rh.theassassinsapprentice-第44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！


t。　But　many　gladly　joined　the　ranks；　and　painted　the　hulls　of　their　raiding　vessels　red　and　never　questioned　the　rightness　of　what　they　did。　It　seems　likely　that　these　converts　were　formed　mostly　from　the　lesser　houses；　who　had　never　before　been　offered　the　opportunity　to　rise　in　influence。　But　he　who　controlled　the　Red…Ship　Raiders　cared　nothing　for　who　a　man's　forebears　had　been；　so　long　as　he　had　the　man's　unswerving　loyalty。
　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　I　saw　the　lady　twice　more　before　I　discovered　who　she　was。　The　second　time　I　saw　her　was　the　next　night；　at　about　the　same　hour。　Molly　had　been　busy　with　her　berries；　so　I　had　gone　out　for　an　evening　of　tavern　music　with　Kerry　and　Dirk。　I　had　had　perhaps　one　or　at　most　two　mugs　more　of　ale　than　I　should　have。　I　was　neither　dizzy　nor　sick；　but　I　was　placing　my　feet　carefully；　for　I　had　already　taken　one　tumble　in　a　pothole　on　the　dusky　road。
　　　　　　　Separate　but　adjacent　to　the　dusty　kitchen　courtyard　with　its　cobbles　and　wagon　docks　is　a　hedged　area。　It　is　monly　referred　to　as　the　Women's　Garden；　not　because　it　is　exclusively　their　province　but　simply　because　they　have　the　tending　and　the　knowing　of　it。　It　is　a　pleasant　place；　with　a　pond　in　the　middle；　and　many　low　beds　of　herbs　set　among　flowering　plantings；　fruit　vines；　and　green　stoned　pathways。　I　knew　better　than　to　go　straight　to　bed　when　I　was　in　this　condition。　If　I　attempted　to　sleep　now；　the　bed　would　begin　to　spin　and　sway；　and　within　an　hour　I　would　be　puking　sick。　It　had　been　a　pleasant　evening；　and　that　seemed　a　wretched　way　to　end　it；　so　I　took　myself　to　the　Women's　Garden　instead　of　my　room。
　　　　　　　In　one　angle　of　the　garden；　between　a　sun…warmed　wall　and　a　smaller　pond；　there　grow　seven　varieties　of　thyme。　Their　fragrances　on　a　hot　day　can　be　giddying；　but　now；　with　evening　verging　on　night；　the　mingling　scents　seemed　to　soothe　my　head。　I　splashed　my　face　in　the　little　pool；　and　then　put　my　back　to　the　rock　wall　that　was　still　releasing　the　sun's　heat　back　to　the　night。　Frogs　were　chirruping　to　one　another。　I　lowered　my　eyes　and　watched　the　pond's　calm　surface　to　keep　myself　from　spinning。
　　　　　　　Footsteps。　Then　a　woman's　voice　asked　tartly；　〃Are　you　drunk？〃
　　　　　　　〃Not　quite；〃　I　replied　affably；　thinking　it　was　Tilly　the　orchard　girl。　〃Not　quite　enough　time　or　coin；〃　I　added　jokingly。
　　　　　　　〃I　suppose　you　learned　it　from　Burrich。　The　man　is　a　sot　and　a　lecher；　and　he　has　cultivated　like　traits　in　you。　Ever　he　brings　those　around　him　down　to　his　level。〃
　　　　　　　The　bitterness　in　the　woman's　voice　made　me　look　up。　I　squinted　through　the　dimming　light　to　make　out　her　features。　It　was　the　lady　of　the　previous　evening。　Standing　on　the　garden　path；　in　a　simple　shift；　she　looked　at　first　glance　to　be　little　more　than　a　girl。　She　was　slender；　and　less　tall　than　I；　though　I　was　not　overly　tall　for　my　fourteen　years。　But　her　face　was　a　woman's；　and　right　now　her　mouth　was　set　in　a　condemning　line；　echoed　by　the　brows　knit　over　her　hazel　eyes。　Her　hair　was　dark　and　curling；　and　though　she　had　tried　to　restrain　it；　ringlets　of　it　had　escaped　at　her　forehead　and　neck。
