rh.theassassinsapprentice-第16章

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！


ght。　In　fall　I　tied　a　thread　around　the　fetlock　of　a　visiting　noble's　horse；　to　give　the　animal　a　temporary　limp　that　convinced　the　noble　to　remain　at　Buckkeep　two　days　longer　than　he　had　planned。　I　never　knew　the　underlying　reasons　for　the　tasks　Chade　set　me。　At　that　age；　I　set　my　mind　to　how　I　would　do　a　thing　rather　than　why。　And　that；　too；　was　a　thing　that　I　believe　it　was　intended　I　learn：　to　obey　without　asking　why　an　order　was　given。
　　　　　　　There　was　one　task　that　absolutely　delighted　me。　Even　at　the　time　I　knew　that　the　assignment　was　more　than　a　whim　of　Chade's。　He　summoned　me　for　it　in　the　last　bit　of　dark　before　dawn。　〃Lord　Jessup　and　his　lady　have　been　visiting　this　last　two　weeks。　You　know　them　by　sight；　he　has　a　very　long　mustache；　and　she　constantly　fusses　with　her　hair；　even　at　the　table。　You　know　who　I　mean？〃
　　　　　　　I　frowned。　A　number　of　nobles　had　gathered　at　Buckkeep　to　form　a　council　to　discuss　the　increase　in　raids　from　the　Outislanders。　I　gathered　that　the　Coastal　Duchies　wanted　more　warships；　but　the　Inland　Duchies　opposed　sharing　the　taxes　for　what　they　saw　as　a　purely　coastal　problem。　Lord　Jessup　and　Lady　Dahlia　were　inlanders。　Jessup　and　his　mustaches　both　seemed　to　have　fitful　temperaments　and　to　be　constantly　impassioned。　Lady　Dahlia；　on　the　other　hand；　seemed　to　take　no　interest　at　all　in　the　council；　but　spent　most　of　her　time　exploring　Buckkeep。
　　　　　　　〃She　wears　flowers　in　her　hair　all　the　time？　They　keep　falling　out？〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　the　one；〃　Chade　replied　emphatically。　〃Good。　You　know　her。　Now；　here's　your　task；　and　I've　no　time　to　plan　it　with　you。　Sometime　today；　at　any　moment　today；　she　will　send　a　page　to　Prince　Regal's　room。　The　page　will　deliver　something　…　a　note；　a　flower；　an　object　of　some　kind。　You　will　remove　the　object　from　Regal's　room　before　he　sees　it。　You　understand？〃
　　　　　　　I　nodded　and　opened　my　mouth　to　say　something；　but　Chade　stood　abruptly　and　almost　chased　me　from　the　room。　〃No　time；　it　is　nearly　dawn！〃　he　declared。
　　　　　　　I　contrived　to　be　in　Regal's　room；　in　hiding；　when　the　page　arrived。　From　the　way　the　girl　slipped　in；　I　was　convinced　this　was　not　her　first　mission。　She　set　a　tiny　scroll　and　a　flower　bud　on　Regal's　pillow　and　slipped　out　of　the　room。　In　a　moment　both　were　in　my　jerkin；　and　later　under　my　own　pillow。　I　think　the　most　difficult　part　of　the　task　was　refraining　from　opening　the　scroll。　I　turned　scroll　and　flower　over　to　Chade　late　that　night。
　　　　　　　Over　the　next　few　days　I　waited；　certain　there　would　be　some　sort　of　furor　and　hoping　to　see　Regal　thoroughly　disfited。　But　to　my　surprise；　there　was　none。　Regal　remained　his　usual　self；　save　that　he　was　even　sharper　than　usual；　and　seemed　to　flirt　even　more　outrageously　with　every　lady。　As　for　Lady　Dahlia；　she　suddenly　took　an　interest　in　the　council　proceedings　and　confounded　her　husband　by　being　an　ardent　supporter　of　warship　taxes。　The　Queen　expressed　her　displeasure　over　this　change　of　alliance　by　excluding　Lady　Dahlia　from　a　wine　tasting　in　her　chambers。　The　whole　thing　mystified　me；　but　when　I　at　last　mentioned　it　to　Chade；　he　rebuked　me。
　　　　　　　〃Remember；　you　are　the　King's　man。　A　task　is　given　you；　and　you　do　it。　And　you　should　be　well　satisfied　with　yourself　that　you　pleted　the　given　task：　That　is　all　you　need　to　know。　Only　Shrewd　may　plan　the　moves　and　plot　his　game。　You　and　I；　we　are　playing　pieces；　perhaps。　But　we　are　the　best　of　his　markers；　be　assured　of　that。〃
　　　　　　　But　early　on；　Chade　found　the　limits　of　my　obedience。　In　taming　the　horse；　he　had　suggested　I　cut　the　frog　of　the　animal's　foot。　I　never　even　considered　doing　that。　I　informed　him；　with　all　the　worldly　wisdom　of　one　who　has　grown　up　around　horses；　that　there　were　many　ways　to　make　a　horse　limp　without　actually　harming　him；　and　that　he　should　trust　me　to　choose　an　appropriate　one。　To　this　day；　I　do　not　know　how　Chade　felt　about　my　refusal。　He　said　nothing　at　the　time　to　condemn　it；　or　to　suggest　he　approved　my　actions。　In　this　as　in　many　things；　he　kept　his　own　counsel。
