grrm.astormofswords-第181章

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　could　think　to　refuse；　he　went　on。　〃A　sword　so　fine　must　bear　a　name。　It　would　please　me　if　you　would　call　this　one　Oathkeeper。　One　more　thing。　The　blade　es　with　a　price。〃
　Her　face　darkened。　〃I　told　you；　I　will　never　serve　。　。　。〃
　〃　。　。　。　such　foul　creatures　as　us。　Yes；　I　recall。　Hear　me　out；　Brienne。　Both　of　us　swore　oaths　concerning　Sansa　Stark。　Cersei　means　to　see　that　the　girl　is　found　and　killed；　wherever　she　has　gone　to　ground　。　。　。〃
　Brienne's　homely　face　twisted　in　fury。　〃If　you　believe　that　I　would　harm　my　lady's　daughter　for　a　sword；　you…〃
　〃Just　listen；〃　he　snapped；　angered　by　her　assumption。　〃I　want　you　to　find　Sansa　first；　and　get　her　somewhere　safe。　How　else　are　the　two　of　us　going　to　make　good　our　stupid　vows　to　your　precious　dead　Lady　Catelyn？
　The　wench　blinked。　〃I　。　。　。　I　thought　。　。　。　〃　
　〃I　know　what　you　thought。〃　Suddenly　Jaime　was　sick　of　the　sight　of　her。　She　bleats　like　a　bloody　sheep。　〃When　Ned　Stark　died；　his　greatsword　was　given　to　the　King's　justice；〃　he　told　her。　〃But　my　father　felt　that　such　a　fine　blade　was　wasted　on　a　mere　headsman。　He　gave　Ser　Ilyn　a　new　sword；　and　had　Ice　melted　down　and　reforged。　There　was　enough　metal　for　two　new　blades。　You're　holding　one。　So　you'll　be　defending　Ned　Stark's　daughter　with　Ned　Stark's　own　steel；　if　that　makes　any　difference　to　you。〃
　〃Ser；　I　。　。　。　I　owe　you　an　apolo　。　。　。
　He　cut　her　off。　〃Take　the　bloody　sword　and　go；　before　I　change　my　mind。　There's　a　bay　mare　in　the　stables；　as　homely　as　you　are　but　somewhat　better　trained。　Chase　after　Steelshanks；　search　for　Sansa；　or　ride　home　to　your　isle　of　sapphires；　it's　naught　to　me。　I　don't　want　to　look　at　you　anymore。〃
　〃Jaime　。　。　。
　〃Kingslayer；〃　he　reminded　her。　〃Best　use　that　sword　to　clean　the　wax　out　of　your　ears；　wench。　We're　done。〃
　Stubbornly；　she　persisted。　〃Joffrey　was　your。　。
　〃My　king。　Leave　it　at　that。〃
　〃You　say　Sansa　killed　him。　Why　protect　her？〃
　Because　Joff　was　no　more　to　me　than　a　squirt　of　seed　in　Cersei's　cunt。　And　because　he　deserved　to　die。　〃I　have　made　kings　and　unmade　them。　Sansa　Stark　is　my　last　chance　for　honor。〃　Jaime　smiled　thinly。　〃Besides；　kingslayers　should　band　together。　Are　you　ever　going　to　go？〃
　Her　big　hand　wrapped　tight　around　Oathkeeper。　〃I　will。　And　I　will　find　the　girl　and　keep　her　safe。　For　her　lady　mother's　sake。　And　for　yours。〃　She　bowed　stiffly；　whirled；　and　went。
　Jaime　sat　alone　at　the　table　while　the　shadows　crept　across　the　room。　As　dusk　began　to　settle；　he　lit　a　candle　and　opened　the　White　Book　to　his　own　page。　Quill　and　ink　he　found　in　a　drawer。　Beneath　the　last　line　Ser　Barristan　had　entered；　he　wrote　in　an　awkward　hand　that　might　have　done　credit　to　a　six…year…old　being　taught　his　first　letters　by　a　maester：
