rh.theassassinsapprentice-第32部分

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ity　to　quietly　dispose　of　me。　I　realized　what　a　blow　to　his　pride　and　reputation　it　would　be　if　I　were　to　be　〃vanished。〃　So　I　sighed；　and　then　carefully　mented　that　perhaps　they　wanted　an　extra　hand　with　the　horses　and　dogs。　Verity　went　nowhere　without　Leon；　his　wolfhound。　Only　two　days　before　he　had　plimented　me　on　how　well　I　managed　him。　This　I　repeated　to　Burrich；　and　it　was　gratifying　to　see　how　well　this　small　subterfuge　worked。　Relief　flooded　his　face；　then　pride　that　he　had　taught　me　well。　The　topic　instantly　shifted　from　manners　to　the　correct　care　of　the　wolfhound。　If　the　lectures　on　manners　had　wearied　me；　the　repetition　of　hound　lore　was　almost　painfully　tedious。　When　he　released　me　to　go　to　my　other　lessons；　I　left　with　winged　feet。
　　　　　　　I　went　through　the　rest　of　the　day　in　a　distracted　haze　that　had　Hod　threatening　me　with　a　good　whipping　if　I　didn't　attend　to　what　I　was　doing。　Then　she　shook　her　head　over　me；　sighed；　and　told　me　to　run　along　and　e　back　when　I　had　a　mind　again。　I　was　only　too　happy　to　obey　her。　The　thought　of　actually　leaving　Buckkeep　and　journeying；　journeying　all　the　way　to　Neatbay　was　all　I　could　fit　inside　my　head。　I　knew　I　should　wonder　why　I　was　going；　but　felt　sure　Chade　would　advise　me　soon。　Would　we　go　by　land　or　by　sea？　I　wished　I　had　asked　Burrich。　The　roads　to　Neatbay　were　not　the　best；　I'd　heard；　but　I　wouldn't　mind。　Sooty　and　I　had　never　been　on　a　long　journey　together。　But　a　sea　trip；　on　a　real　ship　。。。
　　　　　　　I　took　the　long　way　back　to　the　keep；　up　a　path　that　went　through　a　lightly　wooded　bit　of　rocky　hillside。　Paper　birches　struggled　there；　and　a　few　alder；　but　mostly　it　was　nondescript　brush。　Sunlight　and　a　light　breeze　were　playing　together　in　the　higher　branches；　giving　the　day　a　fey　and　dappled　air。　I　lifted　my　eyes　to　the　dazzle　of　sun　through　the　birch　leaves；　and　when　I　looked　down；　the　King's　fool　stood　before　me。
　　　　　　　I　stopped　in　my　tracks；　astonished。　Reflexively；　I　looked　for　the　King；　despite　how　ridiculous　it　would　have　been　to　find　him　here。　But　the　Fool　was　alone。　And　outside；　in　the　daylight！　The　thought　made　the　hair　on　my　arms　and　neck　stand　up　in　my　tightened　skin。　It　was　mon　knowledge　in　the　keep　that　the　King's　fool　could　not　abide　the　light　of　day。　mon　knowledge。　Yet；　despite　what　every　page　and　kitchen　maid　nattered　knowingly；　there　stood　the　Fool；　pale　hair　floating　in　the　light　breeze。　The　blue　and　red　silk　of　his　motley　jacket　and　trousers　was　startlingly　bright　against　his　paleness。　But　his　eyes　were　not　as　colorless　as　they　were　in　the　dim　passages　of　the　keep。　As　I　received　their　stare　from　only　a　few　feet　away　in　the　light　of　day；　I　perceived　there　was　a　blueness　to　them；　very　pale；　as　if　a　single　drop　of　pale　blue　wax　had　fallen　onto　a　white　platter。　The　whiteness　of　his　skin　was　an　illusion　also；　for　out　here　in　the　dappling　sunlight　I　could　see　a　pinkness　suffused　him　from　within。　Blood；　I　realized　with　a　sudden　quailing。　Red　blood　showing　through　layers　of　skin。
　　　　　　　The　Fool　took　no　notice　of　my　whispered　ment。　Instead；　a　finger　was　held　aloft；　as　if　to　pause　not　only　my　thoughts　but　the　very　day　around　us。　But　I　could　not　have　focused　my　attention　more　pletely　on　anything；　and　when　he　was　satisfied　of　this；　the　Fool　smiled；　showing　small　white　separate　teeth；　like　a　baby's　new　smile　in　a　boy's　mouth。
　　　　　　　〃Fitz！〃　he　intoned　in　a　piping　voice。　〃Fitz　fitz　fice　fitz。　Fatz　sfitz。〃　He　stopped　abruptly；　and　again　gave　me　that　smile。　I　stared　back　uncertainly；　without　word　or　movement。
　　　　　　　Again　the　finger　soared　aloft；　and　this　time　was　shaken　at　me。　〃Fitz！　Fitz　fix　fice　fitz。　Fats　sfitzes。〃　He　cocked　his　head　at　me；　and　the　movement　sent　the　dandelion　fluff　of　his　hair　wafting　in　a　new　direction。
　　　　　　　I　was　beginning　to　lose　my　fear　of　him。　〃Fitz；〃　I　said　carefully；　and　tapped　my　chest　with　my　forefinger。　〃Fitz；　that's　me。　Yes。　My　name　is　Fitz。　Are　you　lost？〃　I　tried　to　make　my　voice　gentle　and　reassuring　so　as　not　to　alarm　the　poor　creature。　For　surely　he　had　somehow　wandered　off　from　the　keep；　and　that　was　why　he　seemed　so　delighted　to　find　a　familiar　face。