　　　　　　　Once　every　three　months　or　so　King　Shrewd　would　summon　me　to　his　chambers。　Usually　the　call　for　me　came　in　the　very　early　morning。　I　would　stand　before　him；　oftentimes　while　he　was　in　his　bath；　or　having　his　hair　bound　back　in　the　gold…wired　queue　that　only　the　King　could　wear；　or　while　his　man　was　laying　out　his　clothes。　Always　the　ritual　was　the　same。　He　would　look　me　over　carefully；　studying　my　growth　and　grooming　as　if　I　were　a　horse　he　was　considering　buying。　He　would　ask　a　question　or　two；　about　my　horsemanship　or　weapons　study　usually；　and　listen　gravely　to　my　brief　answer。　And　then　he　would　ask；　almost　formally；　〃And　do　you　feel　I　am　keeping　my　bargain　with　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃Sir；　I　do；〃　I　would　always　answer。
　　　　　　　〃Then　see　that　you　keep　your　end　of　it　as　well；〃　was　always　his　reply　and　my　dismissal。　And　whatever　servant　attending　him　or　opening　the　door　for　me　to　enter　or　leave　never　appeared　to　take　the　slightest　notice　of　me　or　of　the　King's　words　at　all。
　　　　　　　e　late　fall　of　that　year；　on　the　very　cusp　of　winter's　tooth；　I　was　given　my　most　difficult　assignment。　Chade　had　summoned　me　up　to　his　chambers　almost　as　soon　as　I　had　blown　out　my　night　candle。　We　were　sharing　sweetmeats　and　a　bit　of　spiced　wine；　sitting　in　front　of　Chade's　hearth。　He　had　been　lavishly　praising　my　latest　escapade；　one　that　required　me　turning　inside　out　every　shirt　hung　to　dry　on　the　laundry　courtyard's　drying　lines　without　getting　caught。　It　had　been　a　difficult　task；　the　hardest　part　of　which　had　been　to　refrain　from　laughing　aloud　and　betraying　my　hiding　place　within　a　dyeing　vat　when　two　of　the　younger　laundry　lads　had　declared　my　prank　the　work　of　water　sprites　and　refused　to　do　any　more　washing　that　day。　Chade；　as　usual；　knew　of　the　whole　scenario　even　before　I　reported　to　him。　He　delighted　me　by　letting　me　know　that　Master　Lew　of　the　launderers　had　decreed　that　Sinjon's　wort　was　to　be　hung　at　every　corner　of　the　courtyard　and　garlanded　about　every　well　to　ward　off　sprites　from　tomorrow's　work。
　　　　　　　〃You've　a　gift　for　this；　boy。〃　Chade　chuckled　and　tousled　my　hair。　〃I　almost　think　there's　no　task　I　could　set　you　that　you　couldn't　do。〃
　　　　　　　He　was　sitting　in　his　straight…backed　chair　before　the　fire；　and　I　was　on　the　floor　beside　him；　leaning　my　back　against　one　of　his　legs。　He　patted　me　the　way　Burrich　might　pat　a　young　bird　dog　that　had　done　well；　and　then　leaned　forward　to　say　softly；　〃But　I've　a　challenge　for　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　is　it？〃　I　demanded　eagerly。
　　　　　　　〃It　won't　be　easy；　even　for　one　with　as　light　a　touch　as　yours；〃　he　warned　me。
　　　　　　　〃Try　me！〃　I　challenged　him　in　return。
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　in　another　month　or　two；　perhaps；　when　you've　had　a　bit　more　teaching。　I've　a　game　to　teach　you　tonight；　one　that　will　sharpen　your　eye　and　your　memory。〃　He　reached　into　a　pouch　and　drew　out　a　handful　of　something。　He　opened　his　hand　briefly　in　front　of　me：　colored　stones。　The　hand　closed。　〃Were　there　any　yellow　ones？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　Chade；　what　is　the　challenge？〃
　　　　　　　〃How　many？〃
　　　　　　　〃Two　that　I　could　see。　Chade；　I　bet　I　could　do　it　now。〃
　　　　　　　〃Could　there　have　been　more　than　two？〃
　　　　　　　〃Possibly；　if　some　were　concealed　pletely　under　the　top　layer。　I　don't　think　it　likely。　Chade；　what　is　the　challenge？〃
　　　　　　　He　opened　his　bony　old　hand；　stirred　the　stones　with　his　long　forefinger。　〃Right　you　were。　Only　two　yellow　ones。　Shall　we　go　again？〃
　　　　　　　〃Chade；　I　can　do　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　think　so；　do　you？　Look　again；　here's　the　stones。　One；　two；　three；　and　gone　again。　Were　there　any　red　ones？〃
