rh.theassassinsapprentice-第59部分

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　　　　　　　And　I　became　aware　of　the　dismay　the　others　were　feeling。　No　one　could　look　at　him　and　not　see　how　badly　he　had　been　beaten。　The　Witness　Stones　had　found　him　lacking；　and　all　who　saw　him　would　know。　His　gaunt　face　was　a　landscape　of　purples　and　greens　washed　over　with　yellows。　His　lower　lip　was　split　in　the　middle　and　cut　at　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　He　wore　a　long…sleeved　robe　that　covered　his　arms；　but　the　flowing　looseness　of　it　contrasted　so　strongly　with　his　usual　tightly　laced　shirts　and　vests　that　it　was　like　seeing　the　man　in　his　nightshirt。　His　hands；　too；　were　purple　and　knobby；　but　I　could　not　recall　that　I　had　seen　bruises　on　Burrich's　body。　I　concluded　that　he　had　used　them　in　a　vain　attempt　to　shield　his　face。　He　still　carried　his　little　whip　with　him；　but　I　doubted　he　had　the　capability　to　swing　it　effectively。
　　　　　　　And　so　we　inspected　one　another。　I　took　no　satisfaction　in　his　bruises　or　his　disgrace。　I　felt　something　akin　to　shame　for　them。　I　had　believed　so　strongly　in　his　invulnerability　and　superiority　that　this　evidence　of　his　mere　humanity　left　me　feeling　foolish。　That　unbalanced　his　posure。　Twice　he　opened　his　mouth　to　speak　to　me。　The　third　time；　he　turned　his　back　on　the　class　and　said；　〃Begin　your　physical　limbering。　I　will　observe　you　to　see　if　you　are　moving　correctly。〃
　　　　　　　The　ends　of　his　words　were　soft；　spoken　through　a　painful　mouth。　And　as　we　dutifully　stretched　and　swayed　and　bowed　in　unison；　he　crabbed　awkwardly　about　the　tower　garden。　He　tried　not　to　lean　on　the　wall；　or　to　rest　too　often。　Gone　was　the　slap；　slap；　slap　of　the　whip　against　his　thigh　that　had　formerly　orchestrated　our　efforts。　Instead；　he　gripped　it　as　if　afraid　he　might　drop　it。　For　my　part；　I　was　grateful　that　Burrich　had　made　me　get　up　and　move。　My　bound　ribs　didn't　permit　me　the　full　flexibility　of　motion　that　Galen　had　formerly　manded　from　us。　But　I　made　an　honest　attempt　at　it。
　　　　　　　He　offered　us　nothing　new　that　day；　only　going　over　what　we　had　already　learned。　And　the　lessons　came　to　an　early　end；　before　the　sun　was　even　down。　〃You　have　done　well；〃　he　said　lamely。　〃You　have　earned　these　free　hours；　for　I　am　pleased　you　have　continued　to　study　in　my　absence。〃　Before　dismissing　us；　he　called　each　of　us　before　him；　for　a　brief　touch　of　the　Skill。　The　others　left　reluctantly；　with　many　a　backward　glance；　curious　as　to　how　he　would　dial　with　me。　As　the　numbers　of　my　fellow　students　dwindled　I　braced　myself　for　a　solitary　confrontation。
　　　　　　　But　even　that　was　a　disappointment。　He　called　me　before　him；　and　I　came；　as　silent　and　outwardly　respectful　as　the　others。　I　stood　before　him　as　they　had；　and　he　made　a　few　brief　passes　of　his　hands　before　my　face　and　over　my　head。　Then　he　said　in　a　cold　voice；　〃You　shield　too　well。　You　must　learn　to　relax　your　guard　over　your　thoughts　if　you　are　either　to　send　them　forth；　or　receive　those　of　others。　Go。〃
　　　　　　　And　I　left；　as　the　others　had；　but　regretfully。　Privately　I　wondered　if　he　had　made　a　real　attempt　to　use　the　Skill　on　me。　I　had　felt　no　brush　of　it。　I　descended　the　stairs；　aching　and　bitter；　wondering　why　I　was　trying。
