chade's　impatience；　but　he　kept　the　horses　to　an　easy　pace　until　we　had　left　the　cobbled　streets　of　Neatbay　behind　us。　Once　the　lights　of　the　houses　were　behind　us；　we　put　our　horses　to　an　easy　canter。　Chade　led；　and　I　wondered　at　how　well　he　rode；　and　how　effortlessly　he　selected　paths　in　the　dark。　Sooty　did　not　like　this　swift　traveling　by　night。　If　it　had　not　been　for　a　moon　nearly　at　the　full；　I　don't　think　I　could　have　persuaded　her　to　keep　up　with　the　bay。
　　　　　　　I　will　never　forget　that　night　ride。　Not　because　it　was　a　wild　gallop　to　the　rescue；　but　because　it　was　not。　Chade　guided　us　and　used　the　horses　as　if　they　were　game　pieces　on　a　board。　He　did　not　play　swiftly；　but　to　win。　And　so　there　were　times　when　we　walked　the　horses　to　breathe　them；　and　places　on　the　trail　where　we　dismounted　and　led　them　to　get　them　safely　past　treacherous　places。
　　　　　　　As　morning　grayed　the　sky　we　stopped　to　eat　provisions　from　Chade's　saddlebags。　We　were　on　a　hilltop　so　thickly　treed　that　the　sky　was　barely　glimpsed　overhead。　I　could　hear　the　ocean；　and　smell　it；　but　could　catch　no　sight　of　it。　Our　trail　had　bee　a　sinuous　path；　little　more　than　a　deer　run；　through　these　woods。　Now　that　we　were　still；　I　could　hear　and　smell　the　life　all　around　us。　Birds　called；　and　I　heard　the　movement　of　small　animals　in　the　underbrush　and　in　the　branches　overhead。　Chade　had　stretched；　then　sank　down　to　sit　on　deep　moss　with　his　back　against　a　tree。　He　drank　deeply　from　a　water　skin　and　then　more　briefly　from　a　brandy　flask。　He　looked　tired；　and　the　daylight　exposed　his　age　more　cruelly　than　lamplight　ever　had。　I　wondered　if　he　would　last　through　the　ride　or　collapse。
　　　　　　　〃I'll　be　fine；〃　he　said　when　he　caught　me　watching　him。　〃I've　had　to　do　more　arduous　duty　than　this；　and　on　less　sleep。　Besides；　we'll　have　a　good　five　or　six　hours　of　rest　on　the　boat；　if　the　crossing　is　smooth。　So　there's　no　need　to　be　longing　after　sleep。　Let's　go；　boy。〃
　　　　　　　About　two　hours　later　our　path　diverged；　and　again　we　'took　the　more　obscure　branching。　Before　long　I　was　all　but　lying　on　Sooty's　neck　to　escape　the　low　sweeps　of　the　branches。　It　was　muggy　under　the　trees　and　we　were　blessed　with　multitudes　of　tiny　stinging　flies　that　tortured　the　horses　and　crept　into　my　clothes　to　find　flesh　to　feast　on。　So　thick　were　they　that　when　I　finally　mustered　the　courage　to　ask　Chade　if　we　had　gone　astray；　I　near　choked　on　the　ones　that　rushed　into　my　mouth。
　　　　　　　By　midday　we　emerged　onto　a　windswept　hillside　that　was　more　open。　Once　more　I　saw　the　ocean。　The　wind　cooled　the　sweating　horses　and　swept　the　insects　away。　It　was　a　great　pleasure　simply　to　sit　upright　in　the　saddle　again。　The　trail　was　wide　enough　that　I　could　ride　abreast　of　Chade。　The　livid　spots　stood　out　starkly　against　his　pale　skin；　he　looked　more　bloodless　than　the　Fool。　Dark　circles　underscored　his　eyes。　He　caught　me　watching　him　and　frowned。
