grrm.astormofswords-第103章

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on　he　could　not　answer。
　Thunder　rumbled　softly　in　the　distance；　but　above　him　the　clouds　were　breaking　up。　Jon　searched　the　sky　until　he　found　the　Ice　Dragon；　then　turned　the　mare　north　for　the　Wall　and　Castle　Black。　The　throb　of　pain　in　his　thigh　muscle　made　him　wince　as　he　put　his　heels　into　the　old　man's　horse。　I　am　going　home；　he　told　himself。　But　if　that　was　true；　why　did　he　feel　so　hollow？
　He　rode　till　dawn；　while　the　stars　stared　down　like　eyes。
　
　CHAPTER　42
　DAENERYS
　
　Her　Dothraki　scouts　had　told　her　how　it　was；　but　Dany　wanted　to　see　for　herself。　Ser　Jorah　Mormont　rode　with　her　through　a　birchwood　forest　and　up　a　slanting　sandstone　ridge。　〃Near　enough；〃　he　warned　her　at　the　crest。
　Dany　reined　in　her　mare　and　looked　across　the　fields；　to　where　the　Yunkish　host　lay　athwart　her　path。　Whitebeard　had　been　teaching　her　how　best　to　count　the　numbers　of　a　foe。　〃Five　thousand；〃　she　said　after　a　moment。
　〃I'd　say　so。〃　Ser　Jorah　pointed。　〃Those　are　sellswords　on　the　flanks。　Lances　and　mounted　bowmen；　with　swords　and　axes　for　the　close　work。　The　Second　Sons　on　the　left　wing；　the　Stormcrows　to　the　right。　About　five　hundred　men　apiece。　See　the　banners？〃
　Yunkai's　harpy　grasped　a　whip　and　iron　collar　in　her　talons　instead　of　a　length　of　chain。　But　the　sellswords　flew　their　own　standards　beneath　those　of　the　city　they　served：　on　the　right　four　crows　between　crossed　thunderbolts；　on　the　left　a　broken　sword。　〃The　Yunkai'i　hold　the　center　themselves；〃　Dany　noted。　Their　officers　looked　indistinguishable　from　Astapor's　at　a　distance；　tall　bright　helms　and　cloaks　sewn　with　flashing　copper　disks。　〃Are　those　slave　soldiers　they　lead？〃
　〃In　large　part。　But　not　the　equal　of　Unsullied。　Yunkai　is　known　for　training　bed　slaves；　not　warriors。〃
　〃What　say　you？　Can　we　defeat　this　army？〃
　〃Easily；〃　Ser　Jorah　said。
　〃But　not　bloodlessly。〃　Blood　aplenty　had　soaked　into　the　bricks　of　Astapor　the　day　that　city　fell；　though　little　of　it　belonged　to　her　or　hers。
　〃We　might　win　a　battle　here；　but　at　such　cost　we　cannot　take　the　city。〃　
　〃That　is　ever　a　risk；　Khaleesi。　Astapor　was　placent　and　vulnerable。　Yunkai　is　forewarned。〃
　Dany　considered。　The　slaver　host　seemed　small　pared　to　her　own　numbers；　but　the　sellswords　were　ahorse。　She'd　ridden　too　long　with　Dothraki　not　to　have　a　healthy　respect　for　what　mounted　warriors　could　do　to　foot。　The　Unsullied　could　withstand　their　charge；　but　my　freedmen　will　be　slaughtered。　〃The　slavers　like　to　talk；〃　she　said。　〃Send　word　that　I　will　hear　them　this　evening　in　my　tent。　And　invite　the　captains　of　the　sellsword　panies　to　call　on　me　as　well。　But　not　together。　The　Stormcrows　at　midday；　the　Second　Sons　two　hours　later。〃
　〃As　you　wish；〃　Ser　Jorah　said。　〃But　if　they　do　not　e　…
