grrm.astormofswords-第196章

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nces　to　choose　me；　and　you　didn't。　Not　enough　of　you；　anyway。　I　was　going　to　say　that　those　who　were　casting　a　token　for　me　ought　to　choose　Lord　Janos　。　。　。〃
　Ser　Alliser　nodded。　〃Lord　Slynt　is　the　best　possible　。　。　。〃
　〃I　wasn't　done；　Alliser；〃　Yarwyck　plained。　〃Lord　Slynt　manded　the　City　Watch　in　King's　Landing；　we　all　know；　and　he　was　Lord　of　Harrenhal　。　。　。〃
　〃He's　never　seen　Harrenhal；〃　Cotter　Pyke　shouted　out。
　〃Well；　that's　so；〃　said　Yarwyck。　〃Anyway；　now　that　I'm　standing　here；　I　don't　recall　why　I　thought　Slynt　would　be　such　a　good　choice。　That　would　be　sort　of　kicking　King　Stannis　in　the　mouth；　and　I　don't　see　how　that　serves　us。　Might　be　Snow　would　be　better。　He's　been　longer　on　the　Wall；　he's　Ben　Stark's　nephew；　and　he　served　the　Old　Bear　as　squire。〃　Yarwyck　shrugged。　〃Pick　who　you　want；　just　so　it's　not　me。〃　He　sat　down。
　Janos　Slynt　had　turned　from　red　to　purple；　Jon　saw；　but　Ser　Alliser　Thorne　had　gone　pale。　The　Eastwatch　man　was　pounding　his　fist　on　the　table　again；　but　now　he　was　shouting　for　the　kettle。　Some　of　his　friends　took　up　the　cry。　〃Kettle！〃　they　roared；　as　one。　〃Kettle；　kettle；　KETTLE！〃
　The　kettle　was　in　the　corner　by　the　hearth；　a　big　black　potbellied　thing　with　two　huge　handles　and　a　heavy　lid。　Maester　Aemon　said　a　word　to　Sam　and　Clydas　and　they　went　and　grabbed　the　handles　and　dragged　the　kettle　over　to　the　table。　A　few　of　the　brothers　were　already　queueing　up　by　the　token　barrels　as　Clydas　took　the　lid　off　and　almost　dropped　it　on　his　foot。　With　a　raucous　scream　and　a　clap　of　wings；　a　huge　raven　burst　out　of　the　kettle。　It　flapped　upward；　seeking　the　rafters　perhaps；　or　a　window　to　make　its　escape；　but　there　were　no　rafters　in　the　vault；　nor　windows　either。　The　raven　was　trapped。　Cawing　loudly；　it　circled　the　hall；　once；　twice；　three　times。　And　Jon　heard　Samwell　Tarly　shout；　〃I　know　that　bird！　That's　Lord　Mormont's　raven！〃
　The　raven　landed　on　the　table　nearest　Jon。　〃Snow；〃　it　cawed。　it　was　an　old　bird；　dirty　and　bedraggled。　〃Snow；〃　it　said　again；　〃Snow；　snow；　snow〃　It　walked　to　the　end　of　the　table；　spread　its　wings　again；　and　flew　to　Jon's　shoulder。
　Lord　Janos　Slynt　sat　down　so　heavily　he　made　a　thump；　but　Ser　Alliser　filled　the　vault　with　mocking　laughter。　〃Ser　Piggy　thinks　we're　all　fools；　brothers；〃　he　said。　〃He's　taught　the　bird　this　little　trick。　They　all　say　snow；　go　up　to　the　rookery　and　hear　for　yourselves。　Mormont's　bird　had　more　words　than　that。〃
　The　raven　cocked　its　head　and　looked　at　Jon。　〃Corn？〃　it　said　hopefully。　When　it　got　neither　corn　nor　answer；　it　quorked　and　muttered；　〃Kettle？　Kettle？　Kettle？〃
　The　rest　was　arrowheads；　a　torrent　of　arrowheads；　a　flood　of　arrowheads；　arrowheads　enough　to　drown　the　last　few　stones　and　shells；　and　all　the　copper　pennies　too。
