rh.theassassinsapprentice-第43节

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oth　relieved。　We　could　grieve；　knowing　that　his　life　was　simply　over　and　we　would　miss　him。　We　no　longer　had　to　wonder　if　he　was　still　alive　and　behaving　like　a　beast；　causing　misery　to　others　and　shame　to　himself。〃
　　　　　　　I　was　silent　for　a　bit。　Then：　〃I'm　sorry。〃　It　seemed　inadequate；　and　I　reached　out　to　pat　her　motionless　hand。　For　a　second　it　was　almost　as　if　I　couldn't　feel　her　there；　as　if　her　pain　had　shocked　her　into　an　emotional　numbness　the　equal　of　a　Forged　one。　But　then　she　sighed　and　I　felt　her　presence　again　beside　me。　〃You　know；〃　I　ventured；　〃perhaps　the　King　himself　does　not　know　what　to　do　either。　Perhaps　he　is　at　as　great　a　loss　for　a　solution　as　we　are。〃
　　　　　　　〃He　is　the　King！〃　Molly　protested。　〃And　named　Shrewd　to　be　shrewd。　Folk　are　saying　now　he　but　holds　back　to　keep　the　strings　of　his　purse　tight。　Why　should　he　pay　out　of　his　hoard　when　desperate　merchants　will　hire　mercenaries　of　their　own？　But；　enough　of　this　。。。〃　and　she　held　up　a　hand　to　stop　my　words。　〃This　is　not　why　we　came　out　here　into　the　peace　and　coolness；　to　talk　of　politics　and　fears。　Tell　me　instead　of　what　you've　been　doing。　Has　the　speckled　bitch　had　her　pups　yet？〃
　　　　　　　And　so　we　spoke　of　other　things；　of　Motley's　puppies　and　of　the　wrong　stallion　getting　at　a　mare　in　season；　and　then　she　told　me　of　gathering　greencones　to　scent　her　candles　and　picking　blackberries；　and　how　busy　she　would　be　for　the　next　week；　trying　to　make　blackberry　preserves　for　the　winter　while　still　tending　the　shop　and　making　candles。
　　　　　　　We　talked　and　ate　and　drank　and　watched　the　late　sun　of　summer　as　it　lingered　low　on　the　horizon；　almost　but　not　quite　setting。　I　felt　the　tension　as　a　pleasant　thing　between　us；　as　a　suspension　and　a　wonder　both。　I　viewed　it　as　an　extension　of　my　strange　new　sense；　and　so　I　marveled　that　Molly　seemed　to　feel　and　react　to　it　as　well。　I　wanted　to　speak　to　her　about　it；　to　ask　her　if　she　was　aware　of　other　folk　in　a　similar　way。　But　I　feared　that　if　I　asked　her；　I　might　reveal　myself　as　I　had　to　Chade；　or　that　she　might　be　disgusted　by　it　as　I　knew　Burrich　would　be。　So　I　smiled；　and　we　talked；　and　I　kept　my　thoughts　to　myself。
　　　　　　　I　walked　her　home　through　the　quiet　streets　and　bid　her　good　night　at　the　door　of　the　chandlery。　She　paused　a　moment；　as　if　thinking　of　something　else　she　wanted　to　say；　but　then　gave　me　only　a　quizzical　look　and　a　softly　muttered　〃Good　night；　Newboy。〃
　　　　　　　I　took　myself　home　under　a　deeply　blue　sky　pierced　by　bright　stars；　past　the　sentries　at　their　eternal　dice　game　and　up　to　the　stables。　I　made　a　quick　round　of　the　stalls；　but　all　was　calm　and　well　there；　even　with　the　new　puppies。　I　noticed　two　strange　horses　in　one　of　the　paddocks；　and　one　lady's　palfrey　had　been　stabled。　Some　visiting　noblewoman　e　to　court；　I　decided。　I　wondered　what　had　brought　her　here　at　the　end　of　the　summer；　and　admired　the　quality　of　her　horses。　Then　I　left　the　stables　and　headed　up　to　the　keep。
