grrm.astormofswords-第132章

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　Yet　Edric　Storm　was　three　inches　taller　and　broader　in　the　chest　and　shoulders。　He　was　his　father's　son　in　that；　nor　did　he　ever　miss　a　morning's　work　with　sword　and　shield。　Those　old　enough　to　have　known　Robert　and　Renly　as　children　said　that　the　bastard　boy　had　more　of　their　look　than　Stannis　had　ever　shared；　the　coal…black　hair；　the　deep　blue　eyes；　the　mouth；　the　jaw；　the　cheekbones。　Only　his　ears　reminded　you　that　his　mother　had　been　a　Florent。
　〃Yes；　good　morrow；　my　lord；〃　Edric　echoed。　The　boy　could　be　fierce　and　proud；　but　the　maesters　and　castellans　and　masters…at…arms　who'd　raised　him　had　schooled　him　well　in　courtesy。　〃Do　you　e　from　my　uncle？　How　fares　His　Grace？〃
　〃Well；〃　Davos　lied。　If　truth　be　told；　the　king　had　a　haggard；　haunted　look　about　him；　but　he　saw　no　need　to　burden　the　boy　with　his　fears。　〃I　hope　I　have　not　disturbed　your　lesson。〃
　〃We　had　just　finished；　my　lord；〃　Maester　Pylos　said。
　〃We　were　reading　about　King　Daeron　the　First。〃　Princess　Shireen　was　a　sad；　sweet；　gentle　child；　far　from　pretty。　Stannis　had　given　her　his　square　jaw　and　Selyse　her　Florent　ears；　and　the　gods　in　their　cruel　wisdom　had　seen　fit　to　pound　her　homeliness　by　afflicting　her　with　greyscale　in　the　cradle。　The　disease　had　left　one　cheek　and　half　her　neck　grey　and　cracked　and　hard；　though　it　had　spared　both　her　life　and　her　sight。　〃He　went　to　war　and　conquered　Dome。　The　Young　Dragon；　they　called　him。〃
　〃He　worshiped　false　gods；〃　said　Devan；　〃but　he　was　a　great　king　otherwise；　and　very　brave　in　battle。〃
　〃He　was；〃　agreed　Edric　Storm；　〃but　my　father　was　braver。　The　Young　Dragon　never　won　three　battles　in　a　day。〃
　The　princess　looked　at　him　wide…eyed。　〃Did　Uncle　Robert　win　three　battles　in　a　day？〃
　The　bastard　nodded。　〃It　was　when　he'd　first　e　home　to　call　his　banners。　Lords　Grandison；　Cafferen；　and　Fell　planned　to　join　their　strength　at　Surnmerhall　and　march　on　Storm's　End；　but　he　learned　their　plans　from　an　informer　and　rode　at　once　with　all　his　knights　and　squires。　As　the　plotters　came　up　on　Surnmerhall　one　by　one；　he　defeated　each　of　them　in　turn　before　they　could　join　up　with　the　others。　He　slew　Lord　Fell　in　single　bat　and　captured　his　son　Silveraxe。〃
　Devan　looked　to　Pylos。　〃Is　that　how　it　happened？〃
　〃I　said　so；　didn't　I？〃　Edric　Storm　said　before　the　maester　could　reply。　〃He　smashed　all　three　of　them；　and　fought　so　bravely　that　Lord　Grandison　and　Lord　Cafferen　became　his　men　afterward；　and　Silveraxe　too。　No　one　ever　beat　my　father。〃
　〃Edric；　you　ought　not　boast；〃　Maester　Pylos　said。　〃King　Robert　suffered　defeats　like　any　other　man。　Lord　Tyrell　bested　him　at　Ashford；　and　he　lost　many　a　tourney　tilt　as　well。〃
　〃He　won　more　than　he　lost；　though。　And　he　killed　Prince　Rhaegar　on　the　Trident。〃
