rh.royalassassin-第45节

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ded　the　most　rabbits　to　chase　or　where　the　spring　ran　swift　enough　that　it　never　iced　over。
　　　　　　　This；　then；　was　when　and　how　I　first　showed　him　how　to　hunt。　We　did　not　do　so　well　at　first。　I　still　arose　very　early　each　morning　to　take　him　food　as　needed。　I　told　myself　that　it　was　but　a　small　corner　of　my　life　that　I　kept　for　myself。　It　was　as　the　wolf　had　said；　not　a　thing　I　did；　but　something　I　was。　Besides；　I　promised　myself；　I　would　not　let　this　joining　bee　a　full　bond。　Soon；　very　soon；　he　would　be　able　to　hunt　for　himself；　and　I　would　send　him　away　to　be　free。　Sometimes　I　told　myself　that　I　only　permitted　him　into　my　dreams　that　I　might　teach　him　to　hunt；　the　sooner　to　set　him　free。　I　refused　to　consider　what　Burrich　would　think　of　such　a　thing。
　　　　　　　I　returned　from　one　of　my　early…morning　expeditions　to　find　two　soldiers　sparring　with　one　another　in　the　kitchen　yard。　They　had　staves　and　were　good…naturedly　insulting　one　another　as　they　huffed　and　shifted　and　traded　whacks　in　the　cold　clear　air。　The　man　I　did　not　know　at　all；　and　for　a　moment　I　thought　both　were　strangers。　Then　the　woman　of　the　pair　caught　sight　of　me。　〃Ho！　FitzChivalry。　A　word　with　you！〃　she　called；　but　without　retiring　her　stave。
　　　　　　　I　stared　at　her；　trying　to　place　her。　Her　opponent　missed　a　parry　and　she　clipped　him　sharply　with　her　stave。　As　he　hopped　she　danced　back　and　laughed　aloud；　an　unmistakable　high…pitched　whinny。　〃Whistle？〃　I　asked　incredulously。
　　　　　　　The　woman　I　had　just　addressed　flashed　her　famous　gaptoothed　smile；　caught　her　partner's　stave　a　ringing　blow；　and　danced　back　again。　〃Yes？〃　she　asked　breathlessly。　Her　sparring　partner；　seeing　her　occupied；　courteously　lowered　his　stave。　Whistle　immediately　darted　hers　at　him。　With　so　much　skill　he　almost　looked　lazy；　his　stave　leaped　up　to　counter　hers。　Again　she　laughed　and　held　up　her　hand　to　ask　a　truce。
　　　　　　　〃Yes；〃　she　repeated；　this　time　turning　to　me。　〃I've　e　。。。　that　is；　I've　been　chosen　to　e　and　ask　a　favor　of　you。〃
　　　　　　　I　gestured　at　the　clothes　she　wore。　〃I　don't　understand。　You've　left　Verity's　guard？〃
　　　　　　　She　gave　a　tiny　shrug；　but　I　could　see　the　question　delighted　her。　〃But　not　to　go　far。　Queen's　guard。　Vixen　badge。　See？〃　She　tugged　the　front　of　the　short　white　jacket　she　wore　to　hold　the　fabric　taut。　Good　sensible　woolen　homespun；　I　saw；　and　saw；　too；　the　embroidered　snarling　white　fox　on　a　purple　background。　The　purple　matched　the　purple　of　her　heavy　woolen　trousers。　The　loose　pants　cuff　had　been　tucked　into　knee　boots。　Her　partner's　garb　matched　hers。　Queen's　guard。　In　light　of　Kettricken's　adventure；　the　uniform　made　sense。
　　　　　　　〃Verity　decided　she　needed　a　guard　of　her　own？〃　I　asked　delightedly。
