rh.theassassinsapprentice-第7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！


y　was　awake　as　soon　as　I　was；　and　together　we　scraped　and　slithered　out　of　the　den。
　　　　　　　There　was　a　high　night　sky　over　Buckkeep；　with　stars　shining　bright　and　cold。　The　smell　of　the　bay　was　stronger　as　if　the　day　smells　of　men　and　horses　and　cooking　were　temporary　things　that　had　to　surrender　each　night　to　the　ocean's　power。　We　walked　down　deserted　pathways；　through　exercise　yards　and　past　granaries　and　the　winepress。　All　was　still　and　silent。　As　we　drew　closer　to　the　inner　keep　I　saw　torches　still　burning　and　heard　voices　still　raised　in　talk。　But　it　all　seemed　tired　somehow；　the　last　vestiges　of　revelry　winding　down　before　dawn　came　to　lighten　the　skies。　Still；　we　skirted　the　inner　keep　by　a　wide　margin；　having　had　enough　of　people。
　　　　　　　I　found　myself　following　Nosy　back　to　the　stables。　As　we　drew　near　the　heavy　doors　I　wondered　how　we　would　get　in。　But　Nosy's　tail　began　to　wag　wildly　as　we　got　closer；　and　then　even　my　poor　nose　picked　up　Burrich's　scent　in　the　dark。　He　rose　from　the　wooden　crate　he'd　been　seated　on　by　the　door。　〃There　you　are；〃　he　said　soothingly。　〃e　along　then。　e　on。〃　And　he　stood　and　opened　the　heavy　doors　for　us　and　led　us　in。
　　　　　　　We　followed　him　through　darkness；　between　rows　of　stalls；　past　grooms　and　handlers　put　up　for　the　night　in　the　stables；　and　then　past　our　own　horses　and　dogs　and　the　stable　boys　who　slept　amongst　them；　and　then　to　a　staircase　that　climbed　the　wall　that　separated　the　stables　from　the　mews。　We　followed　Burrich　up　its　creaking　wooden　treads；　and　then　he　opened　another　door。　Dim　yellow　light　from　a　guttering　candle　on　a　table　blinded　me　temporarily。　We　followed　Burrich　into　a　slant…roofed　chamber　that　smelled　of　Burrich　and　leather　and　the　oils　and　salves　and　herbs　that　were　part　of　Burrich's　trade。　He　shut　the　door　firmly　behind　us；　and　as　he　came　past　us　to　kindle　a　fresh　candle　from　the　nearly　spent　one　on　the　table；　I　smelled　the　sweetness　of　wine　on　him。
　　　　　　　The　light　spread；　and　Burrich　seated　himself　on　a　wooden　chair　by　the　table。　He　looked　different；　dressed　in　fine　thin　cloth　of　brown　and　yellow；　with　a　bit　of　silver　chain　across　his　jerkin。　He　put　his　hand　out；　palm　up；　on　his　knee　and　Nosy　went　to　him　immediately。　Burrich　scratched　his　hanging　ears　and　then　thumped　his　ribs　affectionately；　grimacing　at　the　dust　that　rose　from　his　coat。　〃You're　a　fine　pair；　the　two　of　you；〃　he　said；　speaking　more　to　the　pup　than　to　me。　〃Look　at　you。　Filthy　as　beggars。　I　lied　to　my　king　today　for　you。　First　time　ever　in　my　life　I've　done　that。　Appears　as　if　Chivalry's　fall　from　grace　will　take　me　down　as　well。　Told　him　you　were　washed　up　and　sound　asleep；　exhausted　from　your　journey。　He　was　not　pleased　he　would　have　to　wait　to　see　you；　but　luckily　for　us；　he　had　weightier　things　to　handle。　Chivalry's　abdication　has　upset　a　lot　of　lords。　Some　are　seeing　it　as　a　chance　to　push　for　an　advantage；　and　others　are　disgruntled　to　be　cheated　of　a　king　they　admired。　Shrewd's　trying　to　calm　them　all。　He's　letting　it　be　noised　about　that　Verity　was　the　one　who　negotiated　with　the　Chyurda　this　time。　Those　as　will　believe　that　shouldn't　be　allowed　to　walk　about　on　their　own。　But　they　came；　to　look　at　Verity　anew；　and　wonder　if　and　when　he'd　be　their　next　king；　and　what　kind　of　a　king　he　would　be。　Chivalry's　dumping　it　over　and　leaving　for　Withywoods　has　stirred　all　the　Duchies　as　if　he'd　poked　a　stick　in　a　hive。〃
　　　　　　　Burrich　lifted　his　eyes　from　Nosy's　eager　face。　〃Well；　Fitz。　Guess　you　got　a　taste　of　it　today。　Fair　scared　poor　Cob　to　death；　your　running　off　like　that。　Now；　are　you　hurt？　Did　anyone　rough　you　up？　I　should　have　known　there　would　be　those　would　blame　all　the　stir　on　you。　e　here；　then。　e　on。〃
　　　　　　　When　I　hesitated；　he　moved　over　to　a　pallet　of　blankets　made　up　near　the　fire　and　patted　it　invitingly。　〃See。　There's　a　place　here　for　you；　all　ready。　And　there's　bread　and　meat　on　the　table　for　both　of　you。〃
