rh.theassassinsapprentice-第77节

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west。
　　　　　　　Our　path　would　lead　us　up　the　banks　of　the　Buckriver；　which　we　would　ford　at　its　wide　shallows　near　where　the　borders　of　Buck　and　Farrow　Duchies　touched。　From　there　we　would　journey　across　Farrow's　wide　plains；　in　baking　heat　I　had　never　encountered　before；　until　we　reached　Blue　Lake。　From　Blue　Lake；　we　would　follow　a　river　named　simply　Cold　whose　origins　were　in　the　Mountain　Kingdom。　From　the　Cold　Ford　the　trading　road　began；　that　led　between　the　mountains　and　through　their　shadows　and　up；　ever　up；　to　Storm　Pass；　and　thence　to　the　thick　green　forests　of　the　Rain　Wilds。　But　we　would　not　go　so　far　as　that；　but　would　stop　at　Jhaampe；　which　was　as　close　to　a　city　as　the　Mountain　Kingdom　possessed。
　　　　　　　In　some　ways；　it　was　an　unremarkable　journey；　if　one　discounts　all　that　inevitably　goes　with　such　journeys。　After　the　first　three　days　or　so；　things　settled　into　a　remarkably　monotonous　routine；　varied　only　by　the　different　countryside　we　passed。　Every　little　village　or　hamlet　along　our　road　turned　out　to　greet　us　and　delay　us；　with　official　best　wishes　and　felicitations　for　the　Crown　Prince's　wedding　festivities。
　　　　　　　But　after　we　reached　the　wide　plains　of　Farrow；　such　hamlets　were　few　and　far　between。　Farrow's　rich　farms　and　trading　cities　were　far　to　the　north　of　our　path；　along　the　Vin　River。　We　traveled　Farrow's　plains；　where　people　were　mostly　nomadic　herders；　creating　towns　only　in　the　winter　months　when　they　settled　along　the　trade　routes　for　what　they　called　the　〃green　season。〃　We　passed　herds　of　sheep；　or　goats；　or　horses；　or　more　rarely；　the　dangerous；　rangy　swine　they　called　haragars；　but　our　contact　with　the　people　of　that　region　was　usually　limited　to　the　sight　of　their　conical　tents　in　the　distance；　or　some　herder　standing　tall　in　his　saddle　and　holding　aloft　his　crook　in　greeting。
　　　　　　　Hands　and　I　became　reacquainted。　We　would　share　food　and　a　small　cook　fire　in　the　evenings；　and　he　would　regale　me　with　tales　of　Sevrens's　nattering　worries　of　dust　getting　into　silk　robes　or　bugs　getting　into　fur　collars　and　velvet　getting　chafed　to　pieces　during　the　long　trek。　Grimmer　were　his　plaints　about　Rowd。　I　myself　had　no　fond　memories　of　the　man；　and　Hands　found　him　an　oppressive　traveling　panion；　for　he　seemed　to　constantly　suspect　Hands　of　trying　to　steal　from　the　packs　of　Regal's　belongings。　One　evening　Rowd　even　found　his　way　to　our　fire；　where　he　laboriously　delivered　a　vague　and　indirect　warning　against　any　who　might　conspire　to　steal　from　his　master。　But　other　than　such　unpleasantness；　our　evenings　were　peaceful。
　　　　　　　The　fair　weather　held；　and　if　we　sweated　by　day；　it　was　mild　by　night。　I　slept　atop　my　blanket　and　seldom　bothered　with　any　other　shelter。　Each　night　I　checked　over　the　contents　of　my　trunk　and　did　my　best　to　keep　the　roots　from　being　pletely　desiccated；　and　to　keep　the　shifting　from　putting　wear　on　the　scrolls　and　tablets。　There　was　one　night　I　awoke　to　a　loud　whinnying　from　Sooty　and　thought　that　the　cedar　chest　had　been　moved　slightly　from　where　I　had　placed　it。　But　a　brief　check　of　its　contents　proved　all　was　in　order；　and　when　I　mentioned　it　to　Hands；　he　merely　asked　if　I　was　catching　Rowd's　disease。