　　　　　　　The　smile　faded　a　bit　from　Whistle's　face。　〃Not　exactly；〃　she　hedged；　and　then　straightened　as　if　reporting　to　me。　〃We　decided　she　needed　a　Queen's　guard。　Me　and　some　of　the　others　that　rode　with　her　the　other　day。　We　got　to　talking　about　。。。　everything；　later。　About　how　she　handled　herself　out　there。　And　back　here。　And　how　she　came　here；　all　alone。　We　talked　about　it　then；　that　someone　should　get　permission　to　form　up　a　guard　for　her。　But　none　of　us　really　knew　how　to　approach　it。　We　knew　it　was　needed；　but　no　one　else　seemed　to　be　paying　much　attention　。。。　but　then　last　week；　at　the　gate；　I　heard　you　got　pretty　hot　about　how　she'd　gone　out；　on　foot　and　alone；　and　no　one　at　her　back。　Well；　you　did！　I　was　in　the　other　room；　and　I　heard！〃
　　　　　　　I　bit　back　my　protest；　nodded　curtly；　and　Whistle　went　on：　〃So。　Well；　we　just　did。　Those　of　us　who　felt　we　wanted　to　wear　the　purple　and　white　just　said　so。　It　was　a　pretty　even　split。　It　was　time　to　take　in　some　new　blood　anyway；　most　of　Verity's　guard　was　getting　a　bit　long　in　the　tooth。　And　soft；　from　too　much　time　in　the　Keep。　So　we　re…formed；　giving　rank　to　some　who　should　have　made　it　long　ago；　if　there'd　been　any　openings　to　fill；　and　taking　in　some　recruits　to　fill　in　where　needed。　It　all　worked　out　perfectly。　These　newers　will　give　us　something　to　hone　our　skills　on　while　we　teach　them。　The　Queen　will　have　her　own　guard；　when　she　wants　one。　Or　needs　one。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　see。〃　I　was　beginning　to　get　an　uneasy　feeling。　〃And　what　was　the　favor　you　wanted　of　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃Explain　it　to　Verity。　Tell　the　Queen　she　has　a　guard。〃　She　said　the　words　simply　and　quietly。
　　　　　　　〃This　walks　close　to　disloyalty；〃　I　said　just　as　simply。　〃Soldiers　of　Verity's　own　guard；　setting　aside　his　colors　to　take　on　his　queen's　。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃Some　might　see　it　that　way。　Some　might　speak　it　that　way。〃　Her　eyes　met　mine　squarely；　and　the　smile　was　gone　from　her　face。　〃But　you　know　it　is　not。　It's　a　needed　thing。　Your　。。。　Chivalry　would　have　seen　it；　would　have　had　a　guard　for　her　before　she　even　arrived　here。　But　King…in…Waiting　Verity　。。。　well；　this　is　no　disloyalty　to　him。　We've　served　him　well；　because　we　love　him。　Still　do。　This　is　those　who've　always　watched　his　back；　falling　back　and　re…forming　to　watch　his　back　even　better。　That's　all。　He's　got　a　good　Queen；　is　what　we　think。　We　don't　want　to　see　him　lose　her。　That　was　all。　We　don't　think　any　the　less　of　our　King…in…waiting。　You　know　that。〃
　　　　　　　I　did。　But　still。　I　looked　away　from　her　plea；　shook　my　head；　and　tried　to　think。　Why　me？　a　part　of　me　demanded　angrily。　Then　I　knew；　that　in　the　moment　I'd　lost　my　temper　and　berated　the　guard　for　not　protecting　their　queen；　I'd　volunteered　for　this。　Burrich　had　warned　me　about　not　remembering　my　place。　〃I　will　speak　to　King…in…Waiting　Verity。　And　to　the　Queen；　if　he　approves　this。〃
　　　　　　　Whistle　flashed　her　smile　again。　〃We　knew　you'd　do　it　for　us。　Thanks；　Fitz。〃
　　　　　　　As　quickly　she　was　spinning　away　from　me；　stave　at　the　ready　as　she　danced　threateningly　toward　her　partner；　who　gave　ground　grudgingly。　With　a　sigh；　I　turned　away　from　the　courtyard。　I　had　thought　Molly　would　be　fetching　water　at　this　time。　I'd　hoped　for　a　glimpse　of　her。　But　she　was　not；　and　I　left　feeling　disappointed。　I　knew　I　should　not　play　at　such　games；　but　some　days　I　could　not　resist　the　temptation。　I　left　the　courtyard。
