rh.royalassassin-第33节

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　turn　of　a　lip；　but　enough　to　bid　me　to　silence。　The　Fool　gathered　up　the　dishes；　all　the　while　making　merry　talk　with　the　King；　and　then　both　of　us　were　dismissed　together。　As　we　left；　the　King　was　staring　into　the　flames。
　　　　　　　Out　in　the　hall；　we　exchanged　glances　more　openly。　I　began　to　speak；　but　the　Fool　menced　to　whistle；　and　did　not　cease　until　we　were　halfway　down　the　stairs。　Then　he　paused　and　caught　at　my　sleeve；　and　we　halted　on　the　stairway；　betwixt　floors。　I　sensed　he　had　chosen　this　spot　carefully。　None　could　see　or　hear　us　speak　here；　save　that　we　saw　them　also。　Still；　it　was　not　even　the　Fool　that　spoke　to　me；　but　the　rat　atop　the　scepter。　He　brought　it　up　before　my　nose　and　squeaked　in　the　rat's　voice；　〃Ah；　but　you　and　I；　we　must　remember　whatever　he　forgets；　Fitz；　and　keep　it　safe　for　him。　It　costs　him　much　to　show　as　strong　as　he　did　tonight。　Do　not　be　deceived　about　that。　What　he　said　to　you；　twice；　you　must　cherish　and　obey；　for　it　means　he　held　it　twice　as　hard　in　his　mind　to　be　sure　he　would　say　it　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　I　nodded　and　resolved　to　deliver　the　scroll　that　very　night　to　Verity。　〃I　do　not　much　care　for　Wallace；〃　I　mented　to　the　Fool。
　　　　　　　〃'Tis　not　Wall's　Ass　you　should　have　a　care　for；　but　Wall's　Ears；〃　he　replied　solemnly。　Abruptly　he　balanced　the　tray　on　one　long…fingered　hand　and　lofted　it　high　over　his　head；　and　went　capering　off　down　the　stairs　before　me；　leaving　me　alone　to　think。
　　　　　　　I　delivered　the　scroll　that　night；　and　in　the　days　that　followed；　I　took　up　the　tasks　Verity　had　assigned　me　earlier。　I　used　fat　sausage　and　smoked　fish　as　the　vehicles　for　my　poisons；　wrapped　in　small　bundles。　These　I　might　easily　scatter　as　I　fled；　in　the　hopes　there　would　be　sufficient　for　all　who　pursued　me。　Each　morning　I　studied　the　map　in　Verity's　map　room；　and　then　saddled　Sooty　and　took　myself　and　my　poisons　out　where　I　thought　it　most　likely　I　would　be　set　upon　by　Forged　ones。　Remembering　my　previous　experiences；　I　carried　a　short　sword　on　these　riding　expeditions；　something　that　afforded　both　Hands　and　Burrich　some　amusement　at　first。　I　gave　it　out　that　I　was　scouting　for　game　in　case　Verity　wished　to　plan　a　winter　hunt。　Hands　accepted　it　easily；　Burrich　with　a　tightened　mouth　that　showed　he　knew　I　lied；　and　knew　also　that　I　could　not　tell　him　the　truth。　He　did　not　pry；　but　neither　did　he　like　it。
　　　　　　　Twice　in　ten　days　I　was　set　upon　by　Forged　ones；　and　twice　fled　easily；　letting　my　poisoned　provisions　tumble　from　my　saddlebags　as　I　went。　They　fell　upon　them　greedily；　scarcely　unwrapping　the　meat　before　stuffing　it　into　their　mouths。　I　returned　to　each　site　the　following　day；　to　document　for　Verity　how　many　I　had　slain　and　the　details　of　their　appearances。　The　second　group　did　not　match　any　description　we　had　received。　We　both　suspected　this　meant　there　were　more　Forged　ones　than　we　had　heard。
