rh.royalassassin-第141部分

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ryone　does。　A　tiny　pinch　of　it　sprinkled　across　the　top　of　a　sugar　cake　brings　a　merry　giddiness　to　the　heart。　Burrich　had　warned　me　that　some　dishonest　horse　traders　fed　their　charges　carris　oil　on　their　grain；　for　the　purpose　of　winning　a　race；　or　to　make　a　sick　horse　show　well　at　an　auction。　He　had　also　warned　me　that　a　horse　so　treated　was　often　never　the　same　beast　again。　If　he　survived。　I　knew　Chade　had　used　it；　on　occasion；　and　I　had　seen　him　drop　like　a　stone　when　the　effects　wore　off。　Yet　I　did　not　hesitate。　Perhaps；　I　conceded　briefly；　perhaps　Burrich　was　right　about　me。　The　ecstasy　of　the　Skill；　or　the　frantic　flush　and　heat　of　the　hunt。　Did　I　taunt　self…destruction；　or　did　I　desire　it？　I　did　not　worry　about　it　for　long。　The　carris　seed　took　me。　My　strength　was　as　the　strength　of　ten；　and　my　heart　soared　like　an　eagle。　I　sprang　to　my　feet。　I　started　for　the　door；　then　turned　back。
　　　　　　　I　knelt　before　my　dead　king。　I　lifted　his　knife；　held　it　before　my　brow　as　I　swore　to　him；　〃This　blade　shall　take　your　vengeance。〃　I　kissed　his　hand　and　left　him　there　before　the　fire。
　　　　　　　If　I　had　thought　the　candles　spitting　blue　sparks　were　unnerving；　then　the　blue　glow　of　the　torches　in　the　hall　were　otherworldly。　It　was　like　looking　down　through　still　deep　water。　I　sprinted　down　the　hall；　giggling　to　myself。　Below；　I　could　hear　a　clamor；　with　Wallace's　voice　raised　shrill　above　the　rest。　Blue　flames　and　the　Pocked　Man；　he　was　yammering。　Not　as　much　time　had　passed　as　I　had　thought；　and　now　time　waited　for　me。　Light　as　the　wind　I　darted　down　the　hall。　I　found　a　door　that　would　open　and　slipped　within。　I　waited。　They　took　forever　to　e　up　the　stairs；　even　longer　to　go　past　my　door。　I　let　them　reach　the　King's　chamber；　and　when　I　heard　the　shouts　of　alarm　begin；　I　sprang　from　my　hiding　place　and　dashed　down　the　stairs。
　　　　　　　Someone　shouted　after　me　as　I　fled；　but　no　one　gave　chase。　I　was　to　the　bottom　of　the　stairs　before　I　heard　someone　finally　give　the　order　to　catch　me。　I　laughed　aloud。　As　if　they　could！　Buckkeep　Castle　was　a　warren　of　back　ways　and　servants'　passages　for　a　boy　who　had　grown　up　there。　I　knew　where　I　was　going；　but　I　didn't　go　there　directly。　Like　a　fox　I　ran；　appearing　briefly　in　the　Great　Hall；　dashing　across　the　cobbles　of　the　washing　courts；　terrifying　Cook　with　my　frantic　dash　through　her　kitchens。　And　always；　always；　the　pale　Skill　fingers　plucked　and　fingered　me；　not　knowing　at　all　that　I　was　ing；　ing；　my　dears；　ing　to　find　you。
　　　　　　　Galen；　born　and　raised　in　Farrow；　had　always　hated　the　sea。　He　feared　it；　I　think；　and　so　his　chamber　had　been　on　the　side　of　the　Keep　that　faced　the　mountains。　After　he　had　died；　I　had　heard　it　had　bee　a　shrine　to　him。　Serene　had　taken　over　his　bedchamber；　but　kept　his　sitting　room　as　a　gathering　place　for　the　coterie。　I　had　never　visited　his　rooms；　but　I　knew　the　way。　I　took　the　steps　up　like　an　arrow　in　flight；　whisked　down　the　hall　past　a　couple　in　a　heated　embrace　and　stopped　at　a　heavy　door　banded　with　iron。　But　a　thick　door　that　is　not　properly　barred　is　no　barrier　at　all；　and　in　moments　this　one　swung　open　to　my　touch。
