grrm.astormofswords-第40章

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　darkening　sky　and　said；　〃The　crows　may　have　helped　us　more　than　they　know。　I'd　wondered　why　we'd　suffered　no　attacks。　But　there's　still　a　hundred　leagues　to　go；　and　the　cold　is　rising。　Varamyr；　send　your　wolves　sniffing　after　the　wights；　I　won't　have　them　taking　us　unawares。　My　Lord　of　Bones；　double　all　the　patrols；　and　make　certain　every　man　has　torch　and　flint。　Styr；　Jarl；　you　ride　at　first　light。〃
　〃Mance；〃　Rattleshirt　said；　〃I　want　me　some　crow　bones。〃
　Ygritte　stepped　in　front　of　Jon。　〃You　can't　kill　a　man　for　lying　to　protect　them　as　was　his　brothers。〃
　〃They　are　still　his　brothers；〃　declared　Styr。
　〃They're　not；〃　insisted　Ygritte。　〃He　never　killed　me；　like　they　told　him。　And　he　slew　the　Halfhand；　we　all　saw。〃
　Jon's　breath　misted　the　air。　If　I　lie　to　him；　he'll　know　He　looked　Mance　Rayder　in　the　eyes；　opened　and　closed　his　burned　hand。　〃I　wear　the　cloak　you　gave　me；　Your　Grace。〃
　〃A　sheepskin　cloak！〃　said　Ygritte。　〃And　there's　many　a　night　we　dance　beneath　it；　too！〃
　Jarl　laughed；　and　even　Harma　Dogshead　smirked。　〃Is　that　the　way　of　it；　Jon　Snow？〃　asked　Mance　Rayder；　mildly。　〃Her　and　you？〃
　It　was　easy　to　lose　your　way　beyond　the　Wall。　Jon　did　not　know　that　he　could　tell　honor　from　shame　anymore；　or　right　from　wrong。　Father　forgive　me。　〃Yes；〃　he　said。
　Mance　nodded。　〃Good。　You'll　go　with　Jarl　and　Styr　on　the　morrow；　then。　Both　of　you。　Far　be　it　from　me　to　separate　two　hearts　that　beat　as　one。〃
　〃Go　where？〃　said　Jon。
　〃Over　the　Wall。　It's　past　time　you　proved　your　faith　with　something　more　than　words；　Jon　Snow。〃
　The　Magnar　was　not　pleased。　〃What　do　I　want　with　a　crow？〃
　〃He　knows　the　Watch　and　he　knows　the　Wall；〃　said　Mance；　〃and　he　knows　Castle　Black　better　than　any　raider　ever　could。　You'll　find　a　use　for　him；　or　you're　a　fool。〃
　Styr　scowled。　〃His　heart　may　still　be　black。〃
　〃Then　cut　it　out。〃　Mance　turned　to　Rattleshirt。　〃My　Lord　of　Bones；　keep　the　column　moving　at　all　costs。　If　we　reach　the　Wall　before　Mon　mont；　we've　won。〃
　〃They'll　move。〃　Rattleshirt's　voice　was　thick　and　angry。
　Mance　nodded；　and　walked　away；　Harma　and　Sixskins　beside　him。
　Varamyr's　wolves　and　shadowcat　followed　behind。　Jon　and　Ygritte　were　left　with　Jarl；　Rattleshirt；　and　the　Magnar。　The　two　older　wildlings；　looked　at　Jon　with　ill…concealed　rancor　as　Jarl　said；　〃You　heard；　we　ride　at　daybreak。　Bring　all　the　food　you　can；　there'll　be　no　time　to　hunt。　And　have　your　face　seen　to；　crow。　You　look　a　bloody　mess。〃
　〃I　will；〃　said　Jon。
　〃You　best　not　be　lying；　girl；〃　Rattleshirt　said　to　Ygritte；　his　eyes　shiny　behind　the　giant's　skull。
　Jon　drew　Longclaw。　〃Get　away　from　us；　unless　you　want　what　Qhorin　got。〃
　〃You　got　no　wolf　to　help　you　here；　boy。〃　Rattleshirt　reached　for　his　own　sword。
　〃Sure　o'　that；　are　you？〃　Ygritte　laughed。
