rh.theassassinsapprentice-第11部分

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　you　don't　know？〃
　　　　　　　My　tongue　was　dry　in　my　mouth　and　Nosy　cowered　at　my　feet。　〃But　I　don't　know；〃　I　protested。　〃How　can　I　know　what　I'll　do；　until　I've　done　it？　How　can　I　say？〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　if　you　can't　say；　I　can！〃　he　roared；　and　I　sensed　then　in　full　how　he　had　banked　the　fires　of　his　temper；　and　also　how　much　he'd　drunk　that　night。　〃The　pup　goes　and　you　stay。　You　stay　here；　in　my　care；　where　I　can　keep　an　eye　on　you。　If　Chivalry　will　not　have　me　with　him；　it's　the　least　I　can　do　for　him。　I'll　see　that　his　son　grows　up　a　man；　and　not　a　wolf。　I'll　do　it　if　it　kills　the　both　of　us！〃
　　　　　　　He　lurched　from　the　bench；　to　seize　Nosy　by　the　scruff　of　the　neck。　At　least；　such　was　his　intention。　But　the　pup　and　I　sprang　clear　of　him。　Together　we　rushed　for　the　door；　but　the　latch　was　fastened；　and　before　I　could　work　it；　Burrich　was　upon　us。　Nosy　he　shoved　aside　with　his　boot；　me　he　seized　by　a　shoulder　and　propelled　me　away　from　the　door。　〃e　here；　pup；〃　he　manded；　but　Nosy　fled　to　my　side。　Burrich　stood　panting　and　glaring　by　the　door；　and　I　caught　the　growling　undercurrent　of　his　thoughts；　the　fury　that　taunted　him　to　smash　us　both　and　be　done　with　it。　Control　overlaid　it；　but　that　brief　glimpse　was　enough　to　terrify　me。　And　when　he　suddenly　sprang　at　us；　I　repelled　at　him　with　all　the　force　of　my　fear。
　　　　　　　He　dropped　as　suddenly　as　a　bird　stoned　in　flight　and　sat　for　a　moment　on　the　floor。　I　stooped　and　clutched　Nosy　to　me。　Burrich　slowly　shook　his　head　as　if　shaking　raindrops　from　his　hair。　He　stood；　towering　over　us。　〃It's　in　his　blood；〃　I　heard　him　mutter　to　himself。　〃From　his　damned　mother's　blood；　and　I　shouldn't　be　surprised。　But　the　boy　has　to　be　taught。〃　And　then；　as　he　looked　me　full　in　the　eye；　he　warned　me；　〃Fitz。　Never　do　that　to　me　again。　Never。　Now　give　me　that　pup。〃
　　　　　　　He　advanced　on　us　again；　and　as　I　felt　the　lap　of　his　hidden　wrath；　I　could　not　contain　myself。　I　repelled　at　him　again。　But　this　time　my　defense　was　met　by　a　wall　that　hurled　it　back　at　me；　so　that　I　stumbled　and　sank　down；　almost　fainting；　my　mind　pressed　down　by　blackness。　Burrich　stooped　over　me。　〃I　warned　you；〃　he　said　softly；　and　his　voice　was　like　the　growling　of　a　wolf。　Then；　for　the　last　time；　I　felt　his　fingers　grip　Nosy's　scruff。　He　lifted　the　pup　bodily　and　carried　him；　not　roughly；　to　the　door。　The　latch　that　had　eluded　me　he　worked　swiftly；　and　in　moments　I　heard　the　heavy　tromp　of　his　boots　down　the　stair。
　　　　　　　In　a　moment　I　had　recovered　and　was　up；　flinging　myself　against　the　door。　But　Burrich　had　locked　it　somehow；　for　I　scrabbled　vainly　at　the　catch。　My　sense　of　Nosy　receded　as　he　was　carried　farther　and　farther　from　me；　leaving　in　its　place　a　desperate　loneliness。　I　whimpered；　then　howled；　clawing　at　the　door　and　seeking　after　my　contact　with　him。　There　was　a　sudden　flash　of　red　pain；　and　Nosy　was　gone。　As　his　canine　senses　deserted　me　pletely。　I　screamed　and　cried　as　any　six…year…old　might；　and　hammered　vainly　at　the　thick　wood　planks。
　　　　　　　It　seemed　hours　before　Burrich　returned。　I　heard　his　step　and　lifted　my　head　from　where　I　lay　panting　and　exhausted　on　the　doorstep。　He　opened　the　door　and　then　caught　me　deftly　by　the　back　of　my　shirt　as　I　tried　to　dart　past　him。　He　jerked　me　back　into　the　room　and　then　slammed　the　door　and　fastened　it　again。　I　flung　myself　wordlessly　against　it；　and　a　whimpering　rose　in　my　throat。　Burrich　sat　down　wearily。
　　　　　　　〃Don't　even　think　it；　boy；〃　he　cautioned　me；　as　if　he　could　hear　my　wild　plans　for　the　next　time　he　let　me　out。
　　　　　　　〃He's　gone。　The　pup's　gone；　and　a　damn　shame；　for　he　was　good　blood。　His　line　was　nearly　as　long　as　yours。　But　I'd　rather　waste　a　hound　than　a　man。〃　When　I　did　not　move；　he　added；　almost　kindly；　〃Let　go　of　longing　after　him。　It　hurts　less；　that　way。〃
　　　　　　　But　I　did　not；　and　I　could　hear　in　his　voice　that　he　hadn't　really　expected　me　to。　He　sighed；　and　moved　slowly　as　he　readied　himself　for　bed。　He　didn't　speak　to　me　again；　just　extinguished　the　lamp　and　settled　himself　on　his　bed。　But　he　did　not　sleep；　and　it　was　still　hours　short　of　morning　when　he　rose　and　lifted　me　from　the　floor　and　placed　me　in　the　warm　place　his　body　had　left　in　the　blankets。　He　went　out　again　and　did　not　return　for　some　hours。