　Defeated　in　the　Whispering　Wood　by　the　Young　Wolf　Robb　Stark　during　the　War　of　the　Five　Kings。　Held　captive　at　Riverrun　and　ransomed　for　a　promise　unfuffilled。　Captured　again　by　the　Brave　panions；　and　maimed　at　the　word　of　Vargo　Hoat　their　captain；　losing　his　sword　hand　to　the　blade　of　Zollo　the　Fat。　Returned　safely　to　King's　Landing　by　Brienne；　the　Maid　of　Tarth。
　When　he　was　done；　more　than　three…quarters　of　his　page　still　remained　to　be　filled　between　the　gold　lion　on　the　crimson　shield　on　top　and　the　blank　white　shield　at　the　bottom。　Ser　Gerold　Hightower　had　begun　his　history；　and　Ser　Barristan　Selmy　had　continued　it；　but　the　rest　Jaime　Lannister　would　need　to　write　for　himself。　He　could　write　whatever　he　chose；　henceforth。
　Whatever　he　chose　。　。　。
　
　CHAPTER　73
　JON
　
　The　wind　was　blowing　wild　from　the　east；　so　strong　the　heavy　cage　would　rock　whenever　a　gust　got　it　in　its　teeth。　It　skirled　along　the　Wall；　shivering　off　the　ice；　making　Jon's　cloak　flap　against　the　bars。　The　sky　was　slate　grey；　the　sun　no　more　than　a　faint　patch　of　brightness　behind　the　clouds。　Across　the　killing　ground；　he　could　see　the　glimmer　of　a　thousand　campfires　burning；　but　their　lights　seemed　small　and　powerless　against　such　gloom　and　cold。
　A　grim　day。　Jon　Snow　wrapped　gloved　hands　around　the　bars　and　held　tight　as　the　wind　hammered　at　the　cage　once　more。　When　he　looked　straight　down　past　his　feet；　the　ground　was　lost　in　shadow；　as　if　he　were　being　lowered　into　some　bottomless　pit。　Well；　death　is　a　bottomless　pit　of　sorts；　he　reflected；　and　when　this　day's　work　is　done　my　name　will　be　shadowed　forever。
　Bastard　children　were　born　from　lust　and　lies；　men　said；　their　nature　was　wanton　and　treacherous。　Once　Jon　had　meant　to　prove　them　wrong；　to　show　his　lord　father　that　he　could　be　as　good　and　true　a　son　as　Robb。　I　made　a　botch　of　that。　Robb　had　bee　a　hero　king；　if　Jon　was　remembered　at　all；　it　would　be　as　a　turncloak；　an　oathbreaker；　and　a　murderer。　He　was　glad　that　Lord　Eddard　was　not　alive　to　see　his　shame。
　I　should　have　stayed　in　that　cave　with　Ygritte。　if　there　was　a　life　beyond　this　one；　he　hoped　to　tell　her　that。　She　will　claw　my　face　the　way　the　eagle　did；　and　curse　me　for　a　coward；　but　I'll　tell　her　all　the　same。　He　flexed　his　sword　hand；　as　Maester　Aemon　had　taught　him。　The　habit　had　bee　part　of　him；　and　he　would　need　his　fingers　to　be　limber　to　have　even　half　a　chance　of　murdering　Mance　Rayder。
　They　had　pulled　him　out　this　morning；　after　four　days　in　the　ice；　locked　up　in　a　cell　five　by　five　by　five；　too　low　for　him　to　stand；　too　tight　for　him　to　stretch　out　on　his　back。　The　stewards　had　long　ago　discovered　that　food　and　meat　kept　longer　in　the　icy　storerooms　carved　from　the　base　of　the　Wall　。　。　。　but　prisoners　did　not。　〃You　will　die　in　here；　Lord　Snow；〃　Ser　Alliser　had　said　just　before　he　closed　the　heavy　wooden　door；　and　Jon　had　believed　it。　But　this　morning　they　had　e　and　pulled　him　out　again；　and　marched　him　cramped　and　shivering　back　to　the　King's　Tower；　to　stand　before　jowly　Janos　Slynt　once　more　〃That　old　maester　says　I　cannot　hang　you；〃　Slynt　declared。　〃He　has　written　Cotter　Pyke；　and　even　had　the　bloody　gall　to　show　me　the　letter。　He　says　you　are　no　tumcloak。〃
