rh.royalassassin-第110节

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stood　silent。
　　　　　　　〃Did　you　need　something　from　me？〃　I　asked。
　　　　　　　〃Please　to　wait　a　moment；　sir；〃　the　boy　blurted。
　　　　　　　The　lad　disappeared　back　into　the　guardhouse；　and　a　moment　later　an　older　watch　officer　emerged。　She　regarded　me　gravely；　took　a　breath　as　if　to　steel　herself；　then　said　quietly；　〃You　are　denied　passage　out　of　the　Keep。〃
　　　　　　　〃What？〃　I　could　not　believe　my　ears。
　　　　　　　She　drew　herself　up。　When　she　spoke；　her　voice　was　firmer。　〃You　are　denied　passage　out　of　the　Keep。〃
　　　　　　　A　surge　of　anger　heated　me。　I　forced　it　down。　〃By　whose　mand？〃
　　　　　　　She　stood　firm　before　me。　〃My　mands　e　from　the　captain　of　the　watch；　sir。　That　is　all　I　know　of　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　would　speak　to　that　captain。〃　I　kept　my　voice　courteous。
　　　　　　　〃He　is　not　in　the　guardroom。　Sir。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　see。〃　But　I　did　not；　quite。　I　could　perceive　all　the　nooses　tightening　about　me；　but　could　not　understand　why　just　now。　The　other　obvious　question　to　ask；　however；　was　〃why　not？〃　With　Shrewd's　enfeeblement；　Verity　had　bee　my　protector。　But　he　was　away。　I　could　turn　to　Kettricken；　but　only　if　I　were　willing　to　bring　her　into　open　conflict　with　Regal。　I　was　not。　Chade　was；　as　always；　a　shadow　power。　All　of　this　passed　through　my　mind　quickly。　I　was　turning　away　from　the　gate　when　I　heard　my　name　called。　I　turned　back。
　　　　　　　ing　up　the　hill　from　town　was　Molly。　Her　servant's　blue　dress　flapped　around　her　calves　as　she　ran。　And　she　ran　heavily；　unevenly；　unlike　her　usual　graceful　stride。　She　was　exhausted；　or　nearly　so。　〃Fitz！〃　she　cried　out　again；　and　there　was　fear　in　her　voice。
　　　　　　　I　started　to　go　to　her；　but　the　guard　stepped　suddenly　into　my　path。　Fear　was　on　her　face；　too；　but　also　determination。　〃I　cannot　let　you　go　out　of　the　gate。　I　have　my　orders。〃
　　　　　　　I　wanted　to　smash　her　from　my　path。　I　forced　my　rage　down。　A　struggle　with　her　would　not　help　Molly。　〃Then　you　go　to　her；　damn　you！　Can't　you　see　the　woman　is　in　trouble　of　some　kind？〃
　　　　　　　She　stood　eye　to　eye　with　me；　unmoving。　〃Miles！〃　she　called；　and　the　boy　leaped　out。　〃Go　see　what　is　wrong　with　that　woman。　Quickly　now！〃
　　　　　　　The　boy　took　off　like　a　shot。　I　stood；　with　the　guard　standing　squarely　before　me；　and　watched　helplessly　over　her　shoulder　as　Miles　raced　to　Molly。　When　he　reached　her；　he　put　an　arm　around　her　and　took　her　basket　on　his　other　arm。　Leaning　heavily　on　him；　gasping　and　near　weeping；　Molly　came　toward　the　gate。　It　seemed　to　take　forever　before　she　was　through　the　gate　and　in　my　arms。　〃Fitz；　oh　Fitz；〃　she　sobbed。
　　　　　　　〃e；〃　I　told　her。　I　turned　her　away　from　the　guard；　walked　her　away　from　the　gate。　I　knew　I　had　done　the　sensible　thing；　the　calm　thing；　but　I　felt　shamed　and　small　from　it。
　　　　　　　〃Why　didn't　you　。。。　e　to　me？〃　Molly　panted。
　　　　　　　〃The　guard　would　not　let　me。　They　have　orders　I　am　not　to　leave　Buckkeep；〃　I　said　quietly。　I　could　feel　her　trembling　as　she　leaned　against　me。　I　took　her　around　the　corner　of　a　warehouse；　out　of　sight　of　the　guards　standing　gaping　in　the　gate。　I　held　her　in　my　arms　until　she　quieted。　〃What's　wrong？　What　happened？〃　I　tried　to　make　my　voice　soothing。　I　brushed　back　the　hair　that　hung　about　her　face。　After　a　few　moments　she　quieted　in　my　arms。　Her　breathing　steadied；　but　she　still　trembled。