　When　the　count　was　done；　Jon　found　himself　surrounded。　Some　clapped　him　on　the　back；　whilst　others　bent　the　knee　to　him　as　if　he　were　a　lord　in　truth。　Satin；　Owen　the　Oaf；　Halder；　Toad；　Spare　Boot；　Giant；　Mully；　Ulmer　of　the　Kingswood；　Sweet　Donnel　Hill；　and　half　a　hundred　more　pressed　around　him。　Dywen　clacked　his　wooden　teeth　and　said；　〃Gods　be　good；　our　Lord　mander's　still　in　swaddling　clothes。〃　Iron　Emmett　said；　〃I　hope　this　don't　mean　I　can't　beat　the　bloody　piss　out　of　you　next　time　we　train；　my　lord。〃　Three…Finger　Hobb　wanted　to　know　if　he'd　still　be　eating　with　the　men；　or　if　he'd　want　his　meals　sent　up　to　his　solar。　Even　Bowen　Marsh　came　up　to　say　he　would　be　glad　to　continue　as　Lord　Steward　if　that　was　Lord　Snow's　wish。
　〃Lord　Snow；〃　said　Cotter　Pyke；　〃if　you　muck　this　up；　I'm　going　to　rip　your　liver　out　and　eat　it　raw　with　onions。〃
　Ser　Denys　Mallister　was　more　courteous。　〃It　was　a　hard　thing　young　Samwell　asked　of　me；〃　the　old　knight　confessed。　〃When　Lord　Qorgyle　was　chosen；　I　told　myself；　'No　matter；　he　has　been　longer　on　the　Wall　than　you　have；　your　time　will　e。'　When　it　was　Lord　Mormont；　I　thought；　'He　is　strong　and　fierce；　but　he　is　old；　your　time　may　yet　e。'　But　you　are　half　a　boy；　Lord　Snow；　and　now　I　must　return　to　the　Shadow　Tower　knowing　that　my　time　will　never　e。〃　He　smiled　a　tired　smile。　〃Do　not　make　me　die　regretful。　Your　uncle　was　a　great　man。　Your　lord　father　and　his　father　as　well。　I　shall　expect　full　as　much　of　you。〃
　〃Aye；〃　said　Cotter　Pyke。　〃And　you　can　start　by　telling　those　king's　men　that　it's　done；　and　we　want　our　bloody　supper。〃
　〃Supper；〃　screamed　the　raven。　〃Supper；　supper。〃
　The　king's　men　cleared　the　door　when　they　told　them　of　the　choosing；　and　Three…Finger　Hobb　and　half　a　dozen　helpers　went　trotting　off　to　the　kitchen　to　fetch　the　food。　Jon　did　not　wait　to　eat。　He　walked　across　the　castle；　wondering　if　he　were　dreaming；　with　the　raven　on　his　shoulder　and　Ghost　at　his　heels。　Pyp；　Grenn；　and　Sam　trailed　after　him；　chattering；　but　he　hardly　heard　a　word　until　Grenn　whispered；　〃Sam　did　it；〃　and　Pyp　said；　〃Sam　did　it！〃　Pyp　had　brought　a　wineskin　with　him；　and　he　took　a　long　drink　and　chanted；　〃Sam；　Sam；　Sam　the　wizard；　Sam　the　wonder；　Sam　Sam　the　marvel　man；　he　did　it。　But　when　did　you　hide　the　raven　in　the　kettle；　Sam；　and　how　in　seven　hells　could　you　be　certain　it　would　fly　to　Jon？　It　would　have　mucked　up　everything　if　the　bird　had　decided　to　perch　on　Janos　Slynt's　fat　head。〃
　〃I　had　nothing　to　do　with　the　bird；〃　Sam　insisted。　〃When　it　flew　out　of　the　kettle　I　almost　wet　myself。〃
　Jon　laughed；　half　amazed　that　he　still　remembered　how。　〃You're　all　a　bunch　of　mad　fools；　do　you　know　that？〃
　〃Us？〃　said　Pyp。　〃You　call　us　fools？　We're　not　the　ones　who　got　chosen　as　the　nine…hundredth…and…ninety…eighth　Lord　mander　of　the　Night's　Watch。　You　best　have　some　wine；　Lord　Jon。　I　think　you're　going　to　need　a　lot　of　wine。〃