　〃Aemon's　lived　too　long；　my　lord；〃　Ser　Alliser　assured　him。　〃His　wits　have　gone　dark　as　his　eyes。〃
　〃Aye；〃　Slynt　said。　〃A　blind　man　with　a　chain　about　his　neck；　who　does　he　think　he　is？〃
　Aemon　Targaryen；　Jon　thought；　a　king's　son　and　a　king's　brother　and　a　king　who　might　have　been。　But　he　said　nothing。
　〃Still；〃　Slynt　said；　〃I　will　not　have　it　said　that　Janos　Slynt　hanged　a　man　unjustly。　I　will　not。　I　have　decided　to　give　you　one　last　chance　to　prove　you　are　as　loyal　as　you　claim；　Lord　Snow。　One　last　chance　to　do　your　duty；　yes！〃　He　stood。　〃Mance　Rayder　wants　to　parley　with　us。　He　knows　he　has　no　chance　now　that　Janos　Slynt　has　e；　so　he　wants　to　talk；　this　King…beyond…the…Wall。　But　the　man　is　craven；　and　will　not　e　to　us。　No　doubt　he　knows　I'd　hang　him。　Hang　him　by　his　feet　from　the　top　of　the　Wall；　on　a　rope　two　hundred　feet　long！　But　he　will　not　e。　He　asks　that　we　send　an　envoy　to　him。〃
　〃We're　sending　you；　Lord　Snow。〃　Ser　Alliser　smiled。
　〃Me。〃　Jon's　voice　was　flat。　〃Why　me？〃
　〃You　rode　with　these　wildlings；〃　said　Thome。　〃Mance　Rayder　knows　you。　He　will　be　more　inclined　to　trust　you。〃
　That　was　so　wrong　Jon　might　have　laughed。　〃You've　got　it　backward。　Mance　suspected　me　from　the　first。　If　I　show　up　in　his　camp　wearing　a　black　cloak　again　and　speaking　for　the　Night's　Watch；　he'll　know　that　I　betrayed　him。〃
　〃He　asked　for　an　envoy；　we　are　sending　one；〃　said　Slynt。　〃If　you　are　too　craven　to　face　this　tumcloak　king；　we　can　return　you　to　your　ice　cell。　This　time　without　the　furs；　I　think。　Yes。〃
　〃No　need　for　that；　my　lord；〃　said　Ser　Alliser。　〃Lord　Snow　will　do　as　we　ask。　He　wants　to　show　us　that　he　is　no　tumcloak。　He　wants　to　prove　himself　a　loyal　man　of　the　Night's　Watch。〃
　Thome　was　much　the　more　clever　of　the　two；　Jon　realized；　this　had　his　stink　all　over　it。　He　was　trapped。　〃I'll　go；〃　he　said　in　a　clipped；　curt　voice。
　〃M'lord；　〃　Janos　Slynt　reminded　him。　〃You'll　address　me…〃
　〃I'll　go；　mylord。　But　you　are　making　a　mistake；　mylord。　You　are　sending　the　wrong　man；　my　lord。　just　the　sight　of　me　is　going　to　anger　Mance。　My　lord　would　have　a　better　chance　of　reaching　terms　if　he　sent　…
　〃Terms？〃　Ser　Alliser　chuckled。
　〃Janos　Slynt　does　not　make　terms　with　lawless　savages；　Lord　Snow。　No；　he　does　not。〃
　〃We're　not　sending　you　to　talk　with　Mance　Rayder；〃　Ser　Alliser　said。　〃We're　sending　you　to　kill　him。〃