　　　　　　　It　was　not　that　I　felt　pelled　to　defend　Burrich；　it　was　simply　that　my　condition　was　no　doing　of　his。　So　I　made　answer　something　to　the　effect　that　as　he　was　some　miles　distant　in　a　different　town；　he　could　scarcely　be　responsible　for　what　I　put　in　my　mouth　and　swallowed。
　　　　　　　The　lady　came　two　steps　closer。　〃But　he　has　never　taught　you　better；　has　he？　He　has　never　counseled　you　against　drunkenness；　has　he？〃
　　　　　　　There　is　a　saying　from　the　Southlands　that　there　is　truth　in　wine。　There　must　be　a　bit　of　it　in　ale；　also。　I　spoke　it　that　night。　〃Actually；　my　lady；　he　would　be　greatly　displeased　with　me　right　now。　First；　he　would　berate　me　for　not　arising　when　a　lady　spoke　to　me。〃　And　here　I　lurched　to　my　feet。　〃And　then；　he　would　lecture　me　long　and　severely　about　the　behavior　expected　from　one　who　carries　a　prince's　blood；　if　not　his　titles。〃　I　managed　a　bow；　and　when　I　succeeded；　I　distinguished　myself　by　straightening　up　with　a　flourish。　〃So；　good　evening　to　you；　fair　lady　of　the　garden。　I　bid　you　good　night；　and　I　shall　remove　my　oafish　self　from　your　presence。〃
　　　　　　　I　was　all　the　way　to　the　arched　entryway　in　the　wall　when　she　called　out；　〃Wait！〃　But　my　stomach　gave　a　quietly　protesting　grumble；　and　I　pretended　not　to　hear。　She　did　not　e　after　me；　but　I　felt　sure　she　watched　me；　and　so　I　kept　my　head　up　and　my　stride　even　until　I　was　out　of　the　kitchen　courtyard。　I　took　myself　down　to　the　stables；　where　I　vomited　into　the　manure　pile　and　ended　up　sleeping　in　a　clean　empty　stall　because　the　steps　up　to　Burrich's　loft　looked　entirely　too　steep。
　　　　　　　But　youth　is　amazingly　resilient；　especially　when　feeling　threatened。　I　was　up　at　dawn　the　next　day；　for　I　knew　Burrich　was　expected　home　by　afternoon。　I　washed　myself　at　the　stables　and　decided　the　tunic　I　had　worn　for　the　last　three　days　needed　to　be　replaced。　I　was　doubly　conscious　of　its　condition　when　in　the　corridor　outside　my　room　the　lady　accosted　me。　She　looked　me　up　and　down；　and　before　I　could　speak；　she　addressed　me。
　　　　　　　〃Change　your　shirt；〃　she　told　me。　And　then　added；　〃Those　leggings　make　you　look　like　a　stork。　Tell　Mistress　Hasty　they　need　replacing。〃
　　　　　　　〃Good　morning；　lady；〃　I　said。　It　was　not　a　reply；　but　those　were　the　only　words　that　came　to　me　in　my　astonishment。　I　decided　she　was　very　eccentric；　even　more　so　than　Lady　Thyme。　My　best　course　was　to　humor　her。　I　expected　her　to　turn　aside　and　go　on　her　way。　Instead　she　continued　to　hold　me　with　her　eyes。
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　play　a　musical　instrument？〃　she　demanded。
　　　　　　　I　shook　my　head　mutely。
　　　　　　　〃You　sing；　then？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　my　lady。〃
　　　　　　　She　looked　troubled　as　she　asked；　〃Then　perhaps　you　have　been　taught　to　recite　the　Epics　and　the　knowledge　verses；　of　herbs　and　healings　and　navigation　。。。　that　sort　of　thing？〃
　　　　　　　〃Only　the　ones　that　pertain　to　the　care　of　horses；　hawks；　and　dogs；〃　I　told　her；　almost　honestly。　Burrich　had　demanded　I　learn　those。　Chade　had　taught　me　a　set　about　poisons　and　antidotes；　but　he　had　warned　me　they　were　not　monly　known；　and　were　not　to　be　casually　recited。
