rh.theassassinsapprentice-第93部分

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　　　　　　　And　they　left　me；　to　lie　back　on　my　bed　and　wonder。　What　manner　of　folk　were　these　that　I　dealt　with？　Could　I　believe　their　open　honesty；　or　was　it　a　magnificent　sham　for　Eda　knew　what　ends？　I　wished　Chade　were　here。　More　and　more；　I　felt　nothing　was　as　it　seemed。　I　dared　not　doze；　for　I　knew　if　I　fell　asleep；　nothing　would　wake　me　before　nightfall。　Servants　came　soon　with　pitchers　of　warm　water　and　cool；　and　fruit　and　cheese　on　a　platter。　Reminding　myself　that　these　〃servants〃　might　be　better　born　than　myself；　I　treated　them　all　with　great　courtesy　and　later　wondered　if　that　might　not　be　the　secret　of　the　harmonious　household；　that　all　servants　or　royalty；　be　treated　with　the　same　courtesy。
　　　　　　　It　was　a　day　of　great　festivity。　The　entries　to　the　palace　had　been　thrown　wide…open；　and　folk　had　e　from　every　vale　and　dell　of　the　Mountain　Kingdom　to　witness　this　pledging。　Poets　and　minstrels　performed；　and　more　gifts　were　exchanged；　including　my　formal　presentation　of　the　herbals　and　herb　starts。　The　breeding　stock　that　had　been　sent　from　the　Six　Duchies　was　displayed　and　then　gifted　forth　again　to　those　most　in　need　of　it；　or　most　likely　to　be　successful　with　it。　A　single　ram　or　bull；　with　a　female　or　two；　might　be　sent　out　as　a　mon　gift　to　the　whole　village。　All　of　the　gifts；　whether　fowl　or　beast　or　grain　or　metal；　were　brought　within　the　palace　so　that　all　might　admire　them。
　　　　　　　Burrich　was　there；　the　first　time　I　had　glimpsed　him　in　days。　He　must　have　been　up　before　dawn；　to　have　his　charges　so　glossy。　Every　hoof　was　freshly　oiled；　every　mane　and　tail　plaited　with　bright　ribbons　and　bells。　The　mare　to　be　given　to　Kettricken　was　saddled　and　bridled　in　harness　of　finest　leather；　and　her　mane　and　tail　hung　with　so　many　tiny　silver　bells　that　each　swish　of　her　tail　was　a　chorus　of　tinkling。　Our　horses　were　different　creatures　from　the　small　and　shaggy　stock　of　the　mountain　folk；　and　attracted　quite　a　crowd。　Burrich　looked　weary；　yet　proud；　and　his　horses　stood　calmly　amidst　the　clamor。　Kettricken　spent　a　deal　of　time　admiring　her　mare；　and　I　saw　her　courtesy　and　deference　thawing　Burrich's　reserve。　When　I　drew　closer；　I　was　surprised　to　hear　him　speaking　in　hesitant　but　clear　Chyurda。
　　　　　　　But　a　greater　surprise　was　in　store　for　me　that　afternoon。　Food　had　been　set　out　on　long　tables；　and　all；　palace　residents　and　visitors；　dined　freely。　Much　had　e　from　the　kitchens　of　the　palace；　but　much　more　from　the　mountain　folk　themselves。　They　came　forward；　without　hesitation；　to　set　out　wheels　of　cheese；　and　loaves　of　dark　bread；　and　dried　or　smoked　meats；　or　pickles　or　bowls　of　fruit。　It　would　have　been　tempting；　had　not　my　stomach　still　been　so　touchy。　But　the　way　the　food　was　given　was　what　impressed　me。　It　was　unquestioning；　this　giving　and　taking　between　the　royalty　and　their　subjects。　I　noted；　too；　there　were　no　sentries　or　guards　of　any　kind　upon　the　doors。　And　all　mingled　and　talked　as　they　ate。
　　　　　　　At　noon　precisely　a　silence　fell　over　the　crowd。　The　Princess　Kettricken　alone　ascended　the　central　dais。　In　simple　language；　she　announced　to　all　that　she　now　belonged　to　the　Six　Duchies　and　hoped　to　serve　that　land　well。　She　thanked　her　land　for　all　it　had　ever　done　for　her；　for　the　food　it　had　grown　to　feed　her；　the　waters　of　its　snows　and　rivers；　the　air　of　the　mountain　breezes。　She　reminded　all　that　she　did　not　change　her　allegiance　due　to　any　lack　of　love　for　her　land；　but　rather　in　the　hopes　of　it　benefiting　both　the　lands。　All　kept　silent　as　she　spoke；　and　as　she　descended　from　the　dais。　And　then　the　merriment　resumed。
　　　　　　　Rurisk　came；　seeking　me　out；　to　see　how　I　did。　I　did　my　best　to　assure　him　I　was　fully　recovered；　though　in　truth　I　longed　to　be　sleeping。　The　clothing　Mistress　Hasty　had　decreed　for　me　was　of　the　latest　court　fashion　and　featured　highly　inconvenient　sleeves　and　tassels　that　fell　into　anything　I　tried　to　do　or　eat；　and　an　unfortably　snug　waist。　I　longed　to　be　out　of　the　press　of　people；　where　I　could　loosen　some　laces　and　get　rid　of　the　collar；　but　knew　that　if　I　left　now；　Chade　would　frown　when　I　reported　to　him　and　demand　that　I　somehow　know　all　that　had　happened　while　I　was　absent。　Rurisk；　I　think；　sensed　my　need　for　a　bit　of　quiet；　for　he　suddenly　proposed　a　stroll　out　to　his　kennels。　〃Let　me　show　you　what　the　addition　of　some　Six　Duchies　blood　a　few　years　back　did　for　my　dogs；〃　he　offered。
