rh.royalassassin-第116部分

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uth　tower；　they　tried　to　break　out。　And　some　got　through　at〃
　　　　　　　An　arrow　swept　through　her　and　carried　off　forever　whatever　she　had　begun　to　tell　us。　Outislanders　were　suddenly　upon　us；　more　of　them　than　my　mind　could　grasp；　and　all　converging　on　the　Queen's　tent。　〃To　the　Queen！〃　I　shouted；　and　had　the　slim　fort　of　hearing　my　cry　taken　up　farther　down　the　line。　Three　guards　rushed　out　of　the　tent　to　put　their　backs　to　its　flimsy　walls　while　Burrich　and　I　stood　our　ground　in　front　of　it。　I　found　my　sword　in　my　hand；　and　from　the　corner　of　my　eye　saw　firelight　run　red　up　the　edge　of　Burrich's。　The　Queen　appeared　suddenly　in　the　door　of　the　tent。
　　　　　　　〃Don't　guard　me！〃　she　rebuked　us。　〃Get　to　where　the　fighting　is。〃
　　　　　　　〃It's　here；　my　lady；〃　Burrich　grunted　and　stepped　forward　suddenly　to　take　off　the　arm　of　a　man　who　had　ventured　too　close。
　　　　　　　I　remember　those　words　clearly　and　I　remember　seeing　Burrich　take　that　stride。　It　is　the　last　coherent　memory　I　have　of　that　night。　After　that；　all　was　shouting　and　blood；　metal　and　fire。　Waves　of　emotions　pounded　against　me　as　all　around　me　soldiers　and　Raiders　fought　to　the　death。　Early　on；　someone　set　fire　to　the　tent。　Its　towering　blaze　lit　the　battle　scene　like　a　stage。　I　remember　seeing　Kettricken；　robe　looped　up　and　knotted；　fighting　bare…legged　and　barefoot　on　the　frozen　ground。　She　held　her　ridiculously　long　Mountain　sword　in　a　two　handed　grip。　Her　grace　made　a　deadly　dance　of　the　battle　that　would　have　distracted　me　at　any　other　time。
　　　　　　　Outislanders　continued　to　appear。　At　one　point　I　was　sure　I　heard　Verity　shouting　mands；　but　could　not　make　sense　of　any　of　them。　Nighteyes　appeared　from　time　to　time；　fighting　always　at　the　edge　of　the　light；　a　low　sudden　weight　of　fur　and　teeth；　hamstringing　with　a　slash；　adding　his　weight　to　change　a　Raider's　charge　to　a　stumble。　Burrich　and　Foxglove　fought　back…to…back　at　one　point　when　things　were　going　poorly　for　us。　I　was　part　of　the　circle　that　protected　the　Queen。　At　least；　I　thought　I　was；　until　I　realized　she　was　actually　fighting　beside　me。
　　　　　　　At　some　time　I　dropped　my　sword　to　snatch　up　a　fallen　Raider's　ax。　I　picked　my　blade　up　the　next　day　from　the　frozen　ground；　crusted　with　mud　and　blood。　But　at　the　moment　I　did　not　even　hesitate　to　discard　Verity's　gift　for　a　more　savagely　effective　weapon。　While　we　were　fighting　there　was　only　the　now　to　consider。　When　at　last　the　tide　of　the　battle　turned；　I　did　not　consider　the　wisdom　of　it；　but　pursued　and　hunted　scattered　enemy　through　the　night…black　fire…stinking　wreckage　of　Neatbay　village。
　　　　　　　Here；　indeed；　Nighteyes　and　I　hunted　very　well　together。　I　stood　toe　to　toe　with　my　final　kill；　ax　against　ax；　while　Nighteyes　snarled　and　savaged　his　way　past　a　smaller　man's　sword。　He　finished　his　but　seconds　before　I　dropped　my　man。
