grrm.astormofswords-第189章

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sed　by　fire；　he　thought；　remembering　Ygritte。　The　wind　got　in　amongst　Melisandre's　long　red　robes　and　sent　them　flapping　against　Jon's　legs　as　he　stood　beside　her。　〃You　are　not　cold；　my　lady？〃　he　asked　her。
　She　laughed。　〃Never。〃　The　ruby　at　her　throat　seemed　to　pulse；　in　time　with　the　beating　of　her　heart。　〃The　Lord's　fire　lives　within　me；　Jon　Snow。　Feel。〃　She　put　her　hand　on　his　cheek；　and　held　it　there　while　he　felt　how　warm　she　was。　〃That　is　how　life　should　feel；〃　she　told　him。　〃Only　death　is　cold。〃
　They　found　Stannis　Baratheon　standing　alone　at　the　edge　of　the　Wall；　brooding　over　the　field　where　he　had　won　his　battle；　and　the　great　green　forest　beyond。　He　was　dressed　in　the　same　black　breeches；　tunic；　and　boots　that　a　brother　of　the　Night's　Watch　might　wear。　Only　his　cloak　set　him　apart；　a　heavy　golden　cloak　trimmed　in　black　fur；　and　pinned　with　a　brooch　in　the　shape　of　a　flaming　heart。　〃I　have　brought　you　the　Bastard　of　Winterfell；　Your　Grace；〃　said　Melisandre。
　Stannis　turned　to　study　him。　Beneath　his　heavy　brow　were　eyes　like　bottomless　blue　pools。　His　hollow　cheeks　and　strong　jaw　were　covered　with　a　short…cropped　blue…black　beard　that　did　little　to　conceal　the　gauntness　of　his　face；　and　his　teeth　were　clenched。　His　neck　and　shoulders　were　clenched　as　well；　and　his　right　hand。　Jon　found　himself　remembering　something　Donal　Noye　once　said　about　the　Baratheon　brothers。　Robert　was　the　true　steel。　Stannis　is　pure　iron；　black　and　hard　and　strong；　but　brittle；　the　way　iron　gets。　He'll　break　before　he　bends。　Uneasily；　he　knelt；　wondering　why　this　brittle　king　had　need　of　him。
　〃Rise。　I　have　heard　much　and　more　of　you；　Lord　Snow。〃
　〃I　am　no　lord；　sire。〃　Jon　rose。　〃I　know　what　you　have　heard。　That　I　am　a　tumcloak；　and　craven。　That　I　slew　my　brother　Qhorin　Halfhand　so　the　wildlings　would　spare　my　life。　That　I　rode　with　Mance　Rayder；　and　took　a　wildling　wife。〃
　〃Aye。　All　that；　and　more。　You　are　a　warg　too；　they　say；　a　skinchanger　who　walks　at　night　as　a　wolf。〃　King　Stannis　had　a　hard　smile。　〃How　much　of　it　is　true？〃
　〃I　had　a　direwolf；　Ghost。　I　left　him　when　I　climbed　the　Wall　near　Greyguard；　and　have　not　seen　him　since。　Qhorin　Halfhand　manded　me　to　join　the　wildlings。　He　knew　they　would　make　me　kill　him　to　prove　myself；　and　told　me　to　do　whatever　they　asked　of　me。　The　woman　was　named　Ygritte。　I　broke　my　vows　with　her；　but　I　swear　to　you　on　my　father's　name　that　I　never　turned　my　cloak。〃
　〃I　believe　you；〃　the　king　said。
　That　startled　him。　〃Why？〃
　Stannis　snorted。　〃I　know　Janos　Slynt。　And　I　knew　Ned　Stark　as　well。　Your　father　was　no　friend　of　mine；　but　only　a　fool　would　doubt　his　honor　or　his　honesty。　You　have　his　look。〃　A　big　man；　Stannis　Baratheon　towered　over　Jon；　but　he　was　so　gaunt　that　he　looked　ten　years　older　than　he　was。　〃I　know　more　than　you　might　think；　Jon　Snow。　I　know　it　was　you　who　found　the　dragonglass　dagger　that　Randyll　Tarly's　son　used　to　slay　the　Other。〃