　〃That　he　did；〃　the　maester　agreed。　〃But　now　I　must　give　my　attention　to　Lord　Davos；　who　has　waited　so　patiently。　We　will　read　more　of　King　Daeron's　Conquest　of　Dome　on　the　morrow。〃
　Princess　Shireen　and　the　boys　said　their　farewells　courteously。　When　they　had　taken　their　leaves；　Maester　Pylos　moved　closer　to　Davos。　〃My　lord；　perhaps　you　would　like　to　try　a　bit　of　Conquest　of　Dome　as　well？〃　He　slid　the　slender　leather…bound　book　across　the　table。　〃King　Daeron　wrote　with　an　elegant　simplicity；　and　his　history　is　rich　with　blood；　battle；　and　bravery。　Your　son　is　quite　engrossed。〃
　〃My　son　is　not　quite　twelve。　I　am　the　King's　Hand。　Give　me　another　letter；　if　you　would。〃
　〃As　you　wish；　my　lord。〃　Maester　Pylos　rummaged　about　his　table；　unrolling　and　then　discarding　various　scraps　of　parchment。　〃There　are　no　new　letters。　Perhaps　an　old　one　。　。　。〃
　Davos　enjoyed　a　good　story　as　well　as　any　man；　but　Stannis　had　not　named　him　Hand　for　his　enjoyment；　he　felt。　His　first　duty　was　to　help　his　king　rule；　and　for　that　he　must　needs　understand　the　words　the　ravens　brought。　The　best　way　to　learn　a　thing　was　to　do　it；　he　had　found；　sails　or　scrolls；　it　made　no　matter。
　〃This　might　serve　our　purpose。〃　Pylos　passed　him　a　letter。
　Davos　flattened　down　the　little　square　of　crinkled　parchment　and　squinted　at　the　tiny　crabbed　letters。　Reading　was　hard　on　the　eyes；　that　much　he　had　learned　early。　Sometimes　he　wondered　if　the　Citadel　offered　a　champion's　purse　to　the　maester　who　wrote　the　smallest　hand。　Pylos　had　laughed　at　the　notion；　but　。　。　。
　〃To　the　。　。　。　five　kings；〃　read　Davos；　hesitating　briefly　over　five；　which　he　did　not　often　see　written　out。　〃The　king　。　。　。　be　。　。　。　the　king　。　。　。　beware？
　〃Beyond；〃　the　maester　corrected。
　Davos　grimaced。　〃The　King　beyond　the　Wall　es　。　。　。　es　south。　He　leads　a　。　。　。　a　。　。　。　fast　。　。　。〃
　〃Vast。〃
　〃　。　。　。　a　vast　host　of　wil　。　。　。　wild　。　。　。　wildlings。　Lord　M　。　。　。　Mmmor　。　。　。　Mormont　sent　a　。　。　。　raven　from　the　。　。　。　ha　。　。　。　ha　。　。　。〃
　〃Haunted。　The　haunted　forest。〃　Pylos　underlined　the　words　with　the　point　of　his　finger。
　〃　。　。　。　the　haunted　forest。　He　is　。　。　。　under　a　。　。　。　attack？
　〃Yes。〃
　Pleased；　he　plowed　onward。　〃Oth　。　。　。　other　birds　have　e　since；　with　no　words。　We　。　。　。　fear　。　。　。　Mormont　slain　with　all　。　。　。　with　all　his　。　。　。　stench　。　。　。　no；　strength。　We　fear　Mormont　slain　with　all　his　strength　。　。　。　〃　Davos　suddenly　realized　just　what　he　was　reading。　He　turned　the　letter　over；　and　saw　that　the　wax　that　had　sealed　it　had　been　black。　〃This　is　from　the　Night's　Watch。　Maester；　has　King　Stannis　seen　this　letter？〃
　〃I　brought　it　to　Lord　Alester　when　it　first　arrived。　He　was　the　Hand　then。　I　believed　he　discussed　it　with　the　queen。　When　I　asked　him　if　he　wished　to　send　a　reply；　he　told　me　not　to　be　a　fool。　'His　Grace　lacks　the　men　to　fight　his　own　battles；　he　has　none　to　waste　on　wildlings/　he　said　to　me。〃