　　　　　　　That　final　slaughtering　held　for　me　a　wild　and　savage　joy。　I　did　not　know　where　Nighteyes　left　off　and　I　began；　only　that　we　had　won　and　we　both　still　lived。　Afterward　we　went　to　find　water　together。　We　drank　deep　from　a　munal　well's　bucket；　and　I　laved　the　blood　from　my　hands　and　face。　Then　we　sank　down　and　put　our　backs　to　the　brick　well　to　watch　the　sun　rise　beyond　the　thick　ground　mist。　Nighteyes　leaned　warm　against　me；　and　we　did　not　even　think。
　　　　　　　I　suppose　I　dozed　a　bit；　for　I　was　jostled　alert　as　he　quickly　left　me。　I　looked　up　to　see　what　had　startled　him；　only　to　discover　a　frightened　Neatbay　girl　staring　at　me。　The　early　sun　struck　glints　off　her　red　hair。　A　bucket　was　in　her　hand。　I　stood　and　grinned；　lifting　my　ax　in　greeting；　but　she　sheered　off　like　a　frightened　rabbit　among　the　ruined　buildings。　I　stretched；　then　made　my　way　back　through　the　trailing　fog　to　where　the　Queen's　tent　had　been。　As　I　walked；　images　of　last　night's　wolf　hunting　came　back　to　me。　The　memories　were　too　sharp；　too　red　and　black；　and　I　pushed　them　down　deep　in　my　mind。　Was　this　what　Burrich　had　meant　by　his　warning？
　　　　　　　Even　by　the　light　of　day；　it　was　still　difficult　to　understand　all　that　had　happened。　The　earth　around　the　blackened　remains　of　the　Queen's　shelter　was　trampled　into　mud。　Here　the　fighting　had　been　heaviest。　Here　was　where　most　of　the　enemy　had　fallen。　Some　bodies　had　been　dragged　aside　and　tumbled　into　a　heap。　Others　still　lay　where　they　had　fallen。　I　avoided　looking　at　them。　It　is　one　thing　to　kill　in　fear　and　anger。　It　is　another　thing　to　consider　one's　handiwork　by　the　chill　gray　light　of　morning。
　　　　　　　That　the　Outislanders　had　tried　to　break　through　our　siege　was　understandable。　They　had；　perhaps；　had　a　chance　of　making　it　as　far　as　their　ships　and　reclaiming　one　or　two　of　them。　That　the　attack　seemed　to　focus　on　the　Queen's　tent　was　least　prehensible。　Once　clear　of　the　earthworks；　why　had　not　they　seized　their　chance　for　survival　and　headed　for　the　beach？
　　　　　　　〃Perhaps；〃　observed　Burrich；　gritting　his　teeth　as　I　probed　the　angry　swelling　on　his　leg；　〃they　did　not　hope　to　escape　at　all。　It　is　their　Outislander　way；　to　decide　to　die；　and　then　to　attempt　to　do　as　much　damage　before　doing　so。　So　they　attacked　here；　hoping　to　kill　our　queen。〃
　　　　　　　I　had　discovered　Burrich；　limping　about　the　battleground。　He　did　not　say　he　had　been　looking　for　my　body。　His　relief　at　seeing　me　was　evidence　enough　of　that。
　　　　　　　〃How　did　they　know　it　was　the　Queen　in　that　tent？〃　I　pondered。　〃We　flew　no　banners；　we　issued　no　challenges。　How　did　they　know　she　was　here？　There。　Is　that　any　better？〃　I　checked　the　bandage　for　snugness。
　　　　　　　〃It's　dry　and　it's　clean　and　the　wrapping　seems　to　help　the　pain。　I　don't　suppose　we　can　do　much　more　than　that。　I　suspect　that　whenever　I　work　that　leg　hard；　I'm　going　to　have　the　swelling　and　heat　in　it。〃　He　spoke　as　dispassionately　as　if　he　discussed　a　horse's　bad　leg。　〃At　least　it　stayed　closed。　They　did　seem　to　make　straight　for　the　Queen's　tent；　didn't　they？〃
　　　　　　　〃Like　bees　to　honey；〃　I　observed　tiredly。　〃The　Queen　is　in　Bayguard？〃
　　　　　　　〃Of　course。　Everyone　is。　You　should　have　heard　the　cheer　when　they　opened　the　gates　to　us。　Queen　Kettricken　walked　in；　her　skirts　still　bundled　to　one　side；　her　drawn　blade　still　dripping。　Duke　Kelvar　went　down　on　his　knees　to　kiss　her　hand。　But　Lady　Grace　looked　at　her；　and　said；　‘Oh；　my　dear；　I　shall　have　a　bath　drawn　for　you　at　once。〃