　〃Ghost　found　it。　The　blade　was　wrapped　in　a　ranger's　cloak　and　buried　beneath　the　Fist　of　the　First　Men。　There　were　other　blades　as　well　。　。　。　spearheads；　arrowheads；　all　dragonglass。〃
　〃I　know　you　held　the　gate　here；〃　King　Stannis　said。　〃If　not；　I　would　have　e　too　late。〃
　〃Donal　Noye　held　the　gate。　He　died　below　in　the　tunnel；　fighting　the　king　of　the　giants。〃
　Stannis　grimaced。　〃Noye　made　my　first　sword　for　me；　and　Robert's　warharnmer　as　well。　Had　the　god　seen　fit　to　spare　him；　he　would　have　made　a　better　Lord　mander　for　your　order　than　any　of　these　fools　who　are　squabbling　over　it　now。〃
　〃Cotter　Pyke　and　Ser　Denys　Mallister　are　no　fools；　sire；〃　Jon　said。　〃They're　good　men；　and　capable。　Othell　Yarwyck　as　well；　in　his　own　way。　Lord　Mormont　trusted　each　of　them。〃
　〃Your　Lord　Mormont　trusted　too　easily。　Else　he　would　not　have　died　as　he　did。　But　we　were　speaking　of　you。　I　have　not　forgotten　that　it　was　you　who　brought　us　this　magic　horn；　and　captured　Mance　Rayder's　wife　and　son。〃
　〃Dalla　died。〃　Jon　was　saddened　by　that　still。　〃Val　is　her　sister。　She　and　the　babe　did　not　require　much　capturing；　Your　Grace。　You　had　put　the　wildlings；　to　flight；　and　the　skinchanger　Mance　had　left　to　guard　his　queen　went　mad　when　the　eagle　burned。〃　Jon　looked　at　Melisandre。　〃Some　say　that　was　your　doing。〃
　She　smiled；　her　long　copper　hair　tumbling　across　her　face。　〃The　Lord　of　Light　has　fiery　talons；　Jon　Snow。〃
　Jon　nodded；　and　turned　back　to　the　king。　〃Your　Grace；　you　spoke　of　Val。　She　has　asked　to　see　Mance　Rayder；　to　bring　his　son　to　him。　it　would　be　a　。　。　。　a　kindness。〃
　〃The　man　is　a　deserter　from　your　order。　Your　brothers　are　all　insisting　on　his　death。　Why　should　I　do　him　a　kindness？〃
　Jon　had　no　answer　for　that。　〃If　not　for　him；　for　Val。　For　her　sister's　sake；　the　child's　mother。〃
　〃You　are　fond　of　this　Val？〃
　〃I　scarcely　know　her。〃
　〃They　tell　me　she　is　ely。〃
　〃Very；〃　Jon　admitted。
　〃Beauty　can　be　treacherous。　My　brother　learned　that　lesson　from　Cersei　Larmister。　She　murdered　him；　do　not　doubt　it。　Your　father　and　Jon　Arryn　as　well。〃　He　scowled。　〃You　rode　with　these　wildlings。　Is　there　any　honor　in　them；　do　you　think？〃
　〃Yes；〃　Jon　said；　〃but　their　own　sort　of　honor；　sire。〃
　〃In　Mance　Rayder？〃
　〃Yes。　I　think　so。〃
　〃In　the　Lord　of　Bones？〃
　Jon　hesitated。　〃Rattleshirt；　we　called　him。　Treacherous　and　bloodthirsty。　If　there's　honor　in　him；　he　hides　it　down　beneath　his　suit　of　bones。〃
　〃And　this　other　man；　this　Tormund　of　the　many　names　who　eluded　us　after　the　battle？　Answer　me　truly。〃
　〃Tormund　Giantsbane　seemed　to　me　the　sort　of　man　who　would　make　a　good　friend　and　a　bad　enemy；　Your　Grace。〃