　　　　　　　There　was　a　semicircle　of　chairs　set　up　around　a　tall　table。　A　fat　candle　burned　in　the　center　of　it。　For　focus；　I　imagined。　Only　two　of　the　chairs　were　occupied。　Justin　and　Serene　sat　side　by　side；　hands　clasped；　eyes　closed；　heads　lolled　back　in　the　throes　of　Skilling。　No　Will。　I　had　hoped　to　find　him　here　as　well。
　　　　　　　For　the　barest　instant　I　looked　at　their　faces。　Perspiration　gleamed　on　them；　and　I　was　flattered　that　they　put　so　much　effort　to　breaking　down　my　walls。　Their　mouths　twitched　in　small　smiles；　resisting　the　ecstasy　of　the　Skill　user；　focusing　on　the　object　rather　than　on　the　pleasure　of　the　pursuit。　I　did　not　hesitate。　〃Surprise！〃　I　said　softly。　I　jerked　Serene's　head　back　and　pulled　the　King's　blade　across　her　exposed　throat。　She　jerked　once；　and　I　let　her　fall　to　the　floor。　There　was　a　remarkable　amount　of　blood。
　　　　　　　Justin　leaped　to　his　feet　with　a　shriek　and　I　braced　myself　for　his　onslaught。　He　fooled　me；　though。　He　fled　squealing　down　the　hall　and　I　followed；　knife　in　hand。　He　sounded　just　like　a　pig；　and　he　was　incredibly　fast。　No　fox　tricks　for　Justin；　he　favored　the　most　direct　route　to　the　Great　Hall；　shrieking　all　the　way。　I　laughed　as　I　ran。　Even　now　it　seems　to　me　incredible　to　recall　that；　but　I　cannot　deny　it。　Did　he　suppose　Regal　would　draw　sword　to　defend　him？　Did　he　think；　having　killed　my　king；　that　anything　in　the　world　could　stand　between　me　and　him？
　　　　　　　In　the　Great　Hall；　musicians　had　been　playing　and　folk　dancing；　but　Justin's　entrance　put　an　end　to　that。　I　had　gained　on　him；　so　that　there　were　scarce　a　score　of　steps　between　us　when　he　caromed　into　one　of　the　laden　tables。　Folk　were　still　standing　shocked　at　his　entrance　when　I　leaped　on　him　and　pulled　him　down。　I　punched　the　knife　in　and　out　of　him　half　a　dozen　times　before　anyone　thought　they　should　interfere。　As　Regal's　Farrow…bred　guards　reached　for　me　I　flung　his　twitching　body　into　them；　found　a　table　at　my　back；　and　leaped　onto　it。　I　held　up　my　dripping　blade。　〃The　King's　knife！〃　I　told　them；　and　showed　it　'round。　〃Taking　blood　in　vengeance　for　the　King's　death。　That　is　all！〃
　　　　　　　〃He's　mad！〃　someone　cried。　〃Verity's　death　has　driven　him　mad！〃
　　　　　　　〃Shrewd！〃　I　cried　in　fury。　〃King　Shrewd　has　fallen　to　treachery　this　night！〃
　　　　　　　Regal's　Inlander　guards　hit　my　table　in　a　wave。　I　had　not　thought　there　were　that　many　of　them。　We　all　went　down　in　a　wave　of　food　and　crockery。　Folk　were　screaming；　but　as　many　surged　forward　to　witness　as　retreated　in　horror。　Hod　would　have　been　proud　of　me。　With　the　king's　belt　knife；　I　held　off　three　men　with　short　swords。　I　danced；　I　leaped；　I　pirouetted。　I　was　much　too　fast　for　them　and　the　cuts　they　did　inflict　on　me　caused　me　no　pain。　I　scored　two　good　slashes　on　two　of　them；　simply　because　they　did　not　think　I　would　dare　lunge　close　enough　to　inflict　them。
