grrm.astormofswords-第186章

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om　tree　to　tree。　The　only　sound　was　the　river。
　Long　before　noon；　Sandor　Clegane　was　reeling。　There　were　hours　of　daylight　still　remaining　when　he　called　a　halt。　〃I　need　to　rest；〃　was　all　he　said。　This　time　when　he　dismounted　he　did　fall。　Instead　of　trying　to　get　back　up　he　crawled　weakly　under　a　tree；　and　leaned　up　against　the　trunk。　〃Bloody　hell；〃　he　cursed。　〃Bloody　hell。〃　When　he　saw　Arya　staring　at　him；　he　said；　〃I'd　skin　you　alive　for　a　cup　of　wine；　girl。〃
　She　brought　him　water　instead。　He　drank　a　little　of　it；　plained　that　it　tasted　of　mud；　and　slid　into　a　noisy　fevered　sleep。　When　she　touched　him；　his　skin　was　burning　up。　Arya　sniffed　at　his　bandages　the　way　Maester　Luwin　had　done　sometimes　when　treating　her　cut　or　scrape。　His　face　had　bled　the　worst；　but　it　was　the　wound　on　his　thigh　that　smelled　funny　to　her。
　She　wondered　how　far　this　Saltpans　was；　and　whether　she　could　find　it　by　herself。　I　wouldn't　have　to　kill　him。　If　I　just　rode　off　and　left　him；　he'd　die　all　by　himself。　He'll　die　of　fever；　and　lie　there　beneath　that　tree　until　the　end　of　days。　But　maybe　it　would　be　better　if　she　killed　him　herself。　She　had　killed　the　squire　at　the　inn　and　he　hadn't　done　anything　except　grab　her　arm。　The　Hound　had　killed　Mycah。　Mycah　and　more。　I　bet　he's　killed　a　hundred　Mycahs。　He　probably　would　have　killed　her　too；　if　not　for　the　ransom。
　Needle　glinted　as　she　drew　it。　Polliver　had　kept　it　nice　and　sharp；　at　least。　She　turned　her　body　sideways　in　a　water　dancer's　stance　without　even　thinking　about　it。　Dead　leaves　crunched　beneath　her　feet。　Quick　as　a　snake；　she　thought。　Smooth　as　summer　silk。
　His　eyes　opened。　〃You　remember　where　the　heart　is？〃　he　asked　in　a　hoarse　whisper。
　As　still　as　stone　she　stood。　〃I　。　。　。　I　was　only　。　。　。〃
　〃Don't　lie；〃　he　growled。　〃I　hate　liars。　I　hate　gutless　frauds　even　worse。
　Go　on；　do　it。〃　When　Arya　did　not　move；　he　said；　〃I　killed　your　butcher's　boy。　I　cut　him　near　in　half；　and　laughed　about　it　after。〃　He　made　a　queer　sound；　and　it　took　her　a　moment　to　realize　he　was　sobbing。　〃And　the　little　bird；　your　pretty　sister；　I　stood　there　in　my　white　cloak　and　let　them　beat　her。　I　took　the　bloody　song；　she　never　gave　it。　I　meant　to　take　her　too。　I　should　have。　I　should　have　fucked　her　bloody　and　ripped　her　heart　out　before　leaving　her　for　that　dwarf。〃　A　spasm　of　pain　twisted　his　face。　〃Do　you　mean　to　make　me　beg；　bitch？　Do　it！　The　gift　of　mercy　。　。　。　avenge　your　little　Michael　。　。　。〃
　〃Mycah。〃　Arya　stepped　away　from　him。　〃You　don't　deserve　the　gift　of　mercy。〃
　The　Hound　watched　her　saddle　Craven　through　eyes　bright　with　fever。　Not　once　did　he　attempt　to　rise　and　stop　her。　But　when　she　mounted；　he　said；　〃A　real　wolf　would　finish　a　wounded　animal。〃
