rh.royalassassin-第77部分

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　　　　　　　〃Because　it　does；〃　he　said　softly。　He　put　an　arm　around　my　shoulders；　and　I　was　surprised　we　were　of　a　height。　The　walk　back　to　Buckkeep　was　steep。　Very　long。　Very　quiet。　He　sent　me　to　the　baths　and　told　me　to　go　to　bed　afterward。
　　　　　　　I　should　have　stayed　in　my　own　bed；　but　I　had　not　the　sense。　Luckily　the　castle　was　abuzz；　and　one　more　drunk　clambering　up　a　staircase　was　not　remarkable。　Stupidly；　I　went　to　Molly's　room。　She　let　me　in。　But　when　I　tried　to　touch　her；　she　pulled　away　from　me。　〃You're　drunk；〃　she　told　me；　almost　crying。　〃I　told　you；　I　promised　myself　to　never　kiss　a　drunk。　Or　be　kissed　by　one。〃
　　　　　　　〃But　I'm　not　drunk　that　way；〃　I　insisted。
　　　　　　　〃There's　only　one　way　to　be　drunk；〃　she　told　me。　And　turned　me　out　of　her　rooms；　untouched。
　　　　　　　By　noon　the　next　day；　I　knew　how　much　I　had　hurt　her　by　not　ing　straight　to　her　to　find　fort。　I　could　understand　what　she　felt。　But　I　also　knew　that　what　I　had　carried　that　night　was　nothing　to　take　home　to　someone　you　loved。　I　wanted　to　explain　that　to　her。　But　a　boy　came　running　up　to　me　to　tell　me　I　was　needed　on　the　Rurisk；　and　right　now。　I　gave　him　a　penny　for　his　troubles　and　watched　him　dash　off　with　it。　Once；　I　had　been　the　boy　earning　the　penny。　I　thought　of　Kerry。　I　tried　to　remember　him　as　the　boy　with　the　penny　in　his　hand；　running　at　my　side；　but　forever　now　he　was　the　Forged　one　dead　on　a　table。　No　one；　I　told　myself；　had　been　taken　for　Forging　yesterday。
　　　　　　　Then　I　headed　down　to　the　docks。　On　the　way　I　stopped　at　the　stable。　I　gave　the　crescent　moon　over　into　Burrich's　hands。　〃Keep　this　safe　for　me；〃　I　asked　him。　〃And　there　will　be　a　bit　more；　my　crew　share　from　the　raid。　I　want　to　have　you　hold　it　for　me　。。。　what　I　make　at　doing　this。　It's　for　Molly。　So　if　ever　I　don't　e　back；　you　be　certain　she　gets　it。　She　doesn't　like　being　a　servant。〃
　　　　　　　I　hadn't　spoken　so　plainly　of　her　to　Burrich　in　a　long　time。　A　line　creased　his　brow；　but　he　took　the　bloodied　moon。　〃What　would　your　father　say　to　me？〃　he　wondered　aloud　as　I　turned　wearily　away　from　him。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't　know；〃　I　told　him　bluntly。　〃I　never　knew　him。　Only　you。〃
　　　　　　　〃FitzChivalry。〃
　　　　　　　I　turned　back　to　him。　Burrich　met　my　eyes　as　he　spoke。　〃I　don't　know　what　he'd　say　to　me。　But　I　know　I　can　say　this　for　him；　to　you。　I'm　proud　of　you。　It's　not　the　kind　of　work　a　man　does　that　says　he　can　be　proud　or　not。　It's　how　he　does　it。　Be　proud　of　yourself。〃
　　　　　　　〃I　will　try；〃　I　told　him　quietly。　I　went　back　to　my　ship。
　　　　　　　Our　next　encounter　with　a　Red…Ship　was　a　less　decisive　victory。　We　met　them　on　the　sea；　and　they　were　not　surprised；　for　they　had　seen　us　ing。　Our　master　stood　the　course；　and　I　think　they　were　surprised　when　we　began　the　engagement　by　ramming　them。　We　sheared　off　a　number　of　their　oars；　but　missed　the　steering　oar　we　had　targeted。　There　was　little　damage　to　the　ship　itself；　the　Red…Ships　were　as　flexible　as　fish。　Our　grapples　flew。　We　outnumbered　them；　and　the　master　intended　to　use　that　advantage。　Our　warriors　boarded　them；　and　half　our　oarsmen　lost　their　heads　and　jumped　in；　too。　It　became　a　chaos　that　spread　briefly　to　our　own　decks。　It　took　every　bit　of　will　I　could　muster　to　withstand　the　vortex　of　emotions　that　engulfed　us；　but　I　stayed　with　my　oar　as　I　had　been　ordered。　Nonge；　at　his　oar；　watched　me　strangely。　I　gripped　my　oar　and　ground　my　teeth　until　I　could　find　myself。　I　muttered　a　curse　when　I　discovered　that　I'd　lost　Verity　again。
