rh.theassassinsapprentice-第6部分

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　　　　　　　But　I　did　not　have　an　answer。　Mother　had　been　Mother；　and　whatever　I　had　known　of　her　was　already　fading。　So　I　made　no　reply；　but　only　stared　up　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃Hey。　What's　your　name　then；　boy？〃　And　turning　to　his　audience；　he　confided；　〃I　heard　he　ain't　got　no　name。　No　highflown　royal　name　to　shape　him；　nor　even　a　cottage　name　to　scold　him　by。　That　right；　boy？　You　got　a　name？〃
　　　　　　　The　group　of　onlookers　was　growing。　A　few　showed　pity　in　their　eyes；　but　none　interfered。　Some　of　what　I　was　feeling　passed　to　Nosy；　who　dropped　over　onto　his　side　and　showed　his　belly　in　supplication　while　thumping　his　tail　in　that　ancient　canine　signal　that　always　means；　〃I'm　only　a　puppy。　I　cannot　defend　myself。　Have　mercy。〃　Had　they　been　dogs；　they　would　have　sniffed　me　over　and　then　drawn　back。　But　humans　have　no　such　inbred　courtesies。　So　when　I　didn't　answer；　the　man　drew　a　step　nearer　and　repeated；　〃You　got　a　name；　boy？〃
　　　　　　　I　stood　slowly；　and　the　wall　that　had　been　warm　against　my　back　a　moment　ago　was　now　a　chill　barrier　to　retreat。　At　my　feet；　Nosy　squirmed　in　the　dust　on　his　back　and　let　out　a　pleading　whine。　〃No；〃　I　said　softly；　and　when　the　man　made　as　if　to　lean　closer　to　hear　my　words；　〃NO！〃　I　shouted；　and　repelled　at　him；　while　crabbing　sideways　along　the　wall。　I　saw　him　stagger　a　step　backward；　losing　his　grip　on　his　cask；　so　that　it　fell　to　the　cobbled　path　and　cracked　open。　No　one　in　the　crowd　could　have　understood　what　had　happened。　I　certainly　didn't。　For　the　most　part；　folk　laughed　to　see　a　grown　man　cower　back　from　a　child。　In　that　moment　my　reputation　for　both　temper　and　spirit　was　made；　for　before　nightfall　the　tale　of　the　bastard　standing　up　to　his　tormentor　was　all　over　the　town。　Nosy　scrabbled　to　his　feet　and　fled　with　me。　I　had　one　glimpse　of　Cob's　face；　taut　with　confusion　as　he　emerged　from　the　kitchen；　pies　in　hands；　and　saw　Nosy　and　I　flee。　Had　he　been　Burrich；　I　probably　would　have　halted　and　trusted　my　safety　to　him。　But　he　was　not；　and　so　I　ran；　letting　Nosy　take　the　lead。
　　　　　　　We　fled　through　the　trooping　servants；　just　one　more　small　boy　and　his　dog　racing　about　in　the　courtyard；　and　Nosy　took　me　to　what　he　obviously　regarded　as　the　safest　place　in　the　world。　Far　from　the　kitchen　and　the　inner　keep　was　a　hollow　Vixen　had　scraped　out　under　a　corner　of　a　rickety　outbuilding　where　sacks　of　peas　and　beans　were　stored。　Here　Nosy　had　been　whelped；　in　total　defiance　of　Burrich；　and　here　she　had　managed　to　keep　her　pups　hidden　for　almost　three　days。　Burrich　himself　had　found　her　there。　His　smell　was　the　first　human　smell　Nosy　could　recall。　It　was　a　tight　squeeze　to　get　under　the　building；　but　once　within；　the　den　was　warm　and　dry　and　semidark。　Nosy　huddled　close　to　me　and　I　put　my　arm　around　him。　Hidden　there；　our　hearts　soon　eased　down　from　their　wild　thumpings；　and　from　calmness　we　passed　into　the　deep　dreamless　sleep　reserved　for　warm　spring　afternoons　and　puppies。