　Maybe　some　real　wolves　will　find　you；　Arya　thought。　Maybe　they'll　smell　you　when　the　sun　goes　down。　Then　he　would　learn　what　wolves　did　to　dogs。　〃You　shouldn't　have　hit　me　with　an　axe；〃　she　said。　〃You　should　have　saved　my　mother。〃　She　turned　her　horse　and　rode　away　from　him；　and　never　looked　back　once。
　On　a　bright　morning　six　days　later；　she　came　to　a　place　where　the　Trident　began　to　widen　out　and　the　air　smelled　more　of　salt　than　trees。　She　stayed　close　to　the　water；　passing　fields　and　farms；　and　a　little　after　midday　a　town　appeared　before　her。　Saltpans；　she　hoped。　A　small　castle　dominated　the　town；　no　more　than　a　holdfast；　really；　a　single　tall　square　keep　with　a　bailey　and　a　curtain　wall。　Most　of　the　shops　and　inns　and　alehouses　around　the　harbor　had　been　plundered　or　burned；　though　some　looked　still　inhabited。　But　the　port　was　there；　and　eastward　spread　the　Bay　of　Crabs；　its　waters　shimmering　blue　and　green　in　the　sun。
　And　there　were　ships。
　Three；　thought　Arya；　there　are　three。　Two　were　only　river　galleys；　shallow　draft　boats　made　to　ply　the　waters　of　the　Trident。　The　third　was　bigger；　a　salt　sea　trader　with　two　banks　of　oars；　a　gilded　prow；　and　three　tall　masts　with　furled　purple　sails。　Her　hull　was　painted　purple　too。　Arya　rode　Craven　down　to　the　docks　to　get　a　better　look。　Strangers　are　not　so　strange　in　a　port　as　they　are　in　little　villages；　and　no　one　seemed　to　care　who　she　was　or　why　she　was　here。
　I　need　silver。　The　realization　made　her　bite　her　lip。　They　had　found　a　stag　and　a　dozen　coppers　on　Polliver；　eight　silvers　on　the　pimply　squire　she'd　killed；　and　only　a　couple　of　pennies　in　the　Tickler's　purse。　But　the　Hound　had　told　her　to　pull　off　his　boots　and　slice　open　his　blood…drenched　clothes；　and　she'd　turned　up　a　stag　in　each　toe；　and　three　golden　dragons　sewn　in　the　lining　of　his　jerkin。　Sandor　had　kept　it　all；　though。　That　wasn't　fair。　It　was　mine　as　much　as　his。　If　she　had　given　him　the　gift　of　mercy　。　。　。　she　hadn't；　though。　She　couldn't　go　back；　no　more　than　she　could　beg　for　help。　Begging　for　help　never　gets　you　any。　She　would　have　to　sell　Craven；　and　hope　she　brought　enough。
　The　stable　had　been　burnt；　she　learned　from　a　boy　by　the　docks；　but　the　woman　who'd　owned　it　was　still　trading　behind　the　sept。　Arya　found　her　easily；　a　big；　robust　woman　with　a　good　horsey　smell　to　her。　She　liked　Craven　at　first　look；　asked　Arya　how　she'd　e　by　her；　and　grinned　at　her　answer。　〃She's　a　well…bred　horse；　that's　plain　enough；　and　I　don't　doubt　she　belonged　to　a　knight；　sweetling；〃　she　said。　〃But　the　knight　wasn't　no　dead　brother　o'　yours。　I　been　dealing　with　the　castle　there　many　a　year；　so　I　know　what　gentleborn　folk　is　like。　This　mare　is　well…bred；　but　you're　not。〃　She　poked　a　finger　at　Arya's　chest。　〃Found　her　or　stole　her；　never　mind　which；　that's　how　it　was。　Only　way　a　scruffy　little　thing　like　you　es　to　ride　a　palfrey。〃
