rh.theassassinsapprentice-第90节

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　the　torchbearer　from　the　night　before。　If　he　thought　anything　odd　about　my　reappearance；　he　did　not　show　it。　He　stepped　aside　as　if　expecting　us；　and　Burrich　dragged　me　up　the　steps　to　enter。
　　　　　　　Clouds　of　steam　fogged　the　air；　carrying　a　mineral　scent　with　them。　We　passed　a　stone　bench　or　two；　Burrich　walked　carefully　on　the　smooth　tile　floor　as　we　approached　the　source　of　the　steam。　The　water　rose　in　a　central　spring；　with　bricked　sides　built　up　around　it　to　contain　it。　From　there　it　was　channeled　in　troughs　to　other；　smaller　baths；　varying　the　heat　by　the　length　of　the　trough　and　the　depth　of　the　pond。　The　steam　and　the　noise　of　the　falling　water　filled　the　air。　I　did　not　find　it　pleasant；　I　labored　just　to　breathe　already。　My　eyes　adjusted　to　the　dimness；　and　I　saw　Regal　soaking　in　one　of　the　larger　baths。　He　looked　up　at　our　approach。
　　　　　　　〃Ah；〃　he　said；　as　if　well　pleased。　〃August　told　me　Burrich　would　bring　you。　Well。　I　suppose　you　know　the　Princess　has　forgiven　your　murder　of　her　brother？　And　in　this　place；　at　least；　by　doing　so　she　preserves　you　from　justice。　I　think　it　a　waste　of　time；　but　local　customs　must　be　honored。　She　says　she　considers　you　part　of　her　kin　group　now；　and　so　I　must　treat　you　as　kin。　She　fails　to　understand　you　were　not　born　of　a　lawful　union；　and　hence　have　no　kin　rights　at　all。　Ah；　well。　Will　you　dismiss　Burrich　and　join　me　in　the　springs？　It　might　ease　you。　You　look　very　unfortable；　held　up　like　a　shirt　on　the　washline。〃　He　spoke　so　genially；　so　affably；　as　if　unaware　of　my　hatred。
　　　　　　　〃What　do　you　wish　to　tell　me；　Regal？〃　I　kept　my　voice　flat。
　　　　　　　〃Will　not　you　send　Burrich　away？〃　he　asked　again。
　　　　　　　〃I　am　not　a　fool。〃
　　　　　　　〃One　could　argue　that；　but　very　well。　I　suppose　I　must　send　him　away；　then。〃
　　　　　　　The　steam　and　the　noise　of　the　waters　had　cloaked　the　Chyurda　well。　He　was　taller　than　Burrich；　and　his　cudgel　was　already　in　motion　as　Burrich　turned。　If　he　hadn't　been　supporting　my　weight；　he　could　have　avoided　it。　Burrich　turned　his　head；　but　the　cudgel　hit　his　skull　with　a　terrible；　sharp　sound；　like　an　ax　biting　wood。　Burrich　fell；　and　I　with　him。　I　landed　half　in　one　of　the　smaller　ponds。　It　was　not　scalding；　but　nearly　so。　I　managed　to　roll　out　of　it；　but　could　not　regain　my　feet。　My　legs　would　not　obey　me。　Burrich　beside　me　lay　very　still。　I　reached　a　hand　toward　him；　but　could　not　touch　him。
　　　　　　　Regal　stood　up　and　motioned　to　the　Chyurda。　〃Dead？〃
　　　　　　　The　Chyurda　stirred　Burrich　with　a　foot；　gave　a　curt　nod。
　　　　　　　〃Good。〃　Regal　。was　briefly　pleased。　〃Drag　him　back　behind　that　deep　tank　in　the　corner。　Then　you　may　go。〃　To　me；　he　said；　〃It's　unlikely　anyone　will　be　ing　in　here　until　after　the　ceremony。　They're　too　busy　jostling　for　positions。　And　back　in　that　corner　。。。　well；　I　doubt　if　he'll　be　found　before　you　are。〃
