grrm.astormofswords-第10章

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both　of　them。　If　they　didn't　want　to　follow；　they　could　find　Riverrun　on　their　own；　though　more　likely　the　Mummers　would　just　find　them。
　She　had　to　ride　a　good　half　mile　along　the　bank　before　she　finally　found　a　place　where　it　looked　as　though　it　might　be　safe　to　cross；　and　even　then　her　mare　was　reluctant　to　enter　the　water。　The　river；　whatever　its　name；　was　running　brown　and　fast；　and　the　deep　part　in　the　middle　came　up　past　the　horse's　belly。　Water　filled　her　boots；　but　she　pressed　in　her　heels　all　the　same　and　climbed　out　on　the　far　bank。　From　behind　she　heard　splashing；　and　a　mare's　nervous　whinny。　They　followed；　then。　Good。　She　turned　to　watch　as　the　boys　struggled　across　and　emerged　dripping　beside　her。　〃It　wasn't　the　Trident；〃　she　told　them。　〃It　wasn't。〃
　The　next　river　was　shallower　and　easier　to　ford。　That　one　wasn't　the　Trident　either；　and　no　one　argued　with　her　when　she　told　them　they　would　cross　it。
　Dusk　was　settling　as　they　stopped　to　rest　the　horses　once　more　and　share　another　meal　of　bread　and　cheese。　〃I'm　cold　and　wet；〃　Hot　Pie　plained。　〃We're　a　long　way　from　Harrenhal　now；　for　sure。　We　could　have　us　a　fire…〃
　〃NO！〃　Arya　and　Gendry　both　said；　at　the　exact　same　instant。　Hot　Pie　quailed　a　little。　Arya　gave　Gendry　a　sideways　look。　He　said　it　with　me；　like　Jon　used　to　do；　back　in　Winterfell。　She　missed　Jon　Snow　the　most　of　all　her　brothers。
　〃Could　we　sleep　at　least？〃　Hot　Pie　asked。　〃I'm　so　tired；　Arry；　and　my　arse　is　sore。　I　think　I've　got　blisters。〃
　〃You'll　have　more　than　that　if　you're　caught；〃　she　said。　〃We've　got　to　keep　going。　We've　got　to。〃
　〃But　it's　almost　dark；　and　you　can't　even　see　the　moon。〃
　〃Get　back　on　your　horse。〃
　Plodding　along　at　a　slow　walking　pace　as　the　light　faded　around　them；　Arya　found　her　own　exhaustion　weighing　heavy　on　her。　She　needed　sleep　as　much　as　Hot　Pie；　but　they　dare　not。　If　they　slept；　they　might　open　their　eyes　to　find　Vargo　Hoat　standing　over　them　with　Shagwell　the　Fool　and　Faithful　Urswyck　and　Rorge　and　Biter　and　Septon　Utt　and　all　his　other　monsters。
　Yet　after　a　while　the　motion　of　her　horse　became　as　soothing　as　the　rocking　of　a　cradle；　and　Arya　found　her　eyes　growing　heavy。　She　let　them　close；　just　for　an　instant；　then　snapped　them　wide　again。　I　can't　go　to　sleep；　she　screamed　at　herself　silently；　I　can't；　I　can't。　She　knuckled　at　her　eye　and　rubbed　it　hard　to　keep　it　open；　clutching　the　reins　tightly　and　kicking　her　mount　to　a　canter。　But　neither　she　nor　the　horse　could　sustain　the　pace；　and　it　was　only　a　few　moments　before　they　fell　back　to　a　walk　again；　and　a　few　more　until　her　eyes　closed　a　second　time。　This　time　they　did　not　open　quite　so　quickly。
　When　they　did；　she　found　that　her　horse　had　e　to　a　stop　and　was　nibbling　at　a　tuft　of　grass；　while　Gendry　was　shaking　her　arm。　〃You　fell　asleep；〃　he　told　her。
