grrm.astormofswords-第110章

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ved　from　the　living　rock；　down　and　down。　I　must　go　up；　he　told　himself。　Up；　not　down。　Why　am　I　going　down？　Below　the　earth　his　doom　awaited；　he　knew　with　the　certainty　of　dream；　something　dark　and　terrible　lurked　there；　something　that　wanted　him。　Jaime　tried　to　halt；　but　their　spears　prodded　him　on。　If　only　I　had　my　sword；　nothing　could　harm　me。
　The　steps　ended　abruptly　on　echoing　darkness。　Jaime　had　the　sense　of　vast　space　before　him。　He　jerked　to　a　halt；　teetering　on　the　edge　of　nothingness。　A　spearpoint　jabbed　at　the　small　of　the　back；　shoving　him　into　the　abyss。　He　shouted；　but　the　fall　was　short。　He　landed　on　his　hands　and　knees；　upon　soft　sand　and　shallow　water。　There　were　watery　caverns　deep　below　Casterly　Rock；　but　this　one　was　strange　to　him。　〃What　place　is　this？〃
　〃Your　place。〃　The　voice　echoed；　it　was　a　hundred　voices；　a　thousand；　the　voices　of　all　the　Lannisters　since　Lann　the　Clever；　who'd　lived　at　the　dawn　of　days。　But　most　of　all　it　was　his　father's　voice；　and　beside　Lord　Tywin　stood　his　sister；　pale　and　beautiful；　a　torch　burning　in　her　hand。　Joffrey　was　there　as　well；　the　son　they'd　made　together；　and　behind　them　a　dozen　more　dark　shapes　with　golden　hair。
　〃Sister；　why　has　Father　brought　us　here？〃
　〃Us？　This　is　your　place；　Brother。　This　is　your　darkness。〃　Her　torch　was　the　only　light　in　the　cavern。　Her　torch　was　the　only　light　in　the　world。　She　turned　to　go。
　〃Stay　with　me；〃　Jaime　pleaded。　〃Don't　leave　me　here　alone。〃　But　they　were　leaving。　〃Don't　leave　me　in　the　dark！〃　Something　terrible　lived　down　here。　〃Give　me　a　sword；　at　least。〃
　〃I　gave　you　a　sword；〃　Lord　Tywin　said。
　It　was　at　his　feet。　Jaime　groped　under　the　water　until　his　hand　closed　upon　the　hilt。　Nothing　can　hurt　me　so　long　as　I　have　a　sword。　As　he　raised　the　sword　a　finger　of　pale　flame　flickered　at　the　point　and　crept　up　along　the　edge；　stopping　a　hand's　breath　from　the　hilt。　The　fire　took　on　the　color　of　the　steel　itself　so　it　burned　with　a　silvery…blue　light；　and　the　gloom　pulled　back。　Crouching；　listening；　Jaime　moved　in　a　circle；　ready　for　anything　that　might　e　out　of　the　darkness。　The　water　flowed　into　his　boots；　ankle　deep　and　bitterly　cold。　Beware　the　water；　he　told　himself。　There　may　be　creatures　living　in　it；　hidden　deeps　。　。　。
　From　behind　came　a　great　splash。　Jaime　whirled　toward　the　sound　。　。　。　but　the　faint　light　revealed　only　Brienne　of　Tarth；　her　hands　bound　in　heavy　chains。　〃I　swore　to　keep　you　safe；〃　the　wench　said　stubbornly。　〃I　swore　an　oath。〃　Naked；　she　raised　her　hands　to　Jaime。　〃Ser。　Please。　If　you　would　be　so　good。〃
