rh.theassassinsapprentice-第6部分

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end　their　charges　from　any　criticisms。　I　trotted　at　his　heels　for　as　long　as　I　could　keep　up。　It　was　only　when　I　finally　surrendered；　and　sank　wearily　onto　a　pile　of　straw；　that　he　appeared　to　notice　me。　A　look　of　irritation；　and　then　great　weariness；　passed　across　his　face。
　　　　　　　〃Here；　you；　Cob。　Take　young　Fitz　there　to　the　kitchens　and　see　that　he's　fed；　and　then　bring　him　back　up　to　my　quarters。〃
　　　　　　　Cob　was　a　short；　dark　dog　boy；　perhaps　ten　years　old；　who　had　just　been　praised　over　the　health　of　a　litter　that　had　been　whelped　in　Burrich's　absence。　Moments　before　he　had　been　basking　in　Burrich's　approval。　Now　his　grin　faltered；　and　he　looked　at　me　dubiously。　We　regarded　one　another　as　Burrich　moved　off　down　the　line　of　stalls　with　his　entourage　of　nervous　caretakers。　Then　the　boy　shrugged　and　went　into　a　half　crouch　to　face　me。　〃Are　you　hungry；　then；　Fitz？　Shall　we　go　find　you　a　bite？〃　he　asked　invitingly；　in　exactly　the　same　tone　as　he　had　used　to　coax　his　puppies　out　where　Burrich　could　see　them。　I　nodded；　relieved　that　he　expected　no　more　from　me　than　from　a　puppy；　and　followed　him。
　　　　　　　He　looked　back　often　to　see　if　I　was　keeping　up。　No　sooner　were　we　outside　the　stables　than　Nosy　came　frolicking　up　to　join　me。　The　hound's　evident　affection　for　me　raised　me　in　Cob's　estimation；　and　he　continued　to　speak　to　both　of　us　in　short　encouraging　phrases；　telling　us　there　was　food　just　ahead；　e　along　now；　no；　don't　go　off　sniffing　after　that　cat；　e　along　now；　there's　some　good　fellows。
　　　　　　　The　stables　had　been　bustling；　with　Verity's　men　putting　up　their　horses　and　gear　and　Burrich　finding　fault　with　all　that　had　not　been　done　up　to　his　standards　in　his　absence。　But　as　we　drew　closer　to　the　inner　keep；　the　foot　traffic　increased。　Folk　brushed　by　us　on　all　manner　of　errands：　a　boy　carrying　an　immense　slab　of　bacon　on　his　shoulder；　a　giggling　cluster　of　girls；　arms　heavy　with　strewing　reeds　and　heather；　a　scowling　old　man　with　a　basket　of　flopping　fish；　and　three　young　women　in　motley　and　bells；　their　voices　ringing　as　merrily　as　their　chimes。
　　　　　　　My　nose　informed　me　that　we　were　getting　closer　to　the　kitchens；　but　the　traffic　increased　proportionately；　until　we　drew　near　a　door　with　a　veritable　crush　of　people　going　in　and　out。　Cob　stopped；　and　Nosy　and　I　paused　behind　him；　noses　working　appreciatively。　He　regarded　the　press　of　folk　at　the　door　and　frowned　to　himself。　〃Place　is　packed。　Everyone's　getting　ready　for　the　weling　feast　tonight；　for　Verity　and　Regal。　Anyone　who's　anyone　has　e　into　Buckkeep　for　it；　word　spread　fast　about　Chivalry　ducking　out　on　the　kingship。　All　the　Dukes　have　e　or　sent　a　man　to　counsel　about　it。　I　hear　even　the　Chyurda　sent　someone；　to　be　sure　Chivalry's　treaties　will　be　honored　if　Chivalry　is　no　longer　about…〃
　　　　　　　He　halted；　suddenly　embarrassed；　but　whether　it　was　because　he　was　speaking　of　my　father　to　the　cause　of　his　abdication；　or　because　he　was　addressing　a　puppy　and　a　six…year…old　as　if　they　had　intelligence；　I　am　not　sure。　He　glanced　about；　reassessing　the　situation。　〃Wait　here；〃　he　told　us　finally。　〃I'll　slip　in　and　bring　something　out　for　you。　Less　chance　of　me　getting　stepped　on　。。。　or　caught。　Now　stay。〃　And　he　reinforced　his　mand　with　a　firm　gesture　of　his　hand。　I　backed　up　to　a　wall　and　crouched　down　there；　out　of　traffic's　way；　and　Nosy　sat　obediently　beside　me。　I　watched　admiringly　as　Cob　approached　the　door　and　slipped　between　the　clustered　folk；　eeling　smoothly　into　the　kitchens。
　　　　　　　With　Cob　out　of　sight；　the　more　general　populace　claimed　my　attention。　Largely　the　folk　that　passed　us　were　serving　people　and　cooks；　with　a　scattering　of　minstrels　and　merchants　and　delivery　folk。　I　watched　them　e　and　go　with　a　weary　curiosity。　I　had　already　seen　too　much　that　day　to　find　them　of　great　interest。　Almost　more　than　food　I　desired　a　quiet　place　away　from　all　this　activity。　I　sat　flat　on　the　ground；　my　back　against　the　sun…warmed　wall　of　the　keep；　and　put　my　forehead　on　my　knees。　Nosy　leaned　against　me。
