rh.theassassinsapprentice-第4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！


　　　　　　　Prince　Regal　broke　in　with　a　snort　of　disdain。　〃The　time　for　discretion　was　before　he　rolled　the　wench。　The　Lady　Patience　is　not　the　first　woman　to　have　to　face　her　husband's　bastard。　Everyone　here　knows　of　his　existence；　Verity's　clumsiness　saw　to　that。　There's　no　point　to　trying　to　hide　him。　And　as　far　as　a　royal　bastard　is　concerned；　none　of　us　can　afford　to　have　such　sensibilities；　Burrich。　To　leave　such　a　boy　in　a　place　like　this　is　like　leaving　a　weapon　hovering　over　the　King's　throat。　Surely　even　a　houndsman　can　see　that。　And　even　if　you　can't；　your　master　will。〃
　　　　　　　An　icy　harshness　had　e　into　Regal's　voice；　and　I　saw　Burrich　flinch　from　his　voice　as　I　had　seen　him　cower　from　nothing　else。　It　made　me　afraid；　and　I　drew　the　blanket　up　over　my　head　and　burrowed　deeper　into　the　straw。　Beside　me；　Vixen　growled　lightly　in　the　back　of　her　throat。　I　think　it　made　Regal　step　back；　but　I　cannot　be　sure。　The　men　left　soon　after；　and　if　they　spoke　any　more　than　that；　no　memory　of　it　lies　within　me。
　　　　　　　Time　passed；　and　I　think　it　was　two；　or　perhaps　three　weeks　later　that　I　found　myself　clinging　to　Burrich's　belt　and　trying　to　wrap　my　short　legs　around　a　horse　behind　him　as　we　left　that　chill　village　and　began　what　seemed　to　me　an　endless　journey　down　to　warmer　lands。　I　suppose　at　some　point　Chivalry　must　have　e　to　see　the　bastard　he　had　sired　and　must　have　passed　some　sort　of　judgment　on　himself　as　regarded　me。　But　I　have　no　memory　of　such　a　meeting　with　my　father。　The　only　image　I　carry　of　him　in　my　mind　is　from　his　portrait　on　the　wall　in　Buckkeep。　Years　later　I　was　given　to　understand　that　his　diplomacy　had　gone　well　indeed；　securing　a　treaty　and　peace　that　lasted　well　into　my　teens　and　earning　the　respect　and　even　fondness　of　the　Chyurda。
　　　　　　　In　truth；　I　was　his　only　failure　that　year；　but　I　was　a　monumental　one。　He　preceded　us　home　to　Buckkeep；　where　he　abdicated　his　claim　to　the　throne。　By　the　time　we　arrived；　he　and　Lady　Patience　were　gone　from　court；　to　live　as　the　Lord　and　Lady　of　Withywoods。　I　have　been　to　Withywoods。　Its　name　bears　no　relationship　to　its　appearance。　It　is　a　warm　valley；　centered　on　a　gently　flowing　river　that　carves　a　wide　plain　that　nestles　between　gently　rising　and　rolling　foothills。　A　place　to　grow　grapes　and　grain　and　plump　children。　It　is　a　soft　holding；　far　from　the　borders；　far　from　the　politics　of　court；　far　from　anything　that　had　been　Chivalry's　life　up　to　then。　It　was　a　pasturing　out；　a　gentle　and　genteel　exile　for　a　man　who　would　have　been　King。　A　velvet　smothering　for　a　warrior　and　a　silencing　of　a　rare　and　skilled　diplomat。
　　　　　　　And　so　I　came　to　Buckkeep；　sole　child　and　bastard　of　a　man　I'd　never　know。　Prince　Verity　became　King…in…Waiting　and　Prince　Regal　moved　up　a　notch　in　the　line　of　succession。　If　all　I　had　ever　done　was　to　be　born　and　discovered；　I　would　have　left　a　mark　across　all　the　land　for　all　time。　I　grew　up　fatherless　and　motherless　in　a　court　where　all　recognized　me　as　a　catalyst。　And　a　catalyst　I　became。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　TWO
　　　　　　　Newboy
　　　　　　　HERE　ARE　MANY　LEGENDS　about　Taker；　the　first　Outislander　to　claim　Buckkeep　as　the　First　Duchy　and　the　founder　of　the　royal　line。　One　is　that　the　raiding　voyage　he　was　on　was　his　first　and　only　foray　out　from　whatever　cold　harsh　island　bore　him。　It　is　said　that　upon　seeing　the　timbered　fortifications　of　Buckkeep；　he　had　announced；　〃If　there's　a　fire　and　a　meal　there；　I　shan't　be　leaving　again。〃　And　there　was；　and　he　didn't。