　　　　　　　Somewhere　back　in　the　crowd；　someone　raised　a　cry。　〃Arms！　To　the　Bastard！　They　are　killing　FitzChivalry！〃　A　struggle　began；　but　I　could　not　see　who　was　involved；　nor　give　it　any　attention　at　all。　I　stabbed　one　of　the　guards　in　the　hand　and　he　dropped　his　blade。　〃Shrewd！〃　someone　cried　above　the　din。　〃King　Shrewd　is　slain！〃　By　the　sounds　of　the　other　struggle；　more　folk　were　being　involved。　I　could　not　look　to　see。　I　heard　another　table　crash　to　the　floor；　and　a　scream　across　the　room。　Then　Buckkeep's　own　guard　came　pouring　into　the　room。　I　heard　Kerf's　voice　raised　above　the　general　din。　〃Separate　them！　Quell　it！　Try　not　to　spill　blood　in　the　King's　own　hall！〃　I　saw　my　attackers　ringed；　saw　Blade's　look　of　consternation　as　he　saw　me　and　then　cried　out　over　his　shoulder；　〃It's　FitzChivalry！　They're　trying　to　take　down　the　Fitz！〃
　　　　　　　〃Separate　them！　Disarm　them！〃　Kerf　butted　heads　with　one　of　Regal's　guards；　dropping　him。　Beyond　him　I　saw　knots　of　struggling　break　out　as　Buck　guards　fell　on　Regal's　personal　guard；　battering　blades　down　and　demanding　that　swords　be　sheathed。　I　had　space　for　a　breath；　and　could　lift　my　eyes　from　my　own　struggle　to　see　that；　indeed；　a　great　many　folk　had　bee　involved；　and　not　just　guards。　Fistfights　had　broken　out　among　the　guests　as　well。　It　looked　to　bee　both　brawl　and　riot　when　suddenly　Blade；　one　of　our　own　guardsmen；　shouldered　between　two　of　my　attackers；　sending　them　sprawling　to　the　floor。　He　leaped　forward　and　confronted　me。
　　　　　　　〃Blade！〃　I　greeted　him　with　delight；　thinking　him　an　ally。　Then；　as　I　noticed　his　defensive　stance；　I　told　him；　〃You　know　I　would　not　draw　blade　against　you！〃
　　　　　　　〃I　know　that　well；　lad；〃　he　told　me　sadly；　and　the　old　soldier　flung　himself　forward　to　trap　me　in　a　bear　hug。　I　do　not　know　who　hit　me　on　the　back　of　the　head；　or　with　what。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　CHAPTER　THIRTY
　　　　　　　Dungeons
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　IF　A　HOUNDSMAN　suspects　that　a　dog　boy　is　using　the　Wit　to　defile　and　divert　the　hounds　to　his　own　ends；　he　should　be　watchful　for　these　signs。　If　the　boy　speaks　not　overmuch　to　his　fellows；　be　wary。　If　the　hounds　perk　up　before　the　boy　is　in　sight；　or　whine　before　he　has　left；　be　watchful。　If　a　hound　will　leave　off　his　snuffing　for　a　bitch　in　season；　or　turn　aside　from　a　blood　trail　and　lie　quiet　at　the　boy's　word；　be　certain。　Let　the　boy　be　hanged；　over　water　if　possible；　well　away　from　the　stables；　and　his　body　burned。　Let　every　hound　he　has　trained　be　drowned；　as　well　as　all　sired　by　defiled　hounds。　A　hound　who　has　known　the　Wit　use　will　neither　fear　nor　respect　any　other　master；　but　is　sure　to　turn　vicious　when　deprived　of　the　Witted　one。　A　Witted　boy　cannot　be　trusted　to　beat　an　unruly　hound；　nor　will　he　suffer　his　Wit　hound　to　be　sold　away；　or　used　as　bear　bait；　no　matter　how　old　the　dog。　A　Wit　boy　will　turn　his　master's　hounds　to　his　own　purposes；　and　never　has　any　true　loyalty　to　his　master；　but　only　to　his　Wit　hound。
　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　I　woke　up　sometime。　Of　all　the　cruel　jests　fate　had　recently　played　on　me；　I　decided　that　awakening　was　the　cruelest。　I　lay　still　and　cataloged　my　various　disforts。　The　exhaustion　from　my　carris…seed　frenzy　bined　well　with　the　exhaustion　from　my　Skill　battle　with　Justin　and　Serene。　I　had　taken　some　nasty　sword　cuts　to　my　right