rh.royalassassin-第72节

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ly　we　meshed。　I　saw　to　the　horizons　of　our　fixture。　We　were　a　country　besieged　by　a　ravenous　enemy　who　came　to　us　only　to　kill　and　maim。　That　was　their　sole　goal。　They　had　no　fields　to　plant；　no　children　to　defend；　no　stock　to　tend　to　distract　them　from　their　raiding。　But　we　strove　to　live　our　day…to…day　lives　at　the　same　time　we　tried　to　protect　ourselves　from　their　destruction。　For　the　Red…Ship　Raiders；　their　ravages　were　their　day…to…day　lives。　That　singleness　of　purpose　was　all　they　needed　to　destroy　us。　We　were　not　warriors；　had　not　been　warriors　for　generations。　We　did　not　think　like　warriors。　Even　those　of　us　who　were　soldiers　were　soldiers　who　had　trained　to　fight　against　a　rational　enemy。　How　could　we　stand　against　an　onslaught　of　madmen？　What　weapons　did　we　have？　I　looked　around。　Me。　Myself　as　Verity。
　　　　　　　One　man。　One　man；　making　himself　old　as　he　strove　to　walk　the　line　between　defending　his　people　and　being　swept　away　in　the　addictive　ecstasy　of　the　Skill。　One　man；　trying　to　rouse　us；　trying　to　ignite　us　to　defend　ourselves。　One　man；　with　his　eyes　afar；　as　we　squabbled　and　plotted　and　bickered　in　the　rooms　below　him。　It　was　useless。　We　were　doomed　to　fail。
　　　　　　　The　tide　of　despair　swept　over　me　and　threatened　to　pull　me　down。　It　swirled　around　me；　but　suddenly；　in　the　middle　of　it；　I　found　a　place　to　stand。　A　place　where　the　very　uselessness　of　it　was　funny。　Horribly　funny。　Four　little　warships；　not　quite　finished；　with　untrained　crews。　Watchtowers　and　fire　signals　to　call　the　inept　defenders　forth　to　the　slaughter。　Burrich　with　his　ax；　and　me　standing　in　the　cold。　Verity　staring　out　the　window；　while　below；　Regal　fed　his　own　father　drugs。　In　the　hopes　of　stealing　his　mind；　and　inheriting　the　whole　mess；　I　didn't　doubt。　It　was　all　so　totally　useless。　And　so　unthinkable　to　give　it　up。　A　laughter　welled　up　from　inside　me；　and　I　could　not　contain　it。　I　stood　leaning　on　my　ax；　and　laughed　as　if　the　world　were　the　funniest　thing　I'd　ever　seen；　while　Burrich　and　Verity　both　stared　at　me。　A　very　faint　answering　smile　crooked　the　corners　of　Verity's　mouth；　a　light　in　his　eyes　shared　my　madness。
　　　　　　　〃Boy？　Are　you　all　right？〃　Burrich　asked　me。
　　　　　　　〃I'm　fine。　I'm　absolutely　fine；〃　I　told　them　both　when　my　waves　of　laughter　had　subsided。
　　　　　　　I　pulled　myself　up　to　stand　straight。　I　shook　my　head；　and　I　swear　I　almost　felt　my　brain　settle。　〃Verity；〃　I　said；　and　embraced　his　consciousness　to　mine。　It　was　easy；　it　had　always　been　easy；　but　before；　I　had　believed　there　was　something　to　lose　by　doing　it。　We　did　not　meld　into　one　person；　but　instead　fit　together　like　bowls　stacked　in　a　cupboard。　He　rode　me　fortably；　like　a　well…loaded　pack。　I　took　a　breath　and　lifted　my　ax。　〃Again；〃　I　said　to　Burrich。
　　　　　　　As　he　came　at　me　I　no　longer　allowed　him　to　be　Burrich。　He　was　a　man　with　an　ax；　e　to　kill　Verity；　and　before　I　could　stop　my　momentum；　I　had　laid　him　out　on　the　floor。　He　rose；　shaking　his　head；　and　I　saw　a　touch　of　anger　in　his　face。　Again　we　came　together；　and　again　I　made　a　telling　touch。　〃Third　time；〃　he　told　me；　and　his　battle　smile　lit　up　his　weathered　face。　We　came　together　again　with　a　jolt　in　the　joy　of　struggle；　and　I　overmatched　him　cleanly。