　　　　　　　I　could　make　no　response。　The　Chyurda　stooped　and　seized　Burrich　by　the　ankles。　As　he　dragged　him　away　the　dark　brush　of　his　hair　feathered　a　trail　of　blood　on　the　tiles。　A　dizzying　mixture　of　hatred　and　despair　roiled　with　the　poison　through　my　blood。　A　cold　purpose　rose　and　set　in　me。　I　could　not　hope　to　live　now；　but　it　did　not　seem　important。　Warning　Verity　did。　And　avenging　Burrich。　I　had　no　plans；　no　weapons；　no　possibilities。　So　play　for　time；　Chade's　counsel　advised　me。　The　more　time　you　create　for　yourself；　the　better　the　chance　that　something　will　present　itself。　Delay　him。　Perhaps　someone　will　e　to　see　why　the　Prince　is　not　dressing　for　the　wedding。　Perhaps　someone　else　will　want　to　use　the　steams　before　the　ceremony。　Engage　him　somehow。
　　　　　　　〃The　Princess…〃　I　began。
　　　　　　　〃Is　not　a　problem；〃　Regal　finished　for　me。　〃The　Princess　did　not　forgive　Burrich。　Only　you。　What　I　have　done　to　him　is　well　within　my　rights。　He　is　a　traitor。　He　must　pay。　And　the　man　disposing　of　him　was　most　fond　of　his　prince；　Rurisk。　He　has　no　objections　to　any　of　this。〃
　　　　　　　The　Chyurda　left　the　steams　without　a　glance　back。　My　hands　scrabbled　weakly　on　the　smooth　tile　floor　but　found　no　purchase。　Regal　busily　dried　himself　all　the　while。　When　the　man　was　gone；　he　came　to　stand　over　me。　〃Aren't　you　going　to　call　for　help？〃　he　asked　brightly。
　　　　　　　I　took　a　breath；　pushed　down　my　fear。　I　mustered　as　much　contempt　for　Regal　as　I　could　find。　〃To　whom？　Who　would　hear　me　over　the　water？〃
　　　　　　　〃So　you　save　your　strength。　Wise。　Pointless；　but　wise。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　think　Kettricken　will　not　know　what　happened？〃
　　　　　　　〃She　will　know　you　went　to　the　steams；　unwisely　in　your　condition。　You　slipped　beneath　the　hot；　hot　water。　Such　a　shame。〃
　　　　　　　〃Regal；　this　is　madness。　How　many　bodies　do　you　think　you　can　leave　in　your　wake？　How　will　you　explain　Burrich's　death？〃
　　　　　　　〃To　your　first　question；　quite　a　few；　as　long　as　they　are　not　people　of　consequence。〃　He　stooped　over　me；　and　gripped　my　shirt。　He　dragged　me　while　I　thrashed　weakly；　a　fish　out　of　water。　〃And　to　your　second；　well；　the　same。　How　much　fuss　do　you　think　anyone　will　raise　over　a　dead　stableman？　You　are　so　obsessed　with　your　plebeian　self…importance　that　you　extend　it　to　your　servants。〃　He　dumped　me　carelessly　half　atop　Burrich。　His　still…warm　body　sprawled　facedown　on　the　floor。　Blood　was　congealing　on　the　tiles　around　his　face；　and　still　dripping　from　his　nose。　A　slow　bubble　of　blood　formed　on　his　lips；　broke　with　his　faint　exhalation。　He　lived　still。　I　shifted　to　conceal　it　from　Regal。　If　I　could　survive；　Burrich　might　have　a　chance　also。
　　　　　　　Regal　noticed　nothing。　He　tugged　my　boots　off　and　set　them　aside。　〃You　see；　bastard；〃　he　said　as　he　paused　to　catch　his　breath。　〃Ruthlessness　creates　its　own　rules。　So　my　mother　taught　me。　People　are　intimidated　by　a　man　who　acts　with　no　apparent　regard　for　consequences。　Behave　as　if　you　cannot　be　touched　and　no　one　will　dare　to　touch　you。　Look　at　the　whole　situation。　Your　death　will　anger　some　people；　yes。　But　enough　to　make　them　take　actions　that　would　affect　the　security　of　the　whole　Six　Duchies？　I　think　not。　Besides；　your　death　will　be　eclipsed　by　other　things。　I'd　be　a　fool　not　to　take　this　opportunity　to　remove　you。〃　Regal　was　so　damnably　calm　and　superior。　