　　　　　　　〃Now　there　is　the　stuff　they　make　songs　of；〃　I　said；　and　we　laughed。　〃But　not　all　are　up　at　the　Keep。　I　saw　a　girl　just　now；　ing　for　water；　down　in　the　ruins。〃
　　　　　　　〃Well；　up　at　the　Keep　they　are　rejoicing。　There　will　be　some　who　will　have　small　heart　for　that。　Foxglove　was　wrong。　The　folk　of　Neatbay　did　not　yield　easily　before　the　Red…Ships。　Many；　many　died　before　the　Neatbay　folk　retreated　to　the　Keep。〃
　　　　　　　〃Does　anything　strike　you　as　odd　about　that？〃
　　　　　　　〃That　folk　should　defend　themselves？　No。　It　is…〃
　　　　　　　〃Does　not　it　seem　to　you　that　there　were　too　many　Outislanders　here？　More　than　five　ships'　worth？〃
　　　　　　　Burrich　halted。　He　looked　back　to　the　scattered　bodies。　〃Perhaps　those　other　ships　had　left　them　here；　and　then　gone　out　on　patrol　。。。。〃
　　　　　　　〃That　is　not　their　way。　I　suspect　a　larger　ship；　transporting　a　sizable　force　of　men。〃
　　　　　　　〃Where？〃
　　　　　　　〃Gone　now。　I　think　I　glimpsed　it；　going　into　that　fog　bank。〃
　　　　　　　We　fell　silent。　Burrich　showed　me　to　where　he　had　tethered　Ruddy　and　Sooty　and　we　rode　together　up　to　Bayguard。　The　great　doors　of　the　Keep　stood　wide　open；　and　a　bination　of　Buckkeep　soldiers　and　Bayguard　folk　mingled　there。　We　were　greeted　with　a　shout　of　wele；　and　offered　brimming　cups　of　mead　before　we　were　even　dismounted。　Boys　begged　to　take　our　horses　for　us；　and　to　my　surprise；　Burrich　let　them。　Within　the　hall　was　genuine　rejoicing　that　would　have　put　any　of　Regal's　revels　to　shame。　All　of　Bayguard　had　been　thrown　open　for　us。　Ewers　and　basins　of　warm　scented　water　had　been　set　out　in　the　Great　Hall　for　us　to　refresh　ourselves；　and　tables　were　heavy　with　food；　none　of　it　hard　bread　or　salt　fish。
　　　　　　　We　remained　three　days　at　Neatbay。　During　this　time　our　dead　were　buried；　and　the　bodies　of　the　Outislanders　burned。　Buckkeep　soldiers　and　Queen's　guard　fell　in　alongside　the　people　of　Neatbay　to　assist　in　the　repairs　to　Bayguard's　fortifications　and　in　salvaging　what　was　left　of　Neatbay　Town。　I　made　a　few　quiet　inquiries。　I　found　that　the　watchtower　signal　had　been　lit　as　soon　as　the　ships　were　sighted；　but　that　the　Red…Ships　had　made　extinguishing　it　one　of　their　first　goals。　What　of　their　coterie　member？　I　asked。　Kelvar　looked　at　me　in　surprise。　Burl　had　been　recalled　weeks　ago；　for　some　essential　duty　inland。　He　had　gone　to　Tradeford；　Kelvar　believed。
　　　　　　　The　day　after　the　battle；　reinforcements　arrived　from　South　Cove。　They　had　not　seen　the　signal　fire；　but　the　messengers　sent　out　on　horse　had　gotten　through　to　them。　I　was　present　when　Kettricken　mended　Duke　Kelvar　for　his　foresight　in　setting　up　a　relay　of　horse　for　such　messages；　and　sent　her　thanks　also　to　Duke　Shemshy　of　Shoaks　for　his　response。　She　suggested　they　divide　the　captured　Red…Ships；　that　they　need　no　longer　wait　for　warships　to　arrive；　but　could　dispatch　their　own；　for　mutual　defense。　This　was　a　sumptuous　gift；　and　it　was　received　in　an　awed　silence。　When　Duke　Kelvar　recovered　himself；　he