rh.theassassinsapprentice-第15章

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e　kind。　And　later　he　did　invite　her　out　onto　the　battlements　with　him；　but　he　took　with　them　half　the　dinner　guests　as　well。　And　he　pointed　out　the　lights　of　the　coast　watchtowers；　shining　clearly　in　the　dark；　and　told　her　that　he　considered　those　his　best　and　dearest　jewels；　and　that　he　spent　the　coin　from　her　father's　taxes　to　keep　them　shining　so。　And　then　he　pointed　out　to　the　guests　the　winking　lights　of　that　lord's　own　watchmen　in　the　fortifications　of　his　keep；　and　told　them　that　when　they　looked　at　their　duke；　they　should　see　those　shining　lights　as　the　jewels　on　his　brow。　It　was　quite　a　pliment　to　the　Duke　and　Duchess；　and　the　other　nobles　there　took　note　of　it。　The　Outislanders　had　very　few　successful　raids　that　summer。　That　was　how　Chivalry　ruled。　By　example；　and　by　the　grace　of　his　words。　So　should　any　real　prince　do。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'm　not　a　real　prince。　I'm　a　bastard。〃　It　came　oddly　from　my　mouth；　that　word　I　heard　so　often　and　so　seldom　said。
　　　　　　　Burrich　sighed　softly。　〃Be　your　blood；　boy；　and　ignore　what　anyone　else　thinks　of　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃Sometimes　I　get　tired　of　doing　the　hard　things。〃
　　　　　　　〃So　do　I〃
　　　　　　　I　absorbed　this　in　silence　for　a　while　as　I　worked　my　way　down　Sooty's　shoulder。　Burrich；　still　crouched　by　the　gelding；　spoke　suddenly。　〃I　don't　ask　any　more　of　you　than　I　ask　of　myself。　You　know　that's　true。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　that；〃　I　replied；　surprised　that　he'd　mentioned　it　further。
　　　　　　　〃I　just　want　to　do　my　best　by　you。〃
　　　　　　　This　was　a　whole　new　idea　to　me。　After　a　moment　I　asked；　〃Because　if　you　could　make　Chivalry　proud　of　me；　of　what　you'd　made　me　into；　then　maybe　he　would　e　back？〃
　　　　　　　The　rhythmic　sound　of　Burrich's　hands　working　liniment　into　the　gelding's　leg　slowed；　then　ceased　abruptly。　But　he　remained　crouched　down　by　the　horse　and　spoke　quietly　through　the　wall　of　the　stall。　〃No。　I　don't　think　that。　I　don't　suppose　anything　would　make　him　e　back。　And　even　if　he　did；〃　and　Burrich　spoke　more　slowly；　〃even　if　he　did；　he　wouldn't　be　who　he　was。　Before；　I　mean。〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　all　my　fault　he　went　away；　isn't　it？〃　The　words　of　the　weaving　women　echoed　in　my　head。　But　for　the　boy；　he'd　still　be　in　line　to　be　King。
　　　　　　　Burrich　paused　long。　〃I　don't　suppose　it's　any　man's　fault　that　he's　born　。。。　。〃　He　sighed；　and　the　words　seemed　to　e　more　reluctantly。　〃And　there's　certainly　no　way　a　babe　can　make　itself　not　a　bastard。　No。　Chivalry　brought　his　downfall　on　himself；　though　that's　a　hard　thing　for　me　to　say。〃　I　heard　his　hands　go　back　to　work　on　the　gelding's　leg。
　　　　　　　〃And　your　downfall；　too。〃　I　said　it　to　Sooty's　shoulder；　softly；　never　dreaming　he'd　hear。
　　　　　　　But　a　moment　or　two　later　I　heard　him　mutter；　〃I　do　well　enough　for　myself；　Fitz。　I　do　well　enough。〃
　　　　　　　He　finished　his　task　and　came　around　into　Sooty's　stall。　〃Your　tongue's　wagging　like　the　town　gossip　today；　Fitz。　What's　got　into　you？〃
　　　　　　　It　was　my　turn　to　pause　and　wonder。　Something　about　Chade；　I　decided。　Something　about　someone　who　wanted　me　to　understand　and　have　a　say　in　what　I　was　learning　had　freed　up　my　tongue　to　finally　ask　all　the　questions　I'd　been　carrying　about　for　years。　But　because　I　couldn't　very　well　say　so；　I　shrugged　and　truthfully　replied；　〃They're　just　things　I've　wondered　about　for　a　long　time。〃