　　　　　　　I　think　our　warriors　let　up　a　bit　when　they　knew　we　had　reduced　our　enemy's　crew　to　where　they　could　no　longer　manage　their　vessel。　It　was　a　mistake。　One　of　the　Raiders　set　fire　to　their　own　sail　while　a　second　one　attempted　to　chop　through　their　own　planking。　I　guess　they　hoped　the　fire　would　spread　and　they　could　take　us　down　with　them。　Certainly　at　the　end　they　fought　with　no　care　for　the　damage　they　took　to　their　ship　or　their　own　bodies。　Our　fighters　finally　finished　them；　and　we　got　the　fire　put　out；　but　the　prize　we　towed　back　to　Buckkeep　was　smoking　and　damaged；　and　man　for　man；　we　had　lost　more　lives　than　they　had。　Still；　it　was　a　victory；　we　told　ourselves。　This　time；　when　the　others　went　out　drinking；　I　had　the　sense　to　seek　out　Molly。　And　early　the　next　morning；　I　found　an　hour　or　two　for　Nighteyes。　We　went　hunting　together；　good　clean　hunting；　and　he　tried　to　persuade　me　to　run　away　with　him。　I　made　the　mistake　of　telling　him　that　he　could　leave　if　he　wished；　meaning　only　the　best　for　him；　and　hurt　his　feelings。　It　took　me　another　hour　to　convey　to　him　what　I　had　meant。　I　went　back　to　my　ship　wondering　if　my　ties　were　worth　the　effort　it　took　to　keep　them　intact。　Nighteyes　assured　me　they　were。
　　　　　　　That　was　the　last　clear　victory　for　the　Rurisk。　It　was　far　from　the　last　battle　of　the　summer。　No；　the　clear　pleasant　weather　stretched　impossibly　long　before　us；　and　every　fine　day　was　a　day　when　I　might　kill　someone。　I　tried　not　to　count　them　as　days　on　which　I　might　be　killed。　We　had　many　skirmishes；　and　gave　pursuit　many　times；　and　it　did　seem　there　were　fewer　raids　attempted　in　the　area　we　regularly　patrolled。　Somehow　that　only　made　it　all　the　more　frustrating。　And　there　were　successful　raids　for　the　Red…Ships；　times　when　we　put　into　a　town　but　an　hour　or　so　after　they　had　left；　and　could　do　no　more　than　help　stack　bodies　or　put　out　fires。　Then　Verity　would　roar　and　curse　in　my　mind　that　he　could　not　get　messages　more　swiftly；　that　there　were　not　enough　ships　and　watches　to　be　everywhere。　I　would　rather　have　faced　the　fury　of　a　battle　than　Verity's　savage　frustration　racking　through　my　brain。　There　was　never　any　end　in　sight；　save　the　respite　that　bad　weather　might　bring　us。　We　could　not　even　put　an　accurate　number　to　the　Red…Ships　that　plagued　us；　for　they　were　painted　identically；　and　as　like　as　peas　in　a　pod。　Or　drops　of　blood　on　the　sand。
　　　　　　　While　I　was　an　oarsman　on　the　Rurisk　that　summer；　we　had　one　other　encounter　with　a　Red…Ship　that　is　worth　telling　for　the　strangeness　of　it。　On　a　clear　summer　night；　we　had　been　tumbled　from　our　beds　in　the　crew　shed　and　sent　racing　toward　our　ship。　Verity　had　sensed　a　Red…Ship　lurking　off　Buck　Point。