　〃They'll　e。　They　will　be　curious　to　see　the　dragons　and　hear　what　I　might　have　to　say；　and　the　clever　ones　will　see　it　for　a　chance　to　gauge　my　strength。〃　She　wheeled　her　silver　mare　about。　〃I'll　await　them　in　my　pavilion。〃
　Slate　skies　and　brisk　winds　saw　Dany　back　to　her　host。　The　deep　ditch　that　would　encircle　her　camp　was　already　half　dug；　and　the　woods　were　full　of　Unsullied　lopping　branches　off　birch　trees　to　sharpen　into　stakes。　The　eunuchs　could　not　sleep　in　an　unfortified　camp；　or　so　Grey　Worm　insisted。　He　was　there　watching　the　work。　Dany　halted　a　moment　to　speak　with　him。　〃Yunkai　has　girded　up　her　loins　for　battle。〃
　〃This　is　good；　Your　Grace。　These　ones　thirst　for　blood。〃
　When　she　had　manded　the　Unsullied　to　choose　officers　from　amongst　themselves；　Grey　Worm　had　been　their　overwhelming　choice　for　the　highest　rank。　Dany　had　put　Ser　Jorah　over　him　to　train　him　for　mand；　and　the　exile　knight　said　that　so　far　the　young　eunuch　was　hard　but　fair；　quick　to　learn；　tireless；　and　utterly　unrelenting　in　his　attention　to　detail。
　〃The　Wise　Masters　have　assembled　a　slave　army　to　meet　us。〃
　〃A　slave　in　Yunkai　learns　the　way　of　seven　sighs　and　the　sixteen　seats　of　pleasure；　Your　Grace。　The　Unsullied　learn　the　way　of　the　three　spears。　Your　Grey　Worm　hopes　to　show　you。〃
　One　of　the　first　things　Dany　had　done　after　the　fall　of　Astapor　was　abolish　the　custom　of　giving　the　Unsullied　new　slave　names　every　day。　Most　of　those　born　free　had　returned　to　their　birth　names；　those　who　still　remembered　them；　at　least。　others　had　called　themselves　after　heroes　or　gods；　and　sometimes　weapons；　gems；　and　even　flowers；　which　resulted　in　soldiers　with　some　very　peculiar　names；　to　Dany's　ears。　Grey　Worm　had　remained　Grey　Worm。　When　she　asked　him　why；　he　said；　〃It　is　a　lucky　name。　The　name　this　one　was　born　to　was　accursed。　That　was　the　name　he　had　when　he　was　taken　for　a　slave。　But　Grey　Worm　is　the　name　this　one　drew　the　day　Daenerys　Stormborn　set　him　free。〃
　〃If　battle　is　joined；　let　Grey　Worm　show　wisdom　as　well　as　valor；〃　Dany　told　him。　〃Spare　any　slave　who　runs　or　throws　down　his　weapon。　The　fewer　slain；　the　more　remain　to　join　us　after。〃
　〃This　one　will　remember。〃
　〃I　know　he　will。　Be　at　my　tent　by　midday。　I　want　you　there　with　my　other　officers　when　I　treat　with　the　sellsword　captains。〃　Dany　spurred　her　silver　on　to　camp。
　Within　the　perimeter　the　Unsullied　had　established；　the　tents　were　going　up　in　orderly　rows；　with　her　own　tall　golden　pavilion　at　the　center。　A　second　encampment　lay　close　beyond　her　own；　five　times　the　size；　sprawling　and　chaotic；　this　second　camp　had　no　ditches；　no　tents；　no　sentries；　no　horselines。　Those　who　had　horses　or　mules　slept　beside　them；　for　fear　they　might　be　stolen。　Goats；　sheep；　and　half…starved　dogs　wandered　freely　amongst　hordes　of　women；　children；　and　old　men。　Dany　had　left　Astapor　in　the　hands　of　a　council　of　former　slaves　led　by　a　healer；　a　scholar；　and　a　priest。　Wise　men　all；　she　thought；　and　just。　Yet　even　so；　tens　of　thousands　preferred　to　follow　her　to　Yunkai；　rather　than　remain　behind　in　Astapor。　I　gave　them　the　city；　and　most　of　them　were　too　frightened　to　take　it。