　So　Jon　Snow　took　the　wineskin　from　his　hand　and　had　a　swallow。　But　only　one。　The　Wall　was　his；　the　night　was　dark；　and　he　had　a　king　to　face。
　
　CHAPTER　80
　SANSA
　
　She　awoke　all　at　once；　every　nerve　atingle。　For　a　moment　she　did　not　remember　where　she　was。　She　had　dreamt　that　she　was　little；　still　sharing　a　bedchamber　with　her　sister　Arya。　But　it　was　her　maid　she　heard　tossing　in　sleep；　not　her　sister；　and　this　was　not　Winterfell；　but　the　Eyrie。　And　I　am　Alayne　Stone；　a　bastard　girl。　The　room　was　cold　and　black；　though　she　was　warm　beneath　the　blankets。　Dawn　had　not　yet　e。　Sometimes　she　dreamed　of　Ser　Ilyn　Payne　and　woke　with　her　heart　thumping；　but　this　dream　had　not　been　like　that。　Home。　It　was　a　dream　of　home。
　The　Eyrie　was　no　home。　It　was　no　bigger　than　Maegor's　Holdfast；　and　outside　its　sheer　white　walls　was　only　the　mountain　and　the　long　treacherous　descent　past　Sky　and　Snow　and　Stone　to　the　Gates　of　the　Moon　on　the　valley　floor。　There　was　no　place　to　go　and　little　to　do。　The　older　servants　said　these　halls　rang　with　laughter　when　her　father　and　Robert　Baratheon　had　been　Jon　Arryn's　wards；　but　those　days　were　many　years　gone。　Her　aunt　kept　a　small　household；　and　seldom　permitted　any　guests　to　ascend　past　the　Gates　of　the　Moon。　Aside　from　her　aged　maid；　Sansa's　only　panion　was　the　Lord　Robert；　eight　going　on　three。
　And　Marillion。　There　is　always　Marillion。　When　he　played　for　them　at　supper；　the　young　singer　often　seemed　to　be　singing　directly　at　her。　Her　aunt　was　far　from　pleased。　Lady　Lysa　doted　on　Marillion；　and　had　banished　two　serving　girls　and　even　a　page　for　telling　lies　about　him。
　Lysa　was　as　lonely　as　she　was。　Her　new　husband　seemed　to　spend　more　time　at　the　foot　of　the　mountain　than　he　did　atop　it。　He　was　gone　now；　had　been　gone　the　past　four　days；　meeting　with　the　Corbrays。　From　bits　and　pieces　of　overheard　conversations　Sansa　knew　that　Jon　Arryn's　bannermen　resented　Lysa's　marriage　and　begrudged　Petyr　his　authority　as　Lord　Protector　of　the　Vale。　The　senior　branch　of　House　Royce　was　close　to　open　revolt　over　her　aunt's　failure　to　aid　Robb　in　his　war；　and　the　Waynwoods；　Redforts；　Belmores；　and　Templetons　were　giving　them　every　support。　The　mountain　clans　were　being　troublesome　as　well；　and　old　Lord　Hunter　had　died　so　suddenly　that　his　two　younger　sons　were　accusing　their　elder　brother　of　having　murdered　him。　The　Vale　of　Arryn　might　have　been　spared　the　worst　of　the　war；　but　it　was　hardly　the　idyllic　place　that　Lady　Lysa　had　made　it　out　to　be。
　I　am　not　going　back　to　sleep；　Sansa　realized。　My　head　is　all　a　tumult。　She　pushed　her　pillow　away　reluctantly；　threw　back　the　blankets；　went　to　her　window；　and　opened　the　shutters。
　Snow　was　falling　on　the　Eyrie。