　　　　　　　I　went　to　my　room；　and　then　to　the　stables。　I　gave　Sooty　a　cursory　brushing　while　Smithy　watched。　Still　I　felt　restless　and　dissatisfied。　I　knew　I　should　rest；　that　I　would　regret　it　if　I　did　not。　Stone　walk？　Smithy　suggested；　and　I　agreed　to　take　him　into　town。　He　galloped　and　snuffled　circles　around　me　as　I　made　my　way　down　from　the　keep。　It　was　a　blustery　afternoon　after　a　calm　morning；　a　storm　was　building　offshore。　But　the　wind　was　unseasonably　warm；　and　I　felt　the　fresh　air　clearing　my　head；　and　the　steady　rhythm　of　walking　soothed　and　stretched　the　muscles　that　Galen's　exercises　had　left　bunched　and　aching。　Smithy's　sensory　prattle　grounded　me　firmly　in　the　immediate　world；　so　that　I　could　not　dwell　on　my　frustrations。
　　　　　　　I　told　myself　it　was　Smithy　who　led　us　so　directly　to　Molly's　shop。　Puppy　like；　he　had　returned　to　where　he　had　been　weled　before。　Molly's　father　had　kept　his　bed　that　day；　and　the　shop　was　fairly　quiet。　A　single　customer　lingered；　talking　to　Molly。　Molly　introduced　him　to　me　as　Jade。　He　was　a　mate　off　some　Sealbay　trading　vessel；　not　quite　twenty；　and　he　spoke　to　me　as　if　I　were　ten；　smiling　past　me　at　Molly　all　the　while。　He　was　full　of　tales　of　Red…Ships　and　sea　storms。　He　had　a　red　stone　earring　in　one　ear；　and　a　new　beard　curled　along　his　jaw。　He　took　far　too　long　to　select　candles　and　a　new　brass　lamp；　but　he　finally　left。
　　　　　　　〃Close　the　store　for　a　bit；〃　I　urged　Molly。　〃Let's　go　down　to　the　beach。　The　wind　is　lovely　today。〃
　　　　　　　She　shook　her　head　regretfully。　〃I'm　behind　in　my　work。　I　should　dip　tapers　all　this　afternoon　if　I　have　no　customers。　And　if　I　do　have　customers；　I　should　be　here。〃
　　　　　　　I　felt　unreasonably　disappointed。　I　quested　toward　her　and　discovered　how　much　she　actually　wished　to　go。　〃There's　not　that　much　daylight　left；〃　I　said　persuasively。　〃You　can　always　dip　tapers　this　evening。　And　your　customers　will　e　back　tomorrow　if　they　find　you　closed　today。〃
　　　　　　　She　cocked　her　head；　looked　thoughtful；　and　abruptly　set　aside　the　wicking　she　held。　〃You're　right；　you　know。　The　fresh　air　will　do　me　good。〃　And　she　took　up　her　cloak　with　an　alacrity　that　delighted　Smithy　and　surprised　me。　We　closed　up　the　shop　and　left。
　　　　　　　Molly　set　her　usual　brisk　pace。　Smithy　frolicked　about　her；　delighted。　We　talked；　in　a　cursory　way。　The　wind　put　roses　in　her　cheeks；　and　her　eyes　seemed　brighter　in　the　cold。　And　I　thought　she　looked　at　me　more　often；　and　more　pensively　than　she　usually　did。
　　　　　　　The　town　was　quiet；　and　the　market　all　but　deserted。　We　went　to　the　beach　and　walked　sedately　where　we　had　raced　and　shrieked　but　a　few　years　before。　She　asked　me　if　I　had　learned　to　light　a　lantern　before　going　down　steps　at　night；　and　that　mystified　me；　until　I　remembered　that　I　had　explained　my　injuries　as　a　fall　down　a　dark　staircase。　She　asked　me　if　the　schoolteacher　and　the　horsemaster　were　still　at　odds；　and　by　this　I　discerned　that　Burrich　and　Galen's　challenge　at　the　Witness　Stones　had　bee　something　of　a　local　legend　already。　I　assured　her　that　peace　had　been　restored。　We　spent　some　little　time　gathering　a　certain　kind　of　seaweed　that　she　wanted　to　flavor　her　chowder　that　evening。　Then；　for　I　was　winded；　we　sat　in　the　lee　of　some　rocks　and　watched　Smithy　make　numerous　attempts　to　clear　the　beach　of　all　gulls。
