rh.theassassinsapprentice-第34章

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o　time　to　rebuild　their　ravaged　flocks　or　replant　their　burned　fields。　And　some　went　to　build　more　ships　and　hire　more　men　to　patrol　the　coastlines。
　　　　　　　At　first　folk　took　pride　in　what　they　would　do。　Those　who　lived　on　the　sea　cliffs　began　to　keep　volunteer　watch。　Runners　and　messenger　birds　and　signal　fires　were　kept　in　place。　Some　villages　sent　sheep　and　supplies　to　Sheepmire；　to　be　given　to　those　who　needed　help　most。　But　as　the　long　weeks　passed　and　there　was　no　sign　that　any　of　the　returned　hostages　had　recovered　their　sensibilities；　those　hopes　and　devotions　began　to　seem　pathetic　rather　than　noble。　Those　who　had　most　supported　these　efforts　now　declared　that；　were　they　taken　hostage；　they　would　choose　to　be　hacked　to　pieces　and　thrown　into　the　sea　rather　than　returned　to　cause　their　families　such　hardship　and　heartbreak。
　　　　　　　Worst；　I　think；　was　that　in　such　a　time　the　throne　itself　had　no　firm　idea　of　what　to　do。　Had　a　royal　edict　been　issued；　to　say　either　that　folk　must　or　must　not　pay　the　demanded　tribute　for　hostages；　it　would　have　gone　better。　No　matter　which；　some　folk　would　have　disagreed。　But　at　least　the　King　would　have　taken　a　stand；　and　people　would　have　had　some　sense　that　this　threat　was　being　faced。　Instead；　the　increased　patrols　and　watches　only　made　it　seem　that　Buckkeep　itself　was　in　terror　of　this　new　threat；　but　had　no　strategy　for　facing　it。　In　the　absence　of　royal　edict；　the　coastal　villages　took　things　into　their　own　hands。　The　councils　met；　to　decide　what　they　would　do　if　Forged。　And　some　decided　one　way；　and　some　the　other。
　　　　　　　〃But　in　every　case；〃　Chade　told　me　wearily；　〃it　matters　not　what　they　decide；　it　weakens　their　loyalty　to　the　kingdom。　Whether　they　pay　the　tribute　or　not；　the　Raiders　may　laugh　over　their　blood　ale　at　us。　For　in　deciding；　our　villagers　are　saying　in　their　minds；　not　'if　we　are　Forged'　but　'when　we　are　Forged。'　And　thus　they　have　already　been　raped　in　spirit；　if　not　in　flesh。　They　look　at　their　kin；　mother　at　child；　man　at　parents；　and　already　they　have　given　them　up　to　death　or　Forging。　And　the　kingdom　fails；　for　as　each　town　must　decide　alone；　so　it　is　separated　from　the　whole。　We　will　shatter　into　a　thousand　little　townships；　each　worrying　only　about　what　it　will　do　for　itself　if　it　is　raided。　If　Shrewd　and　Verity　do　not　act　quickly；　the　kingdom　will　bee　a　thing　that　exists　only　in　name；　and　in　the　minds　of　its　former　rulers。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　what　can　they　do？〃　I　demanded。　〃No　matter　what　edict　is　passed；　it　will　be　wrong。〃　I　picked　up　the　tongs　and　pushed　the　crucible　I　was　tending　a　bit　deeper　into　the　flames。
　　　　　　　〃Sometimes；〃　grumbled　Chade；　〃it　is　better　to　be　defiantly　wrong　than　silent。　Look；　boy；　if　you；　a　mere　lad；　can　realize　that　either　decision　is　wrong；　so　can　all　folk。　But　at　least　such　an　edict　would　give　us　a　mon　response。　It　would　not　be　as　if　each　village　were　left　to　lick　its　own　wounds。　And　in　addition　to　such　an　edict；　Shrewd　and　Verity　should　take　other　actions。〃　He　leaned　closer　to　peer　at　the　bubbling　liquid。　〃More　heat；〃　he　suggested。
　　　　　　　I　picked　up　a　small　bellows；　plied　it　carefully。　〃Such　as？〃
　　　　　　　〃Organize　raids　on　the　Outislanders　in　return。　Provide　vessels　and　supplies　to　any　willing　to　undertake　such　a　raid。　Forbid　that　herds　and　flocks　be　grazed　so　temptingly　on　the　coast　pastures。　Supply　more　arms　to　the　villages　if　we　cannot　give　each　one　men　to　protect　it。　By　Eda's　plow；　give　them　pellets　of　carris　seed　and　nightshade　to　carry　in　pouches　about　their　wrists　so　that　if　they　are　captured　in　a　raid；　they　can　take　their　own　lives　instead　of　being　hostages。　Anything；　boy。　Anything　the　King　did　at　this　point　would　be　better　than　this　damn　indecisiveness。〃