　　　　　　　Nosy's　stick　tail　beating　against　the　earth　roused　me。　I　lifted　my　face　from　my　knees　to　perceive　a　tall　pair　of　brown　boots　before　me。　My　eyes　traveled　up　rough　leather　pants　and　over　a　coarse　wool　shirt　to　a　shaggy　bearded　face　thatched　with　pepper…gray　hair。　The　man　staring　down　at　me　balanced　a　small　keg　on　one　shoulder。
　　　　　　　〃You　the　bastid；　hey？〃
　　　　　　　I　had　heard　the　word　often　enough　to　know　it　meant　me；　without　grasping　the　fullness　of　its　meaning。　I　nodded　slowly。　The　man's　face　brightened　with　interest。
　　　　　　　〃Hey；〃　he　said　loudly；　no　longer　speaking　to　me　but　to　the　folk　ing　and　going。　〃Here's　the　bastid。　Stiff…as…a…stick　Chivalry's　by　blow。　Looks　a　fair　bit　like　him；　don't　you　say？　Who's　your　mother；　boy？〃
　　　　　　　To　their　credit；　most　of　the　passing　people　continued　to　e　and　go；　with　no　more　than　a　curious　stare　at　the　six…year…old　sitting　by　the　wall。　But　the　cask　man's　question　was　evidently　of　great　interest；　for　more　than　a　few　heads　turned；　and　several　tradesmen　who　had　just　exited　from　the　kitchen　drew　nearer　to　hear　the　answer。
　　　　　　　But　I　did　not　have　an　answer。　Mother　had　been　Mother；　and　whatever　I　had　known　of　her　was　already　fading。　So　I　made　no　reply；　but　only　stared　up　at　him。
　　　　　　　〃Hey。　What's　your　name　then；　boy？〃　And　turning　to　his　audience；　he　confided；　〃I　heard　he　ain't　got　no　name。　No　highflown　royal　name　to　shape　him；　nor　even　a　cottage　name　to　scold　him　by。　That　right；　boy？　You　got　a　name？〃
　　　　　　　The　group　of　onlookers　was　growing。　A　few　showed　pity　in　their　eyes；　but　none　interfered。　Some　of　what　I　was　feeling　passed　to　Nosy；　who　dropped　over　onto　his　side　and　showed　his　belly　in　supplication　while　thumping　his　tail　in　that　ancient　canine　signal　that　always　means；　〃I'm　only　a　puppy。　I　cannot　defend　myself。　Have　mercy。〃　Had　they　been　dogs；　they　would　have　sniffed　me　over　and　then　drawn　back。　But　humans　have　no　such　inbred　courtesies。　So　when　I　didn't　answer；　the　man　drew　a　step　nearer　and　repeated；　〃You　got　a　name；　boy？〃
　　　　　　　I　stood　slowly；　and　the　wall　that　had　been　warm　against　my　back　a　moment　ago　was　now　a　chill　barrier　to　retreat。　At　my　feet；　Nosy　squirmed　in　the　dust　on　his　back　and　let　out　a　pleading　whine。　〃No；〃　I　said　softly；　and　when　the　man　made　as　if　to　lean　closer　to　hear　my　words；　〃NO！〃　I　shouted；　and　repelled　at　him；　while　crabbing　sideways　along　the　wall。　I　saw　him　stagger　a　step　backward；　losing　his　grip　on　his　cask；　so　that　it　fell　to　the　cobbled　path　and　cracked　open。　No　one　in　the　crowd　could　have　understood　what　had　happened。　I　certainly　didn't。　For　the　most　part；　folk　laughed　to　see　a　grown　man　cower　back　from　a　child。　In　that　moment　my　reputation　for　both　temper　and　spirit　was　made；　for　before　nightfall　the　tale　of　the　bastard　standing　up　to　his　tormentor　was　all　over　the　town。　Nosy　scrabbled　to　his　feet　and　fled　with　me。　I　had　one　glimpse　of　Cob's　face；　taut　with　confusion　as　he　emerged　from　the　kitchen；　pies　in　hands；　and　saw　Nosy　and　I　flee。　Had　he　been　Burrich；　I　probably　would　have　halted　and　trusted　my　safety　to　him。　But　he　was　not；　and　so　I　ran；　letting　Nosy　take　the　lead。
　　　　　　　We　fled　through　the　trooping　servants；　just　one　more　small　boy　and　his　dog　racing　about　in　the　courtyard；　and　Nosy　took　me　to　what　he　obviously　regarded　as　the　safest　place　in　the　world。　Far　from　the　kitchen　and　the　inner　keep　was　a　hollow　Vixen　had　scraped　out　under　a　corner　of　a　rickety　outbuilding　where　sacks　of　peas　and　beans　were　stored。　Here　Nosy　had　been　whelped；　in　total　defiance　of　Burrich；　and　here　she　had　managed　to　keep　her　pups　hidden　for　almost　three　days。　Burrich　himself　had　found　her　there。　His　smell　was　the　first　human　smell　Nosy　could　recall。　It　was　a　tight　squeeze　to　get　under　the　building；　but　once　within；　the　den　was　warm　and　dry　and　semidark。　Nosy　huddled　close　to　me　and　I　put　my　arm　around　him。　Hidden　there；　our　hearts　soon　eased　down　from　their　wild　thumpings；　and　from　calmness　we　passed　into　the　deep　dreamless　sleep　reserved　for　warm　spring　afternoons　and　puppies。
　　　　　　　I　came　awake　shivering；　hours　later。　It　was　full　dark　and　the　tenuous　warmth　of　the　early…spring　day　had　fled。　Nosy　was　awake　as　soon　as　I　was；　and　together　we　scraped　and　slithered　out　of　the　den。
　　　　　　　There　wa