　　　　　　　As　for　me；　I　was　heartsick　and　feverish　for　days。　Burrich；　I　believe；　let　it　be　known　that　I　had　some　childish　ailment；　and　so　I　was　left　in　peace。　It　was　days　before　I　was　allowed　out　again；　and　then　it　was　not　on　my　own。
　　　　　　　Afterward；　Burrich　took　pains　to　see　that　I　was　given　no　chance　to　bond　with　any　beast。　I　am　sure　he　thought　he'd　succeeded；　and　to　some　extent　he　did；　in　that　I　did　not　form　an　exclusive　bond　with　any　hound　or　horse。　I　know　he　meant　well。　But　I　did　not　feel　protected　by　him；　but　confined。　He　was　the　warden　that　ensured　my　isolation　with　fanatical　fervor。　Utter　loneliness　was　planted　in　me　then；　and　sent　its　deep　roots　down　into　me。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　THREE
　　　　　　　Covenant
　　　　　　　THE　ORIGINAL　SOURCE　OF　the　Skill　will　probably　remain　forever　shrouded　in　mystery。　Certainly　a　penchant　for　it　runs　remarkably　strong　within　the　royal　family；　and　yet　it　is　not　solely　confined　to　the　King's　household。　There　does　seem　to　be　some　truth　to　the　folk　saying；　〃When　the　sea　blood　flows　with　the　blood　of　the　plains；　the　Skill　will　blossom。〃　It　is　interesting　to　note　that　the　Outislanders　seem　to　have　no　predilection　for　the　Skill；　nor　the　folk　descended　solely　from　the　original　inhabitants　of　the　Six　Duchies。
　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　Is　it　the　nature　of　the　world　that　all　things　seek　a　rhythm；　and　in　that　rhythm　a　sort　of　peace？　Certainly　it　has　always　seemed　so　to　me。　All　events；　no　matter　how　earthshaking　or　bizarre；　are　diluted　within　moments　of　their　occurrence　by　the　continuance　of　the　necessary　routines　of　day…to…day　living。　Men　walking　a　battlefield　to　search　for　wounded　among　the　dead　will　still　stop　to　cough；　to　blow　their　noses；　still　lift　their　eyes　to　watch　a　V　of　geese　in　flight。　I　have　seen　farmers　continue　their　plowing　and　planting；　heedless　of　armies　clashing　but　a　few　miles　away。
　　　　　　　So　it　proved　for　me。　I　look　back　on　myself　and　wonder。　Separated　from　my　mother；　dragged　off　to　a　new　city　and　clime；　abandoned　by　my　father　to　the　care　of　his　man；　and　then　bereft　of　my　puppy　panion；　I　still　rose　from　my　bed　one　day　and　resumed　a　small　boy's　life。　For　me；　that　meant　rising　when　Burrich　awoke　me；　and　following　him　to　the　kitchens；　where　I　ate　beside　him。　After　that；　I　was　Burrich's　shadow。　He　seldom　allowed　me　out　of　his　sight。　I'd　dog　his　heels；　watching　him　at　his　tasks；　and　eventually　assisting　him　in　many　small　ways。　Evening　brought　a　meal　where　I　sat　at　his　side　on　a　bench　and　ate；　my　manners　supervised　by　his　sharp　eyes。　Then　it　was　up　to　his　quarters；　where　I　might　spend　the　rest　of　the　evening　watching　the　fire　in　silence　while　he　drank；　or　watching　the　fire　in　silence　awaiting　his　return。　He　worked　while　he　drank；　mending　or　making　harness；　pounding　a　salve；　or　rendering　down　a　physic　for　a　horse。　He　worked；　and　I　learned；　watching　him；　though　few　words　passed　between　us　that　I　recall。　Odd　to　think　…　of　two　years；　and　most　of　another　one；　passed　in　such　a　way。
　　　　　　　I　learned　to　do　as　Molly　did；　stealing　bits　of　time　for　myself　on　the　days　when　Burrich　was　called　away　to　assist　in　a　hunt　or　help　a　mare　birth。　Once　in　a　great　while　I　dared　to　slip　out　when　he　had　drunk　more　than　he　could　manage；　but　those　were　dangerous　outings。　When　I　was　free；　I　would　hastily　seek　out　my　young　panions　in　the　city　and　run　with　them　for　as　long　as　I　dared。　I　missed　Nosy　with　a　keenness　as　great　as　if　Burrich　had　severed　a　limb　from　my　body。　But　neither　of　us　ever　spoke　of　that。
　　　　　　　Looking　back；　I　suppose　he　was　as　lonely　as　I。　Chivalry　had　not　allowed　Burrich　to　follow　him　into　his　exile。　Instead；　he　had　been　left　to　care　for　a　nameless　bastard　and　found　that　the　bastard　had　a　penchant　for　what　he　regarded　as　a　perversion。　And　even　after　his　leg　healed；　he　discovered　he　would　never　ride　nor　hunt　nor　even　walk　as　well　as　he　once　had；　all　that　had　to　be　hard；　hard　for　a　man　such　as　Burrich。　He　never　whined　about　it　to　anyone；　that　I　heard。　But　again；　in　looking　back；　I　cannot　imagine　to　whom　he　could　have　made　pla