　　　　　　　〃Report　to　me；　instead　of　staring　at　me　like　a　simpleton；〃　he　ordered　me　tersely；　and　so　I　did。
　　　　　　　It　was　hard　to　watch　the　trail　and　his　face　at　the　same　time；　but　the　second　time　he　snorted；　I　glanced　over　at　him　to　find　wry　amusement　on　his　face。　I　finished　my　report　and　he　shook　his　head。
　　　　　　　〃Luck。　Same　luck　your　father　had。　Your　kitchen　diplomacy　may　be　enough　to　turn　the　situation　around；　if　that　is　all　there　is　to　it。　The　little　gossip　I　heard　agreed。　Well。　Kelvar　was　a　good　duke　before　this；　and　it　sounds　like　all　that　happened　was　a　young　bride　going　to　his　head。〃　He　sighed　suddenly。　〃Still；　it's　bad；　with　Verity　there　to　rebuke　a　man　for　not　minding　his　towers；　and　Verity　himself　with　a　raid　on　a　Buckkeep　Town。　Damn！　There's　so　much　we　don't　know。　How　did　the　Raiders　get　past　our　towers　without　being　spotted？　How　did　they　know　that　Verity　was　away　from　Buckkeep　at　Neatbay？　Or　did　they　know？　Was　it　luck　for　them？　And　what　does　that　strange　ultimatum　mean？　Is　it　a　threat；　or　a　mockery？〃　For　a　moment　we　rode　silently。
　　　　　　　〃I　wish　I　knew　what　action　Shrewd　was　taking。　When　he　sent　me　the　messenger；　he　had　not　yet　decided。　We　may　get　to　Forge　to　find　that　all's　been　settled　already。　And　I　wish　I　knew　exactly　what　message　he　Skilled　to　Verity。　They　say　that　in　the　old　days；　when　more　men　trained　in　the　Skill；　a　man　could　tell　what　his　leader　was　thinking　about　just　by　being　silent　and　listening　for　a　while。　But　that　may　be　no　more　than　a　legend。　Not　many　are　taught　the　Skill；　anymore。　I　think　it　was　King　Bounty　who　decided　that。　Keep　the　Skill　more　secret；　more　of　an　elite　tool；　and　it　bees　more　valuable。　That　was　the　logic　then。　I　never　much　understood　it。　What　if　they　said　that　of　good　bowmen；　or　navigators？　Still；　I　suppose　the　aura　of　mystery　might　give　a　leader　more　status　with　his　men　。。。　or　for　a　man　like　Shrewd；　now；　he'd　enjoy　having　his　underlings　wondering　if　he　can　actually　pick　up　what　they　were　thinking　without　their　uttering　a　word。　Yes；　that　would　appeal　to　Shrewd；　that　would。〃
　　　　　　　At　first　I　thought　Chade　was　very　worried；　or　even　angry。　I　had　never　heard　him　ramble　so　on　a　topic。　But　when　his　horse　shied　over　a　squirrel　crossing　his　path；　Chade　was　very　nearly　unseated。　I　reached　out　and　caught　at　his　reins。　〃Are　you　all　right？　What's　the　matter？〃
　　　　　　　He　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃Nothing。　When　we　get　to　the　boat；　I'll　be　all　right。　We　just　have　to　keep　going。　It's　not　much　farther　now。〃　His　pale　skin　had　bee　gray；　and　with　every　step　his　horse　took；　he　swayed　in　his　saddle。
　　　　　　　〃Let's　rest　a　bit；〃　I　suggested。
　　　　　　　〃Tides　won't　wait。　And　rest　wouldn't　help　me；　not　the　rest　I'd　get　while　I　was　worrying　about　our　boat　going　on　the　rocks。　No。　We　just　have　to　keep　going。〃　And　he　added；　〃Trust　me；　boy。　I　know　what　I　can　do；　and　I'm　not　so　foolish　as　to　attempt　more　than　that。〃