　　　　　　　〃Yes。　Chade；　what　is　the　task？〃
　　　　　　　〃Were　there　more　red　ones　than　blue？　To　bring　me　something　personal　from　the　King's　night　table。〃
　　　　　　　〃What？〃
　　　　　　　〃Were　there　more　red　stones　than　blue　ones？〃
　　　　　　　〃No；　I　mean；　what　was　the　task？〃
　　　　　　　〃Wrong；　boy！〃　Chade　announced　it　merrily。　He　opened　his　fist。　〃See；　three　red　and　three　blue。　Exactly　the　same。　You'll　have　to　look　quicker　than　that　if　you're　to　meet　my　challenge。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　seven　green。　I　knew　that；　Chade。　But　。。。　you　want　me　to　steal　from　the　King？〃　I　still　couldn't　believe　I　had　heard　it。
　　　　　　　〃Not　steal；　just　borrow。　As　you　did　Mistress　Hasty's　shears。　There's　no　harm　in　a　prank　like　that；　is　there？〃
　　　　　　　〃None　except　that　I'd　be　whipped　if　I　were　caught。　Or　worse。
　　　　　　　〃And　you're　afraid　you'd　be　caught。　See；　I　told　you　it　had　best　wait　a　month　or　two；　until　your　skills　were　better。〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　not　the　punishment。　It's　that　if　I　were　caught　。。。　the　King　and　I　。。。　we　made　a　bargain　。。。　。〃　My　words　dwindled　away。　I　stared　at　him　in　confusion。　Chade's　instruction　was　a　part　of　the　bargain　Shrewd　and　I　had　made。　Each　time　we　met；　before　he　began　instructing　me；　he　formally　reminded　me　of　that　bargain。　I　had　given　to　Chade　as　well　as　the　King　my　word　that　I　would　be　loyal。　Surely　he　could　see　that　if　I　acted　against　the　King；　I'd　be　breaking　my　part　of　the　bargain。
　　　　　　　〃It's　a　game；　boy；〃　Chade　said　patiently。　〃That's　all。　Just　a　bit　of　mischief。　It's　not　really　so　serious　as　you　seem　to　think　it。　The　only　reason　I'm　choosing　it　as　a　task　is　that　the　King's　room　and　his　things　are　so　closely　watched。　Anyone　can　make　off　with　a　seamstress's　shears。　We're　talking　about　a　real　bit　of　stealth　now；　to　enter　the　King's　own　chambers　and　take　something　that　belongs　to　him。　If　you　could　do　that；　I'd　believe　I'd　spent　my　time　well　in　teaching　you。　I'd　feel　you　appreciated　what　I'd　taught　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　know　I　appreciate　what　you　teach　me；〃　I　said　quickly。　That　wasn't　it　at　all。　Chade　seemed　to　be　pletely　missing　my　point。　〃I'd　feel　。。。　disloyal。　Like　I　was　using　what　you'd　taught　me　to　trick　the　King。　Almost　as　if　I　were　laughing　at　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃Ah！〃　Chade　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　a　smile　on　his　face。　〃Don't　let　that　bother　you；　boy。　King　Shrewd　can　appreciate　a　good　jest　when　he's　shown　one。　Whatever　you　take；　I'll　return　myself　to　him。　It　will　be　a　sign　to　him　of　how　well　I've　taught　you　and　how　well　you've　learned。　Take　something　simple　if　it　worries　you　so；　it　needn't　be　the　crown　off　his　head　or　the　ring　from　his　finger！　Just　his　hairbrush；　or　any　bit　of　paper　that's　about　…　even　　his　glove　or　belt　would　do。　Nothing　of　any　great　value。　Just　a　token。〃
　　　　　　　I　thought　I　should　pause　to　think；　but　I　knew　I　didn't　need　to。　〃I　can't　do　it。　I　mean；　I　won't　do　it。　Not　from　King　Shrewd。　Name　any　other；　anyone　else's　room；　and　I'll　do　it。　Remember　when　I　took　Regal's　scroll？　You'll　see；　I　can　creep　in　anywhere　and…　〃　
　　　　　　　〃Boy？〃　Chade's　voice　came　slowly；　puzzled。　〃Don't　you　trust　me？　I　tell　you　it's　all　right。　It's　just　a　challenge　we're　talking　about；　not　high　treason。　And　this　time；　if　you're　caught；　I　promise　I'll　step　right　in　and　explain　it　all。　You　won't　be　punished。〃
　　　　　　　〃That's　not　it；〃　I　said　frantically。　I　could　sense　Chade's　growing　puzzlement　over　my　refusal。　I　scrabbled　within　myself　to　find　a　way　to　explain　to　him。　〃I　promised　to　be　loyal　to　Shrewd。　And　this…〃
　　　　　　　〃There's　nothing　disloyal　about　this！〃　Chade　snapped。　I　looked　up　to　see　angry　glints　in　his　eyes。　Startled；　I　drew　back　from　him。　I'd　never　seen　him　glare　so。　〃What　are　you　saying；　boy？　That　I'm　asking　you　to　betray　your　king？　Don't　be　an　idiot。　This　is　just　a　simple　little　test；　my　way　of　me