　　　　　　　I　sat　staring　at　Chade。　I　had　never　heard　him　speak　so　forcefully；　nor　had　I　ever　known　him　to　criticize　Shrewd　so　openly。　It　shocked　me。　I　held　my　breath；　hoping　he'd　say　more　but　almost　fearful　of　what　I　might　hear。　He　seemed　unaware　of　my　stare。　〃Poke　that　a　bit　deeper。　But　be　careful。　If　it　explodes；　King　Shrewd　may　have　himself　two　pocked　men　instead　of　one。〃　He　glanced　at　me。　〃Yes；　that's　how　I　was　marked。　But　it　might　have　well　and　truly　been　a　pox；　for　how　Shrewd　hears　me　lately。　'Ill　omens　and　warnings　and　cautions　fill　you；'　he　said　to　me。　'But　I　think　you　want　the　boy　trained　in　the　Skill　simply　because　you　were　not。　It's　a　bad　ambition；　Chade。　Put　it　from　you。　There　speaks　the　Queen's　ghost　with　the　King's　tongue。〃
　　　　　　　Chade's　bitterness　filled　me　with　stillness。
　　　　　　　〃Chivalry。　That's　who　we　need　now；〃　he　went　on　after　a　moment。　〃Shrewd　holds　back；　and　Verity　is　a　good　soldier；　but　he　listens　to　his　father　too　much。　Verity　was　raised　to　be　second；　not　first。　He　does　not　take　the　initiative。　We　need　Chivalry。　He'd　go　into　those　towns；　talk　to　the　folk　who　have　lost　loved　ones　to　Forging。　Damn；　he'd　even　talk　to　the　Forged　ones　themselves　。。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Do　you　think　it　would　do　any　good？〃　I　asked　softly。　I　scarcely　dared　to　move。　I　sensed　that　Chade　was　talking　more　to　himself　than　to　me。
　　　　　　　〃It　wouldn't　solve　it；　no。　But　our　folk　would　have　a　sense　of　their　ruler's　involvement。　Sometimes　that's　all　it　takes；　boy。　But　all　Verity　does　is　march　his　toy　soldiers　about　and　weigh　strategies。　And　Shrewd　watches　it　happen；　and　thinks　not　of　his　people；　but　only　of　how　to　assure　that　Regal　can　be　kept　safe　and　yet　readied　in　power　should　Verity　manage　to　get　himself　killed。〃
　　　　　　　〃Regal？〃　I　blurted　in　amazement。　Regal；　with　his　pretty　clothes　and　cockerel　posturings？　Always　he　was　at　Shrewd's　heels；　but　never　had　I　thought　of　him　as　a　real　prince。　To　hear　his　name　e　up　in　such　a　discussion　jolted　me。
　　　　　　　〃He　has　bee　his　father's　favorite；〃　Chade　growled。　〃Shrewd　has　done　nothing　but　spoil　him　since　the　Queen　died。　He　tries　to　buy　the　boy's　heart　with　gifts；　now　that　his　mother　is　no　longer　around　to　claim　his　allegiance。　And　Regal　takes　full　advantage。　He　speaks　only　what　the　old　man　loves　to　hear。　And　Shrewd　gives　him　too　much　rein。　He　lets　him　wander　about；　squandering　coin　on　useless　visits　to　Farrow　and　Tilth；　where　his　mother's　people　fill　Regal　full　of　ideas　of　his　self…importance。　The　boy　should　be　kept　at　home　and　made　to　give　some　account　for　how　he　spends　his　time。　And　the　King's　money。　What　he　spends　gallivanting　about　would　have　outfitted　a　warship。〃　And　then；　suddenly　annoyed：　〃That's　too　hot！　You'll　lose　it；　fish　it　out　quickly。〃
　　　　　　　But　his　words　came　too　late；　for　the　crucible　cracked　with　a　noise　like　breaking　ice　and　its　contents　filled　Chade's　tower　room　with　an　acrid　smoke　that　brought　all　lessons　and　talk　to　an　end　for　that　night。
　　　　　　　I　was　not　soon　summoned　again。　My　other　lessons　went　on；　but　I　missed　Chade　as　the　weeks　passed　and　he　did　not　call　for　me。　I　knew　he　was　not　displeased　with　me；　but　only　preoccupied。　When；　idle　one　day；　I　pushed　my　awareness　toward　him；　I　felt　only　secrecy　and　discordance。　And　a　wallop　to　the　back　of　my　head　when　Burrich　caught　me　at　it。
　　　　　　　〃Stop　it；〃　he　hissed；　and　ignored　my　studied　look　of　shocked　innocence。　He　glanced　about　the　stall　I　was　mucking　out　as　if　he　expected　to　find　a　dog　or　cat　lurking。
　　　　　　　〃There's　nothing　here！〃　he　exclaimed。
　　　　　　　〃Just　manure　and　straw；〃　I　agreed；　rubbing　the　back　of　my　head。
　　　　　　　〃Then　what　were　you　doing？〃
　　　　　　　〃Daydreaming；〃　I　muttered。　〃That　was　all。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　can't　fool　me；　Fitz；〃　he　growled。　〃And　I　won't　have　it。　Not　in　my　stables。　You　won't　pervert　my　beasts　that　way。　Or　degrade　Chivalry's　blood。　Mind　what　I've　told　you。