　　　　　　　He　wanted　us　to　overtake　it　in　the　dark。
　　　　　　　Justin　stood　in　our　prow；　Skill…linked　to　Serene　in　Verity's　tower。　Verity　was　a　wordless　mumble　in　my　mind　as　he　felt　our　way　through　the　dark　toward　the　ship　he　sensed。　And　something　else？　I　could　feel　him　groping　out；　beyond　the　Red…Ship；　like　a　man　feeling　forward　in　the　darkness。　I　sensed　his　uneasiness。　We　were　allowed　no　talk；　and　our　oars　were　muffed　as　we　came　closer。　Nighteyes　whispered　to　me　that　he　had　scent　of　them；　and　then　we　spotted　them。　Long　and　low　and　dark；　the　Red…Ship　was　cutting　through　the　water　ahead　of　us。　A　sudden　cry　went　up　from　their　deck；　they　had　seen　us。　Our　master　shouted　to　us　to　lay　into　our　oars；　but　as　we　did；　a　sick　wave　of　fear　engulfed　me。　My　heart　began　to　hammer；　my　hands　to　tremble。　The　terror　that　swept　through　me　was　a　child's　nameless　fear　of　things　lurking　in　the　dark；　a　helpless　fear。　I　gripped　my　oar　but　could　find　no　strength　to　ply　it。
　　　　　　　〃Korrikska；〃　I　heard　a　man　groan　in　a　thick　Outislander　accent。　I　think　it　was　Nonge。　I　became　aware　I　was　not　the　only　one　unmanned。　There　was　no　steady　beat　to　our　oars。　Some　sat　on　their　sea　chests；　head　bowed　over　their　oars；　while　others　rowed　frantically；　but　out　of　rhythm；　the　blades　of　the　oars　skipping　and　slapping　against　the　water。　We　skittered　on　the　surface　like　a　crippled　skater　bug　while　the　Red…Ship　forged　purposefully　toward　us。　I　lifted　up　my　eyes　and　watched　my　death　ing　for　me。　The　blood　hammered　so　in　my　ears　that　I　could　not　hear　the　cries　of　the　panic…stricken　men　and　women　about　me。　I　could　not　even　take　a　breath。　I　lifted　up　my　eyes　to　the　heavens。
　　　　　　　Beyond　the　Red…Ship；　almost　glowing　on　the　black　water；　was　a　white　ship。　This　was　no　raiding　vessel；　this　was　a　ship；　easily　three　times　the　size　of　the　Red…Ship；　her　two　sails　reefed；　riding　at　anchor　on　the　quiet　water。　Ghosts　strode　her　deck；　or　Forged　ones。　I　felt　no　hint　of　life　from　them；　and　yet　they　moved　purposefully；　readying　a　small　boat　to　be　lowered　over　the　side。　A　man　stood　on　the　afterdeck。　The　moment　I　saw　him；　I　could　not　look　away。
　　　　　　　He　was　cloaked　in　gray；　yet　I　saw　him　limned　against　the　dark　sky　as　clearly　as　if　a　lantern　illuminated　him。　I　swear　I　could　see　his　eyes；　the　jut　of　his　nose；　the　dark　curly　beard　that　framed　his　mouth。　He　laughed　at　me。　〃Here's　one　e　to　us！〃　he　called　out　to　someone；　and　lifted　a　hand。　He　pointed　it　at　me；　and　laughed　aloud　again；　and　I　felt　my　heart　squeeze　in　my　chest。　He　looked　at　me　with　a　terrible　singleness；　as　if　I　alone　of　our　crew　were　his　prey。　I　looked　back　at　him；　and　I　saw　him；　but　I　could　not　sense　him。　There！　There！　I　shrieked　the　word　aloud；　or　perhaps　the　Skill　I　could　never　control　sent　it　bounding　off　the　insides　of　my　skull。　There　was　no　response。　No　Verity；　no　Nighteyes；　no　one；　nothing。　I　was　alone。　All　the　world　had　gone　silent　and　still。　Around　me　my　crew　fellows　rattled　with　terror　and　cried　out　aloud；　but　I　felt　nothing。　They　were　no　longer　there。　No　one　was　there。　No　gull；　no　fish　in　the　sea；　no　life　anywhere　as　far　as　any　of　my　inner　senses　would　reac