　　　　　　　The　last　few　days　had　bee　a　special　sort　of　self…torture　for　me。　I　refused　to　allow　myself　to　see　Molly　again；　but　could　not　resist　shadowing　her。　So　I　was　in　the　kitchen　but　a　moment　after　she　had　left；　fancying　I　could　still　catch　the　trace　of　her　perfume　in　the　air。　Or　I　stationed　myself　in　the　Great　Hall　of　an　evening；　and　tried　to　be　where　I　could　watch　her　without　being　noticed。　No　matter　what　amusement　was　offered；　minstrel　or　poet　or　puppeteer；　or　just　folk　talking　and　working　on　their　handicrafts；　my　eyes　would　be　drawn　always　to　wherever　Molly　might　be。　She　looked　so　sober　and　demure　in　her　dark　blue　skirts　and　blouse；　and　she　had　never　a　glance　for　me。　Always　she　spoke　with　the　other　Keep　women；　or　on　the　rare　evenings　when　Patience　chose　to　descend；　she　sat　beside　her　and　attended　to　her　with　a　focus　of　attention　that　denied　I　even　existed。　Sometimes　I　thought　my　brief　encounter　with　her　had　been　a　dream。　But　at　night　I　could　go　back　to　my　room　and　take　out　the　shirt　I　had　hidden　in　the　bottom　of　my　clothes　chest；　and　if　I　held　it　close　to　my　face；　I　fancied　I　could　still　smell　the　faint　trace　of　her　perfume　upon　it。　And　so　I　endured。
　　　　　　　A　number　of　days　had　passed　since　we　had　burned　the　Forged　ones　on　their　funeral　pyre。　In　addition　to　the　formation　of　the　Queen's　guard；　other　changes　were　afoot　within　and　without　the　Keep。　Two　other　master　boat　builders；　unsummoned；　had　e　to　volunteer　their　skills　for　the　building　of　the　ships。　Verity　had　been　delighted。　But　even　more　so　had　Queen　Kettricken　been　approved；　for　it　was　to　her　that　they　presented　themselves；　saying　that　they　desired　to　be　of　service。　Their　apprentices　came　with　them；　to　swell　the　ranks　of　those　working　in　the　shipyards。　Now　the　lamps　burned　both　before　dawn　and　after　the　sun's　setting；　and　work　proceeded　at　a　breakneck　pace。　So　Verity　was　away　all　the　more；　and　Kettricken；　when　I　called　on　her；　was　more　subdued　than　ever。　I　tempted　her　with　books　or　outings　to　no　avail。　She　spent　most　of　her　time　sitting　near　idly　at　her　loom；　growing　more　pale　and　listless　with　every　passing　day。　Her　dark　mood　infected　those　ladies　who　attended　her；　so　that　to　visit　her　room　was　as　cheery　as　keeping　a　deathwatch。
　　　　　　　I　had　not　expected　to　find　Verity　in　his　study；　and　was　not　disappointed。　He　was　down　at　the　boat　sheds；　as　always。　I　left　word　with　Charim　to　ask　that　I　be　summoned　whenever　Verity　might　have　the　time　to　see　me。　Then；　with　a　resolve　to　keep　myself　busy　and　to　do　as　Chade　had　suggested；　I　returned　to　my　room。　I　took　both　dice　and　tally　sticks　with　me；　and　headed　for　the　Queen's　chambers。
　　　　　　　I　had　resolved　to　teach　her　some　of　the　games　of　chance　that　the　lords　and　ladies　were　fond　of；　in　the　hopes　that　she　might　expand　her　circle　of　entertainments。　I　also　hoped；　with　less　expectations；　that　such　games　might　draw　her　to　socialize　more　widely　and　to　depend　less　on　my　panionship。　Her　bleak　mood　was　beginning　to　burden　me　with　its　oppressiveness；　so　that　I　often　heartily　wished　to　be　away　from　her。
　　　　　　　〃Teach　her　to　cheat　first。　Only；　just　tell　her　that's　how　the　game　is　played。　Tell　her　the　rules　permit　deception。　A　bit　of　sleight　of　hand；　easily