　The　steel　links　parted　like　silk。　〃A　sword；〃　Brienne　begged；　and　there　it　was；　scabbard；　belt；　and　all。　She　buckled　it　around　her　thick　waist。　The　light　was　so　dim　that　Jaime　could　scarcely　see　her；　though　they　stood　a　scant　few　feet　apart。　In　this　light　she　could　almost　be　a　beauty；　he　thought。　in　this　light　she　could　almost　be　a　knight。　Brienne's　sword　took　flame　as　well；　burning　silvery　blue。　The　darkness　retreated　a　little　more。
　〃The　flames　will　burn　so　long　as　you　live；〃　he　heard　Cersei　call。　〃When　they　die；　so　must　you。〃
　〃Sister！〃　he　shouted。　〃Stay　with　me。　Stay！〃　There　was　no　reply　but　the　soft　sound　of　retreating　footsteps。
　Brienne　moved　her　longsword　back　and　forth；　watching　the　silvery　flames　shift　and　shimmer。　Beneath　her　feet；　a　reflection　of　the　burning　blade　shone　on　the　surface　of　the　flat　black　water。　She　was　as　tall　and　strong　as　he　remembered；　yet　it　seemed　to　Jaime　that　she　had　more　of　a　woman's　shape　now。
　〃Do　they　keep　a　bear　down　here？〃　Brienne　was　moving；　slow　and　wary；　sword　to　hand；　step；　turn；　and　listen。　Each　step　made　a　little　splash。　〃A　cave　lion？　Direwolves？　Some　bear？　Tell　me；　Jaime。　What　lives　here？　What　lives　in　the　darkness？〃
　〃Doom。〃　No　bear；　he　knew。　No　lion。　〃Only　doom。〃
　In　the　cool　silvery…blue　light　of　the　swords；　the　big　wench　looked　pale　and　fierce。　〃I　mislike　this　place。〃
　〃I'm　not　fond　of　it　myself。〃　Their　blades　made　a　little　island　of　light；　but　all　around　them　stretched　a　sea　of　darkness；　unending。　〃My　feet　are　wet。〃
　〃We　could　go　back　the　way　they　brought　us。　if　you　climbed　on　my　shoulders　you'd　have　no　trouble　reaching　that　tunnel　mouth。〃
　Then　I　could　follow　Cersei。　He　could　feel　himself　growing　hard　at　the　thought；　and　turned　away　so　Brienne　would　not　see。
　〃Listen。〃　She　put　a　hand　on　his　shoulder；　and　he　trembled　at　the　sudden　touch。　She's　warm。　〃Something　es。〃　Brienne　lifted　her　sword　to　point　off　to　his　left。　〃There。〃
　He　peered　into　the　gloom　until　he　saw　it　too。　Something　was　moving　through　the　darkness；　he　could　not　quite　make　it　out　。　。　。
　〃A　man　on　a　horse。　No；　two。　Two　riders；　side　by　side。〃
　〃Down　here；　beneath　the　Rock？〃　It　made　no　sense。　Yet　there　came　two　riders　on　pale　horses；　men　and　mounts　both　armored。　The　destriers　emerged　from　the　blackness　at　a　slow　walk。　They　make　no　sound；　Jaime　realized。　No　splashing；　no　clink　of　mail　nor　clop　of　hoof。　He　remembered　Eddard　Stark；　riding　the　length　of　Aerys's　throne　room　wrapped　in　silence。　Only　his　eyes　had　spoken；　a　lord's　eyes；　cold　and　grey　and　full　of　judgment。
　〃Is　it　you；　Stark？〃　Jaime　called。　〃e　ahead。　I　never　feared　you　living；　I　do　not　fear　you　dead。〃
　Brienne　touched　his　arm。　〃There　are　more。〃
　He　saw　them　too。　They　were　armored　all　in　snow；　it　seemed　to　him；　and　ribbons　of　mist　swirled　back　from　their　shoulders。　The　visors　of　their　helms　were　closed；　but　Jaime　Lannister　did　not　need　to　look　upon　their　faces　to　know　them。
