rh.royalassassin-第54节

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t　me　as　if　I　were　a　dog。　And　here　I　had　struggled　with　him　and；　in　the　struggle；　burned　and　scarred　over　whatever　Skill　I　had　once　had。　This　was　a　bitter　place　to　me　still。　I　wondered　if　any　garden；　no　matter　how　green　and　peaceful；　could　charm　me　if　it　stood　atop　this　stone。　One　low　wall　beckoned　me。　Had　I　gone　to　it　and　looked　over　the　edge；　I　knew　I　would　look　down　on　rocky　cliffs　below。　I　did　not。　The　quick　end　that　fall　had　once　offered　me　would　never　tempt　me　again。　I　pushed　Galen's　old　Skill　suggestion　aside。　I　turned　back　to　watch　the　Queen。
　　　　　　　Against　the　white　backdrop　of　snow　and　stone；　her　colors　came　alive。　There　is　a　flower　called　a　snowdrop；　that　sometimes　blooms　even　as　the　banked　snows　of　winter　are　retreating。　She　reminded　me　of　one。　Her　pale　hair　was　suddenly　gold　against　the　green　cloak　she　wore；　her　lips　red；　her　cheeks　pink　as　the　roses　that　would　bloom　here　again。　Her　eyes　were　darting　blue　jewels　as　she　excavated　and　exclaimed　over　each　treasure。　In　contrast；　her　dark…tressed　ladies　with　eyes　of　black　or　brown　were　cloaked　and　hooded　against　the　winter　chill。　They　stood　quietly；　agreeing　with　their　queen　and　enjoying　her　enjoyment；　but　also　rubbing　chilled　fingers　together；　or　holding　cloaks　tightly　closed　against　the　wind。　This；　I　thought；　this　is　how　Verity　should　see　her；　glowing　with　enthusiasm　and　life。　Then　he　could　not　help　but　love　her。　Her　vitality　burned；　even　as　his　did　when　he　hunted　or　rode。　Or　had　once。
　　　　　　　〃It　is；　of　course；　quite　lovely；〃　one　Lady　Hope　ventured　to　say。　〃But　very　cold。　And　there　is　little　that　can　be　done　here　until　the　snow　melts　and　the　wind　grows　kinder。〃
　　　　　　　〃Oh；　but　you　are　wrong！〃　Queen　Kettricken　exclaimed。　She　laughed　aloud　as　she　straightened　up　from　her　treasures；　walked　again　to　the　center　of　the　tower　top。　〃A　garden　begins　in　the　heart。　I　must　sweep　the　snow　and　ice　from　the　tower　top　tomorrow。　And　then；　all　these　benches　and　statues　and　pots　must　be　set　out。　But　how？　Like　the　spokes　of　a　wheel？　As　a　charming　maze？　Formally；　by　variation　of　height　and　theme？　There　are　a　thousand　ways　they　could　be　arranged；　and　I　must　experiment。　Unless；　perhaps；　my　lord　will　remember　it　for　me　just　as　it　once　was。　Then　I　shall　restore　it　to　him；　the　garden　of　his　childhood！〃
　　　　　　　〃Tomorrow；　Queen　Kettricken。　For　the　skies　grow　dark；　and　colder；〃　advised　Lady　Modesty。　I　could　see　what　the　climb　followed　by　standing　in　the　cold　had　cost　the　older　woman。　But　she　smiled　kindly　as　she　spoke。　〃I　could；　perhaps；　tell　you　tonight　what　I　remember　of　this　garden。〃
　　　　　　　〃Would　you？〃　Kettricken　exclaimed；　and　clasped　both　of　her　hands　in　her　own。　The　smile　she　shed　on　Lady　Modesty　was　like　a　blessing。
　　　　　　　〃I　should　be　glad　to。〃