　That　was　true　enough。　And　this　talk　of　five　kings　would　certainly　have　angered　Stannis。　〃Only　a　starving　man　begs　bread　from　a　beggar；〃　he　muttered。
　〃Pardon；　my　lord？〃
　〃Something　my　wife　said　once。〃　Davos　drummed　his　shortened　fingers　against　the　tabletop。　The　first　time　he　had　seen　the　Wall　he　had　been　younger　than　Devan；　serving　aboard　the　Cobblecat　under　Roro　Uhoris；　a　Tyroshi　known　up　and　down　the　narrow　sea　as　the　Blind　Bastard；　though　he　was　neither　blind　nor　baseborn。　Roro　had　sailed　past　Skagos　into　the　Shivering　Sea；　visiting　a　hundred　little　coves　that　had　never　seen　a　trading　ship　before。　He　brought　steel；　swords；　axes；　helms；　good　chainmail　hauberks；　to　trade　for　furs；　ivory；　amber；　and　obsidian。　When　the　Cobblecat　turned　back　south　her　holds　were　stuffed；　but　in　the　Bay　of　Seals　three　black　galleys　came　out　to　herd　her　into　Eastwatch。　They　lost　their　cargo　and　the　Bastard　lost　his　head；　for　the　crime　of　trading　weapons　to　the　wildlings。
　Davos　had　traded　at　Eastwatch　in　his　smuggling　days。　The　black　brothers　made　hard　enemies　but　good　customers；　for　a　ship　with　the　right　cargo。　But　while　he　might　have　taken　their　coin；　he　had　never　forgotten　how　the　Blind　Bastard's　head　had　rolled　across　the　Cobblecat's　deck。　〃I　met　some　wildlings　when　I　was　a　boy；〃　he　told　Maester　Pylos。　〃They　were　fair　thieves　but　bad　hagglers。　one　made　off　with　our　cabin　girl。　All　in　all；　they　seemed　men　like　any　other　men；　some　fair；　some　foul。〃
　〃Men　are　men；〃　Maester　Pylos　agreed。　〃Shall　we　return　to　our　reading；　my　lord　Hand？〃
　I　am　the　Hand　of　the　King；　yes。　Stannis　might　be　the　King　of　Westeros　in　name；　but　in　truth　he　was　the　King　of　the　Painted　Table。　He　held　Dragonstone　and　Storm's　End；　and　had　an　ever…more…uneasy　alliance　with　Salladhor　Saan；　but　that　was　all。　How　could　the　Watch　have　looked　to　him　for　help？　They　may　not　know　how　weak　he　is；　how　lost　his　cause。　〃King　Stannis　never　saw　this　letter；　you　are　quite　certain？　Nor　Melisandre？〃
　〃No。　Should　I　bring　it　to　them？　Even　now？〃
　〃No；〃　Davos　said　at　once。　〃You　did　your　duty　when　you　brought　it　to　Lord　Alester。〃　If　Melisandre　knew　of　this　letter　。　。　。　What　was　it　she　had　said？　One　whose　name　may　not　be　spoken　is　marshaling　his　power；　Davos　Seaworth。　Soon　es　the　cold；　and　the　night　that　never　ends　。　。　。　And　Stannis　had　seen　a　vision　in　the　flames；　a　ring　of　torches　in　the　snow　with　terror　all　around。
　〃My　lord；　are　you　unwell？〃　asked　Pylos。
　I　am　frightened；　Maester；　he　might　have　said。　Davos　was　remembering　a　tale　Salladhor　Saan　had　told　him；　of　how　Azor　Ahai　tempered　Lightbringer　by　thrusting　it　through　the　heart　of　the　wife　he　loved。　He　slew　his　wife　to　fight　the　dark。　If　Stannis　is　Azor　Ahai　e　again；　does　that　mean　Edric　Storm　must　play　the　part　of　Nissa　Nissa？　〃I　was　thinking；　Maester。　My　pardons。〃　What　harm　if　some　wildling　king　conquers　the　north？　It　was　not　as　though　Stannis　held　the　north。　His　Grace　could　scarcely　be　expected　to　defend　people　who　refused　to　acknowledge　him　as　king。　〃Give　me　another　letter；〃　he　said　abruptly。　〃This　one　is　too　。　。　。〃