　〃I　was　just　resting　my　eyes。〃
　〃You　were　resting　them　a　long　while；　then。　Your　horse　was　wandering　in　a　circle；　but　it　wasn't　till　she　stopped　that　I　realized　you　were　sleeping。　Hot　Pie's　just　as　bad；　he　rode　into　a　tree　limb　and　got　knocked　off；　you　should　have　heard　him　yell。　Even　that　didn't　wake　you　up。　You　need　to　stop　and　sleep。〃
　〃I　can　keep　going　as　long　as　you　can。〃　She　yawned。
　〃Liar；〃　he　said。　〃You　keep　going　if　you　want　to　be　stupid；　but　I'm　stopping。　I'll　take　the　first　watch。　You　sleep。〃
　〃What　about　Hot　Pie？〃
　Gendry　pointed。　Hot　Pie　was　already　on　the　ground；　curled　up　beneath　his　cloak　on　a　bed　of　damp　leaves　and　snoring　softly。　He　had　a　big　wedge　of　cheese　in　one　fist；　but　it　looked　as　though　he　had　fallen　asleep　between　bites。
　It　was　no　good　arguing；　Arya　realized；　Gendry　had　the　right　of　it。　The　Mummers　will　need　to　sleep　too；　she　told　herself；　hoping　it　was　true。　She　was　so　weary　it　was　a　struggle　even　to　get　down　from　the　saddle；　but　she　remembered　to　hobble　her　horse　before　finding　a　place　beneath　a　beech　tree。　The　ground　was　hard　and　damp。　She　wondered　how　long　it　would　be　before　she　slept　in　a　bed　again；　with　hot　food　and　a　fire　to　warm　her。　The　last　thing　she　did　before　closing　her　eyes　was　unsheathe　her　sword　and　lay　it　down　beside　her。　〃Ser　Gregor；〃　she　whispered；　yawning。　〃Dunsen；　Polliver；　Raff　the　Sweetling。　The　Tickler　and　。　。　。　the　Tickler　。　。　。　the　Hound　。　。　。〃
　Her　dreams　were　red　and　savage。　The　Mummers　were　in　them；　four　at　least；　a　pale　Lyseni　and　a　dark　brutal　axeman　from　Ib；　the　scarred　Dothraki　horse　lord　called　Iggo　and　a　Dornishman　whose　name　she　never　knew。　On　and　on　they　came；　riding　through　the　rain　in　rusting　mail　and　wet　leather；　swords　and　axe　clanking　against　their　saddles。　They　thought　they　were　hunting　her；　she　knew　with　all　the　strange　sharp　certainty　of　dreams；　but　they　were　wrong。　She　was　hunting　them。
　She　was　no　little　girl　in　the　dream；　she　was　a　wolf；　huge　and　powerful；　and　when　she　emerged　from　beneath　the　trees　in　front　of　them　and　bared　her　teeth　in　a　low　rumbling　growl；　she　could　smell　the　rank　stench　of　fear　from　horse　and　man　alike。　The　Lyseni's　mount　reared　and　screamed　in　terror；　and　the　others　shouted　at　one　another　in　mantalk；　but　before　they　could　act　the　other　wolves　came　hurtling　from　the　darkness　and　the　rain；　a　great　pack　of　them；　gaunt　and　wet　and　silent。
　The　fight　was　short　but　bloody。　The　hairy　man　went　down　as　he　unslung　his　axe；　the　dark　one　died　stringing　an　arrow；　and　the　pale　man　from　Lys　tried　to　bolt。　Her　brothers　and　sisters　ran　him　down；　turning　him　again　and　again；　ing　at　him　from　all　sides；　snapping　at　the　legs　of　his　horse　and　tearing　the　throat　from　the　rider　when　he　came　crashing　to　the　earth。
