rh.royalassassin-第94章

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we　can　simply　wait　for　our　ships　to　arrive。　At　that　time　we　can　judge　if　we　wish　to　join　an　attack　on　them；　or　simply　starve　them　out。〃
　　　　　　　〃This　seems　wise　to　me；〃　the　Queen　approved。
　　　　　　　〃They　are　fools　if　they　have　not　left　at　least　a　small　force　with　their　ships。　Those　we　will　have　to　contend　with　immediately。　Then　we　must　set　our　own　guards　to　the　ships；　with　orders　to　destroy　them　if　it　looks　like　any　of　the　Outislanders　have　gotten　past　us　and　are　trying　to　escape。　If　not；　you　will　have　ships　to　add　to　King…in…Waiting　Verity's　fleet。〃
　　　　　　　〃This；　too；　seems　sensible。〃　The　idea　clearly　pleased　Kettricken。
　　　　　　　〃It　is　tidy；　but　only　if　we　act　swiftly。　They　will　soon　be　aware　of　us；　if　they　are　not　already。　Certainly　they　will　see　the　situation　as　clearly　as　we　have。　We　need　to　get　down　there；　and　contain　those　besieging　the　Keep　and　destroy　those　guarding　the　ships。〃
　　　　　　　Kerf　and　Foxglove　were　both　nodding。　Burrich　looked　at　them。　〃I　want　your　archers　for　our　circle　around　the　Keep。　We　want　to　contain　them　there；　not　get　into　any　close　fighting。　Simply　pin　them　down　where　they　are。　Wherever　they　breached　the　walls　is　where　they　will　try　to　trickle　out　again。　Guard　most　heavily　there；　but　watch　all　along　the　outer　wall。　And　for　now；　do　not　try　to　go　within　the　outer　wall　at　all。　Let　them　scuttle　about　like　crabs　in　a　pot。〃
　　　　　　　Terse　nods　from　both　captains。　Burrich　continued。
　　　　　　　〃I　want　swords　for　the　ships。　Expect　the　fighting　to　be　nasty。　They'll　be　defending　their　only　escape　routes。　Send　a　few　lesser　archers；　and　have　them　prepare　fire　arrows。　If　all　else　fails；　burn　the　ships　where　they're　beached。　But　try　to　take　them　first。〃
　　　　　　　〃The　Rurisk　！　〃　Someone　in　the　back　ranks　gave　a　cry。　All　heads　turned　to　the　water。　There　was　the　Rurisk；　rounding　the　north　tooth　of　Neatbay。　In　a　moment　a　second　sail　appeared。　Behind　us；　the　mounted　warriors　raised　a　shout。　But　out　beyond　our　ships；　anchored　in　deep　water；　white　as　a　dead　man's　belly　and　her　sails　as　bloated；　floated　the　white　ship。　The　moment　I　saw　it；　an　icicle　of　terror　sliced　my　guts。
　　　　　　　〃The　white　ship！〃　I　choked。　Fear　sent　a　shudder　through　me　that　was　almost　like　pain。
　　　　　　　〃What？〃　Burrich　asked；　startled。　It　was　the　first　word　he　had　spoken　to　me　that　day。
　　　　　　　〃The　white　ship！〃　I　repeated；　and　pointed　a　hand。
　　　　　　　〃What？　Where？　That？　That's　a　fog　bank。　Our　ships　are　ing　into　the　harbor　over　there。〃
　　　　　　　I　looked。　He　was　right。　A　fog　bank；　melting　in　the　morning　sun　even　as　I　watched。　My　terror　receded　like　the　ghost　of　mocking　laughter。　But　the　day　seemed　suddenly　chillier；　and　the　sun　that　had　briefly　parted　the　storm　clouds　a　weak　and　watery　thing。　An　evil　cast　lingered　on　the　day；　like　a　bad　smell。
　　　　　　　〃Split　your　forces　and　deploy　them　now；〃　Burrich　said　quietly。　〃We　don't　want　our　ships　to　meet　any　resistance　as　they　e　into　shore。　Quickly；　now。　Fitz。　You're　to　go　with　the　force　that　attacks　the　Red…Ships。　Be　there　when　the　Rurisk　beaches；　and　let　those　on　board　know　what　we've　decided。　As　quickly　as　those　Red…Ships　are　cleaned　out；　we　shall　want　all　fighters　to　join　us　in　containing　the　Outislanders。　I　wish　there　was　a　way　to　get　word　to　Duke　Kelvar　of　what　we're　doing。　I　suppose　he'll　see；　soon　enough。　Well；　let's　get　going。〃
　　　　　　　There　was　some　milling　about；　some　conferring　between　Kerf　and　Foxglove；　but　in　a　surprisingly　short　time　I　found　myself　riding　behind　Foxglove　with　a　contingent　of　warriors。　I　had　my　sword；　but　what　I　really　missed　was　the　ax　I　had　bee　so　fortable　with　over　the　summer。