　　　　　　　And　on　those　words　we　slowly　began　to　file　from　the　rooftop。　I　was　the　last　to　go。　I　pulled　the　door　closed　behind　me　and　stood　for　a　moment　letting　my　eyes　adjust　to　the　darkness　in　the　tower。　Below　me；　candles　bobbed　as　the　others　descended。　I　blessed　whatever　page　had　thought　to　run　and　fetch　them。　I　followed　more　slowly；　my　whole　arm；　from　bite　to　sword　cut；　throbbing　nastily。　I　thought　of　Kettricken's　joy；　and　was　glad　of　it；　even　as　I　guiltily　reflected　that　it　was　built　on　a　false　foundation。　Verity　had　been　relieved　at　my　suggestion　to　turn　the　garden　over　to　Kettricken；　but　the　act　had　not　the　significance　to　him　that　it　did　to　Kettricken。　She　would　attack　this　project　as　if　she　were　building　a　shrine　to　their　love。　I　doubted　that　by　the　morrow　Verity　would　even　recall　he　had　gifted　her　with　it。　I　felt　traitorous　and　foolish　both　as　I　descended　the　steps。
　　　　　　　I　went　to　the　evening　meal　thinking　I　wished　to　be　alone。　So　I　avoided　the　hall　and　took　myself　instead　to　the　guardroom　off　the　kitchen。　There　I　encountered　both　Burrich　and　Hands　at　their　meal。　When　they　invited　me　to　join　them；　I　could　not　refuse。　But　once　I　was　seated；　it　was　as　if　I　were　not　there。　They　did　not　exclude　me　from　their　conversation。　But　they　spoke　of　a　life　I　no　longer　shared：　The　immensely　rich　detail　of　all　that　went　on　in　the　stables　and　mews　eluded　me　now。　They　discussed　problems　with　the　confident　briskness　of　men　who　shared　an　intimate　background　knowledge。　More　and　more；　I　found　myself　nodding　at　their　words；　but　contributing　nothing。　They　got　along　well。　Burrich　did　not　speak　down　to　Hands。　But　Hands　did　not　conceal　his　respect　for　a　man　he　clearly　regarded　as　his　superior。　Hands　had　learned　much　from　Burrich　in　a　short　time。　He　had　left　Buckkeep　as　a　lowly　stable　boy　last　fall。　He　now　spoke　petently　of　the　hawks　and　dogs　and　asked　solid　questions　concerning　Burrich's　breeding　choices　for　the　horses。　I　was　still　eating　when　they　got　up　to　leave。　Hands　was　concerned　about　a　dog　that　had　been　kicked　by　a　horse　earlier　in　the　day。　They　wished　me　good　evening；　and　were　still　talking　together　as　they　went　out　the　door。
　　　　　　　I　sat　quietly。　There　were　others　about　me；　guards　and　soldiers；　eating　and　drinking　and　talking。　The　pleasant　sounds　of　talk；　of　spoon　against　the　pot's　side；　the　thud　as　someone　cut　a　wedge　of　cheese　from　a　wheel　was　like　a　music。　The　room　smelled　of　food　and　folk；　of　the　wood　fire　and　spilled　ale　and　the　rich　stew　bubbling。　I　should　have　felt　content；　not　restless。　Nor　melancholy。　Not　alone。
　　　　　　　Brother？
　　　　　　　ing。　Meet　me　at　the　old　pig　shed。
　　　　　　　Nighteyes　had　been　hunting　afar。　I　was　there　first；　and　I　stood　in　the　darkness　and　waited　for　him。　There　was　a　pot　of　unguent　in　my　pouch；　and　I　bore　a　sack　of　bones　as　well。　The　snow　whirled　around　me；　an　endless　dance　of　winter　sparks。　My　eyes　probed　the　darkness。　I　sensed　him；　felt　him　near；　but　he　still　managed　to　spring　out　and　startle　me。　He　was　merciful；　giving　me　no　more　than　a　nip　and　a　shake　on　my　uninjured　wrist。　We　went　inside　the　hut。　I　kindled　the　stump　of　a　candle　and　looked　at　his　shoulder。　I　had　been　weary　last　night；　and　in　pain；　so　I　was　pleased　to　see　I　had　done　a　good　job。　I　had　sheared　the　dense　hair　and　undercoat　close　to　his　hide　around　the　cut　and　wiped　the　injury　with　clean　snow。　The　scab　on　it　was　thick　and　dark。　I　could　tell　it　had　bled　a　bit　more　today。　But　not　much。　I　smeared　my　unguent　over　it　in　a　thick　greasy　layer。　Nighteyes　winced　slightly；　but　suffered　my　ministrations。　Afterward；　he　turned　his　head　and　gave　a　questioning　sniff　to　the　spot。