　　　　　　　Twice　more　we　clashed　before　Burrich　suddenly　stepped　back　from　one　of　my　blows。　He　lowered　his　ax　to　the　floor　and　stood；　hunkered　slightly　forward　until　his　breath　came　easy　again。　Then　he　straightened　and　looked　at　Verity。　〃He's　got　it；〃　he　said　huskily。　〃He's　caught　the　knack　of　it　now。　Not　that　he's　fully　honed　yet。　Drill　will　make　him　sharper；　but　you've　made　a　wise　choice　for　him。　The　ax　is　his　weapon。〃
　　　　　　　Verity　nodded　slowly。　〃And　he　is　mine。〃
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　SIXTEEN
　　　　　　　Verity's　Ships
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　IN　THE　THIRD　summer　of　the　Red…Ship　War；　the　Six　Duchies　warships　were　blooded。　Although　they　numbered　only　four；　they　represented　an　important　change　in　tactics　to　defending　our　realm。　Our　encounters　that　spring　with　the　Red…Ships　swiftly　taught　us　that　we　had　forgotten　much　of　being　warriors。　The　Raiders　were　right；　we　had　bee　a　race　of　farmers。　But　we　were　farmers　who　had　determined　to　take　a　stand　and　fight。　We　quickly　found　the　Raiders　to　be　resourceful　and　savage　fighters。　This　was　true　to　the　extent　that　none　of　them　ever　surrendered　or　were　taken　alive。　That；　perhaps；　should　have　been　our　first　clue　as　to　the　nature　of　Forging　and　what　we　actually　battled；　but　at　the　time　it　was　too　subtle　a　hint；　and　we　were　too　busy　surviving　to　wonder　at　it。
　　　　　　　The　rest　of　that　winter　passed　as　swiftly　as　the　first　half　had　dragged。　The　separate　parts　of　my　life　became　like　beads　and　I　the　string　that　ran　through　them　all。　I　believe　if　I　had　ever　paused　to　consider　the　intricacy　of　all　I　did　to　keep　those　parts　separate；　I　would　have　found　it　impossible。　But　I　was　young　then；　much　younger　than　I　suspected；　and　somehow　I　found　the　energy　and　time　to　do　and　be　it　all。
　　　　　　　My　day　began　before　dawn；　with　a　session　with　Verity。　At　least　twice　a　week　Burrich　and　his　axes　were　included。　But　most　often　it　was　Verity　and　I　alone。　He　worked　on　my　Skill　sense；　but　not　as　Galen　had。　He　had　specific　tasks　in　mind　for　me；　and　these　were　what　he　trained　me　in。　I　learned　to　see　through　his　eyes；　and　to　give　him　the　use　of　mine。　I　practiced　being　aware　of　the　subtle　way　he　would　steer　my　attention；　and　in　keeping　up　a　constant　mental　mentary　that　kept　him　informed　of　all　that　was　going　on　around　us。　This　involved　me　leaving　the　tower；　and　carrying　his　presence　about　with　me　like　a　hawk　on　my　wrist　as　I　went　about　my　other　daily　tasks。　At　first　a　few　hours　were　as　long　as　I　could　sustain　the　Skill　bond；　but　as　time　went　on　I　managed　to　share　my　mind　with　him　for　days　at　a　time。　The　bond　did　weaken　with　the　passing　of　time；　however。　It　was　not　a　true　Skilling　from　me　to　Verity；　but　a　touch…imposed　bond　that　had　to　be　renewed。　It　still　gave　me　a　sense　of　acplishment　to　be　able　to　do　at　least　this　much。