　　　　　　　Burrich　grunted　his　acceptance　of　the　answer。　〃Well。　It's　an　improvement　that　you　ask；　though　I　won't　always　promise　you　an　answer。　It's　good　to　hear　you　speak　like　a　man。　Makes　me　worry　less　about　losing　you　to　the　beasts。〃　He　glared　at　me　over　the　last　words　and　then　gimped　away。　I　watched　him　go；　and　remembered　that　first　night　I　had　seen　him；　and　how　a　look　from　him　had　been　enough　to　quell　a　whole　room　full　of　men。　He　wasn't　the　same　man。　And　it　wasn't　just　the　limp　that　had　changed　the　way　he　carried　himself　and　how　men　looked　at　him。　He　was　still　the　acknowledged　master　in　the　stables　and　no　one　questioned　his　authority　there。　But　he　was　no　longer　the　right　hand　of　the　King…in…Waiting。　Other　than　watching　over　me；　he　wasn't　Chivalry's　man　at　all　anymore。　No　wonder　he　couldn't　look　at　me　without　resentment。　He　hadn't　sired　the　bastard　that　had　been　his　downfall。　For　the　first　time　since　I　had　known　him；　my　wariness　of　him　was　tinged　with　pity。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　FIVE
　　　　　　　Loyalties
　　　　　　　IN　SOME　KINGDOMS　AND　lands；　it　is　the　custom　that　male　children　will　have　precedent　over　female　in　matters　of　inheritance。　Such　has　never　been　the　case　in　the　Six　Duchies。　Titles　are　inherited　solely　by　order　of　birth。
　　　　　　　The　one　who　inherits　a　title　is　supposed　to　view　it　as　a　stewardship。　If　a　lord　or　lady　were　so　foolish　as　to　cut　too　much　forest　at　once；　or　neglect　vineyards　or　let　the　quality　of　the　cattle　bee　too　inbred；　the　people　of　the　Duchy　could　rise　up　and　e　to　ask　the　King's　justice。　It　has　happened；　and　every　noble　is　aware　it　can　happen。　The　welfare　of　the　people　belongs　to　the　people；　and　they　have　the　right　to　object　if　their　duke　stewards　it　poorly。
　　　　　　　When　the　titleholder　weds；　he　is　supposed　to　keep　this　in　mind。　The　partner　chosen　must　be　willing　likewise　to　be　a　steward。　For　this　reason；　the　partner　holding　a　lesser　title　must　surrender　it　to　the　next　younger　sibling。　One　can　only　be　a　true　steward　of　one　holding。　On　occasion　this　has　led　to　divisions。　King　Shrewd　married　Lady　Desire；　who　would　have　been　Duchess　of　Farrow　had　she　not　chosen　to　accept　his　offer　and　bee　Queen　instead。　It　is　said　she　came　to　regret　her　decision　and　convinced　herself　that　had　she　remained　Duchess；　her　power　would　have　been　greater。　She　married　Shrewd　knowing　well　she　was　his　second　queen；　and　that　the　first　had　already　borne　him　two　heirs。　She　never　concealed　her　disdain　for　the　two　older　Princes　and　often　pointed　out　that　as　she　was　much　higher　born　than　King　Shrewd's　first　queen；　she　considered　her　son；　Regal；　to　be　more　royal　than　his　two　half　brothers。　She　attempted　to　instill　this　idea　in　others　by　her　choice　of　name　for　her　son。　Unfortunately　for　her　plans；　most　saw　this　ploy　as　poor　taste。　Some　even　mockingly　referred　to　her　as　the　Inland　Queen；　for　when　intoxicated　she　would　ruthlessly　claim　that　she　had　the　political　influence　to　unite　Farrow　and　Tilth　into　a　new　kingdom；　one　that　would　shrug　off　King　Shrewd's　rule　at　her　behest。　But　most　put　her　claims　down　to　her　fondness　for　intoxicants；　both　alcoholic　and　herbal。　It　is　true；　however；　that　before　she　finally　succumbed　to　her　addictions；　she　was　responsible　for　nurturing　the　rift　between　the　Inland　and　Coastal　Duchies。
　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　I　grew　to　look　forward　to　my　dark…time　encounters　with　Chade。　They　never　had　a　schedule；　nor　any　pattern　that　I　could　discern。　A　week；　even　two；　might　go　by　between　meetings；　or　he　might　summon　me　every　night　for　a　week　straight；　leaving　me　staggering　about　my　daytime　chores。　Sometimes　he　summoned　me　as　soon　as　the　castle　was　abed；　at　other　times；　he　called　upon　me　in　the　wee　hours　of　the　morning。　It　was　a　strenuous　schedule　for　a　growing　boy；　yet　I　never　thought　of　plaining　to　Chade　or　refusing　one　of　his　calls。　Nor　do　I　think　it　ever　occurred　to　him　that　my　night　lessons　presented　a　difficulty　for　me。　Nocturnal　himself；　it　must　have　seemed　a　perfectly　natural　time　for　him　to　be　teaching　me。　And　the　lessons　I　learned　were　oddly　suited　to　the　darker　hours　of　the　world。