　　　　　　　Nothing　was　as　tidy　as　was　planned。　We　encountered　Outislanders　in　the　wreckage　of　the　town；　long　before　we　reached　the　beach。　They　were　moving　back　toward　their　ships　and　were　hampered　with　a　coffle　of　prisoners。　We　attacked　the　Raiders。　Some　stood　and　fought；　and　some　abandoned　their　prisoners　and　ran　before　our　horses。　Our　troops　were　soon　scattered　throughout　the　still…smoldering　buildings　and　debris　scattered　streets　of　Neatbay。　Some　of　our　force　stayed　to　cut　the　ropes　on　the　prisoners　and　help　them　as　best　they　could。　Foxglove　swore　at　the　delay；　for　the　Raiders　that　had　fled　would　warn　the　ship　guards。　Swiftly　she　split　our　force；　leaving　a　handful　of　soldiers　to　help　the　battered　townsfolk。　The　smells　of　dead　bodies　and　rain　on　charred　timbers　brought　back　my　memories　of　Forge　with　a　vividness　that　almost　unmanned　me。　There　were　bodies　everywhere；　far　more　than　we　had　expected　to　find。　Somewhere　I　sensed　a　wolf　prowling　through　the　ruins；　and　took　fort　from　him。
　　　　　　　Foxglove　cursed　us　all　with　surprising　skill；　and　then　organized　those　she　kept　with　her　into　a　wedge。　We　swept　down　on　the　Red…Ships　in　time　to　see　one　being　launched　into　the　retreating　tide。　There　was　little　we　could　do　about　that；　but　we　were　in　time　to　prevent　a　second　ship　from　getting　off。　We　killed　those　ones　with　surprising　alacrity。　There　were　not　many；　only　a　skeleton　rowing　crew。　We　even　managed　to　kill　them　before　they　could　slay　most　of　their　captives　who　lay　bound　on　the　thwarts　of　the　ships。　We　suspected　that　the　ship　that　got　off　had　been　similarly　laden。　And　hence；　I　surmised　to　myself；　not　initially　planning　to　engage　the　Rurisk　or　any　of　the　ships　that　now　converged　on　the　one　that　had　eluded　us。
　　　　　　　But　the　Red…Ships　had　been　outward　bound　with　hostages。　To　where？　To　a　ghost　ship　that　only　I　had　glimpsed？　Even　to　think　of　the　white　ship　brought　a　shudder　over　me　and　a　pressure　in　my　head　like　the　beginning　of　pain。　Perhaps　they　had　intended　to　drown　their　hostages；　or　to　Forge　them；　however　that　was　done。　I　was　not　in　a　position　to　give　it　great　thought　then；　but　I　saved　the　knowledge　for　Chade。　Each　of　the　three　remaining　beached　ships　had　a　contingent　of　warriors；　and　they　fought　as　desperately　as　Burrich　had　predicted　they　would。　One　ship　was　set　afire　by　an；　overzealous　archer；　but　the　others　were　taken　intact。
　　　　　　　We　had　secured　all　the　ships　by　the　time　the　Rurisk　was　beached。　There　was　time　now　to　lift　my　head　and　to　look　out　over　Neatbay。　No　sign　of　the　white　ship。　Perhaps　it　had　been　only　a　cloud　bank。　Behind　the　Rurisk　came　the　Constance；　and　behind　them　a　flotilla　of　fishing　vessels　and　even　a　couple　of　merchant　ships。　Most　of　them　had　to　anchor　out　in　the　shallow　harbor；　but　the　men　aboard　them　were　ferried　swiftly　ashore。　The　warship　crews　waited　for　their　captains　to　hear　word　of　what　went　on；　but　those　from　the　fishing　vessels　and　merchant　ships　swept　past　us　and　headed　directly　for　the　besieged　Keep。
　　　　　　　The　trained　crews　from　the　warships　soon　over　took　them；　and　by　the　time　we　reached　the　outer　walls　of　the　Keep；　there　was　an　attitude　of　cooperation；　if　not　any　real　organization。　The　prisoners　we　had　freed　were　weak　from　lack　of　food　and　water；　but　recovered　quickly　and　were　indispensable　in　giving　us　intimate　knowledge　of　the　outer　earthworks。　By　afternoon；　our　siege　of　the　besiegers　was　in　place。　With　difficulty；　Burrich　persuaded　all　involved　that　at　least　one　of　our　warships　should　remain　fully　manned　and　on　alert；　in　the　water。　His　premonition　was　proven　correct　the　next　morning；　when　two　more　Red…Ships　sailed　around　the　northern　point　of　the　bay。　The　Rurisk　ran　them　off；　but　they　fled　too　easily　for　us　to　take　any　satisfaction　in　it。　All　knew　they　would　simply　find　an　undefended　village　to　raid　farther　up　the　coast。　Several　of　the　fishing　vessels　belatedly　gave　chase；　though　there　was　little　chance　of　them　catching　the　oared　vessels　of　the　Raiders。