　　　　　　　But　family　rumor　says　that　he　was　a　poor　sailor；　made　sick　by　the　heaving　water　and　salt…fish　rations　that　other　Outislanders　throve　upon。　That　he　and　his　crew　had　been　lost　for　days　upon　the　water；　and　if　he　had　not　managed　to　seize　Buckkeep　and　make　it　his　own；　his　own　crew　would　have　drowned　him。　Nevertheless；　the　old　tapestry　in　the　Great　Hall　shows　him　as　a　well…thewed　stalwart　grinning　fiercely　over　the　prow　of　his　vessel　as　his　oarsmen　propel　him　toward　an　ancient　Buckkeep　of　logs　and　poorly　dressed　stone。
　　　　　　　Buckkeep　had　begun　its　existence　as　a　defensible　position　on　a　navigable　river　at　the　mouth　of　a　bay　with　excellent　anchorage。　Some　petty　landchief；　whose　name　has　been　lost　in　the　mists　of　history；　saw　the　potential　for　controlling　trade　on　the　river　and　built　the　first　stronghold　there。　Ostensibly；　he　had　built　it　to　defend　both　river　and　bay　from　the　Outislander　raiders　who　came　every　summer　to　plunder　up　and　down　the　river。　What　he　had　not　figured　on　were　the　raiders　that　infiltrated　his　fortifications　by　treachery。　The　towers　and　walls　became　their　toehold。　They　moved　their　occupations　and　domination　up　the　river；　and　rebuilding　his　timber　fort　into　towers　and　walls　of　dressed　stone；　finally　made　Buckkeep　the　heart　of　the　First　Duchy；　and　eventually　the　capital　of　the　kingdom　of　the　Six　Duchies。
　　　　　　　The　ruling　house　of　the　Six　Duchies；　the　Farseers；　were　descended　from　those　Outislanders。　They　had；　for　several　generations；　kept　up　their　ties　with　the　Outislanders；　making　courting　voyages　and　returning　home　with　plump　dark　brides　of　their　own　folk。　And　so　the　blood　of　the　Outislanders　still　ran　strong　in　the　royal　lines　and　the　noble　houses；　producing　children　with　black　hair　and　dark　eyes　and　muscled　stocky　limbs。　And　with　those　attributes　went　a　predilection　for　the　Skill；　and　all　the　dangers　and　weaknesses　inherent　in　such　blood。　I　had　my　share　of　that　heritage；　too。
　　　　　　　But　my　first　experience　of　Buckkeep　held　nothing　of　history　or　heritage。　I　knew　it　only　as　an　end　place　for　a　journey；　a　panorama　of　noise　and　people；　carts　and　dogs　and　buildings　and　twisting　streets　that　led　finally　to　an　immense　stone　stronghold　on　the　cliffs　that　overlooked　the　city　sheltered　below　it。　Burrich's　horse　was　weary；　and　his　hooves　slipped　on　the　often　slimy　cobbles　of　the　city　streets。　I　held　on　grimly　to　Burrich's　belt；　too　weary　and　aching　even　to　plain。　I　craned　my　head　up　once　to　stare　at　the　tall　gray　towers　and　walls　of　the　keep　above　us。　Even　in　the　unfamiliar　warmth　of　the　sea　breeze；　it　looked　chill　and　forbidding。　I　leaned　my　forehead　against　his　back　and　felt　ill　in　the　brackish　iodine　smell　of　the　immense　water。　And　that　was　how　I　came　to　Buckkeep。
　　　　　　　Burrich　had　quarters　over　the　stables；　not　far　from　the　mews。　It　was　there　he　took　me；　along　with　the　hounds　and　Chivalry's　hawk。　He　saw　to　the　hawk　first；　for　it　was　sadly　bedraggled　from　the　trip。　The　dogs　were　overjoyed　to　be　home　and　were　suffused　with　a　boundless　energy　that　was　very　annoying　to　anyone　as　weary　as　I。　Nosy　bowled　me　over　a　half…dozen　times　before　I　could　convey　to　his　thickskulled　hound's　mind　that　I　was　weary　and　half…sick　and　in　no　mood　for　play。　He　responded　as　any　pup　would；　by　seeking　out　his　former　littermates　and　immediately　getting　himself　into　a　semiserious　fight　with　one　of　them　that　was　quelled　by　a　shout　from　Burrich。　Chivalry's　man　he　might　be；　but　when　he　was　at　Buckkeep；　he　was　the　master　for　hounds；　hawks；　and　horses。
　　　　　　　His　own　beasts　seen　to；　he　proceeded　to　walk　through　the　stables；　surveying　all　that　had　been　done；　or　left　undone；　in　his　absence。　Stable　boys；　grooms；　and　falconers　appeared　as　if　by　magic　to　defend　their　charges　from　any　criticisms。　I　trotted　at　his　heels　for　as　long　as　I　could　keep　up。　It　was　only　when　I　finally　surrendered；　and　sank　wearily　onto　a　pile　of　straw；　that　he　appeared　to　notice　me。　A　look　of　irritation；　and　then　great　weariness；　passed　across　his　face。