　　　　　　　I　came　awake　shivering；　hours　later。　It　was　full　dark　and　the　tenuous　warmth　of　the　early…spring　day　had　fled。　Nosy　was　awake　as　soon　as　I　was；　and　together　we　scraped　and　slithered　out　of　the　den。
　　　　　　　There　was　a　high　night　sky　over　Buckkeep；　with　stars　shining　bright　and　cold。　The　smell　of　the　bay　was　stronger　as　if　the　day　smells　of　men　and　horses　and　cooking　were　temporary　things　that　had　to　surrender　each　night　to　the　ocean's　power。　We　walked　down　deserted　pathways；　through　exercise　yards　and　past　granaries　and　the　winepress。　All　was　still　and　silent。　As　we　drew　closer　to　the　inner　keep　I　saw　torches　still　burning　and　heard　voices　still　raised　in　talk。　But　it　all　seemed　tired　somehow；　the　last　vestiges　of　revelry　winding　down　before　dawn　came　to　lighten　the　skies。　Still；　we　skirted　the　inner　keep　by　a　wide　margin；　having　had　enough　of　people。
　　　　　　　I　found　myself　following　Nosy　back　to　the　stables。　As　we　drew　near　the　heavy　doors　I　wondered　how　we　would　get　in。　But　Nosy's　tail　began　to　wag　wildly　as　we　got　closer；　and　then　even　my　poor　nose　picked　up　Burrich's　scent　in　the　dark。　He　rose　from　the　wooden　crate　he'd　been　seated　on　by　the　door。　〃There　you　are；〃　he　said　soothingly。　〃e　along　then。　e　on。〃　And　he　stood　and　opened　the　heavy　doors　for　us　and　led　us　in。
　　　　　　　We　followed　him　through　darkness；　between　rows　of　stalls；　past　grooms　and　handlers　put　up　for　the　night　in　the　stables；　and　then　past　our　own　horses　and　dogs　and　the　stable　boys　who　slept　amongst　them；　and　then　to　a　staircase　that　climbed　the　wall　that　separated　the　stables　from　the　mews。　We　followed　Burrich　up　its　creaking　wooden　treads；　and　then　he　opened　another　door。　Dim　yellow　light　from　a　guttering　candle　on　a　table　blinded　me　temporarily。　We　followed　Burrich　into　a　slant…roofed　chamber　that　smelled　of　Burrich　and　leather　and　the　oils　and　salves　and　herbs　that　were　part　of　Burrich's　trade。　He　shut　the　door　firmly　behind　us；　and　as　he　came　past　us　to　kindle　a　fresh　candle　from　the　nearly　spent　one　on　the　table；　I　smelled　the　sweetness　of　wine　on　him。
　　　　　　　The　light　spread；　and　Burrich　seated　himself　on　a　wooden　chair　by　the　table。　He　looked　different；　dressed　in　fine　thin　cloth　of　brown　and　yellow；　with　a　bit　of　silver　chain　across　his　jerkin。　He　put　his　hand　out；　palm　up；　on　his　knee　and　Nosy　went　to　him　immediately。　Burrich　scratched　his　hanging　ears　and　then　thumped　his　ribs　affectionately；　grimacing　at　the　dust　that　rose　from　his　coat。　〃You're　a　fine　pair；　the　two　of　you；〃　he　said；　speaking　more　to　the　pup　than　to　me。　〃Look　at　you。　Filthy　as　beggars。　I　lied　to　my　king　today　for　you。　First　time　ever　in　my　life　I've　done　that。　Appears　as　if　Chivalry's　fall　from　grace　will　take　me　down　as　well。　Told　him　you　were　washed　up　and　sound　asleep；　exhausted　from　your　journey。　He　was　not　pleased　he　would　have　to　wait　to　see　you；　but　luckily　for　us；　he　had　weightier　things　to　handle。　Chivalry's　abdication　has　upset　a　lot　of　lords。　Some　are　seeing　it　as　a　chance　to　push　for　an　advantage；　and　others　are　disgruntled　to　be　cheated　of　a　king　they　admired。　Shrewd's　trying　to　calm　them　all。　He's　letting　it　be　noised　about　that　Verity　was　the　one　who　negotiated　with　the　Chyurda　this　time。　Those　as　will　believe　that　shouldn't　be　allowed　to　walk　about　on　their　own。　But　they　came；　to　look　at　Verity　anew；　and　wonder　if　and　when　he'd　be　their　next　king；　and　what　kind　of　a　king　he　would　be。　Chivalry's　dumping　it　over　and　leaving　for　Withywoods　has　stirred　all　the　Duchies　as　if　he'd　poked　a　stick　in　a　hive。〃