　Stannis　gave　a　curt　nod。　〃Your　father　was　a　man　of　honor。　He　was　no　friend　to　me；　but　I　saw　his　worth。　Your　brother　was　a　rebel　and　a　traitor　who　meant　to　steal　half　my　kingdom；　but　no　man　can　question　his　courage。　What　of　you？〃
　Does　he　want　me　to　say　I　love　him？　Jon's　voice　was　stiff　and　formal　as　he　said；　〃I　am　a　man　of　the　Night's　Watch。〃
　〃Words。　Words　are　wind。　Why　do　you　think　I　abandoned　Dragonstone　and　sailed　to　the　Wall；　Lord　Snow？〃
　〃I　am　no　lord；　sire。　You　came　because　we　sent　for　you；　I　hope。　Though　I　could　not　say　why　you　took　so　long　about　it。〃
　Surprisingly；　Stannis　smiled　at　that。　〃You're　bold　enough　to　be　a　Stark。　Yes；　I　should　have　e　sooner。　If　not　for　my　Hand；　I　might　not　have　e　at　all。　Lord　Seaworth　is　a　man　of　humble　birth；　but　he　reminded　me　of　my　duty；　when　all　I　could　think　of　was　my　rights。　I　had　the　cart　before　the　horse；　Davos　said。　I　was　trying　to　win　the　throne　to　save　the　kingdom；　when　I　should　have　been　trying　to　save　the　kingdom　to　win　the　throne。〃　Stannis　pointed　north。　〃There　is　where　I'll　find　the　foe　that　I　was　born　to　fight。〃
　〃His　name　may　not　be　spoken；〃　Melisandre　added　softly。　〃He　is　the　God　of　Night　and　Terror；　Jon　Snow；　and　these　shapes　in　the　snow　are　his　creatures。〃
　〃They　tell　me　that　you　slew　one　of　these　walking　corpses　to　save　Lord　Mormont's　life；〃　Stannis　said。　〃it　may　be　that　this　is　your　war　as　well；　Lord　Snow。　If　you　will　give　me　your　help。〃
　〃My　sword　is　pledged　to　the　Night's　Watch；　Your　Grace；〃　Jon　Snow　answered　carefully。
　That　did　not　please　the　king。　Stannis　ground　his　teeth　and　said；　〃I　need　more　than　a　sword　from　you。〃
　Jon　was　lost。　〃My　lord？〃
　〃I　need　the　north。〃
　The　north。　〃I　。　。　。　my　brother　Robb　was　King　in　the　North　。　。　。
　〃Your　brother　was　the　rightful　Lord　of　Winterfell。　if　he　had　stayed　home　and　done　his　duty；　instead　of　crowning　himself　and　riding　off　to　conquer　the　riverlands；　he　might　be　alive　today。　Be　that　as　it　may。　You　are　not　Robb；　no　more　than　I　am　Robert。〃
　The　harsh　words　had　blown　away　whatever　sympathy　Jon　might　have　had　for　Stannis。　〃I　loved　my　brother；〃　he　said。
　〃And　I　mine。　Yet　they　were　what　they　were；　and　so　are　we。　I　am　the　only　true　king　in　Westeros；　north　or　south。　And　you　are　Ned　Stark's　bastard。〃　Stannis　studied　him　with　those　dark　blue　eyes。　〃Tywin　Lannister　has　named　Roose　Bolton　his　Warden　of　the　North；　to　reward　him　for　betraying　your　brother。　The　ironmen　are　fighting　amongst　themselves　since　Balon　Greyjoy's　death；　yet　they　still　hold　Moat　Cailin；　Deepwood　Motte；　Torrhen's　Square；　and　most　of　the　Stony　Shore。　Your　father's　lands　are　bleeding；　and　I　have　neither　the　strength　nor　the　time　to　stanch　the　wounds。　What　is　needed　is　a　Lord　of　Winterfell。　A　loyal　Lord　of　Winterfell。〃
　He　is　looking　at　me；　Jon　thought；　stunned。　〃Winterfell　is　no　more。　Theon　Greyjoy　put　it　to　the　torch。〃