　Atop　the　stones　of　the　ringwall；　Ghost　hunched　with　white　fur　bristling。　He　made　no　sound；　but　his　dark　red　eyes　spoke　blood。　The　Lord　of　Bones　moved　his　hand　slowly　away　from　his　sword；　backed　off　a　step；　and　left　them　with　a　curse。
　Ghost　padded　beside　their　garrons　as　Jon　and　Ygritte　descended　the　Fist。　It　was　not　until　they　were　halfway　across　the　Milkwater　that　Jon　felt　safe　enough　to　say；　〃I　never　asked　you　to　lie　for　me。〃
　〃I　never　did；〃　she　said。　〃I　left　out　part；　is　all。〃
　〃You　said…〃
　〃…that　we　fuck　beneath　your　cloak　many　a　night。　I　never　said　when　we　started；　though。〃　The　smile　she　gave　him　was　almost　shy。　〃Find　another　place　for　Ghost　to　sleep　tonight；　Jon　Snow。　It's　like　Mance　said。　Deeds　is　truer　than　words。〃
　
　CHAPTER　16
　SANSA
　
　〃A　new　gown？〃　she　said；　as　wary　as　she　was　astonished。
　〃More　lovely　than　any　you　have　worn；　my　lady；〃　the　old　woman　promised。　She　measured　Sansa's　hips　with　a　length　of　knotted　string。　〃All　silk　and　Myrish　lace；　with　satin　linings。　You　will　be　very　beautiful。　The　queen　herself　has　manded　it。〃
　〃Which　queen？〃　Margaery　was　not　yet　Joff　's　queen；　but　she　had　been　Renly's。　Or　did　she　mean　the　Queen　of　Thorns？　Or　。　。　。
　〃The　Queen　Regent；　to　be　sure。〃
　〃Queen　Cersei？〃
　〃None　other。　She　has　honored　me　with　her　custom　for　many　a　year。〃　The　old　woman　laid　her　string　along　the　inside　of　Sansa's　leg。　〃Her　Grace　said　to　me　that　you　are　a　woman　now；　and　should　not　dress　like　a　little　girl。　Hold　out　your　arm。〃
　Sansa　lifted　her　arm。　She　needed　a　new　gown；　that　was　true。　She　had　grown　three　inches　in　the　past　year；　and　most　of　her　old　wardrobe　had　been　ruined　by　the　smoke　when　she'd　tried　to　burn　her　mattress　on　the　day　of　her　first　flowering　。　。　。
　〃Your　bosom　will　be　as　lovely　as　the　queen's；〃　the　old　woman　said　as　she　looped　her　string　around　Sansa's　chest。　〃You　should　not　hide　it　so。〃
　The　ment　made　her　blush。　Yet　the　last　time　she'd　gone　riding；　she　could　not　lace　her　jerkin　all　the　way　to　the　top；　and　the　stableboy　gaped　at　her　as　he　helped　her　mount。　Sometimes　she　caught　grown　men　looking　at　her　chest　as　well；　and　some　of　her　tunics　were　so　tight　she　could　scarce　breathe　in　them。
　〃What　color　will　it　be？〃　she　asked　the　seamstress。
　〃Leave　the　colors　to　me；　my　lady。　You　will　be　pleased；　I　know　you　will。　You　shall　have　smallclothes　and　hose　as　well；　kirtles　and　mantles　and　cloaks；　and　all　else　befitting　a　。　。　。　a　lovely　young　lady　of　noble　birth。〃
　〃Will　they　be　ready　in　time　for　the　king's　wedding？〃
　〃Oh；　sooner；　much　sooner；　Her　Grace　insists。　I　have　six　seamstresses　and　twelve　apprentice　girls；　and　we　have　set　all　our　other　work　aside　for　this。　Many　ladies　will　be　cross　with　us；　but　it　was　the　queen's　mand。〃
　〃Thank　Her　Grace　kindly　for　her　thoughtfulness；〃　Sansa　said　politely。　〃She　is　too　good　to　me。〃
　〃Her　Grace　is　most　generous；〃　the　seamstress　agreed；　as　she　gathered　up　her　things　and　took　her　leave。