　　　　　　　I　did　my　task；　but　I　took　no　pride　in　it。　Dead；　they　were　even　more　pitiful　than　alive。　Ragged；　thin　creatures；　frostbitten　and　battered　by　their　fights　among　themselves　they　were；　and　the　savagery　of　the　quick　harsh　poisons　I　used　twisted　their　bodies　into　caricatures　of　men。　Frost　glistened　on　their　beards　and　eyebrows；　and　the　blood　from　their　mouths　made　red　clumps　like　frozen　rubies　in　the　snow。　Seven　Forged　ones　I　killed　this　way；　and　then　heaped　the　frozen　bodies　with　pitchpine；　and　poured　oil　on　them　and　set　them　aflame。　I　cannot　say　what　I　found　most　distasteful；　the　poisoning；　or　the　concealing　of　my　deed。　Cub　had　initially　begged　to　go　with　me　when　he　understood　that　I　was　riding　out　each　day　after　feeding　him；　but　at　one　point；　as　I　stood　over　the　frozen　stickmen　I　had　slain；　I　heard；　This　is　not　hunting；　this。　This　is　no　pack's　doing。　This　is　man's　doing。　His　presence　was　gone　before　I　could　rebuke　him　for　intruding　into　my　mind　again。
　　　　　　　Evenings　I　returned　to　the　Keep；　to　hot　fresh　food　and　warm　fires；　dry　clothes　and　a　soft　bed；　but　the　specters　of　those　Forged　ones　stood　between　me　and　those　forts。　I　felt　myself　a　heartless　beast　that　I　could　enjoy　such　things　after　spreading　death　by　day。　My　only　fort　was　a　prickly　one；　that　at　night　when　I　slept；　I　dreamed　of　Molly；　and　walked　and　talked　with　her；　unhaunted　by　Forged　ones　or　their　frost　rimed　bodies。
　　　　　　　Came　a　day　I　rode　out　later　than　I　had　intended；　for　Verity　had　been　in　his　map　room　and　had　kept　me　overlong　in　talk。　A　storm　was　ing　up；　but　it　did　not　seem　too　severe　of　one。　I　had　not　intended　to　go　far　that　day。　But　I　found　fresh　sign　instead　of　my　prey；　and　sign　of　a　larger　group　of　them　than　I　had　expected。　And　so　I　rode　on；　ever　at　the　alert　with　my　five　senses；　for　the　sixth　of　the　Wit　was　no　help　at　all　in　finding　Forged　ones。　The　gathering　clouds　stole　the　light　from　the　sky　more　swiftly　than　I　had　expected　and　the　sign　led　me　down　game　trails　where　Sooty　and　I　found　it　slow　going。　When　I　finally　glanced　up　from　my　tracking；　admitting　that　they　had　eluded　me　this　day；　I　found　myself　much　farther　from　Buckkeep　than　I　had　intended　and　well　off　any　traveled　road。
　　　　　　　The　wind　began　to　blow；　a　nasty　cold　one　that　foretold　snow　to　follow。　I　wrapped　my　cloak　more　tightly　about　myself　and　turned　Sooty's　head　toward　home；　relying　on　her　to　pick　her　path　and　pace。　Darkness　fell　before　we'd　gone　far；　and　snow　with　it。　Had　I　not　traversed　this　area　so　frequently　of　late；　I　would　surely　have　been　lost。　But　we　pressed　on；　going　always；　it　seemed；　into　the　teeth　of　the　wind。　The　cold　soaked　right　through　me；　and　I　began　to　shiver。　I　feared　the　shivering　might　actually　be　the　beginnings　of　trembling　and　a　fit　such　as　I　had　not　suffered　for　a　long　time。
　　　　　　　I　was　grateful　when　the　winds　finally　tore　a　rent　in　the　cloud　cover；　and　moonlight　and　starlight　leaked　through　to　gray　our　way。　We　made　a　better　pace　then；　despite　the　fresh　snow　that　Sooty　waded　through。　We　broke　out　of　a　thin　birch　forest；　onto　a　hillside　that　lightning　had　burned　off　a　few　years　ago。　The　wind　was　stronger　here　with　nothing　to　oppose　it；　and　I　gathered　my　cloak　and　turned　up　the　collar　again。　I　knew　that　once　I　crested　the　hill；　I　would　see　the　lights　of　Buckkeep；　and　that　another　hill　away　and　a　vale　would　find　a　well…used　road　to　take　me　home。　So　I　was　of　better　cheer　as　we　cut　our　way　across　the　hill's　smooth　flank。