　　　　　　　〃I　had　gone　into　town。　Lady　Patience　had　given　me　the　afternoon。　And　I　needed　to　get　a　few　things　。。。　for　my　candles。〃　As　she　spoke；　her　trembling　lessened。　I　tilted　her　chin　up　so　that　she　looked　into　my　eyes。
　　　　　　　〃And　then？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　was　。。。　ing　back。　I　was　on　the　steep　bit；　just　outside　of　town。　Where　the　alders　grow？〃
　　　　　　　I　nodded。　I　knew　the　spot。
　　　　　　　〃I　heard　horses　ing。　In　a　hurry。　So　I　stepped　off　the　road　to　make　way　for　them。〃　She　started　to　tremble　again。　〃I　kept　walking；　thinking　they　would　pass　me。　But　suddenly　they　were　right　behind　me；　and　when　I　looked　back；　they　were　ing　right　at　me。　Not　on　the　road；　but　right　at　me。　I　jumped　back　into　the　brush；　and　still　they　rode　right　at　me。　I　turned　and　ran；　but　they　kept　ing　。。。。〃　Her　voice　was　getting　higher　and　higher。
　　　　　　　〃Hush！　Wait　a　bit。　Calm　down。　Think。　How　many　of　them？　Did　you　know　them？〃
　　　　　　　She　shook　her　head　wildly。　〃Two。　I　couldn't　see　their　faces。　I　was　running　away；　and　they　were　wearing　the　kind　of　helm　that　es　down　over　your　eyes　and　nose。　They　chased　me。　It's　steep　there；　you　know；　and　brushy。　I　tried　to　get　away；　but　they　just　rode　their　horses　right　through　the　brush　after　me。　Herding　me；　like　dogs　herd　sheep。　I　ran；　and　ran；　but　I　couldn't　get　away　from　them。　Then　I　fell；　I　caught　my　foot　on　a　log　and　I　fell。　And　they　jumped　from　their　horses。　One　pinned　me　down　while　the　other　snatched　up　my　basket。　He　dumped　it　all　out；　like　he　was　looking　for　something；　but　they　were　laughing　and　laughing。　I　thought　。。。〃
　　　　　　　My　heart　was　hammering　as　hard　as　Molly's　now。　〃Did　they　hurt　you？〃　I　asked　fiercely。
　　　　　　　She　paused；　as　if　she　could　not　decide；　then　shook　her　head　wildly。　〃Not　like　you　fear。　He　just　。。。　held　me　down。　And　laughed。　The　other　one；　he　said　。。。　he　said；　I　was　pretty　stupid；　letting　myself　be　used　by　a　bastard。　They　said　。。。〃
　　　　　　　Again　she　paused　a　moment。　Whatever　they　had　said　to　her；　called　her　was　ugly　enough　that　she　could　not　repeat　it　to　me。　It　was　like　a　sword　through　me；　that　they　had　been　able　to　hurt　her　so　badly　she　would　not　even　share　the　pain。　〃They　warned　me；〃　she　went　on　at　last。　〃They　said　stay　away　from　the　bastard。　Don't　do　his　dirty　work　for　him。　They　said　。。。　things　I　didn't　understand；　about　messages　and　spies　and　treason。　They　said　they　could　make　sure　that　everyone　knew　I　was　the　Bastard's　whore。〃　She　tried　just　to　say　the　word；　but　it　came　out　with　greater　force。　She　defied　me　to　flinch　from　it。　〃Then　they　said　。。。　I　would　be　hanged　。。。　if　I　didn't　pay　attention。　That　to　run　errands　for　a　traitor　was　to　be　a　traitor。〃　Her　voice　grew　strangely　calmer。　〃Then　they　spit　on　me。　And　they　left　me。　I　heard　them　ride　away；　but　for　a　long　time　I　was　afraid　to　get　up。　I　have　never　been　so　scared。〃　She　looked　at　me　and　her　eyes　were　like　open　wounds。　〃Not　even　my　father　ever　scared　me　that　bad。〃
　　　　　　　I　held　her　close　to　me。　〃It's　all　my　fault。〃　I　did　not　even　know　I　had　spoken　aloud　until　she　drew　back　from　me；　to　look　up　in　puzzlement。
