rh.theassassinsapprentice-第41部分

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good　bowmen；　or　navigators？　Still；　I　suppose　the　aura　of　mystery　might　give　a　leader　more　status　with　his　men　。。。　or　for　a　man　like　Shrewd；　now；　he'd　enjoy　having　his　underlings　wondering　if　he　can　actually　pick　up　what　they　were　thinking　without　their　uttering　a　word。　Yes；　that　would　appeal　to　Shrewd；　that　would。〃
　　　　　　　At　first　I　thought　Chade　was　very　worried；　or　even　angry。　I　had　never　heard　him　ramble　so　on　a　topic。　But　when　his　horse　shied　over　a　squirrel　crossing　his　path；　Chade　was　very　nearly　unseated。　I　reached　out　and　caught　at　his　reins。　〃Are　you　all　right？　What's　the　matter？〃
　　　　　　　He　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃Nothing。　When　we　get　to　the　boat；　I'll　be　all　right。　We　just　have　to　keep　going。　It's　not　much　farther　now。〃　His　pale　skin　had　bee　gray；　and　with　every　step　his　horse　took；　he　swayed　in　his　saddle。
　　　　　　　〃Let's　rest　a　bit；〃　I　suggested。
　　　　　　　〃Tides　won't　wait。　And　rest　wouldn't　help　me；　not　the　rest　I'd　get　while　I　was　worrying　about　our　boat　going　on　the　rocks。　No。　We　just　have　to　keep　going。〃　And　he　added；　〃Trust　me；　boy。　I　know　what　I　can　do；　and　I'm　not　so　foolish　as　to　attempt　more　than　that。〃
　　　　　　　And　so　we　went　on。　There　was　very　little　else　we　could　do。　But　I　rode　beside　his　horse's　head；　where　I　could　take　his　reins　if　I　needed　to。　The　sound　of　the　ocean　grew　louder；　and　the　trail　much　steeper。　Soon　I　was　leading　the　way　whether　I　would　or　no。
　　　　　　　We　broke　clear　of　brush　pletely　on　a　bluff　overlooking　a　sandy　beach。　〃Thank　Eda；　they're　here；〃　Chade　muttered　behind　me；　and　then　I　saw　the　shallow　draft　boat　that　was　all　but　grounded　near　the　point。　A　man　on　watch　hallooed　and　waved　his　cap　in　the　air。　I　lifted　my　arm　in　return　greeting。
　　　　　　　We　made　our　way　down；　sliding　more　than　riding；　and　then　Chade　immediately　boarded。　That　left　me　with　the　horses。　Neither　was　anxious　to　enter　the　waves；　let　alone　heave　themselves　over　the　low　rail　and　up　onto　deck。　I　tried　to　quest　toward　them；　to　let　them　know　what　I　wanted。　For　the　first　time　in　my　life　I　found　I　was　simply　too　tired。　I　could　not　find　the　focus　I　needed。　So　three　deckhands；　much　cursing；　and　two　duckings　for　me　were　required　to　finally　get　them　loaded。　Every　bit　of　leather　and　every　buckle　on　their　harness　had　been　doused　with　salt　water。　How　was　I　going　to　explain　that　to　Burrich？　That　was　the　thought　that　was　uppermost　on　my　mind　as　I　settled　myself　in　the　bow　and　watched　the　rowers　in　the　dory　bend　their　backs　to　the　oars　and　tow　us　out　to　deeper　water。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　TEN
　　　　　　　Revelations
　　　　　　　TIME　AND　TIDE　WAIT　for　no　man。　There's　an　ageless　adage。　Sailors　and　fishermen　mean　it　simply　to　say　that　a　boat's　schedule　is　determined　by　the　ocean；　not　man's　convenience。　But　sometimes　I　lie　here；　after　the　tea　has　calmed　the　worst　of　the　pain；　and　wonder　about　it。　Tides　wait　for　no　man；　and　that　I　know　is　true。　But　time？　Did　the　times　I　was　born　into　await　my　birth　to　be？　Did　the　events　rumble　into　place　like　the　great　wooden　gears　of　the　clock　of　Sayntanns；　meshing　with　my　conception　and　pushing　my　life　along？　I　make　no　claim　to　greatness。　And　yet；　had　I　not　been　born；　had　not　my　parents　fallen　before　a　surge　of　lust；　so　much　would　be　different。　So　much。　Better？　I　think　not。　And　then　I　blink　and　try　to　focus　my　eyes；　and　wonder　if　these　thoughts　e　from　me　or　from　the　drug　in　my　blood。　It　would　be　nice　to　hold　counsel　with　Chade；　one　last　time。
　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　The　sun　had　moved　'round　to　late　afternoon　when　someone　nudged　me　awake。　〃Your　master　wants　you；〃　was　all　he　said；　and　I　roused　with　a　start。　Gulls　wheeling　overhead；　fresh　sea　air；　and　the　dignified　waddle　of　the　boat　recalled　me　to　where　I　was。　I　scrambled　to　my　feet；　ashamed　to　have　fallen　asleep　without　even　wondering　if　Chade　was　fortable。　I　hurried　aft　to　the　ship's　house。
　　　　　　　There　I　found　Chade　had　taken　over　the　tiny　galley　table。　He　was　poring　over　a　map　spread　out　on　it；　but　a　large　tureen　of　fish　chowder　was　what　got　my　attention。　He　motioned　me　to　it　without　taking　his　attention　from　the　map；　and　I　was　glad　to　fall　to。　There　were　ship's　biscuits　to　go　with　it；　and　a　sour　red　wine。　I　had　not　realized　how　hungry　I　was　until　the　food　was　before　me。　I　was　scraping　my　dish　with　a　bit　of　biscuit　when　Chade　asked　me；　〃Better？〃