　〃　。　。　。　difficult？〃　suggested　Pylos。
　Soon　es　the　cold；　whispered　Melisandre；　and　the　night　that　never　ends。　〃Troubling；〃　said　Davos。　〃Too　。　。　。　troubling。　A　different　letter；　please。〃
　
　CHAPTER　55
　JON
　
　They　woke　to　the　smoke　of　Mole's　Town　burning。
　Atop　the　King's　Tower；　Jon　Snow　leaned　on　the　padded　crutch　that　Maester　Aemon　had　given　him　and　watched　the　grey　plume　rise。　Styr　had　lost　all　hope　of　taking　Castle　Black　unawares　when　Jon　escaped　him；　yet　even　so；　he　need　not　have　warned　of　his　approach　so　bluntly。　You　may　kill　us；　he　reflected；　but　no　one　will　be　butchered　in　their　beds。　That　much　I　did；　at　least。
　His　leg　still　hurt　like　blazes　when　he　put　his　weight　on　it。　He'd　needed　Clydas　to　help　him　don　his　fresh…washed　blacks　and　lace　up　his　boots　that　morning；　and　by　the　time　they　were　done　he'd　wanted　to　drown　himself　in　the　milk　of　the　poppy。　Instead　he　had　settled　for　half　a　cup　of　dreamwine；　a　chew　of　willow　bark；　and　the　crutch。　The　beacon　was　burning　on　Weatherback　Ridge；　and　the　Night's　Watch　had　need　of　every　man。
　〃I　can　fight；〃　he　insisted　when　they　tried　to　stop　him。
　〃Your　leg's　healed；　is　it？〃　Noye　snorted。　〃You　won't　mind　me　giving　it　a　little　kick；　then？〃
　〃I'd　sooner　you　didn't。　It's　stiff；　but　I　can　hobble　around　well　enough；　and　stand　and　fight　if　you　have　need　of　me。〃
　〃I　have　need　of　every　man　who　knows　which　end　of　the　spear　to　stab　into　the　wildlings。〃
　〃The　pointy　end。〃　Jon　had　told　his　little　sister　something　like　that　once；　he　remembered。
　Noye　rubbed　the　bristle　on　his　chin。　〃Might　be　you'll　do。　We'll　put　you　on　a　tower　with　a　longbow；　but　if　you　bloody　well　fall　off　don't　e　crying　to　me。〃
　He　could　see　the　kingsroad　wending　its　way　south　through　stony　brown　fields　and　over　windswept　hills。　The　Magnar　would　be　ing　up　that　road　before　the　day　was　done；　his　Thenns　marching　behind　him　with　axes　and　spears　in　their　hands　and　their　bronze…and…leather　shields　on　their　backs。　Grigg　the　Goat；　Quort；　Big　Boil；　and　the　rest　will　be　ing　as　well。　And　Ygritte。　The　wildlings　had　never　been　his　friends；　he　had　not　allowed　them　to　be　his　friends；　but　her　。　。　。
　He　could　feel　the　throb　of　pain　where　her　arrow　had　gone　through　the　meat　and　muscle　of　his　thigh。　He　remembered　the　old　man's　eyes　too；　and　the　black　blood　rushing　from　his　throat　as　the　storm　cracked　overhead。　But　he　remembered　the　grotto　best　of　all；　the　look　of　her　naked　in　the　torchlight；　the　taste　of　her　mouth　when　it　opened　under　his。　Ygritte；　stay　away。　Go　south　and　raid；　go　hide　in　one　of　those　roundtowers　you　liked　so　well。　You'll　find　nothin