rh.theassassinsapprentice-第42章

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　little　more　than　a　girl。　She　had　a　way　with　birds。　She　lived　in　the　hills　to　the　west　of　here；　and　it　was　said　she　could　call　a　wild　hawk　from　the　sky。　Some　folk　admired　her；　and　said　it　was　a　gift。　They　took　sick　poultry　to　her；　or　called　her　in　when　hens　wouldn't　set　their　eggs。　She　did　aught　but　good；　for　all　I　heard。　But　Galen　spoke　out　against　her。　Said　she　was　an　abomination；　and　that　it　would　be　the　worse　for　the　world　if　she　lived　to　breed。　And　one　morning　she　was　found　beaten　to　death。〃
　　　　　　　〃Galen　did　it？〃
　　　　　　　Burrich　shrugged；　a　gesture　most　unlike　him。　〃His　horse　had　been　out　of　the　stable　that　night。　That　much　I　know。　And　his　hands　were　bruised；　and　he　had　scratches　on　his　face　and　neck。　But　not　the　scratches　a　woman　would　have　dealt　him；　boy。　Talon　marks；　as　if　a　hawk　had　tried　to　strike　him。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　you　said　nothing？〃　I　asked　incredulously。
　　　　　　　He　barked　a　bitter　laugh。　〃Another　spoke　before　I　could。　Galen　was　accused；　by　the　girl's　cousin；　who　happened　to　work　here　in　the　stables。　Galen　would　not　deny　it。　They　went　out　to　the　Witness　Stones　and　fought　one　another　for　El's　justice；　which　always　prevails　there。　Higher　than　the　King's　court　is　the　answer　to　a　question　settled　there；　and　no　one　may　dispute　it。　The　boy　died。　Everyone　said　it　was　the　El's　justice；　that　the　boy　had　accused　Galen　falsely。　One　said　it　to　Galen。　And　he　replied　that　El's　justice　was　that　the　girl　had　died　before　she　bred；　and　her　tainted　cousin；　too。〃
　　　　　　　Burrich　fell　silent。　I　was　queasy　with　what　he　had　told　me；　and　a　cold　fear　snaked　through　me。　A　question　once　decided　at　the　Witness　Stones　could　not　be　raised　again。　That　was　more　than　law；　it　was　the　very　will　of　the　gods。　So　I　was　to　be　taught　by　a　man　who　was　a　murderer；　a　man　who　would　try　to　kill　me　if　he　suspected　I　had　the　Wit。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　Burrich　said　as　if　I　had　spoken　aloud。　〃Oh；　Fitz；　my　son；　be　careful；　be　wise。〃　And　for　a　moment　I　wondered；　for　it　sounded　as　if　he　feared　for　me。　But　then　he　added；　〃Don't　shame　me；　boy。　Or　your　father。　Don't　let　Galen　say　that　I've　let　my　prince's　son　grow　up　a　half　beast。　Show　him　that　Chivalry's　blood　runs　true　in　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I'll　try；〃　I　muttered。　And　I　went　to　bed　that　night　wretched　and　afraid。
　　　　　　　The　Queen's　Garden　was　nowhere　near　the　Women's　Garden　or　the　kitchen　garden　or　any　other　garden　in　Buckkeep。　It　was；　instead；　atop　a　circular　tower。　The　garden　walls　were　high　on　the　sides　that　faced　the　sea；　but　to　the　south　and　west；　the　walls　were　low　and　had　seats　along　them。　The　stone　walls　captured　the　warmth　of　the　sun　and　fended　off　the　salt　winds…from　the　sea。　The　air　was　still　there；　almost　as　if　hands　were　cupped　over　my　ears。　Yet　there　was　a　strange　wildness　to　the　garden　founded　on　stone。　There　were　rock　basins；　perhaps　birdbaths　or　water　gardens　at　one　time；　and　various　tubs　and　pots　and　troughs　of　earth；　intermingled　with　statuary。　At　one　time　the　tubs　and　pots　had　probably　overflowed　with　greenery　and　flowers。　Of　the　plants；　only　a　few　stalks　and　the　mossy　earth　in　the　tubs　remained。　The　skeleton　of　a　vine　crawled　over　a　half…rotted　trellis。　It　filled　me　with　an　old　sadness　colder　than　the　first　chill　of　winter　that　was　also　here。　Patience　should　have　had　this；　I　thought。　She　would　bring　life　here　again。
　　　　　　　I　was　the　first　to　arrive。　August　came　soon　after。　He　had　Verity's　broad　build；　much　as　I　had　Chivalry's　height；　and　the　dark　Farseer　coloring。　As　always；　he　was　distant　but　polite。　He　dealt　me　a　nod　and　then　strolled　about；　looking　at　the　statuary。