　　　　　　　〃But　you　dance；　of　course？　And　you　have　been　instructed　in　the　making　of　verse？〃
　　　　　　　I　was　totally　confused。　〃Lady；　I　think　you　have　confused　me　with　someone　else。　Perhaps　you　are　thinking　of　August；　the　King's　nephew。　He　is　but　a　year　or　two　younger　than　I　and…〃
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　mistaken。　Answer　my　question！〃　she　demanded；　almost　shrilly。
　　　　　　　〃No；　my　lady。　The　teachings　you　speak　of　are　for　those　who　are　。。。　wellborn。　I　have　not　been　taught　them。〃
　　　　　　　At　each　of　my　denials；　she　had　appeared　more　troubled。　Her　mouth　grew　straighter；　and　her　hazel　eyes　clouded。　〃This　is　not　to　be　tolerated；〃　she　declared；　and　turning　in　a　flurry　of　skirts；　she　hastened　off　down　the　hallway。　After　a　moment　I　went　into　my　room；　changed　my　shirt；　and　put　on　the　longest　pair　of　leggings　I　owned。　I　dismissed　the　lady　from　my　thoughts　and　threw　myself　into　my　chores　and　lessons　for　the　day。
　　　　　　　It　was　raining　that　afternoon　when　Burrich　returned。　I　met　him　outside　the　stables；　taking　his　horse's　head　as　he　swung　stiffly　down　from　the　saddle。　〃You've　grown；　Fitz；〃　he　observed；　and　looked　me　over　with　a　critical　eye；　as　if　I　were　a　horse　or　hound　that　was　showing　unexpected　potential。　He　opened　his　mouth　as　if　to　say　something　more；　then　shook　his　head　and　gave　a　half　snort。　〃Well？〃　he　asked；　and　I　began　my　report。
　　　　　　　He　had　been　gone　scarcely　more　than　a　month；　but　Burrich　liked　to　know　things　down　to　the　smallest　detail。　He　walked　beside　me；　listening；　as　I　led　his　horse　to　stall　and　proceeded　to　care　for　her。
　　　　　　　Sometimes　it　surprised　me　how　much　like　Chade　he　could　be。　They　were　very　alike　in　the　way　they　expected　me　to　recall　exact　details；　and　to　be　able　to　relate　the　doings　of　last　week　or　last　month　in　correct　order。　Learning　to　report　for　Chade　had　not　been　that　difficult；　he　had　merely　formalized　the　requirements　that　Burrich　had　long　expected　of　me。　Years　later　I　was　to　realize　how　similar　it　was　to　the　reporting　of　a　man…at…arms　to　his　superior。
　　　　　　　Another　man　would　have　gone　off　to　the　kitchens　or　the　baths　after　hearing　my　summarized　version　of　everything　that　had　gone　on　in　his　absence。　But　Burrich　insisted　on　walking　through　his　stables；　stopping　here　to　chat　with　a　groom　and　there　to　speak　softly　to　a　horse。　When　he　came　to　the　lady's　old　palfrey；　he　stopped。　He　looked　at　the　horse　for　a　few　minutes　in　silence。
　　　　　　　〃I　trained　this　beast；〃　he　said　abruptly；　and　at　his　voice　the　horse　turned　in　the　stall　to　face　him　and　whickered　softly。　〃Silk；〃　he　said　softly；　and　stroked　the　soft　nose。　He　sighed　suddenly。　〃So　the　Lady　Patience　is　here。　Has　she　seen　you　yet？〃
　　　　　　　Now　there　was　a　question　difficult　to　answer。　A　thousand　thoughts　collided　in　my　head　at　once。　The　Lady　Patience；　my　father's　wife；　and　by　many　accounts；　the　one　most　responsible　for　my　father's　withdrawal　from　the　court　and　from　me。　That　was　who　I　had　been　chatting　with　in　the　kitchen；　and　drunkenly　saluting。　That　was　who　had　quizzed　me　this　morning　on　my　education。　To　Burrich　I　muttered；　〃Not　formally。　But　we've　met。〃
　　　　　　　He　surprised