　Only　the　belled　man　stood　his　ground。　His　horse　kicked　in　the　head　of　one　of　her　sisters；　and　he　cut　another　almost　in　half　with　his　curved　silvery　claw　as　his　hair　tinkled　softly。
　Filled　with　rage；　she　leapt　onto　his　back；　knocking　him　head…first　from　his　saddle。　Her　jaws　locked　on　his　arm　as　they　fell；　her　teeth　sinking　through　the　leather　and　wool　and　soft　flesh。　When　they　landed　she　gave　a　savage　jerk　with　her　head　and　ripped　the　limb　loose　from　his　shoulder。　Exulting；　she　shook　it　back　and　forth　in　her　mouth；　scattering　the　warm　red　droplets　amidst　the　cold　black　rain。
　
　CHAPTER　4
　TYRION
　
　He　woke　to　the　creak　of　old　iron　hinges。
　〃Who？〃　he　croaked。　At　least　he　had　his　voice　back；　raw　and　hoarse　though　it　was。　The　fever　was　still　on　him；　and　Tyrion　had　no　notion　of　the　hour。　How　long　had　he　slept　this　time？　He　was　so　weak；　so　damnably　weak。　〃Who？〃　he　called　again；　more　loudly。　Torchlight　spilled　through　the　open　door；　but　within　the　chamber　the　only　light　came　from　the　stub　of　a　candle　beside　his　bed。
　When　he　saw　a　shape　moving　toward　him；　Tyrion　shivered。　Here　in　Maegor's　Holdfast；　every　servant　was　in　the　queen's　pay；　so　any　visitor　might　be　another　of　Cersei's　catspaws；　sent　to　finish　the　work　Ser　Mandon　had　begun。
　Then　the　man　stepped　into　the　candlelight；　got　a　good　look　at　the　dwarf's　pale　face；　and　chortled。　〃Cut　yourself　shaving；　did　you？〃
　Tyrion's　fingers　went　to　the　great　gash　that　ran　from　above　one　eye　down　to　his　jaw；　across　what　remained　of　his　nose。　The　proud　flesh　was　still　raw　and　warm　to　the　touch。　〃With　a　fearful　big　razor；　yes。〃
　Bronn's　coal…black　hair　was　freshly　washed　and　brushed　straight　back　from　the　hard　lines　of　his　face；　and　he　was　dressed　in　high　boots　of　soft；　tooled　leather；　a　wide　belt　studded　with　nuggets　of　silver；　and　a　cloak　of　pale　green　silk。　Across　the　dark　grey　wool　of　his　doublet；　a　burning　chain　was　embroidered　diagonally　in　bright　green　thread。
　〃Where　have　you　been？〃　Tyrion　demanded　of　him。　〃I　sent　for　you　。　。　。　it　must　have　been　a　fortnight　ago。〃
　〃Four　days　ago；　more　like；〃　the　sellsword　said；　〃and　I've　been　here　twice；　and　found　you　dead　to　the　world。〃
　〃Not　dead。　Though　my　sweet　sister　did　try。〃　Perhaps　he　should　not　have　said　that　aloud；　but　Tyrion　was　past　caring。　Cersei　was　behind　Ser　Mandon's　attempt　to　kill　him；　he　knew　that　in　his　gut。　〃What's　that　ugly　thing　on　your　chest？〃
　Brorm　grinned。　〃My　knightly　sigil。　A　flaming　chain；　green；　on　a　smokegrey　field。　By　your　lord　father's　mand；　I'm　Ser　Bronn　of　the　Blackwater　now；　Imp。　See　you　don't　forget　it。〃
　Tyrion　put　his　hands　on　the　featherbed　and　squirmed　back　a　few　inches；　against　the　pillows。　〃I　was　the　one　who　promised　you　knighthood；　remember？　〃　He　had　liked　that　〃by　your　lord　father's　mand〃　not　at　all。　Lord　Tywin　had　wasted　little　time。　Moving　his　son　from　the　Tower　of　the　Hand　to　claim　it　for　himself　was　a　message　anyone　could　read；　and　this　was　another。　〃I　lose　half　my　nose　and　you　gain　a　knighthood。　The　gods　have　a　deal　to　answer　for。〃　His　voice　was　sour。　〃Did　my　father　dub　you　himself　？〃