　　　　　　　〃Much；〃　I　said。　〃How　about　you？〃
　　　　　　　〃Better；〃　he　said；　and　looked　at　me　with　his　familiar　hawk's　glance。　To　my　relief；　he　seemed　totally　recovered。　He　pushed　my　dishes　to　one　side　and　slid　the　map　before　me。　〃By　evening；〃　he　said；　〃we'll　be　here。　It'll　be　a　nastier　landing　than　the　loading　was。　If　we're　lucky；　we'll　get　wind　when　we　need　it。　If　not；　we'll　miss　the　best　of　the　tide；　and　the　current　will　be　stronger。　We　may　end　up　swimming　the　horses　to　shore　while　we　ride　in　the　dory。　I　hope　not；　but　be　prepared　for　it；　just　in　case。　Once　we　land…〃
　　　　　　　〃You　smell　of　carris　seed。〃　I　said　it；　not　believing　my　own　words。　But　I　had　caught　the　unmistakable　sweet　taint　of　the　seed　and　oil　on　his　breath。　I'd　had　carris…seed　cakes；　at　Springfest；　when　everyone　does；　and　I　knew　the　giddy　energy　that　even　a　sprinkling　of　the　seed　on　a　cake's　top　could　bring。　Everyone　celebrated　Spring's　Edge　that　way。　Once　a　year；　what　could　it　hurt？　But　I　knew；　too；　that　Burrich　had　warned　me　never　to　buy　a　horse　that　smelled　of　carris　seed　at　all。　And　warned　me　further　that　if　anyone　were　ever　caught　putting　carris　seed　oil　on　any　of　our　horses'　grain；　he'd　kill　him。　With　his　bare　hands。
　　　　　　　〃Do　I？　Fancy　that。　Now；　I　suggest　that　if　you　have　to　swim　the　horses；　you　put　your　shirt　and　cloak　into　an　oilskin　bag　and　give　it　to　me　in　the　dory。　That　way　you'll　have　at　least　that　much　dry　to　put　on　when　we　reach　the　beach。　From　the　beach；　our　road　will…〃
　　　　　　　〃Burrich　says　that　once　you've　given　it　to　an　animal；　it's　never　the　same。　It　does　things　to　horses。　He　says　you　can　use　it　to　win　one　race；　or　run　down　one　stag；　but　after　that；　the　beast　will　never　be　what　it　was。　He　says　dishonest　horse　traders　use　it　to　make　an　animal　show　well　at　a　sale；　it　gives　them　spirit　and　brightens　their　eyes；　but　that　soon　passes。　Burrich　says　that　it　takes　away　all　their　sense　of　when　they're　tired；　so　they　go　on；　past　the　time　when　they　should　have　dropped　from　exhaustion。　Burrich　told　me　that　sometimes　when　the　carris　oil　wears　out；　the　horse　just　drops　in　its　tracks。〃　The　words　spilled　out　of　me；　cold　water　over　stones。
　　　　　　　Chade　lifted　his　gaze　from　the　map。　He　stared　at　me　mildly。　〃Fancy　Burrich　knowing　all　that　about　carris　seed。　I'm　glad　you　listened　to　him　so　closely。　Now　perhaps　you'll　be　so　kind　as　to　give　me　equal　attention　as　we　plan　the　next　stage　of　our　journey。〃
　　　　　　　〃But；　Chade。。。〃
　　　　　　　He　transfixed　me　with　his　eyes。　〃Burrich　is　a　fine　horse　master。　Even　as　a　boy　he　showed　great　promise。　He　is　seldom　wrong　。。。　when　speaking　about　horses。　Now　attend　to　what　I　am　saying。　We'll　need　a　lantern　to　get　from　the　beach　to　the　cliffs　above。　The　path　is　very　bad；　we　may　need　to　bring　one　horse　up　at　a　time。　But　I　am　told　it　can　be　done。　From　there；　we　go　overland　to　Forge。　There　isn't　a　road　that　will　take　us　there　quickly　enough　to　be　of　any　use。　It's　hilly　country；　but　not　forested。　And　we'll　be　going　by　night；　so　the　stars　will　have　to　be　our　map。　I　am　hoping　to　reach　Forge　by　midafternoon。　We'll　go　in　as　travelers；　you　and　I。　That's　all　I've　decided　so　far；　the　rest　will　have　to　be　planned　from　hour　to　hour　。。。。〃
　　　　　　　And　the　moment　in　which　I　could　have　asked　him　how　he　could　use　the　seed　and　not　die　of　it　was　gone；　shouldered　aside　by　his　careful　plans　and　precise　details。　For　half　an　hour　more　he　lectured　me　on　details；　and　then　he　sent　me　from　the　cabin；　saying　he　had　other　preparations　to　make　and　that　I　should　check　on　the　horses　and　get　what　rest　I　could。
　　　　　　　The　horses　were　forward；　in　a　makeshift　rope　enclosure　on　deck。　Straw　cushioned　the　deck　from　their　hooves　and　droppings。　A　sour　faced　mate　was　mending　a　bit　of　railing　that　Sooty　had　kicked　loose　in　the　boarding。　He　didn't　seem　disposed　to　talk；　and　the　horses　were　as　calm　and　fortable　as　could　be　expected。　I　roved　the　deck　briefly。　We　were　on　a　tidy　little　craft；　an　inter…island　trader　wider　than　she　was　deep。　Her　shallow　draft　let　her　go　up　rivers　or　right　onto