　Arya　bit　her　lip。　〃Does　that　mean　you　won't　buy　her？〃
　The　woman　chuckled。　〃It　means　you'll　take　what　I　give　you；　sweetling。　Else　we　go　down　to　the　castle；　and　maybe　you　get　nothing。　Or　even　hanged；　for　stealing　some　good　knight's　horse。〃
　A　half…dozen　other　Saltpans　folks　were　around；　going　about　their　business；　so　Arya　knew　she　couldn't　kill　the　woman。　Instead　she　had　to　bite　her　lip　and　let　herself　be　cheated。　The　purse　she　got　was　pitifully　flat；　and　when　she　asked　for　more　for　the　saddle　and　bridle　and　blanket；　the　woman　just　laughed　at　her。
　She　would　never　have　cheated　the　Hound；　she　thought　during　the　long　walk　back　to　the　docks。　The　distance　seemed　to　have　grown　by　miles　since　she'd　ridden　it。
　The　purple　galley　was　still　there。　If　the　ship　had　sailed　while　she　was　being　robbed；　that　would　have　been　too　much　to　bear。　A　cask　of　mead　was　being　rolled　up　the　plank　when　she　arrived。　When　she　tried　to　follow；　a　sailor　up　on　deck　shouted　down　at　her　in　a　tongue　she　did　not　know。　〃I　want　to　see　the　captain；〃　Arya　told　him。　He　only　shouted　louder。　But　the　motion　drew　the　attention　of　a　stout　grey…haired　man　in　a　coat　of　purple　wool；　and　he　spoke　the　mon　Tongue。　〃I　am　captain　here；〃　he　said。　〃What　is　your　wish？　Be　quick；　child；　we　have　a　tide　to　catch。〃
　〃I　want　to　go　north；　to　the　Wall。　Here；　I　can　pay。〃　She　gave　him　the　purse。　〃The　Night's　Watch　has　a　castle　on　the　sea。〃
　〃Eastwatch。〃　The　captain　spilled　out　the　silver　onto　his　palm　and　frowned。　〃Is　this　all　you　have？〃
　It　is　not　enough；　Arya　knew　without　being　told。　She　could　see　it　on　his　face。　〃I　wouldn't　need　a　cabin　or　anything；〃　she　said。　〃I　could　sleep　down　in　the　hold；　or　。　。　。〃
　〃Take　her　on　as　cabin　girl；〃　said　a　passing　oarsman；　a　bolt　of　wool　over　one　shoulder。　〃She　can　sleep　with　me。〃
　〃Mind　your　tongue；〃　the　captain　snapped。
　〃I　could　work；〃　said　Arya。　〃I　could　scrub　the　decks。　I　scrubbed　a　castle　steps　once。　Or　I　could　row　。　。　。〃
　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃you　couldn't。〃　He　gave　her　back　her　coins。　〃It　would　make　no　difference　if　you　could；　child。　The　north　has　nothing　for　us。　Ice　and　war　and　pirates。　We　saw　a　dozen　pirate　ships　making　north　as　we　rounded　Crackclaw　Point；　and　I　have　no　wish　to　meet　them　again。　From　here　we　bend　our　oars　for　home；　and　I　suggest　you　do　the　same。〃
　I　have　no　home；　Arya　thought。　I　have　no　pack。　And　now　I　don't　even　have　a　horse。
　The　captain　was　turning　away　when　she　said；　〃What　ship　is　this；　my　lord？〃
　He　paused　long　enough　to　give　her　a　weary　smile。　〃This　is　the　galleas　Titan's　Daughter；　of　the　Free　City　of　Braavos。〃
　〃Wait；〃　Arya　said　suddenly。　〃I　have　something　else。〃　She　had　stuffed　it　down　inside　her　smallclothes　to　keep　it　safe；　so　she　had　to　dig　deep　to　find　it；　while　the　oarsmen　laughed　and　the　captain　lingered　with　obvious　impatience。　〃One　more　silver　will　make　no　difference；　child；〃　he　finally　said。