　　　　　　　The　hamlets　and　herds　we　passed　frequently　provided　us　with　fresh　foods　and　were　most　generous　in　their　allocation　of　it；　so　we　had　little　hardship　on　the　journey。　Open　water　was　not　as　plentiful　as　we　could　have　wished　as　we　crossed　Farrow；　but　each　day　we　found　some　spring　or　dusty　well　to　water　at；　so　even　that　was　not　as　bad　as　it　might　have　been。
　　　　　　　I　saw　very　little　of　Burrich。　He　arose　earlier　than　the　rest　of　us　and　preceded　the　main　caravan；　that　his　charges　might　have　the　best　grazing　and　the　cleanest　water。　I　knew　he　would　want　his　horses　in　prime　condition　when　they　arrived　at　Jhaampe。　August；　too；　was　almost　invisible。　While　he　was　technically　in　charge　of　our　expedition；　he　left　the　running　of　it　to　the　captain　of　his　honor　guard。　I　could　not　decide　if　he　did　this　out　of　wisdom　or　laziness。　In　any　event；　he　kept　mostly　to　himself；　although　he　did　allow　Sevrens　to　tend　him　and　share　his　tent　and　meals。
　　　　　　　For　me；　it　was　almost　a　return　to　a　sort　of　childhood。　My　responsibilities　were　very　limited。　Hands　was　a　genial　panion；　and　it　took　very　little　encouragement　to　have　him　telling　from　his　vast　store　of　tales　and　gossip。　I　often　went　for　almost　the　whole　day　before　I　would　recall　that　at　the　end　of　this　journey；　I　would　kill　a　prince。
　　　　　　　Such　thoughts　usually　came　on　me　when　I　awoke　in　the　dark　part　of　the　night。　Farrow's　sky　seemed　to　be　much　thicker　with　stars　than　the　night　over　Buckkeep；　and　I　would　stare　up　at　them　and　mentally　rehearse　ways　to　put　an　end　to　Rurisk。　There　was　another　chest；　a　tiny　one；　packed　carefully　within　the　bag　that　held　my　clothing　and　personal　items。　I　had　packed　it　with　much　thought　and　anxiety。　For　this　assignment　must　be　carried　out　perfectly。　It　must　be　done　cleanly；　with　not　even　the　tiniest　suspicion　raised。　And　timing　was　critical。　The　Prince　must　not　die　while　we　were　at　Jhaampe。　Nothing　must　cast　the　slightest　shadow　upon　the　nuptials。　Nor　must　he　die　before　the　ceremonies　were　observed　at　Buckkeep　and　the　wedding　safely　consummated；　for　that　might　be　seen　as　an　ill　omen　for　the　couple。　It　would　not　be　an　easy　death　to　arrange。
　　　　　　　Sometimes　I　wondered　why　it　had　been　entrusted　to　me　instead　of　to　Chade。　Was　it　a　test　of　some　sort；　one　that　if　I　failed　would　see　me　put　to　death？　Was　Chade　too　old　for　this　challenge；　or　too　valuable　to　be　risked　for　this？　Could　he　simply　not　be　spared　from　tending　Verity's　health？　And　when　I　reined　my　mind　away　from　these　questions；　I　was　left　wondering　whether　to　use　a　powder　that　would　irritate　Rurisk's　damaged　lungs　so　he　might　cough　himself　to　death。　Perhaps　I　might　treat　his　pillows　and　bedding　with　it。　Should　I　offer　him　a　pain　remedy；　one　that　would　slowly　addict　him　and　lure　him　into　a　sleeping　death？　I　had　a　blood…thinning　tonic。　If　his　lungs　were　chronically　bleeding　already；　it　might　be　enough　to　send　him　on　his　way。　I　had　one　poison；　swift　and　deadly　and　tasteless　as　water；　if　I　could　devise　a　way　to　be　sure　he　would　encounter　it　at　a　safely　distant　time。　None　of　these　were　thoughts　conducive　to　sleep；　and　yet　the　fresh　air　and　the　exercise　of　riding　all　day　were　usually　sufficient　to　counter　them；　and　I　often　awoke　eager　for　the　next　day　of　travel。