　　　　　　　His　words　made　me　aware　of　the　covered　platter　on　the　table。　Flesh；　Nosy's　senses　confirmed；　and　I　was　suddenly　full　of　the　smell　of　the　meat。　Burrich　laughed　at　our　rush　to　the　table　and　silently　approved　how　I　shared　a　portion　out　to　Nosy　before　filling　my　own　jaws。　We　ate　to　repletion；　for　Burrich　had　not　underestimated　how　hungry　a　pup　and　a　boy　would　be　after　the　day's　misadventures。　And　then；　despite　our　long　nap　earlier；　the　blankets　so　close　to　the　fire　were　suddenly　immensely　inviting。　Bellies　full；　we　curled　up　with　the　flames　baking　our　backs　and　slept。
　　　　　　　When　we　awoke　the　next　day；　the　sun　was　well　risen　and　Burrich　already　gone。　Nosy　and　I　ate　the　heel　of　last　night's　loaf　and　gnawed　the　leftover　bones　clean　before　we　descended　from　Burrich's　quarters。　No　one　challenged　us　or　appeared　to　take　any　notice　of　us。
　　　　　　　Outside；　another　day　of　chaos　and　revelry　had　begun。　The　keep　was；　if　anything；　more　swollen　with　people。　Their　passage　stirred　the　dust　and　their　mixing　voices　were　an　overlay　to　the　shushing　of　the　wind　and　the　more　distant　muttering　of　the　waves。　Nosy　drank　it　all　in；　every　scent；　every　sight；　every　sound。　The　doubled　sensory　impact　dizzied　me。　As　I　walked　I　gathered　from　snatches　of　conversation　that　our　arrival　had　coincided　with　some　spring　rite　of　merriment　and　gathering。　Chivalry's　abdication　was　still　the　main　topic；　but　it　did　not　prevent　the　puppet　shows　and　jugglers　from　making　every　corner　a　stage　for　their　antics。　At　least　one　puppet　show　had　already　incorporated　Chivalry's　fall　from　grace　into　its　bawdy　edy；　and　I　stood　anonymous　in　the　crowd　and　puzzled　over　dialogue　about　sowing　the　neighbor's　fields　that　had　the　adults　roaring　with　laughter。
　　　　　　　But　very　soon　the　crowds　and　the　noise　became　oppressive　to　both　of　us；　and　I　let　Nosy　know　I　wished　to　escape　it　all。　We　left　the　keep；　passing　out　of　the　thick…walled　gate　past　guards　intent　upon　flirting　with　the　merrymakers　as　they　came　and　went。　One　more　boy　and　dog　leaving　on　the　heels　of　a　fishmongering　family　were　nothing　to　notice。　And　with　no　better　distraction　in　sight；　we　followed　the　family　as　they　wound　their　way　down　the　streets　away　from　the　keep　and　toward　the　town　of　Buckkeep。　We　dropped　farther　and　farther　behind　them　as　new　scents　demanded　that　Nosy　investigate　and　then　urinate　at　every　corner；　until　it　was　just　he　and　I　wandering　in　the　city。
　　　　　　　Buckkeep　then　was　a　windy；　raw　place。　The　streets　were　steep　and　crooked；　with　paving　stones　that　rocked　and　shifted　out　of　place　under　the　weight　of　passing　carts。　The　wind　blasted　my　inland　nostrils　with　the　scent　of　beached　kelp　and　fish　guts；　while　the　keening　of　the　gulls　and　seabirds　was　an　eerie　melody　above　the　rhythmic　shushing　of　the　waves。　The　town　clings　to　the　rocky　black　cliffs　much　like　limpets　and　barnacles　cling　to　the　pilings　and　quays　that　venture　out　into　the　bay。　The　houses　were　of　stone　and　wood；　with　the　more　elaborate　wooden　ones　built　higher　up　the　rocky　face　and　cut　more　deeply　into　it。
　　　　　　　Buckkeep　Town　was　relatively　quiet　pared　with　the　festivity　and　crowds　up　in　the　keep。　Neither　of　us　had　the　sense　or　experience　to　know　the　waterfront　town　was　not　the　best　place　for　a　six…year…old　and　a　puppy　to　wander。　Nosy　and　I　explored　eagerly；　sniffing　our　way　down　Bakers'　Street　and　through　a　near…deserted　market　and　then　along　the　warehouses　and　boat　sheds　that　were　the　lowest　level　of　the　town。　Here　the　water　was　close；　and　we　walked　on　wooden　piers　as　often　as　we　did　sand　and　stone。　Business　here　was　going　on　as　usual　with　little　allowance　for　the　carnival　atmosphere　up　in　the　keep。　Ships　must　dock　and　unload　as　the　rising　and　falling　of　the　tides　allow；　and　those　who　fish　for　a　living　must　follow　the　schedules　of　the　finned　creatures；　not　those　of　men。
　　　　　　　We　soon　encountered　children；　some　busy　at　the　lesser　tasks　of　their　parents'　crafts；　but　some　idlers　like　ourselves。　I　fell　in　easily　with　them；　with　little　need　for　introductions　or　any　of　the　adult　pleasantries。　Most　of　them　were　older　than　I；　but　several　were　as　young　or　younger。　None　of　them　seemed　to　think　it　odd　I　should　be　out　and　about　on　my　own。　I　was　introduced　to　all　the　important　sights　of　the　city；　including　the　swollen　body　of　a　cow　that　had　washed　up　at　the　last　tide。　We　visited　a　new　fishing　boat　under　con