　　　　　　　There　was　tremendous　scope　to　his　lessons。　One　evening　might　be　spent　in　my　laborious　study　of　the　illustrations　in　a　great　herbal　he　kept；　with　the　requirement　that　the　next　day　I　was　to　collect　six　samples　that　matched　those　illustrations。　He　never　saw　fit　to　hint　as　to　whether　I　should　look　in　the　kitchen　garden　or　the　darker　nooks　of　the　forest　for　those　herbs；　but　find　them　I　did；　and　learned　much　of　observation　in　the　process。
　　　　　　　There　were　games　we　played；　too。　For　instance；　he　would　tell　me　that　I　must　go　on　the　morrow　to　Sara　the　cook　and　ask　her　if　this　year's　bacon　was　leaner　than　last　year's。　And　then　I　must　that　evening　report　the　entire　conversation　back　to　Chade；　as　close　to　word　perfect　as　I　could；　and　answer　a　dozen　questions　for　him　about　how　she　stood；　and　was　she　left…handed　and　did　she　seem　hard　of　hearing　and　what　she　was　cooking　at　the　time。　My　shyness　and　reticence　were　never　accounted　a　good　enough　excuse　for　failing　to　execute　such　an　assignment；　and　so　I　found　myself　meeting　and　ing　to　know　a　good　many　of　the　lesser　folk　of　the　keep。　Even　though　my　questions　were　inspired　by　Chade；　every　one　of　them　weled　my　interest　and　was　more　than　willing　to　share　expertise。　Without　intending　it；　I　began　to　gather　a　reputation　as　a　〃sharp　youngster〃　and　a　〃good　lad。〃　Years　later　I　realized　that　the　lesson　was　not　just　a　memory　exercise　but　also　instruction　in　how　to　befriend　the　moner　folk；　and　to　learn　their　minds。　Many's　the　time　since　then　that　a　smile；　a　pliment　on　how　well　my　horse　had　been　cared　for；　and　a　quick　question　put　to　a　stable　boy　brought　me　information　that　all　the　coin　in　the　kingdom　couldn't　have　bribed　out　of　him。
　　　　　　　Other　games　built　my　nerve　as　well　as　my　powers　of　observation。　One　day　Chade　showed　me　a　skein　of　yarn　and　told　me　that；　without　asking　Mistress　Hasty；　I　must　find　out　exactly　where　she　kept　the　supply　of　yarn　that　matched　it　and　what　herbs　had　been　used　in　the　dyeing　of　it。　Three　days　later　I　was　told　I　must　spirit　away　her　best　shears；　conceal　them　behind　a　certain　rack　of　wines　in　the　wine　cellar　for　three　hours；　and　then　return　them　to　where　they　had　been；　all　undetected　by　her　or　anyone　else。　Such　exercises　initially　appealed　to　a　boy's　natural　love　of　mischief；　and　I　seldom　failed　at　them。　When　I　did；　the　consequences　were　my　own　lookout。　Chade　had　warned　me　that　he　would　not　shield　me　from　anybody's　wrath　and　suggested　that　I　have　a　worthy　tale　ready　to　explain　away　being　where　I　should　not　be　or　possessing　that　which　I　had　no　business　possessing。
　　　　　　　I　learned　to　lie　very　well。　I　do　not　think　it　was　taught　me　accidentally。
　　　　　　　These　were　the　lessons　in　my　assassin's　primer。　And　more。　Sleight　of　hand　and　the　art　of　moving　stealthily。　Where　to　strike　a　man　to　render　him　unconscious。　Where　to　strike　a　man　so　that　he　dies　without　crying　out。　Where　to　stab　a　man　so　that　he　dies　without　too　much　blood　welling　out。　I　learned　it　all　rapidly　and　well；　thriving　under　Chade's　approval　of　my　quick　mind。
　　　　　　　Soon　he　began　to　use　me　for　small　jobs　about　the　keep。　He　never　told　me；　ahead　of　time；　if　they　were　tests　of　my　skill；　or　actual　tasks　he　wished　acplished。　To　me　it　made　no　difference；　I　pursued　them　all　with　a　single…minded　devotion　to　Chade　and　anything　he　manded。　In　spring　of　that　year　I　treated　the　wine　cups　of　a　visiting　delegation　from　the　Bingtown　traders　so　that　they　became　much　more　intoxicated　than　they　had　intended。　Later　that　same　month　I　concealed　one　puppet　from　a　visiting　puppeteer's　troupe　so　that　he　had　to　present　the　Incidence　of　the　Matching　Cups；　a　lighthearted　little　folktale；　instead　of　the　lengthy　historical　drama　he　had　planned　for　the　evening。　At　the　High…Summer　Feast　I　added　a　certain　herb　to　a　serving　girl's　afternoon　pot　of　tea　so　that　she　and　three　of　her　friends　were　stricken　with　loose　bowels　and　could　not　wait　the　tables　that　night。　In　fall　I　tied　a　thread　around　the　fetlock　of　a　visiting　noble's　horse；　to　give　the　animal　a　te