　　　　　　　〃Your　fault？　Did　you　do　something　wrong？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　I　am　no　traitor。　But　I　am　a　bastard。　And　I've　let　that　spill　over　onto　you。　Everything　Patience　warned　me　of；　everything　Ch　everyone　warned　me　about；　it's　all　ing　true。　I've　got　you　caught　up　in　it。〃
　　　　　　　〃What　is　happening？〃　she　asked　softly；　eyes　wide。　Her　breath　suddenly　caught。　〃You　said　。。。　the　guard　wouldn't　let　you　out　the　gate。　That　you　can't　leave　Buckkeep？　Why？〃
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know；　exactly。　There's　a　lot　I　don't　understand。　But　one　thing　I　do　know。　I　have　to　keep　you　safe。　That　means　staying　away　from　you；　for　a　time。　And　you　from　me。　Do　you　understand？〃
　　　　　　　A　glint　of　anger　came　into　her　eyes。　〃I　understand　you're　leaving　me　alone　in　this！〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　That's　not　it。　We　have　to　make　them　believe　that　they've　scared　you；　that　you're　obeying　them。　Then　you'll　be　safe。　They'll　have　no　reason　to　e　after　you　again。〃
　　　　　　　〃They　have　scared　me；　you　idiot！〃　she　hissed　at　me。　〃One　thing　I　know。　Once　someone　knows　you're　afraid　of　him；　you're　never　safe　from　that　person。　If　I　obey　them　now；　they　will　e　after　me　again。　To　tell　me　to　do　other　things；　to　see　how　far　I'll　obey　them　in　my　fear。〃
　　　　　　　These　were　the　scars　her　father　had　left　on　her　life。　Scars　that　were　a　kind　of　strength；　but　also　a　vulnerability。　〃Now　is　not　the　time　to　stand　up　to　them；〃　I　whispered。　I　kept　looking　over　her　shoulder；　expecting　that　at　any　moment　the　guard　would　e　to　see　where　we　had　vanished。　〃e；〃　I　said；　and　led　her　deeper　into　the　maze　of　warehouses　and　outbuildings。　She　walked　silently　beside　me　for　a　ways；　then　suddenly　jerked　her　hand　from　mine。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　time　to　stand　up　to　them；〃　she　declared。　〃Because　once　you　start　putting　it　off；　you　never　do　it。　Why　should　not　this　be　the　time？〃
　　　　　　　〃Because　I　don't　want　you　caught　up　in　this。　I　don't　want　you　hurt。　I　don't　want　people　saying　you　are　the　Bastard's　whore。〃　I　could　barely　force　the　words　from　my　mouth。
　　　　　　　Molly's　head　came　up。　〃I　have　done　nothing　I'm　ashamed　of；〃　she　said　evenly。　〃Have　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃No。　But…〃
　　　　　　　〃　'But。'　Your　favorite　word；〃　she　said　bitterly。　She　walked　away　from　me。
　　　　　　　〃Molly！〃　I　sprang　after　her；　seized　her　by　the　shoulders。
　　　　　　　She　spun　and　hit　me。　Not　a　slap。　A　solid　punch　in　the　mouth　that　rocked　me　back　and　put　blood　in　my　mouth。　She　stood　glaring；　daring　me　to　touch　her　again。　I　didn't。　〃I　didn't　say　I　wouldn't　fight　back。　Only　that　I　didn't　want　you　caught　up　in　it。　Give　me　a　chance　to　fight　this　my　way；〃　I　said。　I　knew　blood　was　running　over　my　chin。　I　let　her　look　at　it。　〃Trust　that　given　time；　I　can　find　them　and　make　them　pay。　My　way。　Now。　Tell　me　about　the　men。　What　they　wore；　how　they　rode。　What　did　the　horses　look　like？　Did　they　speak　like　Buck　folk；　or　Inlanders？　Did　they　have　beards？　Could　you　tell　the　color　of　their　hair；　their　eyes？〃
　　　　　　　I　saw　her　trying　to　think；　saw　her　mind　veer　away　from　thinking　about　it。　〃Brown；〃　she　said　at　last。　〃Brown　horses；　with　black　m