　　　　　　　Sudden　as　thunder；　I　heard　the　hoofbeats　of　a　horse　struggling　to　make　speed；　but　somehow　encumbered。　Sooty　slowed；　then　threw　back　her　head　and　whinnied。　At　the　same　moment　I　saw　a　horse　and　rider　break　out　of　the　cover；　downhill　of　me　and　to　the　south。　The　horse　carried　a　rider；　and　two　other　people　clung　to　it；　one　to　its　breast　strap　and　one　to　the　rider's　leg。　Light　glinted　on　a　blade　that　rose　and　fell；　and　with　a　cry　the　man　clutching　at　the　rider's　leg　fell　away　to　wallow　and　shriek　in　the　snow。　But　the　other　figure　had　caught　the　horse's　headstall；　and　as　he　tried　to　drag　the　beast　to　a　halt；　two　other　pursuers　burst　from　the　trees　to　converge　on　the　struggling　horse　and　rider。　。
　　　　　　　The　moment　of　recognizing　Kettricken　is　inseparable　from　the　moment　I　set　heels　to　Sooty。　What　I　saw　made　no　sense　to　me；　but　that　did　not　prevent　my　responding。　I　did　not　ask　myself　what　my　queen…in…waiting　was　doing　out　here；　at　night；　unacpanied　and　set　upon　by　robbers。　Rather；　I　found　myself　admiring　how　she　kept　her　seat　and　set　her　horse　to　wheeling　as　she　kicked　and　slashed　at　the　men　who　tried　to　drag　her　down。　I　drew　my　sword　as　we　closed　on　the　struggle；　but　I　do　not　recall　that　I　made　any　sound。　My　recollection　of　the　whole　struggle　is　a　strange　one；　a　battle　of　silhouettes；　done　in　black　and　white　like　a　mountain　shadow　play；　soundless　save　for　the　grunts　and　cries　of　the　Forged　ones　as　one　after　another　they　fell。
　　　　　　　Kettricken　had　slashed　one　across　the　face；　blinding　him　with　blood；　but　still　he　clung　to　her　and　tried　to　drag　her　from　the　saddle。　The　other　ignored　the　plight　of　his　fellows；　tugging　instead　at　saddlebags　that　probably　carried　no　more　than　a　bit　of　food　and　brandy　packed　for　a　day's　ride。
　　　　　　　Sooty　took　me　in　close　to　the　one　gripping　Softstep's　headstall。　I　saw　it　was　a　woman　and　then　my　sword　was　into　her　and　out　again；　as　soulless　an　exercise　as　chopping　wood。　Such　a　peculiar　struggle。　I　could　sense　Kettricken　and　me；　the　fright　of　her　horse　and　Sooty's　battle…trained　enthusiasm；　but　from　her　attackers；　nothing。　Nothing　at　all。　No　anger　throbbed；　no　pain　of　their　wounds　shrieked　for　attention。　To　my　Wit；　they　were　not　there　at　all；　any　more　than　the　snow　or　the　wind　that　likewise　opposed　me。
　　　　　　　I　watched　as　in　a　dream　as　Kettricken　seized　her　attacker　by　the　hair　and　leaned　his　head　back　that　she　might　cut　his　throat。　Blood　spilled　black　in　the　moonlight；　drenching　her　coat　and　leaving　a　sheen　on　the　chestnut's　neck　and　shoulder　before　he　fell　back　to　spasm　in　the　snow。　I　swung　my　short　sword　at　the　last　one；　but　missed。　Kettricken　did　not。　Her　short　knife　danced　in；　and　punched　through　jerkin　and　rib　cage　and　into　his　lung；　and　out　again　as　swift。　She　kicked　him　away。　〃To　me！〃　she　said　simply　into　the　night；　and　put　heels　to　her　chestnut；　driving　Softstep　straight　up　the　hill。　Sooty　ran　with　her　nose　at　Kettricken's　stirrup；　and　so　we　crested　the　hill　together；　glimpsing　the　lights　of