rh.theassassinsapprentice-第34部分

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　see　him　pass　know　that　without　being　told。　The　news　must　run　ahead　to　Kelvar；　and　to　Shemshy。　The　imperial　hand　is　about　to　reconcile　their　differences。　They　must　both　be　left　wishing　they　had　never　had　any　differences　at　all。　That　is　the　trick　of　good　government。　To　make　folk　desire　to　live　in　such　a　way　that　there　is　no　need　for　its　intervention。〃
　　　　　　　So　Verity　traveled　with　a　pomp　that　clearly　irritated　the　soldier　in　him。　His　picked　troop　of　men　wore　his　colors　as　well　as　the　Farseer　buck　badges；　and　rode　ahead　of　the　regular　troops。　To　my　young　eyes；　that　was　impressive　enough。　But　to　keep　the　impact　from　being　too　martial；　Verity　brought　with　him　noble　panions　to　provide　conversation　and　diversion　at　the　end　of　the　day。　Hawks　and　hounds　with　their　handlers；　musicians　and　bards；　one　puppeteer；　those　who　fetched　and　carried　for　the　lords　and　ladies；　those　who　saw　to　their　garments　and　hair　and　the　cooking　of　favorite　dishes；　baggage　beasts；　all　trailed　behind　the　well…mounted　nobles；　and　made　the　tail　of　our　procession。
　　　　　　　My　place　was　about　midway　in　the　procession。　I　sat　a　restive　Sooty　beside　an　ornate　litter　borne　between　two　sedate　gray　geldings。　Hands；　one　of　the　brighter　stable　boys；　had　been　assigned　a　pony　and　given　charge　of　the　horses　bearing　the　litter。　I　would　manage　our　baggage　mule　and　see　to　the　litter's　occupant。　This　was　the　very　elderly　Lady　Thyme；　who　I　had　never　met　before。　When　she　at　last　appeared　to　mount　her　litter；　she　was　so　swathed　in　cloaks；　veils；　and　scarves　that　I　received　only　the　impression　that　she　was　elderly　in　a　gaunt　rather　than　plump　way；　and　that　her　perfume　caused　Sooty　to　sneeze。　She　settled　herself　in　the　litter　amidst　a　nest　of　cushions；　blankets；　furs；　and　wraps；　then　immediately　ordered　that　the　curtains　be　drawn　and　fastened　despite　the　fineness　of　the　morning。　The　two　little　maids　who　had　attended　her　darted　happily　away；　and　I　was　left；　her　sole　servant。　My　heart　sank。　I　had　expected　at　least　one　of　them　to　travel　within　the　litter　with　her。　Who　was　going　to　see　to　her　personal　needs　when　her　pavilion　was　set　up？　I　had　no　notion　as　to　waiting　on　a　woman；　let　alone　a　very　elderly　one。　I　resolved　to　follow　Burrich's　advice　for　a　young　man　dealing　with　elderly　women：　be　attentive　and　polite；　cheerful　and　pleasant　of　mien。　Old　women　were　easily　won　over　by　a　personable　young　man。　Burrich　said　so。　I　approached　the　litter。
　　　　　　　〃Lady　Thyme？　Are　you　fortable？〃　I　inquired。　A　long　interval　passed　with　no　response。　Perhaps　she　was　slightly　deaf。　〃Are　you　fortable？〃　I　asked　more　loudly。
　　　　　　　〃Stop　bothering　me；　young　man！〃　was　the　surprisingly　vehement　response。　〃If　I　want　you；　I'll　tell　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　beg　pardon；〃　I　quickly　apologized。
　　　　　　　〃Stop　bothering　me；　I　said！〃　she　rasped　indignantly。　And　added　in　an　undertone；　〃Stupid　churl。〃
　　　　　　　At　this；　I　had　the　sense　to　be　quiet；　though　my　dismay　increased　tenfold。　So　much　for　a　merry　and　panionable　ride。　Eventually　I　heard　the　horns　cry　out　and　saw　Verity's　pennant　lifted　far　ahead　of　us。　Dust　drifting　back　told　me　that　our　foreguard　had　begun　the　journey。　Long　minutes　passed　before　the　horses　in　front　of　us　moved。　Hands　started　the　litter　horses　and　I　chirruped　to　Sooty。　She　stepped　out　eagerly　and　the　mule　followed　resignedly。
　　　　　　　I　well　recall　that　day。　I　remember　the　dust　hanging　thick　in　the　air　from　all　those　who　preceded　us；　and　how　Hands　and　I　conversed　in　lowered　voices；　for　the　first　time　we　laughed　aloud；　Lady　Thyme　scolded；　〃Stop　that　noise！〃　I　also　remember　bright　blue　skies　arching　from　hill　to　hill　as　we　followed　the　gentle　undulations　of　the　coast　road。　There　were　breathtaking　views　of　the　sea　from　the　hilltops；　and　flower…scented　air　thick　and　drowsy　in　the　vales。　There　were　also　the　shepherdesses；　all　in　a　row　atop　a　stone　wall　to　giggle　and　point　and　blush　at　us　while　we　passed。　Their　fleecy　charges　dotted　the　hillside　behind　them；　and　Hands　and　I　exclaimed　softly　at　the　way　they　had　bundled　their　bright　skirts　to　one　side　and　knotted　them　up；　leaving　their　knees　and　legs　bare　to　the　sun　and　wind。　Sooty　was　restive　and　bored　with　our　slow　pace；　while　poor　Hands　was　constantly　nudging　his　old　pony　in　the　ribs　to　make　it　keep　up。