　　　　　　　I　clenched　my　jaws　and　lowered　my　eyes　and　kept　on　working。　After　a　time　I　heard　him　sigh　and　move　away。　I　went　on　raking；　inwardly　seething　and　resolving　never　to　let　Burrich　e　up　on　me　unawares　again。
　　　　　　　The　rest　of　that　summer　was　such　a　whirlpool　of　events　that　I　find　it　hard　to　recall　their　progression。　Overnight；　the　very　feeling　of　the　air　seemed　to　change。　When　I　went　into　town；　all　of　the　talk　was　of　fortifications　and　readiness。　Only　two　more　towns　were　Forged　that　summer；　but　it　seemed　a　hundred；　for　the　stories　of　it　were　repeated　and　enlarged　from　lip　to　lip。
　　　　　　　〃Until　it　seems　as　if　that　is　all　folk　talk　about　anymore；〃　Molly　plained　to　me。
　　　　　　　We　were　walking　on　Long　Beach；　in　the　light　of　the　summer　evening　sun。　The　wind　off　the　water　was　a　wele　bit　of　cool　after　a　muggy　day。　Burrich　had　been　called　away　to　Springmouth　to　see　if　he　could　figure　out　why　all　the　cattle　there　were　developing　huge　hide　sores。　It　meant　no　morning　lessons　for　me；　but　many；　many　more　chores　with　the　horses　and　hounds　in　his　absence；　especially　as　Cob　had　gone　to　Turlake　with　Regal；　to　manage　his　horses　and　hounds　for　a　summer　hunt。
　　　　　　　But　the　opposite　weight　of　the　balance　was　that　my　evenings　were　less　supervised；　and　I　had　more　time　to　visit　town。
　　　　　　　My　evening　walks　with　Molly　were　almost　a　routine　now。　Her　father's　health　was　failing　and　he　scarcely　needed　to　drink　to　fall　into　an　early　and　deep　sleep　each　night。　Molly　would　pack　a　bit　of　cheese　and　sausage　for　us；　or　a　small　loaf　and　some　smoked　fish；　and　we　would　take　a　basket　and　a　bottle　of　cheap　wine　and　walk　out　down　the　beach　to　the　breakwater　rocks。　There　we　would　sit　on　the　rocks　as　they　gave　up　the　last　heat　of　the　day；　and　Molly　would　tell　me　about　her　day's　work　and　the　day's　gossip　and　I　would　listen。　Sometimes　our　elbows　bumped　as　we　walked。
　　　　　　　〃Sara；　the　butcher's　daughter；　told　me　that　she　positively　yearns　for　winter　to　e。　The　winds　and　ice　will　beat　the　Red…Ships　back　to　their　own　shores　for　a　bit；　and　give　us　a　rest　from　fear；　she　says。　But　then　Kelty　up　and　says　that　maybe　we'll　be　able　to　stop　fearing　more　Forging；　but　that　we'll　still　have　to　fear　the　Forged　folk　that　are　loose　in　our　land。　Rumor　says　that　some　from　Forge　have　left　there；　now　that　there's　nothing　left　for　them　to　steal；　and　that　they　travel　about　as　bandits；　robbing　travelers。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　doubt　it。　More　than　likely　it's　other　folk　doing　the　robbing；　but　trying　to　pass　themselves　off　as　Forged　folk　to　send　revenge　looking　elsewhere。　Forged　folk　don't　have　enough　kinship　left　in　them　to　be　a　band　of　anything；〃　I　contradicted　her　lazily。　I　was　looking　out　across　the　bay；　my　eyes　almost　closed　against　the　glare　of　the　sun　on　the　water。　I　didn't　have　to　look　at　Molly　to　feel　her　there　beside　me。　It　was　an　interesting　tension；　one　I　didn't　fully　understand。　She　was　sixteen；　and　I　about　fourteen；　and　those　two　years　loomed　between　us　like　an　insurmountable　wall。　Yet　she　always　made　time　for　me　and　seemed　to　enjoy　my　pany。　She　seemed　as　aware　of　me　as　I　was　of　her。　But　if　I　quested　toward　her　at　all；　she　would　draw　back；　halting　to　shake　a　pebble　from　her　shoe　or　suddenly　speaking　of　her　father's　illness　and　how　much　he　needed　her。　Yet　if　I　drew　my　sensings　back　from　that　tension；　she　became　uncertain　and　shyer　of　speech；　and　would　try　to　look　at　my　face　and　the　set　of　my　mouth　and　eyes。　I　didn't　understand　it；　but　it　was　as　if　we　held　a　string　taut　between　us。　But　now　I　heard　an　edge　of　annoyance　in　her　speech。
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　I　see。　And　you　know　so　much　of　Forged　folk；　do　you；　more　than　those　who　have　been　robbed　by　them？〃
　　　　　　　Her　tart　words　caught　me　off　balance　and　it　was　a　moment　or　two　before　I　could　speak。　Molly　knew　nothing　of　Chade　and　me；　let　al