　The　raggle…taggle　host　of　freedmen　dwarfed　her　own；　but　they　were　more　burden　than　benefit。　Perhaps　one　in　a　hundred　had　a　donkey；　a　camel；　or　an　ox；　most　carried　weapons　looted　from　some　slaver's　armory；　but　only　one　in　ten　was　strong　enough　to　fight；　and　none　was　trained。　They　ate　the　land　bare　as　they　passed；　like　locusts　in　sandals。　Yet　Dany　could　not　bring　herself　to　abandon　them　as　Ser　Jorah　and　her　bloodriders　urged。　I　told　them　they　were　free。　I　cannot　tell　them　now　they　are　not　free　to　join　me。　She　gazed　at　the　smoke　rising　from　their　cookfires　and　swallowed　a　sigh。　She　might　have　the　best　footsoldiers　in　the　world；　but　she　also　had　the　worst。
　Arstan　Whitebeard　stood　outside　the　entrance　of　her　tent；　while　Strong　Belwas　sat　crosslegged　on　the　grass　nearby；　eating　a　bowl　of　figs。　on　the　march；　the　duty　of　guarding　her　fell　upon　their　shoulders。　She　had　made　Jhogo；　Aggo；　and　Rakharo　her　kos　as　well　as　her　bloodriders；　and　just　now　she　needed　them　more　to　mand　her　Dothraki　than　to　protect　her　person。　Her　khalasar　was　tiny；　some　thirty…odd　mounted　warriors；　and　most　of　them　braidless　boys　and　bentback　old　men。　Yet　they　were　all　the　horse　she　had；　and　she　dared　not　go　without　them。　The　Unsullied　might　be　the　finest　infantry　in　all　the　world；　as　Ser　Jorah　claimed；　but　she　needed　scouts　and　outriders　as　well。
　〃Yunkai　will　have　war；〃　Dany　told　Whitebeard　inside　the　pavilion。　Irri　and　Jhiqui　had　covered　the　floor　with　carpets　while　Missandei　lit　a　stick　of　incense　to　sweeten　the　dusty　air。　Drogon　and　Rhaegal　were　asleep　atop　some　cushions；　curled　about　each　other；　but　Viserion　perched　on　the　edge　of　her　empty　bath。　〃Missandei；　what　language　will　these　Yunkai'i　speak；　Valyrian？〃
　〃Yes；　Your　Grace；〃　the　child　said。　〃A　different　dialect　than　Astapor's；　yet　close　enough　to　understand。　The　slavers　name　themselves　the　Wise　Masters。〃
　〃Wise？〃　Dany　sat　crosslegged　on　a　cushion；　and　Viserion　spread　his　white…and…gold　wings　and　flapped　to　her　side。　〃We　shall　see　how　wise　they　are；〃　she　said　as　she　scratched　the　dragon's　scaly　head　behind　the　horns。
　Ser　Jorah　Mormont　returned　an　hour　later；　acpanied　by　three　captains　of　the　Stormcrows。　They　wore　black　feathers　on　their　polished　helms；　and　claimed　to　be　all　equal　in　honor　and　authority。　Dany　studied　them　as　Irri　and　Jhiqui　poured　the　wine。　Prendahl　na　Ghezn　was　a　thickset　Ghiscari　with　a　broad　face　and　dark　hair　going　grey；　Sallor　the　Bald　had　a　twisting　scar　across　his　pale　Qartheen　cheek；　and　Daario　Naharis　was　flamboyant　even　for　a　Tyroshi。　