　　　　　　　Others　appeared　rapidly　after　him。　I　was　surprised　at　how　many；　over　a　dozen。　Other　than　August；　son　of　the　King's　sister；　no　one　could　boast　so　much　Farseer　blood　as　I　could。　There　were　cousins　and　second　cousins；　of　both　sexes；　and　both　younger　and　older　than　I。　August　was　probably　the　youngest；　at　two　years　my　junior；　and　Serene；　a　woman　in　her　mid　twenties；　was　probably　the　eldest。　It　was　an　oddly　subdued　group。　A　few　clustered；　talking　softly；　but　most　drifted　about；　poking　at　the　empty　gardens　or　looking　at　the　statues。
　　　　　　　Then　Galen　came。
　　　　　　　He　let　the　door　of　the　stairwell　slam　shut　behind　him。　Several　of　the　others　jumped。　He　stood　regarding　us；　and　we　in　turn　looked　at　him　in　silence。
　　　　　　　There　is　something　I　have　observed　about　skinny　men。　Some；　like　Chade；　seem　so　preoccupied　with　their　lives　that　they　either　forget　to　eat；　or　burn　every　bit　of　sustenance　they　take　in　the　fires　of　their　passionate　fascination　with　life。　But　there　is　another　type；　one　who　goes　about　the　world　cadaverously；　cheeks　sunken；　bones　jutting；　and　one　senses　that　he　so　disapproves　of　the　whole　of　the　world　that　he　begrudges　every　bit　of　it　that　he　takes　inside　himself。　At　that　moment　I　would　have　wagered　that　Galen　had　never　truly　enjoyed　one　bite　of　food　or　one　swallow　of　drink　in　his　life。
　　　　　　　His　dress　puzzled　me。　It　was　opulently　rich；　with　fur　at　his　collar　and　neck；　and　amber　beading　so　thick　on　his　vest　it　would　have　turned　a　sword。　But　the　rich　fabrics　strained　over　him；　the　clothing　tailored　so　snugly　to　him　that　one　wondered　if　the　maker　had　lacked　sufficient　fabric　to　finish　the　suit。　At　a　time　when　full　sleeves　slashed　with　colors　were　the　mark　of　a　wealthy　man；　he　wore　his　shirt　as　tight　as　a　cat's　skin。　His　boots　were　high　and　fitted　to　his　calves；　and　he　carried　a　little　quirt；　as　if　e　straight　from　riding。　His　clothing　looked　unfortable　and　bined　with　his　thinness　to　give　an　impression　of　stinginess。
　　　　　　　His　pale　eyes　swept　the　Queen's　Garden　dispassionately。　He　considered　us；　and　immediately　dismissed　us　as　wanting。　He　breathed　out　through　his　hawk's　nose；　as　does　a　man　facing　an　unpleasant　chore。　〃Clear　a　space；〃　he　directed　us。　〃Push　all　this　rubbish　to　one　side。　Stack　it　there；　against　that　wall。　Quickly；　now。　I　have　no　patience　with　sluggards。〃
　　　　　　　And　so　the　last　lines　of　the　garden　were　destroyed。　The　arrangements　of　the　pots　and　beds　that　had　been　shadows　of　the　little　walks　and　arbors　that　had　once　existed　here　were　swept　aside。　The　pots　were　moved　to　one　side；　the　lovely　little　statues　stacked　crookedly　atop　them。　Galen　spoke　only　once；　to　me。　〃Hurry　up；　bastard；〃　he　ordered　me　as　I　struggled　with　a　heavy　pot　of　earth；　and　he　brought　down　his　riding　crop　across　my　shoulders。　It　was　not　much　of　a　blow；　more　a　tap；　but　it　seemed　so　contrived　that　I　stopped　in　my　efforts　and　looked　at　him。　〃Didn't　you　hear　me？〃　he　demanded。　I　nodded；　and　went　back　to　moving　the　pot。　From　the　corner　of　my　eye；　I　saw　his　odd　look　of　satisfaction。　The　blow；　I　felt；　had　been　a　test；　but　I　was　not　sure　if　I　had　passed　or　failed　it。
　　　　　　　The　tower　roof　became　a　bare　space；　with　only　the　green　lines　of　moss　and　old　runnels　of　dirt　to　indicate　the　garden　that　had　been。　He　directed　us　to　form　ourselves　into　two　lines。　He　ordered　us　by　age　and　size；　and　then　separated　us　by　sex；　putting　the　girls　behind　the　boys　and　off　to　the　right。　〃I　will　tolerate　no　distractions　or　disruptive　behavior。　You　are　here　to　learn；　not　dally；〃　he　warned　us。　He　then　spaced　us　out；　having　us　stretch　our　arms　in　all　directions　to　show　that　there　we　could　not　touch　one　another；　not　even　so　much　as　a　fingertip。　From　this；　I　expected　physical　exercises　would　follow；　but　instead　he　directed　us　to　stand　still；　hands　at　our　sides；　and　attend　to　him。　So　as　we　stood　on　the　cold　tower　top　he　lectured　us。