　　　　　　　〃So　I　hear　Prince　Verity　is　to　wed；〃　she　began　conversationally。
　　　　　　　〃What？〃　I　asked；　amazed。
　　　　　　　She　laughed　heartily。　〃Newboy；　I　have　never　met　anyone　as　immune　to　gossip　as　you　seem　to　be。　How　can　you　live　right　up　there　in　the　keep　and　know　nothing　of　that　which　is　the　mon　talk　of　the　town？　Verity　has　agreed　to　take　a　bride；　to　assure　the　succession。　But　the　story　in　town　is　that　he　is　too　busy　to　do　his　courting　himself；　so　Regal　will　find　him　a　lady。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　no。〃　My　dismay　was　honest。　I　was　picturing　big　bluff　Verity　paired　with　one　of　Regal's　sugar…crystal　women。　Whenever　there　was　a　festival　of　any　kind　in　the　keep；　Spring's　Edge　or　Winterheart　or　Harvestday；　here　they　came；　from　Chalced　and　Farrow　and　Bearns；　in　carriages　or　on　richly　caparisoned　palfreys　or　riding　in　litters。　They　wore　gowns　like　butterflies'　wings；　and　ate　as　daintily　as　sparrows；　and　seemed　to　flutter　about　and　perch　always　in　Regal's　vicinity。　And　he　would　sit　in　their　midst；　in　his　own　silk…and…velvet　hues；　and　preen　while　their　musical　voices　tinkled　around　him　and　their　fans　and　fancywork　trembled　in　their　fingers。　〃Prince　catchers；〃　I'd　heard　them　called；　noblewomen　who　displayed　themselves　like　goods　in　a　store　window　in　the　hopes　of　wedding　one　of　the　royals。　Their　behavior　was　not　improper；　not　quite。　But　to　me　it　seemed　desperate；　and　Regal　cruel　as　he　smiled　first　on　this　one　and　then　danced　all　evening　with　that　one；　only　to　rise　to　a　late　breakfast　and　walk　yet　another　through　the　gardens。　They　were　Regal's　worshipers。　I　tried　to　picture　one　on　Verity's　arm　as　he　stood　watching　the　dancers　at　a　ball；　or　quietly　weaving　in　his　study　while　Verity　pondered　and　sketched　at　the　maps　he　so　loved。　No　garden　strolls；　Verity　took　his　walks　along　the　docks　and　through　the　crops；　stopping　often　to　talk　to　the　seafolk　and　farmers　behind　their　plows。　Dainty　slippers　and　embroidered　skirts　would　surely　not　follow　him　there。
　　　　　　　Molly　slipped　a　penny　into　my　hand。
　　　　　　　〃What's　this　for？〃
　　　　　　　〃To　pay　for　whatever　you've　been　thinking　so　hard　that　you've　been　sitting　on　the　edge　of　my　skirt　while　I've　twice　asked　you　to　lift　up。　I　don't　think　you've　heard　a　word　I've　said。〃
　　　　　　　I　sighed。　〃Verity　and　Regal　are　so　different；　I　cannot　imagine　one　choosing　a　wife　for　the　other。〃
　　　　　　　Molly　looked　puzzled。
　　　　　　　〃Regal　will　choose　someone　who　is　beautiful　and　wealthy　and　of　good　blood。　She'll　be　able　to　dance　and　sing　and　play　the　chimes。　She'll　dress　beautifully　and　have　jewels　in　her　hair　at　the　breakfast　table；　and　always　smell　of　the　flowers　that　grow　in　the　Rain　Wilds。〃
　　　　　　　〃And　Verity　will　not　be　glad　of　such　a　woman？〃　The　confusion　on　Molly's　face　was　as　if　I　were　insisting　the　sea　was　soup。
　　　　　　　〃Verity　deserves　a　panion；　not　an　ornament　to　wear　on　his　sleeve；〃　I　pro