　Outside　the　flakes　drifted　down　as　soft　and　silent　as　memory。　Was　this　what　woke　me？　Already　the　snowfall　lay　thick　upon　the　garden　below；　blanketing　the　grass；　dusting　the　shrubs　and　statues　with　white　and　weighing　down　the　branches　of　the　trees。　The　sight　took　Sansa　back　to　cold　nights　long　ago；　in　the　long　summer　of　her　childhood。
　She　had　last　seen　snow　the　day　she'd　left　Winterfell。　That　was　a　lighter　fall　than　this；　she　remembered。　Robb　had　melting　flakes　in　his　hair　when　he　hugged　me；　and　the　snowball　Arya　tried　to　make　kept　ing　apart　in　her　hands。　It　hurt　to　remember　how　happy　she　had　been　that　morning。　Hullen　had　helped　her　mount；　and　she'd　ridden　out　with　the　snowflakes　swirling　around　her；　off　to　see　the　great　wide　world。　I　thought　my　song　was　beginning　that　day；　but　it　was　almost　done。
　Sansa　left　the　shutters　open　as　she　dressed。　It　would　be　cold；　she　knew；　though　the　Eyrie's　towers　encircled　the　garden　and　protected　it　from　the　worst　of　the　mountain　winds。　She　donned　silken　smallclothes　and　a　linen　shift；　and　over　that　a　warm　dress　of　blue　lambswool。　Two　pairs　of　hose　for　her　legs；　boots　that　laced　up　to　her　knees；　heavy　leather　gloves；　and　finally　a　hooded　cloak　of　soft　white　fox　fur。
　Her　maid　rolled　herself　more　tightly　in　her　blanket　as　the　snow　began　to　drift　in　the　window。　Sansa　eased　open　the　door；　and　made　her　way　down　the　winding　stair。　When　she　opened　the　door　to　the　garden；　it　was　so　lovely　that　she　held　her　breath；　unwilling　to　disturb　such　perfect　beauty。　The　snow　drifted　down　and　down；　all　in　ghostly　silence；　and　lay　thick　and　unbroken　on　the　ground。　All　color　had　fled　the　world　outside。　It　was　a　place　of　whites　and　blacks　and　greys。　White　towers　and　white　snow　and　white　statues；　black　shadows　and　black　trees；　the　dark　grey　sky　above。　A　pure　world；　Sansa　thought。　I　do　not　belong　here。
　Yet　she　stepped　out　all　the　same。　Her　boots　tore　ankle…deep　holes　into　the　smooth　white　surface　of　the　snow；　yet　made　no　sound。　Sansa　drifted　past　frosted　shrubs　and　thin　dark　trees；　and　wondered　if　she　were　still　dreaming。　Drifting　snowflakes　brushed　her　face　as　light　as　lover's　kisses；　and　melted　on　her　cheeks。　At　the　center　of　the　garden；　beside　the　statue　of　the　weeping　woman　that　lay　broken　and　half…buried　on　the　ground；　she　turned　her　face　up　to　the　sky　and　closed　her　eyes。　She　could　feel　the　snow　on　her　lashes；　taste　it　on　her　lips。　It　was　the　taste　of　Winterfell。　The　taste　of　innocence。　The　taste　of　dreams。
　When　Sansa　opened　her　eyes　again；　she　was　on　her　knees。　She　did　not　remember　falling。　it　seemed　to　her　that　the　sky　was　a　lighter　shade　of　grey。　Dawn；　she　thought。　Another　day。　Another　new　day。　It　was　the　old　days　she　hungered　for。　Prayed　for。　But　who　could　she　pray　to？　The　garden　had　been　meant　for　a　godswood　once；　she　knew；　but　the　soil　was　too　thin　and　stony　for　a　weirwood　to　take　root。　A　godswood　without　gods；　as　empty　as　me。
　She　s