　　　　　　　He　took　a　breath　through　his　nose；　and　then　shook　his　head　violently；　until　his　hair　stood　out　all　around　his　skull　like　a　flame　around　a　windblown　candle。　〃Fitz！〃　he　said　emphatically；　his　voice　cracking　a　little。　〃Fitz　fitzes　fyces　fitz。　Fatzafices。〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　all　right；〃　I　said　soothingly。　I　crouched　a　bit；　though　in　reality　I　was　not　that　much　taller　than　the　Fool。　I　made　a　soft　beckoning　motion　with　my　open　hand。　〃e　along；　then。　e　along。　I'll　show　you　the　way　back　home。　All　right？　Don't　be　afraid　now。〃
　　　　　　　Abruptly　the　Fool　dropped　his　hands　to　his　sides。　Then　he　lifted　his　face　and　rolled　his　eyes　at　the　heavens。　He　looked　back　at　me　fixedly　and　poked　his　mouth　out　as　if　he　wanted　to　spit。
　　　　　　　〃e　along　now。〃　I　beckoned　to　him　again。
　　　　　　　〃No；〃　he　said；　quite　plainly　in　an　exasperated　voice。　〃Listen　to　me；　you　idiot。　Fitz　fixes　fyces　fitz。　Fatsafices。〃
　　　　　　　〃What？〃　I　asked；　startled。
　　　　　　　〃I　said；〃　he　enunciated　elaborately。　〃Fitz　fixes　fyce　fits。　Fat　suffices。〃　He　bowed；　turned；　and　began　to　walk　away　from　me；　up　the　trail。
　　　　　　　〃Wait！〃　I　demanded。　My　ears　were　turning　red　with　my　embarrassment。　How　do　you　politely　explain　to　someone　that　you　had　believed　for　years　that　he　was　a　moron　as　well　as　a　fool？　I　couldn't。　So：　〃What　does　all　that　fitzy…ficeys　stuff　mean？　Are　you　making　fun　of　me？〃
　　　　　　　〃Hardly。〃　He　paused　long　enough　to　turn　and　say；　〃Fitz　fixes　feists　fits。　Fat　suffices。　It's　a　message；　I　believe。　A　calling　for　a　significant　act。　As　you　are　the　only　one　l　know　who　endures　being　called　Fitz；　I　believe　it's　for　you。　As　for　what　it　means；　how　should　I　know？　I'm　a　fool；　not　an　interpreter　of　dreams。　Good　day。〃　Again　he　turned　away　from　me；　but　this　time　instead　of　continuing　up　the　path；　he　stepped　off　it；　into　a　clump　of　buckbrush。　I　hurried　after　him；　but　when　I　got　to　where　he　had　left　the　path；　he　was　gone。　I　stood　still；　peering　into　the　open；　sun…dappled　woods；　thinking　I　should　see　a　bush　still　swaying　from　his　passage；　or　catch　a　glimpse　of　his　motley　jacket。　But　there　was　no　sign　of　him。
　　　　　　　And　no　sense　at　all　to　his　silly　message。　I　mulled　over　the　strange　encounter　all　the　way　back　to　the　keep；　but　in　the　end　I　set　it　aside　as　a　strange　but　random　occurrence。
　　　　　　　Not　that　night；　but　the　next；　Chade　called　me。　Burning　with　curiosity；　I　raced　up　the　stairs。　But　when　I　reached　the　top；　I　halted；　knowing　that　my　questions　would　have　to　wait。　For　there　sat　Chade　at　the　stone　table；　Slink　perched　atop　his　shoulders；　and　a　new　scroll　half…unwound　on　the　table　before　him。　A　glass　of　wine　weighted　one　end　as　his　crooked　finger　traveled　slowly　down　some　sort　of　listing。　I　glanced　at　it　as　I　passed。　It　was　a　list　of　villages　and　dates。
　　　　　　　Beneath　each　village　name　was　a　tally　…　so　many　warriors；　so　many　merchants；　so　many　sheep　or　casks　of　ale　or　measures　of　grain；　and　so　on。　I　sat　down　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　table　and　waited。　I　had　learned　not　to　interrupt　Chade。
　　　　　　　〃My　boy；〃　he　said　softly；　without　looking　up　from　the　scroll。　〃What　would　you　do　if　some　ruffian　walked　up　behind　you　and　rapped　you　on　the　head？　But　only　when　your　back　was　turned。　How　would　you　handle　it？〃
　　　　　　　I　thought　briefly。　〃I'd　turn　my　back　and　pretend　to　be　looking　at　something　else。　Only　I'd　have　a　long；　thick　stick　in　my　hands。　So　when　he　rapped　ine；　I'd　spin　around　and　break　his　head。〃
　　　　　　　〃Hm。　Yes。　Well；　we　tried　that。　But　no　matter　how　nonchalant　we　are；　the　Outislanders　always　seem　to　know　when　we　are　baiting　them　and　never　attack。　Well；　actually；　we've　managed　to　fool　one　or　two　of　the　ordinary　raiders。　But　never　the　Red…Ship　Raiders。　And　those　are　the　ones　we　want　to　hurt。〃
　　　　　　　〃Why？〃
　　　　　　　〃Because　they　are　the　ones　that　are　hurting　us　the　worst。　You　see；　boy；　we　are　used　to　being　raided。　You　could　almost　say　that　we've　adapted　to　it。　Plant　an　extra　acre；　weave　another　bolt　of　cloth；　raise　an　extra　steer。　Our　farmers　and　townsfolk　always　try　to　put　a　bit　extra　by；　and　when　someone's　barn　gets　burned　or　a　warehouse　is　torched　in　the　confusion　of　a　raid；　everyone　turns　out　to　raise　the　beams　again。　But　the　Red…Ship　Ra