　But　why？　Sansa　wondered　when　she　was　alone。　It　made　her　uneasy。　I'll　wager　this　gown　is　Margaery's　doing　somehow；　or　her　grandmother's。
　Margaery's　kindness　had　been　unfailing；　and　her　presence　changed　everything。　Her　ladies　weled　Sansa　as　well。　It　had　been　so　long　since　she　had　enjoyed　the　pany　of　other　women；　she　had　almost　forgotten　how　pleasant　it　could　be。　Lady　Leonette　gave　her　lessons　on　the　high　harp；　and　Lady　Janna　shared　all　the　choice　gossip。　Merry　Crane　always　had　an　amusing　story；　and　little　Lady　Bulwer　reminded　her　of　Arya；　though　not　so　fierce。
　Closest　to　Sansa's　own　age　were　the　cousins　Elinor；　Alla；　and　Megga；　Tyrells　from　junior　branches　of　the　House。　〃Roses　from　lower　on　the　bush；〃　quipped　Elinor；　who　was　witty　and　willowy。　Megga　was　round　and　loud；　Alla　shy　and　pretty；　but　Elinor　ruled　the　three　by　right　of　womanhood；　she　was　a　maiden　flowered；　whereas　Megga　and　Alla　were　mere　girls。
　The　cousins　took　Sansa　into　their　pany　as　if　they　had　known　her　all　their　lives。　They　spent　long　afternoons　doing　needlework　and　talking　over　lemon　cakes　and　honeyed　wine；　played　at　tiles　of　an　evening；　sang　together　in　the　castle　sept　。　。　。　and　often　one　or　two　of　them　would　be　chosen　to　share　Margaery's　bed；　where　they　would　whisper　half　the　night　away。　Alla　had　a　lovely　voice；　and　when　coaxed　would　play　the　woodharp　and　sing　songs　of　chivalry　and　lost　loves。　Megga　couldn't　sing；　but　she　was　mad　to　be　kissed。　She　and　Alla　played　a　kissing　game　sometimes；　she　confessed；　but　it　wasn't　the　same　as　kissing　a　man；　much　less　a　king。　Sansa　wondered　what　Megga　would　think　about　kissing　the　Hound；　as　she　had。　He'd　e　to　her　the　night　of　the　battle　stinking　of　wine　and　blood。　He　kissed　me　and　threatened　to　kill　me；　and　made　me　sing　him　a　song。
　〃King　Joffrey　has　such　beautiful　lips；〃　Megga　gushed；　oblivious；　〃oh；　poor　Sansa；　how　your　heart　must　have　broken　when　you　lost　him。　Oh；　how　you　must　have　wept！〃
　Joffrey　made　me　weep　more　often　than　you　know；　she　wanted　to　say；　but　Butterbumps　was　not　on　hand　to　drown　out　her　voice；　so　she　pressed　her　lips　together　and　held　her　tongue。
　As　for　Elinor；　she　was　promised　to　a　young　squire；　a　son　of　Lord　Ambrose；　they　would　be　wed　as　soon　as　he　won　his　spurs。　He　had　worn　her　favor　in　the　Battle　of　the　Blackwater；　where　he'd　slain　a　Myrish　crossbowman　and　a　Mullendore　man…at…arms。　〃Alyn　said　her　favor　made　him　fearless；〃　said　Megga。　〃He　says　he　shouted　her　name　for　his　battle　cry；　isn't　that　ever　so　gallant？　Someday　I　want　some　champion　to　wear　my　favor；　and　kill　a　hundred　men。〃　Elinor　told　her　to　hush；　but　looked　pleased　all　the　same。
　They　are　children；　Sansa　thought。　They　are　silly　little　girls；　even　Elinor。　They've　never　seen　a　battle；　they've　never　seen　a　man　die；　they　know　nothing。　Their　dreams　were　full　of　songs　and　stories；　the　way　hers　had　been　before　Joffrey　cut　her　father's　head　off。　Sansa　pitied　them。　Sansa　envied　them。