His　beard　was　cut　into　three　prongs　and　dyed　blue；　the　same　color　as　his　eyes　and　the　curly　hair　that　fell　to　his　collar。　His　pointed　mustachios　were　painted　gold。　His　clothes　were　all　shades　of　yellow；　a　foam　of　Myrish　lace　the　color　of　butter　spilled　from　his　collar　and　cuffs；　his　doublet　was　sewn　with　brass　medallions　in　the　shape　of　dandelions；　and　ornamental　goldwork　crawled　up　his　high　leather　boots　to　his　thighs。　Gloves　of　soft　yellow　suede　were　tucked　into　a　belt　of　gilded　rings；　and　his　fingernails　were　enameled　blue。
　But　it　was　Prendahl　na　Ghezn　who　spoke　for　the　sellswords。　〃You　would　do　well　to　take　your　rabble　elsewhere；〃　he　said。　〃You　took　Astapor　by　treachery；　but　Yunkai　shall　not　fall　so　easily。〃
　〃Five　hundred　of　your　Stormcrows　against　ten　thousand　of　my　Unsullied；〃　said　Dany。　〃I　am　only　a　young　girl　and　do　not　understand　the　ways　of　war；　yet　these　odds　seem　poor　to　me。〃
　〃The　Stormcrows　do　not　stand　alone；〃　said　Prendahl。
　〃Stormcrows　do　not　stand　at　all。　They　fly；　at　the　first　sign　of　thunder。　Perhaps　you　should　be　flying　now。　I　have　heard　that　sellswords　are　notoriously　unfaithful。　What　will　it　avail　you　to　be　staunch；　when　the　Second　Sons　change　sides？〃
　〃That　will　not　happen；〃　Prendahl　insisted；　unmoved。　〃And　if　it　did；　it　would　not　matter。　The　Second　Sons　are　nothing。　We　fight　beside　the　stalwart　men　of　Yunkai。〃
　〃You　fight　beside　bed…boys　armed　with　spears。〃　When　she　turned　her　head；　the　twin　bells　in　her　braid　rang　softly。　〃Once　battle　is　joined；　do　not　think　to　ask　for　quarter。　join　me　now；　however；　and　you　shall　keep　the　gold　the　Yunkaii　paid　you　and　claim　a　share　of　the　plunder　besides；　with　greater　rewards　later　when　I　e　into　my　kingdom。　Fight　for　the　Wise　Masters；　and　your　wages　will　be　death。　Do　you　imagine　that　Yunkai　will　open　its　gates　when　my　Unsullied　are　butchering　you　beneath　the　walls？〃
　〃Woman；　you　bray　like　an　ass；　and　make　no　more　sense。〃
　〃Woman？〃　She　chuckled。　〃Is　that　meant　to　insult　me？　I　would　return　the　slap；　if　I　took　you　for　a　man。〃　Dany　met　his　stare。　〃I　am　Daenerys　Stormborn　of　House　Targaryen；　the　Unburnt；　Mother　of　Dragons；　khaleesi　to　Drogo's　riders；　and　queen　of　the　Seven　Kingdoms　of　Westeros。〃
　〃What　you　are；〃　said　Prendahl　na　Ghezn；　〃is　a　horselord's　whore。　When　we　break　you；　I　will　breed　you　to　my　stallion。〃
　Strong　Belwas　drew　his　arakh。　〃Strong　Belwas　will　give　his　ugly　tongue　to　the　little　queen；　if　she　likes。〃
　〃No；　Belwas。　I　have　given　these　men　my　safe　conduct。〃　She　smiled。　〃Tell　me　this…are　the　Stormcrows　slave　or　free？〃
　〃We　are　a　brotherhood　of　free　men；〃　Sallor　declared。
　〃Good。〃　Dany　stood。　〃Go　back　and　tell　your　brothers　what　I　said；　then。　it　may　be　that　some　of　them　would　sooner　sup　on　gold　and　glory　than　on　death。　I　shall　want　your　answer　on　the　morrow。〃
　The　Stormcrow　captains　rose　in　unison。　〃Our　answer　is　no；〃　said　Prend