grrm.astormofswords-第183章

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　bee　King…beyond…the…Wall　because　your　father　was。　The　free　folk　won't　follow　a　name；　and　they　don't　care　which　brother　was　born　first。　They　follow　fighters。　When　I　left　the　Shadow　Tower　there　were　five　men　making　noises　about　how　they　might　be　the　stuff　of　kings。　Tormund　was　one；　the　Magnar　another。　The　other　three　I　slew；　when　they　made　it　plain　they'd　sooner　fight　than　follow。〃
　〃You　can　kill　your　enemies；〃　Jon　said　bluntly；　〃but　can　you　rule　your　friends？　If　we　let　your　people　pass；　are　you　strong　enough　to　make　them　keep　the　king's　peace　and　obey　the　laws？〃
　〃Whose　laws？　The　laws　of　Winterfell　and　King's　Landing？〃　Mance　laughed。　〃When　we　want　laws　we'll　make　our　own。　You　can　keep　your　king's　justice　too；　and　your　king's　taxes。　I'm　offering　you　the　hom；　not　our　freedom。　We　will　not　kneel　to　you。〃
　〃What　if　we　refuse　the　offer？〃　Jon　had　no　doubt　that　they　would。　The　Old　Bear　might　at　least　have　listened；　though　he　would　have　balked　at　the　notion　of　letting　thirty　or　forty　thousand　wildlings　loose　on　the　Seven　Kingdoms。　But　Alliser　Thorne　and　Janos　Slynt　would　dismiss　the　notion　out　of　hand。
　〃If　you　refuse；〃　Mance　Rayder　said；　〃Tormund　Giantsbane　will　sound　the　Horn　of　Winter　three　days　hence；　at　dawn。〃
　He　could　carry　the　message　back　to　Castle　Black　and　tell　them　of　the　horn；　but　if　he　left　Mance　still　alive　Lord　Janos　and　Ser　Alliser　would　seize　on　that　as　proof　that　he　was　a　tumcloak。　A　thousand　thoughts　flickered　through　Jon's　head。　If　I　can　destroy　the　horn；　smash　it　here　and　now　。　。　。　but　before　he　could　begin　to　think　that　through；　he　heard　the　low　moan　of　some　other　horn；　made　faint　by　the　tent's　hide　walls。　Mance　heard　it　too。　Frowning；　he　went　to　the　door。　Jon　followed。
　The　warhom　was　louder　outside。　Its　call　had　stirred　the　wildling　camp。　Three　Homfoot　men　jogged　past；　carrying　long　spears。　Horses　were　whinnying　and　snorting；　giants　roaring　in　the　Old　Tongue；　and　even　the　mammoths　were　restless。
　〃Outrider's　horn；〃　Tormund　told　Mance。
　〃Something's　ing。〃　Varamyr　sat　crosslegged　on　the　half…frozen　ground；　his　wolves　circled　restlessly　around　him。　A　shadow　swept　over　him；　and　Jon　looked　up　to　see　the　eagle's　blue…grey　wings。　〃ing；　from　the　east。〃
　When　the　dead　walk；　walls　and　stakes　and　swords　mean　nothing；　he　remembered。　You　cannot　fight　the　dead；　Jon　Snow　No　man　knows　that　half　so　well　as　me。
　Harma　scowled。　〃East？　The　wights　should　be　behind　us。〃
　〃East；〃　the　skinchanger　repeated。　〃Something's　ing。〃
　〃The　Others？〃　Jon　asked。
　Mance　shook　his　head。　〃The　Others　never　e　when　the　sun　is　up。〃　Chariots　were　rattling　across　the　killing　ground；　jammed　with　riders　waving　spears　of　sharpened　bone。　The　king　groaned。　〃Where　the　bloody　hell　do　they　think　they're　going？　Quenn；　get　those　fools　back　where　they　belong。　Someone　bring　my　horse。　The　mare；　not　the　stallion。　I'll　want　my　armor　too。〃　Mance　glanced　suspiciously　at　the　Wall。　Atop　the　icy　parapets；　the　straw　soldiers　stood　collecting　arrows；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　any　other　activity。　〃Harma；　mount　up　your　raiders。　Tormund；　find　your　sons　and　give　me　a　triple　line　of　spears。〃
　〃Aye；〃　said　Tormund；　striding　off。
　The　mousy　little　skinchanger　closed　his　eyes　and　said；　〃I　see　them。　They're　ing　along　the　streams　and　game　trails　。　。　。〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃Men。　Men　on　horses。　Men　in　steel　and　men　in　black。〃
　〃Crows。〃　Mance　made　the　word　a　curse。　He　turned　on　Jon。　〃Did　my　old　brothers　think　they'd　catch　me　with　my　breeches　down　if　they　attacked　while　we　were　talking？〃
　〃If　they　planned　an　attack　they　never　told　me　about　it。〃　Jon　did　not　believe　it。　Lord　Janos　lacked　the　men　to　attack　the　wildling　camp。　Besides；　he　was　on　the　wrong　side　of　the　Wall；　and　the　gate　was　sealed　with　rubble。　He　had　a　different　sort　of　treachery　in　mind；　this　can't　be　his　work。