　　　　　　　〃Here；　you；　Cob。　Take　young　Fitz　there　to　the　kitchens　and　see　that　he's　fed；　and　then　bring　him　back　up　to　my　quarters。〃
　　　　　　　Cob　was　a　short；　dark　dog　boy；　perhaps　ten　years　old；　who　had　just　been　praised　over　the　health　of　a　litter　that　had　been　whelped　in　Burrich's　absence。　Moments　before　he　had　been　basking　in　Burrich's　approval。　Now　his　grin　faltered；　and　he　looked　at　me　dubiously。　We　regarded　one　another　as　Burrich　moved　off　down　the　line　of　stalls　with　his　entourage　of　nervous　caretakers。　Then　the　boy　shrugged　and　went　into　a　half　crouch　to　face　me。　〃Are　you　hungry；　then；　Fitz？　Shall　we　go　find　you　a　bite？〃　he　asked　invitingly；　in　exactly　the　same　tone　as　he　had　used　to　coax　his　puppies　out　where　Burrich　could　see　them。　I　nodded；　relieved　that　he　expected　no　more　from　me　than　from　a　puppy；　and　followed　him。
　　　　　　　He　looked　back　often　to　see　if　I　was　keeping　up。　No　sooner　were　we　outside　the　stables　than　Nosy　came　frolicking　up　to　join　me。　The　hound's　evident　affection　for　me　raised　me　in　Cob's　estimation；　and　he　continued　to　speak　to　both　of　us　in　short　encouraging　phrases；　telling　us　there　was　food　just　ahead；　e　along　now；　no；　don't　go　off　sniffing　after　that　cat；　e　along　now；　there's　some　good　fellows。
　　　　　　　The　stables　had　been　bustling；　with　Verity's　men　putting　up　their　horses　and　gear　and　Burrich　finding　fault　with　all　that　had　not　been　done　up　to　his　standards　in　his　absence。　But　as　we　drew　closer　to　the　inner　keep；　the　foot　traffic　increased。　Folk　brushed　by　us　on　all　manner　of　errands：　a　boy　carrying　an　immense　slab　of　bacon　on　his　shoulder；　a　giggling　cluster　of　girls；　arms　heavy　with　strewing　reeds　and　heather；　a　scowling　old　man　with　a　basket　of　flopping　fish；　and　three　young　women　in　motley　and　bells；　their　voices　ringing　as　merrily　as　their　chimes。
　　　　　　　My　nose　informed　me　that　we　were　getting　closer　to　the　kitchens；　but　the　traffic　increased　proportionately；　until　we　drew　near　a　door　with　a　veritable　crush　of　people　going　in　and　out。　Cob　stopped；　and　Nosy　and　I　paused　behind　him；　noses　working　appreciatively。　He　regarded　the　press　of　folk　at　the　door　and　frowned　to　himself。　〃Place　is　packed。　Everyone's　getting　ready　for　the　weling　feast　tonight；　for　Verity　and　Regal。　Anyone　who's　anyone　has　e　into　Buckkeep　for　it；　word　spread　fast　about　Chivalry　ducking　out　on　the　kingship。　All　the　Dukes　have　e　or　sent　a　man　to　counsel　about　it。　I　hear　even　the　Chyurda　sent　someone；　to　be　sure　Chivalry's　treaties　will　be　honored　if　Chivalry　is　no　longer　about…〃
　　　　　　　He　halted；　suddenly　embarrassed；　but　whether　it　was　because　he　was　speaking　of　my　father　to　the　cause　of　his　abdication；　or　because　he　was　addressing　a　puppy　and　a　six…year…old　as　if　they　had　intelligence；　I　am　not　sure。　He　glanced　about；　reassessing　the　situation。　〃Wait　here；〃　he　told　us　finally。　〃I'll　slip　in　and　bring　something　out　for　you。　Less　chance　of　me　getting　stepped　on　。。。　or　caught。　Now　stay。〃　And　he　reinforced　his　mand　with　a　firm　gesture　of　his　hand。　I　backed　up　to　a　wall　and　crouched　down　there；　out　of　traffic's　way；　and　Nosy　sat　obediently　beside　me。　I　watched　admiringly　as　Cob　approached　the　door　and　slipped　between　the　clustered　folk；　eeling　smoothly　into　the　kitchens。
　　　　　　　With　Cob　out　of　sight；　the　more　general　populace　claimed　my　attention。　Largely　the　folk　that　passed　us　were　serving　people　and　cooks；　with　a　scattering　of　minstrels　and　merchants　and　delivery　folk。　I　watched　them　e　and　go　with　a　weary　curiosity。　I　had　already　seen　too　much　that　day　to　find　them　of　great　interest。　Almost　more　than　food　I　desired　a　quiet　place　away　from　all　this　activity。　I　sat　flat　on　the　ground；　my　back　against　the　sun…warmed　wall　of　the　keep；　and　put　my　forehead　on　my　knees。　Nosy　leaned　against　me。
　　　　　　　Nosy's　stick　tail　beating　against　the　earth　roused　me。　I　lifted　my　face　from　my　knees　to　perce