　　　　　　　I　put　in　a　fair　share　of　time　in　the　Queen's　Garden；　moving　and　then　shifting　again　benches　and　statuary　and　pots；　until　Kettricken　was　finally　satisfied　with　the　arrangements　there。　For　those　hours　I　always　made　sure　Verity　was　with　me。　I　hoped　it　would　do　him　good　to　see　his　queen　as　others　saw　her；　especially　when　she　was　caught　up　in　the　enthusiasm　of　her　snowy　garden　spot。　Glowing　pink…cheeked　and　gold…haired；　wind　kissed　and　lively：　this　was　how　I　showed　her　to　him。　He　heard　her　speak　freely　of　the　pleasure　she　hoped　this　garden　would　bring　him。　Was　this　a　betrayal　of　Kettricken's　confidences　to　me？　I　pushed　such　uneasiness　firmly　away。　I　took　him　with　me　when　I　paid　my　duties　to　Patience　and　Lacey。
　　　　　　　I　also　tried　to　carry　Verity　out　and　among　the　folk　more。　Since　he　had　begun　his　heavy　Skill　duties；　he　was　seldom　among　the　mon　folk　he　had　once　so　enjoyed。　I　took　him　to　the　kitchen；　and　the　watch　room；　to　the　stables；　and　down　to　the　taverns　in　Buckkeep　Town。　For　his　part；　he　steered　me　to　the　boat　sheds；　where　I　watched　the　final　work　being　done　on　his　ships。　Later　I　frequently　visited　the　dock　where　the　ships　were　tied；　to　talk　to　the　crews　as　they　got　to　know　their　vessels。　I　made　him　aware　of　the　grumbling　of　the　men　who　thought　it　treasonous　that　some　Outislander　refugees　had　been　allowed　to　bee　crew　members　of　our　defense　vessels。　It　was　plain　to　any　eye　that　these　men　were　experienced　in　the　handling　of　sleek　raiding　vessels　and　were　making　our　ships　more　effective　with　their　expertise。　Plain；　too；　that　many　of　the　Six　Duchies　men　resented　and　distrusted　the　handful　of　immigrants　among　them。　I　was　not　sure　if　Verity's　decision　to　use　them　had　been　wise。　However；　I　said　nothing　of　my　own　doubts；　but　only　showed　him　the　mutterings　of　other　men。
　　　　　　　He　was　with　me；　too；　the　times　when　I　called　upon　Shrewd。　I　learned　to　make　my　visits　in　late　morning　or　early　afternoon。　Wallace　seldom　admitted　me　easily；　and　it　always　seemed　there　were　others　in　the　room；　serving　maids　I　did　not　know；　a　workman　ostensibly　repairing　a　door；　when　I　went　to　visit。　I　hoped　impatiently　for　a　chance　to　talk　with　him　privately　about　my　marriage　ambitions。　The　Fool　was　there　always；　and　kept　his　word　not　to　show　friendship　to　me　before　other　eyes。　His　mockery　was　sharp　and　stinging；　and　even　though　I　knew　its　purpose；　he　still　could　manage　to　fluster　or　irritate　me。　The　only　satisfaction　I　could　take　was　in　the　changes　I　saw　in　the　room。　Someone　had　tattled　to　Mistress　Hasty　about　the　state　of　the　King's　chamber。
　　　　　　　In　the　midst　of　the　Winterfest　activities；　such　a　troop　of　housemaids　and　serving　boys　flocked　to　the　room　that　it　brought　the　festivities　to　the　King。　Mistress　Hasty；　fists　on　hips；　stood　at　the　center　of　the　room　and　oversaw　it　all；　all　the　while　berating　Wallace　for　ever　letting　things　reach　such　a　state。　Evidently　he　had　been　assuring　her　that　he　had　been　personally　seeing　to　the　tidying　and　laundering　in　an　effort　to　keep　the　King　from　being　disturbed。　I　spent　one　very　merry　afternoon　there；　for　the　activity　awoke　Shrewd；　and　soon　he　seemed　almost　his　old　self。　He　hushed　Mistress　Hasty　when　she　berated　her　own　folk　for　laxness；　and　instead　exchanged　banter　with　them　as　floors　were　scrubbed；　fresh　reeds　strewn；　and　the　furniture　rubbed