　The　wind　whistled　through　the　bars；　and　Jon　Snow　shivered。　His　leg　was　throbbing；　and　his　head。　He　was　not　fit　to　kill　a　kitten；　yet　here　he　was。　The　trap　had　teeth。　With　Maester　Aemon　insisting　on　Jon's　innocence；　Lord　Janos　had　not　dared　to　leave　him　in　the　ice　to　die。　This　was　better。　〃Our　honor　means　no　more　than　our　lives；　so　long　as　the　realm　is　safe；〃　Qhorin　Halfhand　had　said　in　the　Frostfangs。　He　must　remember　that。　Whether　he　slew　Mance　or　only　tried　and　failed；　the　free　folk　would　kill　him。　Even　desertion　was　impossible；　if　he'd　been　so　inclined；　to　Mance　he　was　a　proven　liar　and　betrayer。
　When　the　cage　jerked　to　a　halt；　Jon　swung　down　onto　the　ground　and　rattled　Longclaw's　hilt　to　loosen　the　bastard　blade　in　its　scabbard。　The　gate　was　a　few　yards　to　his　left；　still　blocked　by　the　splintered　ruins　of　the　turtle；　the　carcass　of　a　mammoth　ripening　within。　There　were　other　corpses　too；　strewn　amidst　broken　barrels；　hardened　pitch；　and　patches　of　burnt　grass；　all　shadowed　by　the　Wall。　Jon　had　no　wish　to　linger　here。　He　started　walking　toward　the　wildling　camp；　past　the　body　of　a　dead　giant　whose　head　had　been　crushed　by　a　stone。　A　raven　was　pulling　out　bits　of　brain　from　the　giant's　shattered　skull。　It　looked　up　as　he　walked　by。　〃Snow；〃　it　screamed　at　him。　〃Snow；　snow〃　Then　it　opened　its　wings　and　flew　away。
　No　sooner　had　he　started　out　than　a　lone　rider　emerged　from　the　wildling　camp　and　came　toward　him。　He　wondered　if　Mance　was　ing　out　to　parley　in　no…man's…land。　That　might　make　it　easier；　though　nothing　will　make　it　easy。　But　as　the　distance　between　them　diminished　Jon　saw　that　the　horseman　was　short　and　broad；　with　gold　rings　glinting　on　thick　arms　and　a　white　beard　spreading　out　across　his　massive　chest。
　〃Har！〃　Tormund　boomed　when　they　came　together。　〃Jon　Snow　the　crow。　I　feared　we'd　seen　the　last　o'　you。〃
　〃I　never　knew　you　feared　anything；　Tormund。〃
　That　made　the　wildling　grin。　〃Well　said；　lad。　I　see　your　cloak　is　black。　Mance　won't　like　that。　If　you've　e　to　change　sides　again；　best　climb　back　on　that　Wall　o'　yours。〃
　〃They've　sent　me　to　treat　with　the　King…beyond…the…Wall。〃
　〃Treat？〃　Tormund　laughed。　〃Now　there's　a　word。　Har！　Mance　wants　to　talk；　that's　true　enough。　Can't　say　he'd　want　to　talk　with　you；　though。〃
　〃I'm　the　one　they've　sent。〃
　〃I　see　that。　Best　e　along；　then。　You　want　to　ride？〃
　〃I　can　walk。〃
　〃You　fought　us　hard　here。〃　Tormund　turned　his　garron　back　toward　the　wildling　camp。　〃You　and　your　brothers。　I　give　you　that。　Two　hundred　dead；　and　a　dozen　giants。　Mag　himself　went　in　that　gate　o'　yours　and　never　did　e　out。〃
　〃He　died　on　the　sword　of　a　brave　man　named　Donal　Noye。〃
　〃Aye？　Some　great　lord　was　he；　this　Donal　Noye？　One　of　your　shiny　knights　in　their　steel　smallclothes？〃
　〃A　blacksmith。　He　only　had　one　arm。〃
　〃A　one…armed　smith　slew　Mag　the　Mighty？　Har！　That　must　o'　been　a　fight　to　see。　Mance　will　make　a　song　of　it；　see　if　he　don't。〃　Tormund　took　a　waterskin　off　his　saddl