rh.royalassassin-第13部分

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nd　here。　It　seemed　as　bare　and　colorless　as　a　cell。　But　it　was　still　warmer　than　a　tent　in　the　snow；　and　the　feather　bed　was　as　soft　and　deep　as　I　remembered　it。　I　shed　my　travel…stained　garments　as　I　walked　toward　it。　I　fell　into　it　and　sleep。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　THREE
　　　　　　　Renewing　Ties
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　THE　OLDEST　REFERENCE　to　the　Elderlings　in　the　Buckkeep　library　is　a　battered　scroll。　Vague　discolorations　upon　the　vellum　suggest　that　it　came　from　a　parti…colored　beast；　one　mottled　in　a　way　unfamiliar　to　any　of　our　hunters。　The　lettering　ink　is　one　derived　from　squid　ink　and　bell　root。　It　has　stood　the　test　of　time　well；　much　better　than　the　colored　inks　that　originally　supplied　illustrations　and　illuminations　for　the　text。　These　have　not　only　faded　and　bled；　but　in　many　places　have　drawn　the　attentions　of　some　mite　that　has　gnawed　and　stiffened　the　once…supple　parchment；　making　parts　of　the　scroll　too　brittle　to　unroll。
　　　　　　　Unfortunately；　the　damage　was　concentrated　most　at　the　innermost　parts　of　the　scroll；　which　deal　with　portions　of　King　Wisdom's　quest　that　were　not　recorded　elsewhere。　From　these　fragmented　remains；　one　can　glean　that　sore　need　drove　him　to　seek　the　homeland　of　the　Elderlings。　His　troubles　are　familiar　ones；　ships　raided　his　coastline　mercilessly。　Tatters　hint　that　he　rode　off　toward　the　Mountain　Kingdom。　We　don't　know　why　he　suspected　that　way　would　lead　him　to　the　home　of　the　mythical　Elderlings。　Unfortunately　the　final　stages　of　his　journey　and　his　encounter　with　the　Elderlings　seem　to　have　been　richly　illustrated；　for　here　the　parchment　is　reduced　to　a　lacy　web　of　tantalizing　word　bits　and　body　parts。　We　do　not　know　anything　of　this　first　encounter。　Nor　have　we　even　an　inkling　as　to　how　he　induced　the　Elderlings　to　bee　his　allies。　Many　songs；　rich　in　metaphor；　tell　how　the　Elderlings　descended；　like　〃storms；　〃　like　〃tidal　waves；　〃　like　〃vengeance　gone　gold；　〃　and　〃wrath　embodied　in　flesh　of　stone〃　to　drive　the　Raiders　away　from　our　shores。　Legends　also　tell　that　they　swore　to　Wisdom　that　if　ever　the　Six　Duchies　had　need　of　their　aid；　they　would　rise　again　to　our　defense。　One　may　conjecture；　many　have；　and　the　variety　of　legends　that　surround　this　alliance　are　proof　of　that。　But　King　Wisdom's　scribe's　recounting　of　the　event　has　been　lost　to　mildew　and　worms　forever。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　My　chamber　had　a　single　tall　window　that　looked　out　over　the　sea。　In　winter　a　wooden　shutter　closed　out　the　storm　winds；　and　a　tapestry　hung　over　that　gave　my　room　an　illusion　of　cozy　warmth。　So　I　awakened　to　darkness；　and　for　a　time　lay　quietly　finding　myself。　Gradually　the　subtle　sounds　of　the　Keep　filtered　in　to　me。　Morning　sounds。　Very　early　morning　sounds。　Home；　I　realized。　Buckkeep。　And　in　the　next　instant；　〃Molly；〃　I　said　aloud　to　the　darkness。　My　body　was　weary　and　aching　still。　But　not　exhausted。　I　clambered　from　my　bed　into　the　chill　of　my　room。
　　　　　　　I　stumbled　to　my　long…disused　hearth　and　kindled　a　small　fire。　I　needed　to　bring　up　more　firewood　soon。　The　dancing　flames　lent　the　room　a　fickle　yellow　light。　I　took　clothing　from　the　chest　at　the　foot　of　my　bed；　only　to　find　the　garments　oddly　ill…fitting。　My　long　illness　had　wasted　the　muscle　from　my　frame；　but　I　had　still　somehow　managed　to　grow　longer　in　the　legs　and　arms。　Nothing　fit。　I　picked　up　my　shirt　from　yesterday；　but　a　night　in　clean　bedding　had　refreshed　my　nose。　I　could　no　longer　abide　the　smell　of　the　travel…stained　garment。　I　dug　in　my　clothes　chest　again。　I　found　one　soft　brown　shirt　that　had　once　been　too　long　in　the　sleeve　for　me；　and　now　just　fit。　I　put　it　on　with　my　green　quilted　mountain　trousers　and　buskins。　I　had　no　doubt　that　as　soon　as　I　encountered　the　Lady　Patience　or　Mistress　Hasty；　I　would　be　attacked　and　the　situation　remedied。　But　not；　I　hoped；　before　breakfast　and　a　trip　into　Buckkeep　Town。　There　were　several　places　there　where　I　might　get　word　of　Molly。