　　　　　　　And　so　we　went　on。　There　was　very　little　else　we　could　do。　But　I　rode　beside　his　horse's　head；　where　I　could　take　his　reins　if　I　needed　to。　The　sound　of　the　ocean　grew　louder；　and　the　trail　much　steeper。　Soon　I　was　leading　the　way　whether　I　would　or　no。
　　　　　　　We　broke　clear　of　brush　pletely　on　a　bluff　overlooking　a　sandy　beach。　〃Thank　Eda；　they're　here；〃　Chade　muttered　behind　me；　and　then　I　saw　the　shallow　draft　boat　that　was　all　but　grounded　near　the　point。　A　man　on　watch　hallooed　and　waved　his　cap　in　the　air。　I　lifted　my　arm　in　return　greeting。
　　　　　　　We　made　our　way　down；　sliding　more　than　riding；　and　then　Chade　immediately　boarded。　That　left　me　with　the　horses。　Neither　was　anxious　to　enter　the　waves；　let　alone　heave　themselves　over　the　low　rail　and　up　onto　deck。　I　tried　to　quest　toward　them；　to　let　them　know　what　I　wanted。　For　the　first　time　in　my　life　I　found　I　was　simply　too　tired。　I　could　not　find　the　focus　I　needed。　So　three　deckhands；　much　cursing；　and　two　duckings　for　me　were　required　to　finally　get　them　loaded。　Every　bit　of　leather　and　every　buckle　on　their　harness　had　been　doused　with　salt　water。　How　was　I　going　to　explain　that　to　Burrich？　That　was　the　thought　that　was　uppermost　on　my　mind　as　I　settled　myself　in　the　bow　and　watched　the　rowers　in　the　dory　bend　their　backs　to　the　oars　and　tow　us　out　to　deeper　water。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　TEN
　　　　　　　Revelations
　　　　　　　TIME　AND　TIDE　WAIT　for　no　man。　There's　an　ageless　adage。　Sailors　and　fishermen　mean　it　simply　to　say　that　a　boat's　schedule　is　determined　by　the　ocean；　not　man's　convenience。　But　sometimes　I　lie　here；　after　the　tea　has　calmed　the　worst　of　the　pain；　and　wonder　about　it。　Tides　wait　for　no　man；　and　that　I　know　is　true。　But　time？　Did　the　times　I　was　born　into　await　my　birth　to　be？　Did　the　events　rumble　into　place　like　the　great　wooden　gears　of　the　clock　of　Sayntanns；　meshing　with　my　conception　and　pushing　my　life　along？　I　make　no　claim　to　greatness。　And　yet；　had　I　not　been　born；　had　not　my　parents　fallen　before　a　surge　of　lust；　so　much　would　be　different。　So　much。　Better？　I　think　not。　And　then　I　blink　and　try　to　focus　my　eyes；　and　wonder　if　these　thoughts　e　from　me　or　from　the　drug　in　my　blood。　It　would　be　nice　to　hold　counsel　with　Chade；　one　last　time。
　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　The　sun　had　moved　'round　to　late　afternoon　when　someone　nudged　me　awake。　〃Your　master　wants　you；〃　was　all　he　said；　and　I　roused　with　a　start。　Gulls　wheeling　overhead；　fresh　sea　air；　and　the　dignified　waddle　of　the　boat　recalled　me　to　where　I　was。　I　scrambled　to　my　feet；　ashamed　to　have　fallen　asleep　without　even　wondering　if　Chade　was　fortable。　I　hurried　aft　to　the　ship's　house。
　　　　　　　There　I　found　Chade　had　taken　over　the　tiny　galley　table。　He　was　poring　over　a　map　spread　out　on　it；　but　a　large　tureen　of　fish　chowder　was　what　got　my　attention。　He　motioned　me　to　it　without　taking　his　attention　from　the　map；　and　I　was　glad　to　fall　to。　There　were　ship's　b