　〃It's　not　silver。〃　Her　fingers　closed　on　it。　〃It's　iron。　Here。〃　She　pressed　it　into　his　hand；　the　small　black　iron　coin　that　jaqen　Hghar　had　given　her；　so　worn　the　man　whose　head　it　bore　had　no　features。　It's　probably　worthless；　but　。　。　。
　The　captain　turned　it　over　and　blinked　at　it；　then　looked　at　her　again。　〃This　。　。　。　how　。　。　。　？〃
　Jaqen　said　to　say　the　words　too。　Arya　crossed　her　arms　against　her　chest。　〃Valar　morghulis；〃　she　said；　as　loud　as　if　she'd　known　what　it　meant。
　〃Valar　dohaeris；〃　he　replied；　touching　his　brow　with　two　fingers。　〃Of　course　you　shall　have　a　cabin。〃
　
　CHAPTER　75
　SAMWELL
　
　〃He　sucks　harder　than　mine。〃　Gilly　stroked　the　babe's　head　as　she　held　him　to　her　nipple。
　〃He's　hungry；〃　said　the　blonde　woman　Val；　the　one　the　black　brothers　called　the　wildling　princess。　〃He's　lived　on　goats'　milk　up　to　now；　and　potions　from　that　blind　maester。〃
　The　boy　did　not　have　a　name　yet；　no　more　than　Gilly's　did。　That　was　the　wildling　way。　Not　even　Mance　Rayder's　son　would　get　a　name　till　his　third　year；　it　would　seem；　though　Sam　had　heard　the　brothers　calling　him　〃the　little　prince〃　and　〃born…in…battle。〃
　He　watched　the　child　nurse　at　Gilly's　breast；　and　then　he　watched　Jon　watch。　fon　is　smiling。　A　sad　smile；　still；　but　definitely　a　smile　of　sorts。　Sam　was　glad　to　see　it。　It　is　the　first　time　I've　seen　him　smile　since　I　got　back。
　They　had　walked　from　the　Nightfort　to　Deep　Lake；　and　from　Deep　Lake　to　Queensgate；　following　a　narrow　track　from　one　castle　to　the　next；　never　out　of　sight　of　the　Wall。　A　day　and　a　half　from　Castle　Black；　as　they　trudged　along　on　callused　feet；　Gilly　heard　horses　behind　them；　and　turned　to　see　a　column　of　black　riders　ing　from　the　west。　〃My　brothers；〃　Sam　assured　her。　〃No　one　uses　this　road　but　the　Night's　Watch。〃　It　had　turned　out　to　be　Ser　Denys　Mallister　from　the　Shadow　Tower；　along　with　the　wounded　Bowen　Marsh　and　the　survivors　from　the　fight　at　the　Bridge　of　Skulls。　When　Sam　saw　Dywen；　Giant；　and　Dolorous　Edd　Tollett；　he　broke　down　and　wept。
　It　was　from　them　that　he　learned　about　the　battle　beneath　the　Wall。　〃Stannis　landed　his　knights　at　Eastwatch；　and　Cotter　Pyke　led　him　along　the　ranger's　roads；　to　take　the　wildlings　unawares；〃　Giant　told　him。　〃He　smashed　them。　Mance　Rayder　was　taken　captive；　a　thousand　of　his　best　slain；　including　Harma　Dogshead。　The　rest　scattered　like　leaves　before　a　storm；　we　heard。〃　The　gods　are　good；　Sam　thought。　If　he　had　not　gotten　lost　as　he　made　his　way　south　from　Craster's　Keep；　he　and　Gilly　might　have　walked　right　into　the　battle　。　。　。　or　into　Mance　Rayder's　camp；　at　the　very　least。　That　might　have　been　well　enough　for　Gilly　and　the　boy；　but　not　for　him。　Sam　had　heard　all　the　stories　about　what　wildlings　did　with　captured　crows。　He　shuddered。
　Nothing　that　his　brothers　told　him　prepared　hi