　　　　　　　We　left　the　palace　and　walked　down　a　short　way　to　a　long；　low　wooden　building。　The　clean　air　cleared　my　head　and　lifted　my　spirits。　Inside；　he　showed　me　a　pen　where　a　bitch　presided　over　a　litter　of　red　pups。　They　were　healthy　little　creatures；　glossy　of　coat；　nipping　and　tumbling　about　in　the　straw。　They　came　readily；　totally　unafraid　of　us。　〃These　are　of　Buckkeep　lineage；　and　will　hold　to　a　scent　even　in　a　downpour；〃　he　told　me　proudly。　He　showed　me　other　breeds　as　well；　including　a　tiny　dog　with　wiry　legs；　which；　he　claimed；　would　clamber　right　up　a　tree　after　game。
　　　　　　　We　emerged　from　his　kennels　and　out　into　the　sun；　where　an　older　dog　slept　lazily　on　a　pile　of　straw。　〃Sleep　on；　old　man。　You've　fathered　enough　pups　that　you　never　need　hunt　again；　except　you　love　it　so；〃　Rurisk　told　him　genially。　At　his　master's　voice；　the　old　hound　heaved　himself　to　his　feet　and　came　to　lean　affectionately　on　Rurisk。　He　looked　up　at　me；　and　it　was　Nosy。
　　　　　　　I　stared　at　him；　and　his　copper…ore　eyes　returned　the　look。　I　quested　softly　toward　him；　and　for　a　moment　received　only　puzzlement。　And　then　a　flood　of　warmth；　of　affection　shared　and　remembered。　There　was　no　doubt　that　he　was　Rurisk's　hound　now；　the　intensity　of　the　bond　that　had　been　between　us　was　gone。　But　he　offered　me　back　great　fondness　and　warm　memories　of　when　we　were　puppies　together。　I　went　down　on　one　knee；　and　stroked　the　red　coat　gone　all　bristly　with　the　years；　and　looked　into　the　eyes　that　were　beginning　to　show　the　clouding　of　age。　For　an　instant；　with　the　physical　touch；　the　bond　was　as　it　had　been。　I　knew　he　was　enjoying　dozing　in　the　sun；　but　could　be　persuaded　to　go　hunt　with　very　little　trouble。　Especially　if　Rurisk　came　along。　I　patted　his　back　and　drew　away　from　him。　I　looked　up　to　find　Rurisk　regarding　me　strangely。　〃I　knew　him　when　he　was　just　a　puppy；〃　I　told　him。
　　　　　　　〃Burrich　sent　him　to　me；　in　care　of　a　wandering　scribe；　these　many　years　ago；〃　Rurisk　told　me。　〃He　has　brought　me　great　pleasure；　in　pany　and　in　hunting。〃
　　　　　　　〃You　have　done　well　by　him；〃　I　said。　We　left　and　strolled　back　to　the　palace；　but　as　soon　as　Rurisk　left　my　side；　I　went　straight　to　Burrich。　As　I　came　up　he　had　just　received　permission　to　take　the　horses　outside　and　into　the　open　air；　for　even　the　calmest　beast　will　grow　restive　in　close　quarters　with　many　strangers。　I　could　see　his　dilemma；　while　he　was　taking　horses　out　he　would　be　leaving　the　others　untended。　He　looked　up　warily　as　I　approached。
　　　　　　　〃With　your　leave；　I　will　help　you　move　them；〃　I　offered。
　　　　　　　Burrich's　face　remained　impassive　and　polite。　But　before　he　could　open　his　mouth　to　speak；　a　voice　behind　me　said；　〃I　am　here　to　do　that；　master。　You　might　soil　your　sleeves；　or　overly　weary　yourself　working　with　beasts。〃　I　turned　slowly；　baffled　by　the　venom　in　Cob's　voice。　I　glanced　from　him　to　Burrich；　but　Burrich　did　not　speak：　I　looked　squarely　at　Burrich。
　　　　　　　〃Then　I　will　walk　alongside　you；　if　I　may；　for　I　have　something　important　we　must　speak　of。〃　My　words　were　deliberately　formal。　For　a　moment　longer　Burrich　gazed　at　me。　〃Bring　the　Princess's　mare；〃　he　said　at　last；　〃and　that　bay　filly。　I　will　take　the　grays。　Cob；　mind　the　rest　for　me。　I　shan't　be　long。〃
　　　　　　　And　so　I　took　the　mare's　head　and　the　filly's　lead　rope　and　followed　Burrich　as　he　edged　the　horses　through　the　crowd　and　out　of　doors。　〃There　is　a　paddock；　this　way；〃　he　said；　and　no　more。　We　walked　for　a　bit　in　silence。　The　crowd　thinned　rapidly　once　we　were　away　from　the　palace。　The　horses'　hooves　thudded　pleasantly　against　the　earth。　We　came　to　the　paddock；　which　fronted　on　a　small　barn　with　a　tack　room。　For　a　moment　or　two　it　almost　seemed　normal　to　be　working　alongside　Burrich　again。　I　unsaddled　the　mare　and　wiped　the　nervous　sweat　from　her　while　he　shook　out　grain　into　a　grain　box　for　them。　He