　　　　　　　By　habit　my　path　took　me　through　the　kitchens。　Cook　was　familiar　with　the　appetites　of　stable　boys　and　men…at…arms　and　knew　that　regular　meals　did　not　always　suffice　to　keep　one　full。　Especially　lately　I　had　found　myself　getting　hungry　at　all　hours；　while　Mistress　Hasty　had　recently　declared　that　if　I　didn't　stop　growing　so　rapidly；　I　should　have　to　wrap　myself　in　barkcloth　like　a　wild　man；　for　she　had　no　idea　how　to　keep　me　looking　as　if　my　clothes　fit。　I　was　already　thinking　of　the　big　earthenware　bowl　that　Cook　kept　full　of　soft　biscuits　and　covered　with　a　cloth；　and　of　a　certain　wheel　of　especially　sharp　cheese；　and　how　well　both　would　go　with　some　ale　when　I　entered　the　kitchen　door。
　　　　　　　There　was　a　woman　at　the　table。　She　had　been　eating　an　apple　and　cheese；　but　at　the　sight　of　me　ing　in　the　door；　she　sprang　up　and　put　her　hand　over　her　heart　as　if　she　thought　I　were　the　Pocked　Man　himself。　I　paused。　〃I　did　not　mean　to　startle　you；　lady。　I　was　merely　hungry；　and　thought　to　get　myself　some　food。　Will　it　bother　you　if　I　stay？〃
　　　　　　　The　lady　slowly　sank　back　into　her　seat。　I　wondered　privately　what　someone　of　her　rank　was　doing　alone　in　the　kitchen　at　night。　For　her　high　birth　was　something　that　could　not　be　disguised　by　the　simple　cream　robe　she　wore　or　the　weariness　in　her　face。　This；　undoubtedly；　was　the　rider　of　the　palfrey　in　the　stable；　and　not　some　lady's　maid。　If　she　had　awakened　hungry　at　night；　why　hadn't　she　simply　bestirred　a　servant　to　fetch　something　for　her？
　　　　　　　Her　hand　rose　from　clutching　at　her　breast　to　pat　at　her　lips；　as　if　to　steady　her　uneven　breath。　When　she　spoke；　her　voice　was　well　modulated；　almost　musical。　〃I　would　not　keep　you　from　your　food。　I　was　simply　a　bit　startled。　You　。。。　came　in　so　suddenly。〃
　　　　　　　〃My　thanks；　lady。〃
　　　　　　　I　moved　around　the　big　kitchen；　from　ale　cask　to　cheese　to　bread；　but　everywhere　I　went；　her　eyes　followed　me。　Her　food　lay　ignored　on　the　table　where　she　had　dropped　it　when　I　came　in。　I　turned　from　pouring　myself　a　mug　of　ale　to　find　her　eyes　wide　upon　me。　Instantly　she　dropped　them　away。　Her　mouth　worked；　but　she　said　nothing。
　　　　　　　〃May　I　do　something　for　you？〃　I　asked　politely。　〃Help　you　find　something？　Would　you　care　for　some　ale？〃
　　　　　　　〃If　you　would　be　so　kind。〃　She　said　the　words　softly。　I　brought　her　the　mug　I　had　just　filled　and　set　it　on　the　table　before　her。　She　drew　back　when　I　came　near　her；　as　if　I　carried　some　contagion。　I　wondered　if　I　smelled　bad　from　my　stable　work　earlier。　I　decided　not；　for　Molly　would　have　surely　mentioned　it。　Molly　was　ever　frank　with　me　about　such　things。
　　　　　　　I　drew　another　mug　for　myself；　and　then；　looking　about；　decided　it　would　be　better　to　carry　my　food　off　up　to　my　room。　The　lady's　whole　attitude　bespoke　her　uneasiness　at　my　presence。　But　as　I　was　struggling　to　balance　biscuits　and　cheese　and　mug；　she　gestured　at　the　bench　opposite　her。　〃Sit　down；〃　she　told　me；　as　if　she　had　read　my　thoughts。　〃It　is　not　right　I　should　scare　you　away　from　your　meal。〃
