grrm.astormofswords-第42章

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of　ours　who'd　fallen　would　be　avenged　tenfold。
　〃By　then　the　fighting　had　passed　by　us。　The　Mountain's　men　were　only　the　van　of　Lord　Tywin's　host。　They　crossed　the　Red　Fork　in　strength　and　swept　up　into　the　riverlands；　burning　everything　in　their　path。　We　were　so　few　that　all　we　could　do　was　harry　their　rear；　but　we　told　each　other　that　we'd　join　up　with　King　Robert　when　he　marched　west　to　crush　Lord　Tywin's　rebellion。　Only　then　we　heard　that　Robert　was　dead；　and　Lord　Eddard　as　well；　and　Cersei　Lannister's　whelp　had　ascended　the　Iron　Throne。
　〃That　turned　the　whole　world　on　its　head。　We'd　been　sent　out　by　the　King's　Hand　to　deal　with　outlaws；　you　see；　but　now　we　were　the　outlaws；　and　Lord　Tywin　was　the　Hand　of　the　King。　There　was　some　wanted　to　yield　then；　but　Lord　Beric　wouldn't　hear　of　it。　We　were　still　king's　men；　he　said；　and　these　were　the　king's　people　the　lions　were　savaging。　If　we　could　not　fight　for　Robert；　we　would　fight　for　them；　until　every　man　of　us　was　dead。　And　so　we　did；　but　as　we　fought　something　queer　happened。　For　every　man　we　lost；　two　showed　up　to　take　his　place。　A　few　were　knights　or　squires；　of　gentle　birth；　but　most　were　mon　men　fieldhands　and　fiddlers　and　innkeeps；　servants　and　shoemakers；　even　two　septons。　Men　of　all　sorts；　and　women　too；　children；　dogs　。　。　。
　〃Dogs？〃　said　Arya。
　〃Aye。〃　Harwin　grinned。　〃One　of　our　lads　keeps　the　meanest　dogs　you'd　ever　want　to　see。〃
　〃I　wish　I　had　a　good　mean　dog；〃　said　Arya　wistfully。　〃A　lion…killing　dog。〃　She'd　had　a　direwolf　once；　Nymeria；　but　she'd　thrown　rocks　at　her　until　she　fled；　to　keep　the　queen　from　killing　her。　Could　a　direwolf　kill　a　lion？　she　wondered。
　It　rained　again　that　afternoon；　and　long　into　the　evening。　Thankfully　the　outlaws　had　secret　friends　all　over；　so　they　did　not　need　to　camp　out　in　the　open　or　seek　shelter　beneath　some　leaky　bower；　as　she　and　Hot　Pie　and　Gendry　had　done　so　often。
　That　night　they　sheltered　in　a　burned；　abandoned　village。　At　least　it　seemed　to　be　abandoned；　until　Jack…Be…Lucky　blew　two　short　blasts　and　two　long　ones　on　his　hunting　horn。　Then　all　sorts　of　people　came　crawling　out　of　the　ruins　and　up　from　secret　cellars。　They　had　ale　and　dried　apples　and　some　stale　barley　bread；　and　the　outlaws　had　a　goose　that　Anguy　had　brought　down　on　the　ride；　so　supper　that　night　was　almost　a　feast。
　Arya　was　sucking　the　last　bit　of　meat　off　a　wing　when　one　of　the　villagers　turned　to　Lem　Lemoncloak　and　said；　〃There　were　men　through　here　not　two　days　past；　looking　for　the　Kingslayer。〃
　Lem　snorted。　〃They'd　do　better　looking　in　Riverrun。　Down　in　the　deepest　dungeons；　where　it's　nice　and　damp。〃　His　nose　looked　like　a　squashed　apple；　red　and　raw　and　swollen；　and　his　mood　was　foul。
　〃No；〃　another　villager　said。　〃He's　escaped。〃
　The　Kingslayer。　Arya　could　feel　the　hair　on　the　back　of　her　neck　prickling。　She　held　her　breath　to　listen。
　〃Could　that　be　true？〃　Tom　o'　Sevens　said。
　〃I'll　not　believe　it；〃　said　the　one…eyed　man　in　the　rusty　pothelm。　The　other　outlaws　called　him　Jack…Be…Lucky；　though　losing　an　eye　didn't　seem　very　lucky　to　Arya。　〃I've　had　me　a　taste　o'　them　dungeons。　How　could　he　escape？〃
　The　villagers　could　only　shrug　at　that。　Greenbeard　stroked　his　thick　grey…and…green　whiskers　and　said；　〃The　wolves　will　drown　in　blood　if　the　Kingslayer's　loose　again。　Thoros　must　be　told。　The　Lord　of　Light　will　show　him　Lannister　in　the　flames。〃