I　fought　him；　but　he　was　surprisingly　strong　for　the　indulgent　life　he　led。　I　felt　like　a　kitten　as　he　shook　me　out　of　my　shirt。　He　folded　my　clothes　neatly　and　set　them　aside。　〃Minimal　alibis　will　work。　If　I　made　too　much　effort　to　appear　guiltless；　people　might　think　I　cared。　They　might　start　then　to　pay　attention　themselves。　So；　I　simply　know　nothing。　My　man　saw　you　enter　with　Burrich　after　I　had　left。　And　I　go　now　to　plain　to　August　that　you　never　came　to　talk　with　me　so　that　I　might　forgive　you；　as　I　had　promised　Princess　Kettricken。　I　will　reprimand　August　most　severely　for　not　bringing　you　himself。〃　He　looked　around。　〃Let's　see。　A　nice　deep　hot　one。　Right　here。〃　I　clutched　at　his　throat　as　he　levered　me　up　to　the　edge；　but　he　shook　me　off　easily。
　　　　　　　〃Good…bye；　bastard；〃　he　said　calmly。　〃Pardon　my　haste；　but　you　have　quite　delayed　me。　And　I　must　rush　to　dress　myself。　Or　I　shall　be　late　for　the　wedding。〃
　　　　　　　And　he　tumbled　me　in。
　　　　　　　The　pool　was　deeper　than　I　was　tall；　designed　to　be　neck…high　on　a　tall　Chyurda。　It　was　painfully　hot　to　my　unprepared　body。　It　drove　the　air　from　my　lungs　and　I　sank。　I　pushed　feebly　off　the　bottom　and　managed　to　get　my　face　above　water。　〃Burrich！〃　I　wasted　my　breath　on　a　shout　to　someone　who　could　not　aid　me。　The　water　closed　on　me　again。　My　arms　and　legs　would　not　work　together。　I　blundered　into　a　wall　and　pushed　myself　under　before　I　could　once　again　surface　and　gasp　in　some　air。　The　hot　water　was　loosening　my　already　flaccid　muscles。　I　think　I　would　still　have　been　drowning　even　if　the　water　had　been　only　knee…deep。
　　　　　　　I　lost　count　of　how　many　times　I　floundered　to　the　surface；　to　gasp　a　breath。　The　smooth…worked　stone　of　the　walls　eluded　my　palsied　grip；　and　my　ribs　stabbed　me　with　pain　each　time　I　tried　for　a　deep　breath。　My　strength　was　flowing　out　of　me；　lassitude　flowing　in。　So　warm；　so　deep。　Drowned　like　a　puppy；　I　thought　to　myself　as　I　felt　the　darkness　closing。　Boy？　someone　queried；　but　all　was　black。
　　　　　　　So　much　water；　so　hot　and　so　deep。　I　could　not　find　a　bottom　anymore；　let　alone　a　side。　I　struggled　feebly　against　the　water；　but　there　was　no　resistance。　No　up；　no　down。　No　use　fighting　to　stay　alive　inside　my　body。　Nothing　left　to　protect；　so　drop　the　walls；　and　see　if　there　is　one　last　service　you　can　render　your　king。　The　walls　of　my　world　fell　away　from　me；　and　I　sped　forth　like　an　arrow　finally　released。　Galen　had　been　right。　There　was　no　distance　in　Skilling；　no　distance　at　all。　Buckkeep　was　right　here；　and　Shrewd；　I　shrieked　in　desperation。　But　my　king　was　intent　upon　other　things。　He　was　closed　and　walled　to　me；　no　matter　how　I　stormed　around　him。　No　help　there。
　　　　　　　Strength　was　going　from　me。　Somewhere；　I　was　drowning。　My　body　was　failing；　my　thread　to　it　was　tenuous。　One　last　chance。　Verity；　Verity；　I　cried。　I　found　him；　flailed　at　him；　but　could　find　no　purchase；　no　grip。　He　was　elsewhere；　open　to　someone　else；　closed　to　me。　Verity！　I　wailed；　drowning　in　despair。　And　suddenly　it　was　as　if　strong　hands　gripped　mine　as　I　scrabbled　up　a　slippery　cliff。　Gripped　and　held　tight　and　drew　me　in　when　I　w