rh.theassassinsapprentice-第58部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


wondered　if　the　maker　had　lacked　sufficient　fabric　to　finish　the　suit。　At　a　time　when　full　sleeves　slashed　with　colors　were　the　mark　of　a　wealthy　man；　he　wore　his　shirt　as　tight　as　a　cat's　skin。　His　boots　were　high　and　fitted　to　his　calves；　and　he　carried　a　little　quirt；　as　if　e　straight　from　riding。　His　clothing　looked　unfortable　and　bined　with　his　thinness　to　give　an　impression　of　stinginess。
　　　　　　　His　pale　eyes　swept　the　Queen's　Garden　dispassionately。　He　considered　us；　and　immediately　dismissed　us　as　wanting。　He　breathed　out　through　his　hawk's　nose；　as　does　a　man　facing　an　unpleasant　chore。　〃Clear　a　space；〃　he　directed　us。　〃Push　all　this　rubbish　to　one　side。　Stack　it　there；　against　that　wall。　Quickly；　now。　I　have　no　patience　with　sluggards。〃
　　　　　　　And　so　the　last　lines　of　the　garden　were　destroyed。　The　arrangements　of　the　pots　and　beds　that　had　been　shadows　of　the　little　walks　and　arbors　that　had　once　existed　here　were　swept　aside。　The　pots　were　moved　to　one　side；　the　lovely　little　statues　stacked　crookedly　atop　them。　Galen　spoke　only　once；　to　me。　〃Hurry　up；　bastard；〃　he　ordered　me　as　I　struggled　with　a　heavy　pot　of　earth；　and　he　brought　down　his　riding　crop　across　my　shoulders。　It　was　not　much　of　a　blow；　more　a　tap；　but　it　seemed　so　contrived　that　I　stopped　in　my　efforts　and　looked　at　him。　〃Didn't　you　hear　me？〃　he　demanded。　I　nodded；　and　went　back　to　moving　the　pot。　From　the　corner　of　my　eye；　I　saw　his　odd　look　of　satisfaction。　The　blow；　I　felt；　had　been　a　test；　but　I　was　not　sure　if　I　had　passed　or　failed　it。
　　　　　　　The　tower　roof　became　a　bare　space；　with　only　the　green　lines　of　moss　and　old　runnels　of　dirt　to　indicate　the　garden　that　had　been。　He　directed　us　to　form　ourselves　into　two　lines。　He　ordered　us　by　age　and　size；　and　then　separated　us　by　sex；　putting　the　girls　behind　the　boys　and　off　to　the　right。　〃I　will　tolerate　no　distractions　or　disruptive　behavior。　You　are　here　to　learn；　not　dally；〃　he　warned　us。　He　then　spaced　us　out；　having　us　stretch　our　arms　in　all　directions　to　show　that　there　we　could　not　touch　one　another；　not　even　so　much　as　a　fingertip。　From　this；　I　expected　physical　exercises　would　follow；　but　instead　he　directed　us　to　stand　still；　hands　at　our　sides；　and　attend　to　him。　So　as　we　stood　on　the　cold　tower　top　he　lectured　us。
　　　　　　　〃For　seventeen　years；　I　have　been　Skillmaster　of　this　keep。　Before　this；　my　lessons　were　given　to　small　groups；　discreetly。　Those　who　failed　to　show　promise　were　turned　away　quietly。　During　that　time　the　Six　Duchies　had　no　need　for　more　than　a　handful　to　be　trained。　I　trained　only　the　most　promising；　wasting　no　time　on　those；　without　talent　or　discipline。　And；　for　the　last　fifteen　years；　I　have　not　initiated　any　into　the　Skill。
　　　　　　　〃But　evil　times　are　upon　us。　The　Outislanders　ravage　our　shores　and　Forge　our　people。　King　Shrewd　and　Prince　Verity　turn　their　Skills　to　protecting　us。　Great　are　their　efforts　and　many　their　successes；　though　the　mon　folk　never　even　guess　at　what　they　do。　I　assure　you；　against　the　minds　I　have　trained；　the　Outislanders　stand　small　chance。　A　few　paltry　victories　they　may　have　won；　ing　upon　us　unprepared；　but　the　forces　I　have　created　to　oppose　them　will　prevail！〃
　　　　　　　His　pale　eyes　burned　and　he　lifted　his　hands　to　the　heavens　as　he　spoke。　He　held　a　long　silence；　staring　upward；　his　arms　stretched　out　above　his　head；　as　if　he　clawed　down　power　from　the　sky　itself。　Then　he　let　his　arms　slowly　fall。
　　　　　　　〃This　I　know；〃　he　went　on　in　a　calmer　voice。　〃This　I　know。　The　forces　I　have　created　will　prevail。　But　our　king；　may　all　gods　honor　and　bless　him；　doubts　me。　And　as　he　is　my　king；　I　bow　to　his　will。　He　requires　that　I　seek　amongst　you　of　lesser　blood；　to　see　if　there　are　any　with　the　talent　and　will；　the　purity　of　purpose　and　sternness　of　soul；　to　be　trained　in　the　Skill。　This　I　will　do；　for　my　king　has　manded。　Legends　say　in　days　of　old　there　were　many　trained　in　the　Skill；　who　worked　alongside　their　kings　to　avert　dangers　from　the　land。　Perhaps　it　was　truly　so；　perhaps　the　old　legends　exaggerate。　In　any　case；　my　king　has　manded　me　to　attempt　to　create　such　a　surplus　of　Skilled　ones；　and　so　I　will　try。〃