　〃No。　Them　of　us　as　survived　the　fight　at　the　winch　towers　got　ourselves　dabbed　by　the　High　Septon　and　dubbed　by　the　Kingsguard。　Took　half　the　bloody　day；　with　only　three　of　the　White　Swords　left　to　do　the　honors。〃
　〃I　knew　Ser　Mandon　died　in　the　battle。〃　Shoved　into　the　river　by　Pod；　half　a　heartbeat　before　the　treacherous　bastard　could　drive　his　sword　through　my　heart。　〃Who　else　was　lost？〃
　〃The　Hound；〃　said　Bronn。　〃Not　dead；　only　gone。　The　gold　cloaks　say　he　turned　craven　and　you　led　a　sortie　in　his　place。〃
　Not　one　of　my　better　notions。　Tyrion　could　feel　the　scar　tissue　pull　tight　when　he　frowned。　He　waved　Brorm　toward　a　chair。　〃My　sister　has　mistaken　me　for　a　mushroom。　She　keeps　me　in　the　dark　and　feeds　me　shit。　Pod's　a　good　lad；　but　the　knot　in　his　tongue　is　the　size　of　Casterly　Rock；　and　I　don't　trust　half　of　what　he　tells　me。　I　sent　him　to　bring　Ser　jacelyn　and　he　came　back　and　told　me　he's　dead。〃
　〃Him；　and　thousands　more。〃　Bronn　sat。
　〃How？〃　Tyrion　demanded；　feeling　that　much　sicker。
　〃During　the　battle。　Your　sister　sent　the　Kettleblacks　to　fetch　the　king　back　to　the　Red　Keep；　the　way　I　hear　it。　When　the　gold　cloaks　saw　him　leaving　half　of　them　decided　they'd　leave　with　him。　Ironhand　put　himself　in　their　path　and　tried　to　order　them　back　to　the　walls。　They　say　Bywater　was　blistering　them　good　and　almost　had'em　ready　to　turn　when　someone　put　an　arrow　through　his　neck。　He　didn't　seem　so　fearsome　then；　so　they　dragged　him　off　his　horse　and　killed　him。〃
　Another　debt　to　lay　at　Cersei's　door。　〃My　nephew；〃　he　said；　〃Joffrey。　Was　he　in　any　danger？〃
　〃No　more'n　some；　and　less　than　most。〃
　〃Had　he　suffered　any　harm？　Taken　a　wound？　Mussed　his　hair；　stubbed　his　toe；　cracked　a　nail？〃
　〃Not　as　I　heard。〃
　〃I　warned　Cersei　what　would　happen。　Who　mands　the　gold　cloaks　now？〃
　〃Your　lord　father's　given　them　to　one　of　his　westermen；　some　knight　named　Addam　Marbrand。〃
　In　most　cases　the　gold　cloaks　would　have　resented　having　an　outsider　placed　over　them；　but　Ser　Addam　Marbrand　was　a　shrewd　choice。　Like　Jaime；　he　was　the　sort　of　man　other　men　liked　to　follow。　I　have　lost　the　City　Watch。　〃I　sent　Pod　looking　for　Shagga；　but　he's　had　no　luck。〃
　〃The　Stone　Crows　are　still　in　the　kingswood。　Shagga　seems　to　have　taken　a　fancy　to　the　place。　Timett　led　the　Burned　Men　home；　with　all　the　plunder　they　took　from　Stannis's　camp　after　the　fighting。　Chella　turned　up　with　a　dozen　Black　Ears　at　the　River　Gate　one　morning；　but　your　father's　red　cloaks　chased　them　off　while　the　Kingslanders　threw　dung　and　cheered。〃
　Ingrates。　The　Black　Ears　died　for　them。　Whilst　Tyrion　lay　drugged　and　dreaming；　his　own　blood　had　pulled