　　　　　　　By　the　second　day　of　waiting；　we　were　beginning　to　be　bored　and　unfortable。　The　weather　had　turned　foul　again。　The　hard　bread　was　starting　to　taste　of　mold；　the　dried　fish　was　no　longer　pletely　dry。　To　cheer　us；　Duke　Kelvar　had　added　the　Buck　flag　of　the　Six　Duchies　to　his　own　pennon　flying　over　Bayguard　to　acknowledge　us。　But　like　us；　he　had　chosen　a　waiting　strategy。　The　Outislanders　were　penned。　They　had　not　attempted　to　break　out　past　us；　nor　to　advance　closer　to　the　Keep。　All　was　still　and　waiting。
　　　　　　　〃You　don't　listen　to　warnings。　You　never　have。〃　Burrich　spoke　quietly　to　me。
　　　　　　　Night　had　fallen。　It　was　the　first　time　since　our　arrival　that　we　had　had　more　than　a　few　moments　together。　He　sat　on　a　log；　his　injured　leg　stretched　straight　in　front　of　him。　I　crouched　by　the　fire；　trying　to　warm　my　hands。　We　were　outside　a　temporary　shelter　set　up　for　the　Queen；　tending　a　very　smoky　fire。　Burrich　had　wanted　her　to　settle　in　one　of　the　few　intact　buildings　left　in　Neatbay；　but　she　had　refused；　insisting　on　staying　close　to　her　warriors。　Her　guard　came　and　went　freely；　in　her　shelter　and　at　her　fire。　Burrich　frowned　over　their　familiarity；　but　also　approved　her　loyalty。　〃Your　father；　too；　was　like　that；〃　he　observed　suddenly　as　two　of　Kettricken's　guard　emerged　from　her　shelter　and　went　to　relieve　others　still　on　watch。
　　　　　　　〃Didn't　take　warnings？〃　I　asked　in　surprise。
　　　　　　　Burrich　shook　his　head。　〃No。　Always　his　soldiers；　ing　and　going；　at　all　hours。　I've　always　wondered　when　he　found　the　privacy　to　create　you。〃
　　　　　　　I　must　have　looked　shocked；　for　Burrich　suddenly　flushed　as　well。　〃Sorry。　I'm　tired　and　my　leg　is　。。。　unfortable。　I　wasn't　thinking　what　I　was　saying。〃
　　　　　　　I　found　a　smile　unexpectedly。　〃It's　all　right；〃　I　said；　and　it　was。　When　he　had　found　out　about　Nighteyes；　I　was　afraid　he　was　going　to　banish　me　again。　A　jest；　even　a　rough　jest；　was　wele。　〃You　were　saying　about　warnings？〃　I　asked　humbly。
　　　　　　　He　sighed。　〃You　said　it。　We　are　as　we　are。　And　he　said　it。　Sometimes　they　don't　give　you　a　choice。　They　just　bond　to　you。〃
　　　　　　　Somewhere　off　in　the　darkness；　a　dog　howled。　It　was　not　really　a　dog。　Burrich　glared　at　me。　〃I　can't　control　him　at　all；〃　I　admitted。
　　　　　　　Nor　I；　you。　Why　should　there　be　control；　one　of　the　other？
　　　　　　　〃Nor　does　he　stay　out　of　personal　conversations；〃　I　observed。
　　　　　　　〃Nor　personal　anything；〃　Burrich　said　flatly。　He　spoke　in　the　voice　of　a　man　who　knew。
　　　　　　　〃I　thought　you　said　you　never　used　。。。　it。〃　Even　out　here；　I　would　not　say　〃the　Wit〃　aloud。
　　　　　　　〃I　don't。　No　good　es　of　it。　I　will　tell　you　plainly　now　what　I've　told　you　before。　It　。。。　changes　you。　If　you　give　in　to　it。　If　you　live　it。　If　you　can't　shut　it　out；　at　least　don't　seek　after　it。　Don't　bee…〃
　　　　　　　〃Burrich？〃
　　　　　　　We　both　jumped。　It　was　Foxglove；　e　quietly　out　of　the　darkness　to　stand　on　the　other　side　of　the　fire。　How　much　had　she　heard？
　　　　　　　〃Yes？　Is　there　a　problem？〃
　　　　　　　She　hunkered　down　in　the　darkness；　lifted　her　red　hands　to　the　fire。　She　sighed。　〃I　don't　know。　How　do　I　ask　this？　Are　you　aware　she's　pregnant？〃
　　　　　　　Burrich　and　I　exchanged　glances。　〃Who？〃　he　asked　levelly。
　　　　　　　〃I've　got　two　children　of　my　own；　you　know。　And　most　of　her　guard　is　women。　She　pukes　every　morning；　and　lives　off　raspberry…leaf　tea。　She　can't　even　look　at　the　salt　fish　without　retching。　She　shouldn't　be　here；　living　like　this。〃　Foxglove　nodded　toward　the　tent。
　　　　　　　Oh。　The　Vixen。
　　　　　　　Shut　up。
　　　　　　　〃She　did　not　ask　our　advice；〃　Burrich　said　carefully。
　　　　　　　〃The　situation　here　is　under　control。　There　is　no　reason　she　should　not　be　sent　back　to　Buckkeep；〃　Foxglove　said　calmly。
　　　　　　　〃I　can't　imagine　‘sending　her　back'　to　anywhere；〃　Burrich　observed。　〃I　think　it　would　have　to　be　a　decis