　　　　　　　〃For　seventeen　years；　I　have　been　Skillmaster　of　this　keep。　Before　this；　my　lessons　were　given　to　small　groups；　discreetly。　Those　who　failed　to　show　promise　were　turned　away　quietly。　During　that　time　the　Six　Duchies　had　no　need　for　more　than　a　handful　to　be　trained。　I　trained　only　the　most　promising；　wasting　no　time　on　those；　without　talent　or　discipline。　And；　for　the　last　fifteen　years；　I　have　not　initiated　any　into　the　Skill。
　　　　　　　〃But　evil　times　are　upon　us。　The　Outislanders　ravage　our　shores　and　Forge　our　people。　King　Shrewd　and　Prince　Verity　turn　their　Skills　to　protecting　us。　Great　are　their　efforts　and　many　their　successes；　though　the　mon　folk　never　even　guess　at　what　they　do。　I　assure　you；　against　the　minds　I　have　trained；　the　Outislanders　stand　small　chance。　A　few　paltry　victories　they　may　have　won；　ing　upon　us　unprepared；　but　the　forces　I　have　created　to　oppose　them　will　prevail！〃
　　　　　　　His　pale　eyes　burned　and　he　lifted　his　hands　to　the　heavens　as　he　spoke。　He　held　a　long　silence；　staring　upward；　his　arms　stretched　out　above　his　head；　as　if　he　clawed　down　power　from　the　sky　itself。　Then　he　let　his　arms　slowly　fall。
　　　　　　　〃This　I　know；〃　he　went　on　in　a　calmer　voice。　〃This　I　know。　The　forces　I　have　created　will　prevail。　But　our　king；　may　all　gods　honor　and　bless　him；　doubts　me。　And　as　he　is　my　king；　I　bow　to　his　will。　He　requires　that　I　seek　amongst　you　of　lesser　blood；　to　see　if　there　are　any　with　the　talent　and　will；　the　purity　of　purpose　and　sternness　of　soul；　to　be　trained　in　the　Skill。　This　I　will　do；　for　my　king　has　manded。　Legends　say　in　days　of　old　there　were　many　trained　in　the　Skill；　who　worked　alongside　their　kings　to　avert　dangers　from　the　land。　Perhaps　it　was　truly　so；　perhaps　the　old　legends　exaggerate。　In　any　case；　my　king　has　manded　me　to　attempt　to　create　such　a　surplus　of　Skilled　ones；　and　so　I　will　try。〃
　　　　　　　He　totally　ignored　the　five　or　so　women　of　our　group。　Not　once　did　his　eyes　turn　toward　them。　The　exclusion　was　so　obvious　I　wondered　how　they　had　offended　him。　I　knew　Serene　slightly；　for　she　also　had　been　an　apt　pupil　of　Fedwren。　I　could　almost　feel　the　warmth　of　her　displeasure。　In　the　row　beside　me；　one　of　the　boys　shifted。　In　a　flash　Galen　had　leaped　in　front　of　him。
　　　　　　　〃Bored；　are　we？　Restless　with　an　old　man's　talk？〃
　　　　　　　〃Just　a　cramp　in　my　calf；　sir；〃　the　boy　rejoined；　foolishly。
　　　　　　　Galen　slapped　him；　a　backhand　that　rocked　the　boy's　head。　〃Be　quiet；　and　stand　still。　Or　leave。　It's　all　one　to　me。　It's　already　obvious　that　you　lack　the　stamina　to　achieve　the　Skill。　But　the　King　has　found　you　worthy　to　be　here；　and　so　I　will　attempt　to　teach　you。〃
　　　　　　　I　trembled　inside。　For　when　Galen　spoke　to　the　boy；　it　was　me　he　stared　at。　As　if　the　boy's　movement　had　been　my　fault；　somehow。　A　strong　distaste　for　Galen　flooded　through　me。　I　had　taken　blows　from　Hod　in　the　course　of　my　instruction　in　staves　and　swords；　and　endured　disfort　even　from　Chade　as　he　demonstrated　touch　spots　and　strangling　techniques；　and　ways　to　silence　a　man　without　disabling　him。　I'd　had　my　share　of　cuffs；　boots；　and　swats　from　Burrich；　some　justified；　some　the　vented　frustration　of　a　busy　man。　But　I'd　never　seen　a　man　strike　a　boy　with　such　apparent　relish　as　Galen　had。　I　strove　to　keep　my　face　impassive；　and　to　look　at　him　without　appearing　to　stare。　For　I　knew　if　I　glanced　away；　I'd　be　accused　of　not　paying　attention。
　　　　　　　Satisfied；　Galen　nodded　to　himself；　and　then　resumed　his　lecture。　To　master　the　Skill；　he　must　first　teach　us　to　master　ourselves。　Physical　deprivation　was　his　key。　Tomorrow　we　were　to　arrive　before　the　sun　was　over　the　horizon。　We　were　not　to　wear　shoes；　socks；　cloaks；　nor　any　woolen　garment。　Heads　were　to　be　uncovered。　The　body　must　be　scrupulously　clean。　He　exhorted　us　to　imitate　him　in　his　eating　and　living　habits。　We　would　avoid　meat；　sweet　fruit；　seasoned　dishes；　milk；　and　〃frivolous　foods。〃　He　advocated