　Margaery　was　different；　though。　Sweet　and　gentle；　yet　there　was　a　little　of　her　grandmother　in　her；　too。　The　day　before　last　she'd　taken　Sansa　hawking。　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　been　outside　the　city　since　the　battle。　The　dead　had　been　burned　or　buried；　but　the　Mud　Gate　was　scarred　and　splintered　where　Lord　Stannis's　rams　had　battered　it；　and　the　hulls　of　smashed　ships　could　be　seen　along　both　sides　of　the　Blackwater；　charred　masts　poking　from　the　shallows　like　gaunt　black　fingers。　The　only　traffic　was　the　flat…bottomed　ferry　that　took　them　across　the　river；　and　when　they　reached　the　kingswood　they　found　a　wilderness　of　ash　and　charcoal　and　dead　trees。　But　the　waterfowl　teemed　in　the　marshes　along　the　bay；　and　Sansa's　merlin　brought　down　three　ducks　while　Margaery's　peregrine　took　a　heron　in　full　flight。
　〃Willas　has　the　best　birds　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms；〃　Margaery　said　when　the　two　of　them　were　briefly　alone。　〃He　flies　an　eagle　sometimes。　You　will　see；　Sansa。〃　She　took　her　by　the　hand　and　gave　it　a　squeeze。　〃Sister。〃
　Sister。　Sansa　had　once　dreamt　of　having　a　sister　like　Margaery；　beautiful　and　gentle；　with　all　the　world's　graces　at　her　mand。　Arya　had　been　entirely　unsatisfactory　as　sisters　went。　How　can　I　let　my　sister　marry　Joffrey？　she　thought；　and　suddenly　her　eyes　were　full　of　tears。　〃Margaery；　please；〃　she　said；　〃you　mustn't。〃　It　was　hard　to　get　the　words　out。　〃You　mustn't　marry　him。　He's　not　like　he　seems；　he's　not。　He'll　hurt　you。〃
　〃I　shouldn't　think　so。〃　Margaery　smiled　confidently。　〃It's　brave　of　you　to　warn　me；　but　you　need　not　fear。　Joff's　spoiled　and　vain　and　I　don't　doubt　that　he's　as　cruel　as　you　say；　but　Father　forced　him　to　name　Loras　to　his　Kingsguard　before　he　would　agree　to　the　match。　I　shall　have　the　finest　knight　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms　protecting　me　night　and　day；　as　Prince　Aemon　protected　Naerys。　So　our　little　lion　had　best　behave；　hadn't　he？〃　She　laughed；　and　said；　〃e；　sweet　sister；　let's　race　back　to　the　river。　It　will　drive　our　guards　quite　mad。〃　And　without　waiting　for　an　answer；　she　put　her　heels　into　her　horse　and　flew。
　She　is　so　brave；　Sansa　thought；　galloping　after　her　。　。　。　and　yet；　her　doubts　still　gnawed　at　her。　Ser　Loras　was　a　great　knight；　all　agreed。　But　Joffrey　had　other　Kingsguard；　and　gold　cloaks　and　red　cloaks　besides；　and　when　he　was　older　he　would　mand　armies　of　his　own。　Aegon　the　Unworthy　had　never　harmed　Queen　Naerys；　perhaps　for　fear　of　their　brother　the　Dragonknight　。　。　。　but　when　another　of　his　Kingsguard　fell　in　love　with　one　of　his　mistresses；　the　king　had　taken　both　their　heads。
　Ser　Loras　is　a　Tyrell；　Sansa　reminded　herself。　That　other　knight　was　only　a　Toyne。　His　brothers