　　　　　　　We　stopped　twice　during　the　day　to　allow　riders　to　dismount　and　stretch　and　to　let　the　horses　water。　Lady　Thyme　did　not　emerge　from　her　litter；　but　one　time　tartly　reminded　me　that　I　should　have　brought　her　water　by　now。　I　bit　my　tongue　and　fetched　her　a　drink。　It　was　as　close　as　we　came　to　conversation。
　　　　　　　We　halted　when　the　sun　was　still　above　the　horizon。　Hands　and　I　erected　Lady　Thyme's　small　pavilion　while　she　dined　within　her　litter　from　a　wicker　basket　of　cold　meat；　cheese；　and　wine　that　she　had　thoughtfully　provided　for　herself。　Hands　and　I　fared　more　poorly；　on　soldier's　rations　of　hard　bread　and　harder　cheese　and　dried　meat。　In　the　midst　of　my　meal；　Lady　Thyme　demanded　that　I　escort　her　from　the　litter　to　her　pavilion。　She　emerged　draped　and　veiled　as　if　for　a　blizzard。　Her　finery　was　of　varying　colors　and　degrees　of　age；　but　all　had　been　both　expensive　and　well　cut　at　one　time。　Now；　as　she　leaned　heavily　on　me　and　tottered　along；　I　smelled　a　repulsive　conglomeration　of　dust　and　mildew　and　perfume；　with　an　underlying　scent　of　urine。　She　tartly　dismissed　me　at　the　door　and　warned　me　that　she　had　a　knife　and　would　use　it　if　I　attempted　to　enter　and　bother　her　in　any　way。　〃And　well　do　I　know　how　to　use　it；　young　man！〃　she　threatened　me。
　　　　　　　Our　sleeping　acmodations　were　also　the　same　as　the　soldiers'：　the　ground　and　our　cloaks。　But　the　night　was　fine　and　we　made　a　small　fire。　Hands　teased　and　giggled　about　my　supposed　lust　for　Lady　Thyme　and　the　knife　that　awaited　me　if　I　should　attempt　to　satisfy　it。　That　led　to　a　wrestling　match　between　us；　until　Lady　Thyme　shrilled　threats　at　us　for　keeping　her　awake。　Then　we　spoke　softly　as　Hands　told　me　that　no　one　had　envied　my　assignment　to　her；　that　anyone　who　had　ever　journeyed　with　her　avoided　her　ever　after。　He　warned　me　also　that　my　worst　task　was　yet　to　e；　but　adamantly　refused；　though　his　eyes　brimmed　with　tears　of　laughter；　to　let　me　know　what　it　was。
　　　　　　　I　fell　asleep　easily；　for　boy　like；　I　had　put　my　true　mission　out　of　my　head　until　I　should　have　to　face　it。
　　　　　　　I　awoke　at　dawn　to　the　twittering　of　birds　and　the　overwhelming　stench　of　a　brimming　chamber　pot　outside　Lady　Thyme's　pavilion。　Though　my　stomach　had　been　hardened　by　cleaning　stables　and　kennels；　it　was　all　I　could　force　myself　to　do　to　dump　it　and　cleanse　it　before　returning　it　to　her。　By　then　she　was　harping　at　me　through　the　tent　door　that　I　had　not　yet　brought　her　water；　hot　or　cold；　nor　cooked　her　porridge；　whose　ingredients　she　had　set　out。　Hands　had　disappeared；　to　share　the　troop's　fire　and　rations；　leaving　me　to　deal　with　my　tyrant。　By　the　time　I　had　served　her　on　a　tray　that　she　assured　me　was　slovenly　arranged；　and　cleaned　the　dishes　and　pot　and　returned　all　to　her；　the　rest　of　the　procession　was　almost　ready　to　leave。　But　she　would　not　allow　her　pavilion　to　be　struck　until　she　was　safely　within　her　litter。　We　acplished　that　packing　in　frantic　haste　and　I　found　myself　finally　on　my　horse　without　a　crumb　of　breakfast　inside　me。
　　　　　　　I　was　ravenous　after　my　morning's　work。　Hands　regarded　my　glum　face　with　some　sympathy　and　motioned　me　to　ride　closer　to　him。　He　leaned　over　to　speak　to　me。
　　　　　　　〃Everyone　but　us　had　heard　of　her　before。〃　This　with　a　furtive　nod　toward　Lady　Thyme's　litter。　〃The　stench　she　makes　every　morning　is　a　legend。　Whitelock　says　she　used　to　go　along　on　a　lot　of　Chivalry's　trips　。。。。　She　has　relatives　all　over　the　Six　Duchies；　and　not　much　to　do　except　go　visit　them。　All　the　men　in　the　troop　say　they　learned　a　long　time　ago　to　stay　out　of　her　range　or　she　puts　them　to　a　bunch　of　useless　errands。　Oh；　and　Whitelock　sent　you　this。　He　says　not　to　expect　to　sit　down　and　eat　as　long　as　you're　tending　her。　But　he'll　try　to　set　aside　a　bit　for　you　each　morning。
　　　　　　　Hands　passed　me　a　wad　of　camp　bread　with　three　rashers　of　bacon　greasily　cold　inside　it。　It　tasted　wonderful。　I　wolfed　down　the　first　few　bites　greedily。
　　　　　　　〃Churl！〃　shrilled　Lady　Thyme　from　inside　her　pavilion。　〃What　are　you　doing　up　t