　　　　　　　He　totally　ignored　the　five　or　so　women　of　our　group。　Not　once　did　his　eyes　turn　toward　them。　The　exclusion　was　so　obvious　I　wondered　how　they　had　offended　him。　I　knew　Serene　slightly；　for　she　also　had　been　an　apt　pupil　of　Fedwren。　I　could　almost　feel　the　warmth　of　her　displeasure。　In　the　row　beside　me；　one　of　the　boys　shifted。　In　a　flash　Galen　had　leaped　in　front　of　him。
　　　　　　　〃Bored；　are　we？　Restless　with　an　old　man's　talk？〃
　　　　　　　〃Just　a　cramp　in　my　calf；　sir；〃　the　boy　rejoined；　foolishly。
　　　　　　　Galen　slapped　him；　a　backhand　that　rocked　the　boy's　head。　〃Be　quiet；　and　stand　still。　Or　leave。　It's　all　one　to　me。　It's　already　obvious　that　you　lack　the　stamina　to　achieve　the　Skill。　But　the　King　has　found　you　worthy　to　be　here；　and　so　I　will　attempt　to　teach　you。〃
　　　　　　　I　trembled　inside。　For　when　Galen　spoke　to　the　boy；　it　was　me　he　stared　at。　As　if　the　boy's　movement　had　been　my　fault；　somehow。　A　strong　distaste　for　Galen　flooded　through　me。　I　had　taken　blows　from　Hod　in　the　course　of　my　instruction　in　staves　and　swords；　and　endured　disfort　even　from　Chade　as　he　demonstrated　touch　spots　and　strangling　techniques；　and　ways　to　silence　a　man　without　disabling　him。　I'd　had　my　share　of　cuffs；　boots；　and　swats　from　Burrich；　some　justified；　some　the　vented　frustration　of　a　busy　man。　But　I'd　never　seen　a　man　strike　a　boy　with　such　apparent　relish　as　Galen　had。　I　strove　to　keep　my　face　impassive；　and　to　look　at　him　without　appearing　to　stare。　For　I　knew　if　I　glanced　away；　I'd　be　accused　of　not　paying　attention。
　　　　　　　Satisfied；　Galen　nodded　to　himself；　and　then　resumed　his　lecture。　To　master　the　Skill；　he　must　first　teach　us　to　master　ourselves。　Physical　deprivation　was　his　key。　Tomorrow　we　were　to　arrive　before　the　sun　was　over　the　horizon。　We　were　not　to　wear　shoes；　socks；　cloaks；　nor　any　woolen　garment。　Heads　were　to　be　uncovered。　The　body　must　be　scrupulously　clean。　He　exhorted　us　to　imitate　him　in　his　eating　and　living　habits。　We　would　avoid　meat；　sweet　fruit；　seasoned　dishes；　milk；　and　〃frivolous　foods。〃　He　advocated　porridges　and　cold　water；　plain　breads　and　stewed　root　vegetables。　We　would　avoid　all　unnecessary　conversation；　especially　with　those　of　the　other　sex。　He　counseled　us　long　against　any　sort　of　〃sensual〃　longings；　in　which　he　included　desiring　food；　sleep；　or　warmth。　And　he　advised　us　that　he　had　arranged　for　a　separate　table　to　be　set　for　us　in　the　hall；　where　we　might　eat　appropriate　food　and　not　be　distracted　by　idle　talk。　Or　questions。　The　last　phrase　he　added　almost　like　a　threat。
　　　　　　　He　then　put　us　through　a　series　of　exercises。　Close　the　eyes　and　roll　your　eyeballs　up　as　far　as　they　would　go。　Strive　to　roll　them　all　the　way　around　to　look　into　the　back　of　one's　own　skull。　Feel　the　pressure　this　created。　Imagine　what　you　might　see　if　you　could　roll　your　eyes　that　far。　Was　what　you　saw　worthy　and　correct？　Eyes　still　closed；　stand　on　one　leg。　Strive　to　remain　perfectly　still。　Find　a　balance；　not　just　of　body；　but　of　spirit。　Drive　from　the　mind　all　unworthy　thoughts；　and　you　could　remain　like　this　indefinitely。
　　　　　　　As　we　stood；　eyes　always　closed；　going　through　these　various　exercises；　he　moved　among　us。　I　could　track　him　by　the　sound　of　the　riding　crop。　〃Concentrate！〃　he　would　mand　us；　or　〃Try；　at　least　try！〃　I　myself　felt　the　crop　at　least　four　times　that　day。　It　was　a　trifling　thing；　little　more　than　a　tap；　but　it　was　unnerving　to　be　touched　with　a　lash；　even　without　pain。　Then　the　last　time　it　fell；　it　was　high　on　my　shoulder；　and　the　lash　of　it　coiled　against　my　bare　neck　while　the　tip　caught　me　on　the　chin。　I　winced；　but　managed　to　keep　my　eyes　closed　and　my　precarious　balance　on　one　aching　knee。　As　he　walked　away　I　felt　a　slow　drip　of　warm　blood　form　on　my　chin。
　　　　　　　He　kept　us　all　day；　releasing　us　when　the　sun　was　a　half　copper　on　the　horizon　and　the　winds　of　night　were　rising。　Not　once　had　he　excused　us　for　food；　water；　or　any　other　necessity。　He　watched　us　file　past　him；　a　grim　smile　on　his　face；　and　only　when　we　were　through　the　door　did　we　feel　free　to　stagger　and　flee　down　the　staircas