　　　　　　　When　we　finally　sighted　Blue　Lake；　it　was　like　a　miracle　in　the　distance。　It　had　been　years　since　I　had　been　so　far　from　the　sea　for　so　long；　and　I　was　surprised　how　wele　the　sight　of　water　was　to　me。　Every　animal　in　our　baggage　train　filled　my　thoughts　with　the　clean　scent　of　water。　The　country　became　greener　and　more　forgiving　as　we　approached　the　great　lake；　and　we　were　hard　put　to　keep　the　horses　from　overgrazing　themselves　at　night。
　　　　　　　Hordes　of　sailboats　plied　their　merchant　trade　on　Blue　Lake；　and　their　sails　were　colored　so　as　to　tell　not　only　what　they　sold；　but　what　family　they　sailed　for。　The　settlements　along　Blue　Lake　were　built　out　on　pilings　into　the　water。　We　were　well　greeted　there；　and　feasted　with　freshwater　fish；　which　tasted　odd　to　my　sea…trained　tongue。　I　felt　myself　quite　the　traveler；　and　Hands　and　I　were　nearly　overwhelmed　with　our　opinions　of　ourselves　when　some　green…eyed　girls　from　a　grain…trading　family　came　giggling　to　our　fireside　one　night。　They　had　brought　with　them　small；　brightly　colored　drums；　each　toned　differently；　and　they　played　and　sang　for　us　until　their　mothers　came　scolding　to　find　them　and　lead　them　home。　It　was　a　heady　experience；　and　I　did　not　think　of　Prince　Rurisk　at　all　that　night。
　　　　　　　West　and　north　we　traveled　now；　ferried　across　Blue　Lake　on　some　flat…bottomed　barges　I　trusted　not　at　all。　On　the　far　side；　we　found　ourselves　suddenly　in　forest　lands；　and　the　hot　days　of　Farrow　became　a　fond　memory。　Our　path　led　us　through　immense　stands　of　cedar；　pricked　here　and　there　with　groves　of　white　paper　birch　and　seasoned　in　burned　areas　with　alder　and　willow。　Our　horses'　hooves　thudded　on　the　black　earth　of　the　forest　trail；　and　the　sweet　smells　of　the　autumn　were　all　around　us。　We　saw　unfamiliar　birds；　and　once　I　glimpsed　a　great　stag　of　a　color　and　kind　I　had　never　seen　before　or　since。　Night　grazing　for　the　horses　was　not　good；　and　we　were　glad　of　the　grain　we　had　bought　from　the　lake　people。　We　lit　fires　at　night；　and　Hands　and　I　shared　a　tent。
　　　　　　　Our　way　led　steadily　uphill　now。　We　wound　our　way　between　the　steepest　slopes；　but　we　were　unmistakably　making　our　way　up　into　the　mountains。　One　afternoon　we　met　with　a　deputation　from　Jhaampe；　sent　to　greet　us　and　guide　us　on　our　way。　After　that；　we　seemed　to　travel　faster；　and　every　evening　we　were　entertained　with　musicians；　poets；　and　jugglers；　and　feasted　with　their　delicacies。　Every　effort　was　made　to　wele　us　and　to　honor　us。　But　I　found　them　passing　strange　and　almost　frightening　in　their　differences。　Often　I　was　forced　to　remind　myself　of　what　both　Burrich　and　Chade　had　taught　me　about　the　courtesies；　while　poor　Hands　withdrew　almost　totally　from　these　new　panions。
　　　　　　　Physically；　most　of　them　were　Chyurda；　and　were　as　I　had　expected　them　to　be：　a　tall；　pale　people；　light　of　hair　and　eye；　and　som