rh.theassassinsapprentice-第66部分

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y　were　active　practitioners　of　the　Skill。　Shrewd　made　an　effort　to　locate　and　recruit　former　practitioners；　but　most　were　aged；　or　no　longer　proficient。
　　　　　　　Galen；　then　Skillmaster　for　Shrewd；　was　assigned　the　task　of　creating　new　coteries　for　the　defense　of　the　kingdom。　Galen　chose　to　set　aside　tradition。　Coterie　memberships　were　assigned　rather　than　mutually　chosen。　Galen's　methods　of　teaching　were　harsh；　his　training　goal　that　each　member　would　be　an　unquestioning　part　of　a　unit；　a　tool　for　the　King　to　use　as　he　needed。　This　particular　aspect　was　designed　solely　by　Galen；　and　the　first　Skill　coterie　he　created；　he　presented　to　King　Shrewd　as　if　it　were　his　gift　to　give。　At　least　one　member　of　the　royal　family　expressed　his　abhorrence　of　the　idea。　But　times　were　desperate；　and　King　Shrewd　could　not　resist　wielding　the　weapon　that　had　been　given　into　his　hand。
　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　Such　hate。　Oh；　how　they　hated　me。　As　each　student　emerged　from　the　stairwell　onto　the　tower　roof　to　find　me　there　and　waiting；　each　spurned　me。　I　felt　their　disdain；　as　palpably　as　if　each　had　dashed　cold　water　against　me。　By　the　time　the　seventh　and　final　student　appeared；　the　cold　of　their　hatred　was　like　a　wall　around　me。　But　I　stood；　silent　and　contained；　in　my　accustomed　place；　and　met　every　eye　that　was　lifted　to　mine。　That；　I　think；　was　why　no　one　spoke　a　word　to　me。　They　were　forced　to　take　their　places　around　me。　They　did　not　speak　to　each　other；　either。
　　　　　　　And　we　waited。
　　　　　　　The　sun　came　up；　and　even　cleared　the　wall　around　the　tower；　and　still　Galen　had　not　e。　But　they　kept　their　places　and　waited　and　so　I　did　likewise。
　　　　　　　Finally　I　heard　his　halting　steps　upon　the　stairs。　When　he　emerged；　he　blinked　in　the　sun's　pale　wash；　glanced　at　me；　and　visibly　started。　I　stood　my　ground。　We　looked　at　one　another。　He　could　see　the　burden　of　hatred　that　the　others　had　imposed　on　me　and　it　pleased　him；　as　did　the　bandages　I　still　wore　on　my　temple。　But　I　met　his　eyes　and　did　not　flinch。　I　dared　not。
　　　　　　　And　I　became　aware　of　the　dismay　the　others　were　feeling。　No　one　could　look　at　him　and　not　see　how　badly　he　had　been　beaten。　The　Witness　Stones　had　found　him　lacking；　and　all　who　saw　him　would　know。　His　gaunt　face　was　a　landscape　of　purples　and　greens　washed　over　with　yellows。　His　lower　lip　was　split　in　the　middle　and　cut　at　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　He　wore　a　long…sleeved　robe　that　covered　his　arms；　but　the　flowing　looseness　of　it　contrasted　so　strongly　with　his　usual　tightly　laced　shirts　and　vests　that　it　was　like　seeing　the　man　in　his　nightshirt。　His　hands；　too；　were　purple　and　knobby；　but　I　could　not　recall　that　I　had　seen　bruises　on　Burrich's　body。　I　concluded　that　he　had　used　them　in　a　vain　attempt　to　shield　his　face。　He　still　carried　his　little　whip　with　him；　but　I　doubted　he　had　the　capability　to　swing　it　effectively。
　　　　　　　And　so　we　inspected　one　another。　I　took　no　satisfaction　in　his　bruises　or　his　disgrace。　I　felt　something　akin　to　shame　for　them。　I　had　believed　so　strongly　in　his　invulnerability　and　superiority　that　this　evidence　of　his　mere　humanity　left　me　feeling　foolish。　That　unbalanced　his　posure。　Twice　he　opened　his　mouth　to　speak　to　me。　The　third　time；　he　turned　his　back　on　the　class　and　said；　〃Begin　your　physical　limbering。　I　will　observe　you　to　see　if　you　are　moving　correctly。〃
　　　　　　　The　ends　of　his　words　were　soft；　spoken　through　a　painful　mouth。　And　as　we　dutifully　stretched　and　swayed　and　bowed　in　unison；　he　crabbed　awkwardly　about　the　tower　garden。　He　tried　not　to　lean　on　the　wall；　or　to　rest　too　often。　Gone　was　the　slap；　slap；　slap　of　the　whip　against　his　thigh　that　had　formerly　orchestrated　our　efforts。　Instead；　he　gripped　it　as　if　afraid　he　might　drop　it。　For　my　part；　I　was　grateful　that　Burrich　had　made　me　get　up　and　move。　My　bound　ribs　didn't　permit　me　the　full　flexibility　of　motion　that　Galen　had　formerly　manded　from　us。　But　I　made　an　honest　attempt　at　it。