　　　　　　　Her　tone　was　neither　mand　nor　invitation；　but　something　in　between。　I　took　the　seat　she　indicated；　my　ale　slopping　over　a　bit　as　I　juggled　food　and　mug　into　place。　I　felt　her　eyes　on　me　as　I　sat。　Her　own　food　remained　ignored　before　her。　I　ducked　my　head　to　avoid　that　gaze；　and　ate　quickly；　as　furtively　as　a　rat　in　a　corner　who　suspects　a　cat　is　behind　the　door；　waiting。　She　did　not　stare　rudely；　but　openly　watched　me；　with　the　sort　of　observation　that　made　my　hands　clumsy　and　led　to　my　acute　awareness　that　I　had　just　unthinkingly　wiped　my　mouth　on　the　back　of　my　sleeve。
　　　　　　　I　could　think　of　nothing　to　say；　and　yet　the　silence　jabbed　at　me。　The　biscuit　seemed　dry　in　my　mouth；　making　me　cough；　and　when　I　tried　to　wash　it　down　with　ale；　I　choked。　Her　eyebrows　twitched；　her　mouth　set　more　firmly。　Even　with　my　eyes　lowered　to　my　plate；　I　felt　her　gaze。　I　rushed　through　my　food；　wanting　only　to　escape　her　hazel　eyes　and　straight　silent　mouth。　I　pushed　the　last　hunks　of　bread　and　cheese　into　my　mouth　and　stood　up　quickly；　bumping　against　the　table　and　almost　knocking　the　bench　over　in　my　haste。　I　headed　toward　the　door；　then　remembered　Burrich's　instructions　about　excusing　oneself　from　a　lady's　presence。　I　swallowed　my　half…chewed　mouthful。
　　　　　　　〃Good　night　to　you；　lady；〃　I　muttered；　thinking　the　words　not　quite　right；　but　unable　to　summon　better。　I　crabbed　toward　the　door。
　　　　　　　〃Wait；〃　she　said；　and　when　I　paused；　she　asked；　〃Do　you　sleep　upstairs；　or　out　in　the　stables？〃
　　　　　　　〃Both。　Sometimes。　I　mean；　either。　Ah；　good　night；　then；　lady。〃　I　turned　and　all　but　fled。　I　was　halfway　up　the　stairs　before　I　wondered　at　the　strangeness　of　her　question。　It　was　only　when　I　went　to　undress　for　bed　that　I　realized　I　still　gripped　my　empty　ale　mug。　I　went　to　sleep；　feeling　a　fool；　and　wondering　why。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　TWELVE
　　　　　　　Patience
　　　　　　　THE　RED…SHIP　RAIDERS　WERE　a　misery　and　an　affliction　to　their　own　folk　long　before　they　troubled　the　shores　of　the　Six　Duchies。　From　obscure　cult　beginnings；　they　rose　to　both　religious　and　political　power　by　means　of　ruthless　tactics。　Chiefs　and　headmen　who　refused　to　align　with　their　beliefs　often　found　that　their　wives　and　children　had　bee　the　victims　of　what　we　have　e　to　call　Forging；　in　memory　of　the　ill…fated　town　of　Forge。　Hard…hearted　and　cruel　as　we　consider　the　Outislanders　to　be；　they　have　in　their　tradition　a　strong　vein　of　honor　and　heinous　penalties　for　those　who　break　the　kin　rules。　Imagine　the　anguish　of　the　Outislander　father　whose　son　has　been　Forged。　He　must　either　conceal　his　son's　crimes　when　the　boy　lies　to　him；　steals　from　him；　and　forces　himself　upon　the　household　women；　or　see　the　boy　flayed　alive　for　his　crimes　and　suffer　the　losses　of　both　heir　and　the　respect　of　the　other　houses。　The　threat　of　Forging　was　a　powerful　deterrent　to　opposing　the　political　power　of　the　Red…Ship　Raiders。
　　　　　　　By　the　time　the　Red…Ship　Raiders　began　to　seriously　harry　our　shores；　they　had　subdued　most　opposition　in　the　Out　Islands。　Those　who　openly　opposed　them　died　or　fled。　Others　grudgingly　paid　tribute　and　clenched　their　teeth　against　the　outrages　of　those　who　controlled　the　cult。　But　many　gladly　joined　the　ranks；　and　painted　the　hulls　of　their　raiding　vessels　red　and　never　qu