　〃If　you're　lying　to　me　again；　you　won't　be　leaving　here　alive；〃　Mance　warned。　His　guards　brought　him　his　horse　and　armor。　Elsewhere　around　the　camp；　Jon　saw　people　running　at　cross　purposes；　some　men　forming　up　as　if　to　storm　the　Wall　while　others　slipped　into　the　woods；　women　driving　dog　carts　east；　mammoths　wandering　west。　He　reached　back　over　his　shoulder　and　drew　Longclaw　just　as　a　thin　line　of　rangers　emerged　from　the　fringes　of　the　wood　three　hundred　yards　away。　They　wore　black　mail；　black　halfhelms；　and　black　cloaks。　Half…armored；　Mance　drew　his　sword。　〃You　knew　nothing　of　this；　did　you？〃　he　said　to　Jon；　coldly。
　Slow　as　honey　on　a　cold　morning；　the　rangers　swept　down　on　the　wildling　camp；　picking　their　way　through　clumps　of　gorse　and　stands　of　trees；　over　roots　and　rocks。　Wildlings　flew　to　meet　them；　shouting　war　cries　and　waving　clubs　and　bronze　swords　and　axes　made　of　flint；　galloping　headlong　at　their　ancient　enemies。　A　shout；　a　slash；　and　a　fine　brave　death；　Jon　had　heard　brothers　say　of　the　free　folk's　way　of　fighting。
　〃Believe　what　you　will；〃　Jon　told　the　King…beyond…the…Wall；　〃but　I　knew　nothing　of　any　attack。〃
　Harma　thundered　past　before　Mance　could　reply；　riding　at　the　head　of　thirty　raiders。　Her　standard　went　before　her；　a　dead　dog　impaled　on　a　spear；　raining　blood　at　every　stride。　Mance　watched　as　she　smashed　into　the　rangers。　〃Might　be　you're　telling　it　true；〃　he　said。　〃Those　look　like　Eastwatch　men。　Sailors　on　horses。　Cotter　Pyke　always　had　more　guts　than　sense。　He　took　the　Lord　of　Bones　at　Long　Barrow；　he　might　have　thought　to　do　the　same　with　me。　If　so；　he's　a　fool。　He　doesn't　have　the　men；　he…〃
　〃Mance！〃　the　shout　came。　It　was　a　scout；　bursting　from　the　trees　on　a　lathered　horse。　〃Mance；　there's　more；　they're　all　around　us；　iron　men；　iron；　a　host　of　iron　men。〃
　Cursing；　Mance　swung　up　into　the　saddle。　〃Varamyr；　stay　and　see　that　no　harm　es　to　Dalla。〃　The　King…beyond…the…Wall　pointed　his　sword　at　Jon。　〃And　keep　a　few　extra　eyes　on　this　crow。　If　he　runs；　rip　out　his　throat。〃
　〃Aye；　I'll　do　that。〃　The　skinchanger　was　a　head　shorter　than　Jon；　slumped　and　soft；　but　that　shadowcat　could　disembowel　him　with　one　paw。　〃They're　ing　from　the　north　too；〃　Varamyr　told　Mance。　〃You　best　go。〃
　Mance　donned　his　helm　with　its　raven　wings。　His　men　were　mounted　up　as　well。　〃Arrowhead；〃　Mance　snapped；　〃to　me；　form　wedge。〃　Yet　when　he　slammed　his　heels　into　the　mare　and　flew　across　the　field　at　the　rangers；　the　men　who　raced　to　catch　him　lost　all　semblance　of　formation。
　Jon　took　a　step　toward　the　tent；　thinking　of　the　Horn　of　Winter；　but　the　shadowcat　blocked　him；　tail　lashing。　The　beast's　nostrils　flared；　and　slaver　ran　from　his　curved　front　teeth。　He　smells　my　fear。　He　missed　Ghost　more　than　ever　then。　The　two　wolves　were　behind　him；　growling。
　〃Banners；〃　he　heard　Varamyr　murmur；　〃I　see　golden　banners；　oh　。　。　。　〃　A　mammoth　lumbered　by；　trumpeting；　a　half…dozen　bowmen　in　the　wooden　tower　on　its　back。　〃The　king　。　。　。　no　。　。　。〃
　Then　the　skinchanger　threw　back　his　head　and　screamed。
　The　sound　was　shocking；　ear…piercing；　thick　with　agony。　Varamyr　fell；　writhing；　and　the　'cat　was　screaming　too　。　。　。　and　high；　high　in　the　eastern　sky；　against　the　wall　of　cloud；　Jon　saw　the　eagle　burning。　For　a　heartbeat　it　flamed　brighter　than　a　star；　wreathed　in　red　and　gold　and　orange；　its　wings　beating　wildly　at　the　air　as　if　it　could　fly　from　the　pain。　Higher　it　flew；　and　higher；　and　higher　still。
　The　scream　brought　Val　out　of　the　tent；　white…faced。　〃What　is　it；　what's　happened？〃　Varamyr's　wolves　were　fighting　each　other；　and　the　shadowcat　had　raced　off　into　the　trees；　but　the　man　was　still　twisting　on　the　ground。　〃What's　wrong　with　him？〃　Val　demanded；　horrified。　〃Where's　Mance？〃