　　　　　　　He　offered　us　nothing　new　that　day；　only　going　over　what　we　had　already　learned。　And　the　lessons　came　to　an　early　end；　before　the　sun　was　even　down。　〃You　have　done　well；〃　he　said　lamely。　〃You　have　earned　these　free　hours；　for　I　am　pleased　you　have　continued　to　study　in　my　absence。〃　Before　dismissing　us；　he　called　each　of　us　before　him；　for　a　brief　touch　of　the　Skill。　The　others　left　reluctantly；　with　many　a　backward　glance；　curious　as　to　how　he　would　dial　with　me。　As　the　numbers　of　my　fellow　students　dwindled　I　braced　myself　for　a　solitary　confrontation。
　　　　　　　But　even　that　was　a　disappointment。　He　called　me　before　him；　and　I　came；　as　silent　and　outwardly　respectful　as　the　others。　I　stood　before　him　as　they　had；　and　he　made　a　few　brief　passes　of　his　hands　before　my　face　and　over　my　head。　Then　he　said　in　a　cold　voice；　〃You　shield　too　well。　You　must　learn　to　relax　your　guard　over　your　thoughts　if　you　are　either　to　send　them　forth；　or　receive　those　of　others。　Go。〃
　　　　　　　And　I　left；　as　the　others　had；　but　regretfully。　Privately　I　wondered　if　he　had　made　a　real　attempt　to　use　the　Skill　on　me。　I　had　felt　no　brush　of　it。　I　descended　the　stairs；　aching　and　bitter；　wondering　why　I　was　trying。
　　　　　　　I　went　to　my　room；　and　then　to　the　stables。　I　gave　Sooty　a　cursory　brushing　while　Smithy　watched。　Still　I　felt　restless　and　dissatisfied。　I　knew　I　should　rest；　that　I　would　regret　it　if　I　did　not。　Stone　walk？　Smithy　suggested；　and　I　agreed　to　take　him　into　town。　He　galloped　and　snuffled　circles　around　me　as　I　made　my　way　down　from　the　keep。　It　was　a　blustery　afternoon　after　a　calm　morning；　a　storm　was　building　offshore。　But　the　wind　was　unseasonably　warm；　and　I　felt　the　fresh　air　clearing　my　head；　and　the　steady　rhythm　of　walking　soothed　and　stretched　the　muscles　that　Galen's　exercises　had　left　bunched　and　aching。　Smithy's　sensory　prattle　grounded　me　firmly　in　the　immediate　world；　so　that　I　could　not　dwell　on　my　frustrations。
　　　　　　　I　told　myself　it　was　Smithy　who　led　us　so　directly　to　Molly's　shop。　Puppy　like；　he　had　returned　to　where　he　had　been　weled　before。　Molly's　father　had　kept　his　bed　that　day；　and　the　shop　was　fairly　quiet。　A　single　customer　lingered；　talking　to　Molly。　Molly　introduced　him　to　me　as　Jade。　He　was　a　mate　off　some　Sealbay　trading　vessel；　not　quite　twenty；　and　he　spoke　to　me　as　if　I　were　ten；　smiling　past　me　at　Molly　all　the　while。　He　was　full　of　tales　of　Red…Ships　and　sea　storms。　He　had　a　red　stone　earring　in　one　ear；　and　a　new　beard　curled　along　his　jaw。　He　took　far　too　long　to　select　candles　and　a　new　brass　lamp；　but　he　finally　left。
　　　　　　　〃Close　the　store　for　a　bit；〃　I　urged　Molly。　〃Let's　go　down　to　the　beach。　The　wind　is　lovely　today。〃
　　　　　　　She　shook　her　head　regretfully。　〃I'm　behind　in　my　work。　I　should　dip　tapers　all　this　afternoon　if　I　have　no　customers。　And　if　I　do　have　customers；　I　should　be　here。〃
　　　　　　　I　felt　unreasonably　disappointed。　I　quested　toward　her　and　discovered　how　much　she　actually　wished　to　go。　〃There's　not　that　much　daylight　left；〃　I　said　persuasively。　〃You　can　always　dip　tapers　this　evening。　And　your　customers　will　e　back　tomorrow　if　they　find　you　closed　today。〃
　　　　　　　She　cocked　her　head；　looked　thoughtful；　and　abruptly　set　aside　the　wicking　she　held。　〃You're　right；　you　know。　The　fresh　air　will　do　me　good。〃　And　she　took　up　her　cloak　with　an　alacrity　that　delighted　Smithy　and　surprised　me。　We　closed　up　the　shop　and　left。
　　　　　　　Molly　set　her　usual　brisk　pace。　Smithy　frolicked　about　her；　delighted。　We　talked；　in　a　cursory　way。　The　wind　put　roses　in　her　cheeks；　and　her　eyes　seemed　brighter　in　the　cold。　And　I　thought　she　looked　at　me　more　often；　and　more　pensively　than　she　usually　did。
　　　　　　　The　town　was　quiet；　and　the　market　all　but　deserted。　We　went　to　the　beach　and　walked　sedately　where　we　had　raced　and　shrieked　but　a　few　years　before。　She　asked　me　if　I　had　learned　to　light　a　lantern　before　going　down　steps　at　night；　and　that　mystified　me；　until　I　remembered　that　I　had　explained　my　injuries　as　a　fall　down　a　dark　staircase。　She　asked　me　if　the　schoolteacher　and　the　horsemaster　were　still　at　odds；　and　by　this　I　discerned　that　Burrich　and　Galen's　challenge　at　the　Witness　Stones　had　bee　something　of　a　local　legend　already。　I　assured　her　that　peace　had　been　restored。　We　spent　some　little　time　gathering