　Five　had　been　his　brothers。　Oswell　Whent　and　Jon　Darry。　Lewyn　Martell；　a　prince　of　Dome。　The　White　Bull；　Gerold　Hightower。　Ser　Arthur　Dayne；　Sword　of　the　Morning。　And　beside　them；　crowned　in　mist　and　grief　with　his　long　hair　streaming　behind　him；　rode　Rhaegar　Targaryen；　Prince　of　Dragonstone　and　rightful　heir　to　the　Iron　Throne。
　〃You　don't　frighten　me；〃　he　called；　turning　as　they　split　to　either　side　of　him。　He　did　not　know　which　way　to　face。　〃I　will　fight　you　one　by　one　or　all　together。　But　who　is　there　for　the　wench　to　duel？　She　gets　cross　when　you　leave　her　out。〃
　〃I　swore　an　oath　to　keep　him　safe；〃　she　said　to　Rhaegar's　shade。　〃I　swore　a　holy　oath。〃
　〃We　all　swore　oaths；〃　said　Ser　Arthur　Dayne；　so　sadly。
　The　shades　dismounted　from　their　ghostly　horses。　When　they　drew　their　longswords；　it　made　not　a　sound。　〃He　was　going　to　burn　the　city；〃　Jaime　said。　〃To　leave　Robert　only　ashes。〃
　〃He　was　your　king；〃　said　Darry。
　〃You　swore　to　keep　him　safe；〃　said　Whent。
　〃And　the　children；　them　as　well；〃　said　Prince　Lewyn。
　Prince　Rhaegar　burned　with　a　cold　light；　now　white；　now　red；　now　dark。　〃I　left　my　wife　and　children　in　your　hands。〃
　〃I　never　thought　he'd　hurt　them。〃　Jaime's　sword　was　burning　less　brightly　now。　〃I　was　with　the　king　。　。　。
　〃Killing　the　king；〃　said　Ser　Arthur。
　〃Cutting　his　throat；〃　said　Prince　Lewyn。
　〃The　king　you　had　sworn　to　die　for；〃　said　the　White　Bull。
　The　fires　that　ran　along　the　blade　were　guttering　out；　and　Jaime　remembered　what　Cersei　had　said。　No。　Terror　closed　a　hand　about　his　throat。　Then　his　sword　went　dark；　and　only　Brienne's　burned；　as　the　ghosts　came　rushing　in。
　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃no；　no；　no。　Nooooooooo！〃
　Heart　pounding；　he　jerked　awake；　and　found　himself　in　starry　darkness　amidst　a　grove　of　trees。　He　could　taste　bile　in　his　mouth；　and　he　was　shivering　with　sweat；　hot　and　cold　at　once。　When　he　looked　down　for　his　sword　hand；　his　wrist　ended　in　leather　and　linen；　wrapped　snug　around　an　ugly　stump。　He　felt　sudden　tears　well　up　in　his　eyes。　I　felt　it；　I　felt　the　strength　in　my　fingers；　and　the　rough　leather　of　the　sword's　grip。　My　hand　。　。　。
　〃My　lord。〃　Qyburn　knelt　beside　him；　his　fatherly　face　all　crinkly　with　concern。　〃What　is　it？　I　heard　you　cry　out。〃
　Steelshanks　Walton　stood　above　them；　tall　and　dour。　〃What　is　it？　Why　did　you　scream？〃
　〃A　dream　。　。　。　only　a　dream。〃　Jaime　stared　at　the　camp　around　him；　lost　for　a　moment。　〃I　was　in　the　dark；　but　I　had　my　hand　back。〃　He　looked　at　the　stump　and　felt　sick　all　over　again。　There's　no　place　like　that　beneath　the　Rock；　he　thought。　His　stomach　was　sour　and　empty；　and　his　head　was　pounding　where　he'd　pillowed　it　against　the　stump。
　Qyburn　felt　his　brow。　〃You　still　have　a　touch　of　fever。〃
　〃A　fever　dream。〃　Jaime　reached　up。　〃Help　me。〃　Steelshanks　took　him　by　his　good　hand　and　pulled　him　to　his　feet。
　〃Another　cup　of　dreamwine？〃　asked　Qyburn。
　〃No。　I've　dreamt　enough　this　night。〃　He　wondered　how　long　it　was　till　dawn。　Somehow　he　knew　that　if　he　closed　his　eyes；　he　would　be　back　in　that　dark　wet　place　again。