　〃There。〃　Jon　pointed。　〃Gone　to　fight。〃　The　king　led　his　ragged　wedge　into　a　knot　of　rangers；　his　sword　flashing。
　〃Gone？　He　can't　be　gone；　not　now。　It's　started。〃
　〃The　battle？〃　He　watched　the　rangers　scatter　before　Harma's　bloody　dog's　head。　The　raiders　screamed　and　hacked　and　chased　the　men　in　black　back　into　the　trees。　But　there　were　more　men　ing　from　the　wood；　a　column　of　horse。　Knights　on　heavy　horse；　Jon　saw。　Harma　had　to　regroup　and　wheel　to　meet　them；　but　half　of　her　men　had　raced　too　far　ahead。
　〃The　birth！〃　Val　was　shouting　at　him。
　Trumpets　were　blowing　all　around；　loud　and　brazen。　The　wildlings　have　no　trumpets；　only　warhorns。　They　knew　that　as　well　as　he　did；　the　sound　sent　free　folk　running　in　confusion；　some　toward　the　fighting；　others　away。　A　mammoth　was　stomping　through　a　flock　of　sheep　that　three　men　were　trying　to　herd　off　west。　The　drums　were　beating　as　the　wildlings　ran　to　form　squares　and　lines；　but　they　were　too　late；　too　disorganized；　too　slow。　The　enemy　was　emerging　from　the　forest；　from　the　east；　the　northeast；　the　north；　three　great　columns　of　heavy　horse；　all　dark　glinting　steel　and　bright　wool　surcoats。　Not　the　men　of　Eastwatch；　those　had　been　no　more　than　a　line　of　scouts。　An　army。　The　king？　Jon　was　as　confused　as　the　wildlings。　Could　Robb　have　returned？　Had　the　boy　on　the　iron　Throne　finally　bestirred　himself　？　〃You　best　get　back　inside　the　tent；〃　he　told　Val。
　Across　the　field　one　column　had　washed　over　Harma　Dogshead。　Another　smashed　into　the　flank　of　Tormund's　spearmen　as　he　and　his　sons　desperately　tried　to　turn　them。　The　giants　were　climbing　onto　their　mammoths；　though；　and　the　knights　on　their　barded　horses　did　not　like　that　at　all；　he　could　see　how　the　coursers　and　destriers　screamed　and　scattered　at　the　sight　of　those　lumbering　mountains。　But　there　was　fear　on　the　wildling　side　as　well；　hundreds　of　women　and　children　rushing　away　from　the　battle；　some　of　them　blundering　right　under　the　hooves　of　garrons。　He　saw　an　old　woman's　dog　cart　veer　into　the　path　of　three　chariots；　to　send　them　crashing　into　each　other。
　〃Gods；〃　Val　whispered；　〃gods；　why　are　they　doing　this？〃
　〃Go　inside　the　tent　and　stay　with　Dalla。　It's　not　safe　out　here。〃　It　wouldn't　be　a　great　deal　safer　inside；　but　she　didn't　need　to　hear　that。
　〃I　need　to　find　the　midwife；〃　Val　said。
　〃You're　the　midwife。　I'll　stay　here　until　Mance　es　back。〃　He　had　lost　sight　of　Mance　but　now　he　found　him　again；　cutting　his　way　through　a　knot　of　mounted　men。　The　mammoths　had　shattered　the　center　column；　but　the　other　two　were　closing　like　pincers。　On　the　eastern　edge　of　the　camps；　some　archers　were　loosing　fire　arrows　at　the　tents。　He　saw　a　mammoth　pluck　a　knight　from　his　saddle　and　fling　him　forty　feet　with　a　flick　of　its　trunk。　Wildlings　streamed　past；　women　and　children　running　from　the　battle；　some　with　men　hurrying　them　along。　A　few　of　them　gave　Jon　dark　looks　but　Longclaw　was　in　his　hand；　and　no　one　troubled　him。　Even　Varamyr　fled；　crawling　off　on　his　hands　and　knees。
　More　and　more　men　were　pouring　from　the　trees；　not　only　knights　now　but　freeriders　and　mounted　bowmen　and　men…at…arms　in　jacks　and　kettle　helms；　dozens　of　men；　hundreds　of　men。　A　blaze　of　banners　flew　above　them。　The　wind　was　whipping　them　too　wildly　for　Jon　to　see　the　sigils；　but　he　glimpsed　a　seahorse；　a　field　of　birds；　a　ring　of　flowers。　And　yellow；　so　much　yellow；　yellow　banners　with　a　red　device；　whose　arms　were　those？
　East　and　north　and　northeast；　he　saw　bands　of　wildlings　trying　to　stand　and　fight；　but　the　attackers　rode　right　over　them。　The　free　folk　still　had　the　numbers；　but　the　attackers　had　steel　armor　and　heavy　horses。　in　the　thickest　part　of　the　fray；　Jon　saw　Mance　standing　tall　in　his　stirrups。　His　red…and…black　cloak　and　raven…w