　〃Granite　does　not　burn　easily；〃　Stannis　said。　〃The　castle　can　be　rebuilt；　in　time。　It's　not　the　walls　that　make　a　lord；　it's　the　man；　Your　northmen　do　not　know　me；　have　no　reason　to　love　me；　yet　I　will　need　their　strength　in　the　battles　yet　to　e。　I　need　a　son　of　Eddard　Stark　to　win　them　to　my　banner。〃
　He　would　make　me　Lord　of　Winterfell。　The　wind　was　gusting；　and　Jon　felt　so　light…headed　he　was　half　afraid　it　would　blow　him　off　the　Wall。　〃Your　Grace；〃　he　said；　〃you　forget。　I　am　a　Snow；　not　a　Stark。〃
　〃It's　you　who　are　forgetting；〃　King　Stannis　replied。
　Melisandre　put　a　warm　hand　on　Jon's　arm。　〃A　king　can　remove　the　taint　of　bastardy　with　a　stroke；　Lord　Snow。〃
　Lord　Snow。　Ser　Alliser　Thorne　had　named　him　that；　to　mock　his　bastard　birth。　Many　of　his　brothers　had　taken　to　using　it　as　well；　some　with　affection；　others　to　wound。　But　suddenly　it　had　a　different　sound　to　it　in　Jon's　ears。　It　sounded　。　。　。　real。　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　hesitantly；　〃kings　have　legitimized　bastards　before；　but　。　。　。　I　am　still　a　brother　of　the　Night's　Watch。　I　knelt　before　a　heart　tree　and　swore　to　hold　no　lands　and　father　no　children。〃
　〃Jon。〃　Melisandre　was　so　close　he　could　feel　the　warmth　of　her　breath。　〃R'hllor　is　the　only　true　god。　A　vow　sworn　to　a　tree　has　no　more　power　than　one　sworn　to　your　shoes。　Open　your　heart　and　let　the　light　of　the　Lord　e　in。　Burn　these　weirwoods；　and　accept　Winterfell　as　a　gift　of　the　Lord　of　Light。〃
　When　Jon　had　been　very　young；　too　young　to　understand　what　it　meant　to　be　a　bastard；　he　used　to　dream　that　one　day　Winterfell。　might　be　his。　Later；　when　he　was　older；　he　had　been　ashamed　of　those　dreams。　Winterfell。　would　go　to　Robb　and　then　his　sons；　or　to　Bran　or　Rickon　should　Robb　die　childless。　And　after　them　came　Sansa　and　Arya。　Even　to　dream　otherwise　seemed　disloyal；　as　if　he　were　betraying　them　in　his　heart；　wishing　for　their　deaths。　I　never　wanted　this；　he　thought　as　he　stood　before　the　blue…eyed　king　and　the　red　woman。　I　loved　Robb；　loved　an　of　them　。　。　。　I　never　wanted　any　harm　to　e　to　any　of　them；　but　it　did。　And　now　there's　only　me。　All　he　had　to　do　was　say　the　word；　and　he　would　be　Jon　Stark；　and　nevermore　a　Snow。　All　he　had　to　do　was　pledge　this　king　his　fealty；　and　Winterfell　was　his。　All　he　had　to　do　。　。　。
　　。　。　。　was　forswear　his　vows　again。
　And　this　time　it　would　not　be　a　ruse。　To　claim　his　father's　castle；　he　must　turn　against　his　father's　gods。
　King　Stannis　gazed　off　north　again；　his　gold　cloak　streaming　from　his　shoulders。　〃It　may　be　that　I　am　mistaken　in　you；　Jon　Snow。　We　both　know　the　things　that　are　said　of　bastards。　You　may　lack　your　father's　honor；　or　your　brother's　skill　in　arms。　But　you　are　the　weapon　the　Lord　has　given　me。　I　have　found　you　here；　as　you　found　the　cache　of　dragonglass　beneath　the　Fist；　and　I　mean　to　make　use　of　you。　Even　Azor　Ahai　did　not　win　his　war　alone。　I　killed　a　thousand　w