　　　　　　　I　found　the　castle　stirring　but　not　yet　fully　awake。　I　ate　in　the　kitchen　as　I　had　when　a　child；　finding　that　there；　as　always；　the　bread　was　freshest　and　the　porridge　sweetest。　Cook　exclaimed　to　see　me；　one　minute　menting　on　how　much　I　had　grown；　and　the　next　lamenting　how　thin　and　worn　I　looked。　I　surmised　that　before　the　day　was　out；　I　would　be　heartily　sick　of　these　observations。　As　traffic　in　the　kitchen　increased　I　fled；　carrying　off　a　thick　slice　of　bread　well　buttered　and　laden　with　rosehip　preserves。　I　headed　back　toward　my　room　to　get　a　winter　cloak。
　　　　　　　In　every　chamber　I　passed　through；　I　found　more　and　more　evidence　of　Kettricken's　presence。　A　sort　of　tapestry；　woven　of　different…colored　grasses　and　representing　a　mountain　scene；　now　graced　the　wall　of　the　Lesser　Hall。　There　were　no　flowers　to　be　had　this　time　of　year；　but　in　odd　places　I　encountered　fat　pottery　bowls　full　of　pebbles；　and　these　held　bare　but　graceful　branches；　or　dried　thistles　and　cattails。　The　changes　were　small　but　unmistakable。
　　　　　　　I　found　myself　in　one　of　the　older　sections　of　Buckkeep；　and　then　climbing　the　dusty　steps　to　Verity's　watchtower。　It　manded　a　wide　view　of　our　seacoast；　and　from　its　tall　windows　Verity　kept　his　summer　vigil　for　raiding　ships。　From　here　he　worked　the　Skill　magic　that　kept　the　Raiders　at　bay；　or　at　least　gave　us　some　warning　of　their　ing。　It　was　a　thin　defense　at　times。　He　should　have　had　a　coterie　of　underlings　trained　in　the　Skill　to　assist　him。　But　I　myself；　despite　my　bastard　blood；　had　never　been　able　to　control　my　random　Skill　abilities。　Galen；　our　Skill　master；　had　died　before　he　had　trained　more　than　a　handful　in　the　Skill。　There　was　no　one　to　replace　him；　and　those　he　had　trained　lacked　a　true　munion　with　Verity。　So　Verity　Skilled　alone　against　our　enemies。　It　had　aged　him　before　his　time。　I　worried　that　he　would　overspend　himself　upon　it；　and　succumb　to　the　addicting　weakness　of　those　who　Skilled　too　much。
　　　　　　　By　the　time　I　reached　the　top　of　the　spiraling　tower　steps；　I　was　winded　and　my　legs　ached。　I　pushed　at　the　door　and　it　gave　easily　on　oiled　hinges。　From　long　habit；　I　stepped　quietly　as　I　entered　the　room。　I　had　not　really　expected　to　find　Verity　or　anyone　else　there。　The　sea　storms　were　our　watchmen　in　winter；　guarding　our　coasts　from　Raiders。　I　blinked　in　the　sudden　gray　light　of　morning　that　was　flooding　in　from　the　unshuttered　tower　windows。　Verity　was　a　dark　silhouette　against　a　gray　storm　sky。　He　did　not　turn。　〃Shut　the　door；〃　he　said　quietly。　〃The　draft　up　the　stairs　makes　this　room　as　windy　as　a　chimney。〃
　　　　　　　I　did　so；　and　then　stood　shivering　in　the　chill。　The　wind　brought　the　scent　of　the　sea　with　it；　and　I　breathed　it　in　as　if　it　were　life　itself。　〃I　had　not　expected　to　find　you　here；〃　I　said。
　　　　　　　He　kept　his　eyes　on　the　water。　〃Didn't　you？　Then　why　did　you　e？〃　There　was　amusement　in　his　voice。
　　　　　　　It　jolted　me。　〃I　don't　really　know。　I　headed　back　to　my　room　。。。。〃　My　voice　dwindled　away　as　I　tried　to　recall　why　I　had　e　here。
　　　　　　　〃I　Skilled　you；〃　he　said　simply。
　　　　　　　I　stood　silent　and　thought。　〃I　felt　nothing。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　didn't　intend　that　you　should。　It　is　as　I　told　you　a　long　time　ago。　The　Skill　can　be　a　soft　whisper　in　a　man's　ear。　It　doesn't　have　to　be　a　shout　of　mand。〃
　　　　　　　He　slowly　turned　to　face　me；　and　as　my　eyes　adjusted　to　the　light　my　heart　leaped　with　joy　at　the　change　I　saw　in　the　man。　When　I　had　left　Buckkeep　at　harvest　time；　he　had　been　a　withered　shadow；　worn　thin　by　the　weight　of　his　duties　and　his　constant　watchfulness。　His　dark　hair　was　still　salted　with　gray；　but　there　was　muscle　once　more　on　his　stocky　frame；　and　vitality　snapped　in　his　dark　eyes。　He　looked　every　bit　a　King。
　　　　　　　〃Marriage　seems　to　agree　with　you；　my　prince；〃　I　said　inanely。
　　　　　　　That　flustered　him。　〃In　some　ways；〃　he　conceded　as　a　boyish　flush　rose　on　his　cheeks。　He　turned　back　quickly　to　his　window。　〃e　and　see　my　ships；〃　he　manded。
　　　　　　　It　was　my　turn　to　be　baffled。　I　stepped　to　the　window　beside　him　and　looked　out　over　the　harbor；　and　then　over　the　sea　itself。　〃Where？〃　I　asked　in　bewilderment。　He　took　me　by　the　shoulders　and　turned　me　toward　the　shipyard。　A　long　barn　of　a　building　of　new　yellow　pine　had　been　erected　there。　Men　were　ing　and　going　from　it　as　smoke　rose　from　chimneys　and　forges　t