　〃Milk　of　the　poppy；　then？　And　something　for　your　fever？　You　are　still　weak；　my　lord。　You　need　to　sleep。　To　rest。〃
　That　is　the　last　thing　I　mean　to　do。　The　moonlight　glimmered　pale　upon　the　stump　where　Jaime　had　rested　his　head。　The　moss　covered　it　so　thickly　he　had　not　noticed　before；　but　now　he　saw　that　the　wood　was　white。　It　made　him　think　of　Winterfell；　and　Ned　Stark's　heart　tree。　It　was　not　him；　he　thought。　It　was　never　him。　But　the　stump　was　dead　and　so　was　Stark　and　so　were　all　the　others；　Prince　Rhaegar　and　Ser　Arthur　and　the　children。　And　Aerys。　Aerys　is　most　dead　of　all。　〃Do　you　believe　in　ghosts；　Maester？〃　he　asked　Qyburn。
　The　man's　face　grew　strange。　〃Once；　at　the　Citadel；　I　came　into　an　empty　room　and　saw　an　empty　chair。　Yet　I　knew　a　woman　had　been　there；　only　a　moment　before。　The　cushion　was　dented　where　she'd　sat；　the　cloth　was　still　warm；　and　her　scent　lingered　in　the　air。　If　we　leave　our　smells　behind　us　when　we　leave　a　room；　surely　something　of　our　souls　must　remain　when　we　leave　this　life？〃　Qyburn　spread　his　hands。　〃The　archmaesters　did　not　like　my　thinking；　though。　Well；　Marwyn　did；　but　he　was　the　only　one。〃
　Jaime　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　〃Walton；〃　he　said；　〃saddle　the　horses。　I　want　to　go　back。〃
　〃Back？〃　Steelshanks　regarded　him　dubiously。
　He　thinks　I've　gone　mad。　And　perhaps　I　have。　〃I　left　something　at　Harrenhal。〃
　〃Lord　Vargo　holds　it　now。　Him　and　his　Bloody　Mummers。〃
　〃You　have　twice　the　men　he　does。〃
　〃If　I　don't　serve　you　up　to　your　father　as　manded；　Lord　Bolton　will　have　my　hide。　We　press　on　to　King's　Landing。〃
　Once　Jaime　might　have　countered　with　a　smile　and　a　threat；　but　onehanded　cripples　do　not　inspire　much　fear。　He　wondered　what　his　brother　would　do。　Tyrion　would　find　a　way。　〃Lannisters　lie；　Steelshanks。　Didn't　Lord　Bolton　tell　you　that？〃
　The　man　frowned　suspiciously。　〃What　if　he　did？〃
　〃Unless　you　take　me　back　to　Harrenhal；　the　song　I　sing　my　father　may　not　be　one　the　Lord　of　the　Dreadfort　would　wish　to　hear。　I　might　even　say　it　was　Bolton　ordered　my　hand　cut　off；　and　Steelshanks　Walton　who　swung　the　blade。〃
　Walton　gaped　at　him。　〃That　isn't　so。〃
　〃No；　but　who　will　my　father　believe？〃　Jaime　made　himself　smile；　the　way　he　used　to　smile　when　nothing　in　the　world　could　frighten　him。　〃It　will　be　so　much　easier　if　we　just　go　back。　We'd　be　on　our　way　again　soon　enough；　and　I'd　sing　such　a　sweet　song　in　King's　Landing　you'll　never　believe　your　ears。　You'd　get　the　girl；　and　a　nice　fat　purse　of　gold　as　thanks。〃
　〃Gold？〃　Walton　liked　that　well　enough。　〃How　much　gold？〃
　I　have　him。　〃Why；　how　much　would　you　want？〃
　And　by　the　time　the　sun　came　up；　they　were　halfway　back　to　Harrenhal。
　Jaime　pushed　his　horse　much　harder　than　he　had　the　day　before；　and　Steels