　　　　　　　Goosegrease；　he　observed；　and　began　to　lick　at　it。　I　let　him。　Nothing　in　the　medicine　would　harm　him；　and　his　tongue　would　push　it　into　the　wound　better　than　my　fingers　could。
　　　　　　　Hungry？　I　asked。
　　　　　　　Not　really。　There　are　mice　in　plenty　along　the　old　wall。　Then；　as　he　got　a　whiff　of　the　bag　I'd　brought：　But　a　bit　of　beef　or　venison　would　be　just　as　wele。
　　　　　　　I　tumbled　the　bones　out　in　a　heap　for　him　and　he　flung　himself　down　beside　them　to　possess　them。　He　snuffed　them　over；　then　picked　out　a　meaty　knuckle　to　work　on。　We　hunt　soon？　He　imaged　Forged　ones　for　me。
　　　　　　　In　a　day　or　so。　I　want　to　be　able　to　wield　a　sword　the　next　time。
　　　　　　　I　don't　blame　you。　Cow's　teeth　are　not　much　of　a　weapon。　But　don't　wait　too　long。
　　　　　　　Why　is　that？
　　　　　　　Because　I　saw　some　today。　Senseless　ones。　They　had　found　a　winter…killed　buck　on　a　stream　bank　and　were　eating　it。　Fouled；　stinking　meat；　and　they　were　eating　it。　But　it　won't　hold　them　for　long。　Tomorrow；　they'll　be　ing　closer。
　　　　　　　Then　we　hunt　tomorrow。　Show　me　where　you　saw　them。　I　closed　my　eyes；　and　recognized　the　bit　of　creek　bank　that　he　recalled　for　me。　l　did　not　know　you　ranged　that　far！　Did　you　go　all　that　way　today；　with　an　injured　shoulder？
　　　　　　　It　was　not　so　far。　I　sensed　a　bit　of　bravado　in　that　answer。　And　I　knew　we　would　be　seeking　them。　I　can　travel　much　faster　alone。　Easier　for　me　to　find　them　out　alone；　and　then　take　you　to　them　for　the　hunting。
　　　　　　　It　is　scarcely　hunting；　Nighteyes。
　　　　　　　No。　But　it　is　a　thing　we　do　for　our　pack。
　　　　　　　I　sat　with　him　for　a　while　in　panionable　silence；　watching　him　gnaw　on　the　bones　I　had　brought　him。　He　had　grown　well　this　winter。　Given　a　good　diet　and　freed　from　the　confines　of　a　cage；　he　had　put　on　weight　and　muscle。　Snow　might　fall　on　his　coat；　but　the　thicker　black　guard　hairs　interspersed　throughout　his　gray　coat　shed　the　snowflakes　and　kept　any　moisture　from　reaching　his　skin。　He　smelled　healthy；　too；　not　the　rank　dogginess　of　an　overfed　canine　kept　inside　and　unexercised；　but　a　wild；　clean　scent。　You　saved　my　life；　yesterday。
　　　　　　　You　saved　me　from　a　death　in　a　cage。
　　　　　　　I　think　that　I　had　been　alone　so　long；　I　had　forgotten　what　it　meant　to　have　a　friend。
　　　　　　　He　stopped　chewing　his　bone　and　looked　up　at　me　in　mild　amusement。　A　friend？　Too　small　a　word　for　it；　brother。　And　in　the　wrong　direction。　So　do　not　look　at　me　like　that。　I　will　be　to　you　what　you　are　to　me。　Bond　brother；　and　pack。　But　I　am　not　all　you　will　ever　need。　He　went　back　to　chewing　his　bone；　and　I　sat　chewing　over　what　he　had　just　advised。
　　　　　　　Sleep　well；　brother；　I　told　him　as　I　left。
　　　　　　　He　snorted。　Sleep？　Hardly。　The　moon　may　yet　break　through　this　overcast　and　give　me　some　hunting　light。　But　if　not；　I　may　sleep。
　　　　　　　I　nodded　and　left　him　to　his　bones。　As　I　walked　back　to　the　castle　I　felt　less　dismal　and　alone　than　I　had　before。　But　I　also　had　a　twinge　of　guilt　that　Nighte