　　　　　　　Burrich　lifted　his　eyes　from　Nosy's　eager　face。　〃Well；　Fitz。　Guess　you　got　a　taste　of　it　today。　Fair　scared　poor　Cob　to　death；　your　running　off　like　that。　Now；　are　you　hurt？　Did　anyone　rough　you　up？　I　should　have　known　there　would　be　those　would　blame　all　the　stir　on　you。　e　here；　then。　e　on。〃
　　　　　　　When　I　hesitated；　he　moved　over　to　a　pallet　of　blankets　made　up　near　the　fire　and　patted　it　invitingly。　〃See。　There's　a　place　here　for　you；　all　ready。　And　there's　bread　and　meat　on　the　table　for　both　of　you。〃
　　　　　　　His　words　made　me　aware　of　the　covered　platter　on　the　table。　Flesh；　Nosy's　senses　confirmed；　and　I　was　suddenly　full　of　the　smell　of　the　meat。　Burrich　laughed　at　our　rush　to　the　table　and　silently　approved　how　I　shared　a　portion　out　to　Nosy　before　filling　my　own　jaws。　We　ate　to　repletion；　for　Burrich　had　not　underestimated　how　hungry　a　pup　and　a　boy　would　be　after　the　day's　misadventures。　And　then；　despite　our　long　nap　earlier；　the　blankets　so　close　to　the　fire　were　suddenly　immensely　inviting。　Bellies　full；　we　curled　up　with　the　flames　baking　our　backs　and　slept。
　　　　　　　When　we　awoke　the　next　day；　the　sun　was　well　risen　and　Burrich　already　gone。　Nosy　and　I　ate　the　heel　of　last　night's　loaf　and　gnawed　the　leftover　bones　clean　before　we　descended　from　Burrich's　quarters。　No　one　challenged　us　or　appeared　to　take　any　notice　of　us。
　　　　　　　Outside；　another　day　of　chaos　and　revelry　had　begun。　The　keep　was；　if　anything；　more　swollen　with　people。　Their　passage　stirred　the　dust　and　their　mixing　voices　were　an　overlay　to　the　shushing　of　the　wind　and　the　more　distant　muttering　of　the　waves。　Nosy　drank　it　all　in；　every　scent；　every　sight；　every　sound。　The　doubled　sensory　impact　dizzied　me。　As　I　walked　I　gathered　from　snatches　of　conversation　that　our　arrival　had　coincided　with　some　spring　rite　of　merriment　and　gathering。　Chivalry's　abdication　was　still　the　main　topic；　but　it　did　not　prevent　the　puppet　shows　and　jugglers　from　making　every　corner　a　stage　for　their　antics。　At　least　one　puppet　show　had　already　incorporated　Chivalry's　fall　from　grace　into　its　bawdy　edy；　and　I　stood　anonymous　in　the　crowd　and　puzzled　over　dialogue　about　sowing　the　neighbor's　fields　that　had　the　adults　roaring　with　laughter。
　　　　　　　But　very　soon　the　crowds　and　the　noise　became　oppressive　to　both　of　us；　and　I　let　Nosy　know　I　wished　to　escape　it　all。　We　left　the　keep；　passing　out　of　the　thick…walled　gate　past　guards　intent　upon　flirting　with　the　merrymakers　as　they　came　and　went。　One　more　boy　and　dog　leaving　on　the　heels　of　a　fishmongering　family　were　nothing　to　notice。　And　with　no　better　distraction　in　sight；　we　followed　the　family　as　they　wound　their　way　down　the　streets　away　from　the　keep　and　toward　the　town　of　Buckkeep。　We　dropped　farther　and　farther　behind　them　as　new　scents　demanded　that