　〃There's　a　fine　fire　burning　here；〃　said　Anguy；　smiling。
　Greenbeard　laughed；　and　cuffed　the　archer's　ear。　〃Do　I　look　a　priest　to　you；　Archer？　When　Pello　of　Tyrosh　peers　into　the　fire；　the　cinders　singe　his　beard。〃
　Lem　cracked　his　knuckles　and　said；　〃Wouldn't　Lord　Beric　love　to　capture　Jaime　Lannister；　though　。　。　。〃
　〃Would　he　hang　him；　Lem？〃　one　of　the　village　women　asked。　〃It'd　be　half　a　shame　to　hang　a　man　as　pretty　as　that　one。〃
　〃A　trial　first！〃　said　Anguy。　〃Lord　Beric　always　gives　them　a　trial；　you　know　that。〃　He　smiled。　〃Then　he　hangs　them。〃
　There　was　laughter　all　around。　Then　Tom　drew　his　fingers　across　the　strings　of　his　woodharp　and　broke　into　soft　song。
　The　brothers　of　the　Kingswood；　they　were　an　outlaw　band。
　The　forest　was　their　castle；　but　they　roamed　across　the　land。
　No　man's　gold　was　safe　from　them；　nor　any　maiden's　hand。
　Oh；　the　brothers　of　the　Kingswood；　that　fearsome　outlaw　band　。　。　。
　Warm　and　dry　in　a　corner　between　Gendry　and　Harwin；　Arya　listened　to　the　singing　for　a　time；　then　closed　her　eyes　and　drifted　off　to　sleep。　She　dreamt　of　home；　not　Riverrun；　but　Winterfell。　It　was　not　a　good　dream；　though。　She　was　alone　outside　the　castle；　up　to　her　knees　in　mud。　She　could　see　the　grey　walls　ahead　of　her；　but　when　she　tried　to　reach　the　gates　every　step　seemed　harder　than　the　one　before；　and　the　castle　faded　before　her；　until　it　looked　more　like　smoke　than　granite。　And　there　were　wolves　as　well；　gaunt　grey　shapes　stalking　through　the　trees　all　around　her；　their　eyes　shining。　Whenever　she　looked　at　them；　she　remembered　the　taste　of　blood。
　The　next　morning　they　left　the　road　to　cut　across　the　fields。　The　wind　was　gusting；　sending　dry　brown　leaves　swirling　around　the　hooves　of　their　horses；　but　for　once　it　did　not　rain。　When　the　sun　came　out　from　behind　a　cloud；　it　was　so　bright　Arya　had　to　pull　her　hood　forward　to　keep　it　out　of　her　eyes。
　She　reined　up　very　suddenly。　〃We　are　going　the　wrong　way！〃
　Gendry　groaned。　〃What　is　it；　moss　again？〃
　〃Look　at　the　sun；〃　she　said。　〃We're　going　south！〃　Arya　rummaged　in　her　saddlebag　for　the　map；　so　she　could　show　them。　〃We　should　never　have　left　the　Trident。　See。〃　She　unrolled　the　map　on　her　leg。　All　of　them　were　looking　at　her　now。　〃See；　there's　Riverrun；　between　the　rivers。〃
　〃As　it　happens；〃　said　Jack…Be…Lucky；　〃we　know　where　Riverrun　is。　Every　man　o'　us。〃
　〃You're　not　going　to　Riverrun；〃　Lem　told　her　bluntly。
　I　was　almost　there；　Arya　thought。　I　should　have　let　them　take　our　horses。　I　could　have　walked　the　rest　of　the　way。　She　remembered　her　dream　then；　and　bit　her　lip。
　〃Ah；　don't　look　so　hurt；　child；〃　said　Tom　Sevenstrings。　〃No　harm　will　e　to　you；　you　have　my　word　on　that。〃
　〃The　word　of　a　liar！〃
　〃No　one　lied；〃　said　Lem。　〃We　made　no　promises。　It's　not　for　us　to　say　what's　to　be　done　with　you。〃
　Lem　was　not　the　leader；　though；　no　more　than　Tom；　that　was　Greenbeard；　the　Tyroshi。　Arya　turned　to　face　him。　〃Take　me　to　Riverrun　and　you'll　be　rewarded；〃　she　said　desperately。
　〃Little　one；〃　Greenbeard　answered；　〃a　peasant　may　skin　a　mon　squirrel　for　his　pot；　but　if　he　finds　a　gold　squirrel　in　his　tree　he　takes　it　to　his　lord；　or　he　will　wish　he　did。〃
　〃I'm　not　a　squirrel；〃　Arya　insisted。
　〃You　are。〃　Greenbeard　laughed。　〃A　little　gold　squirrel　who's　off　to　see　the　lightning　lord；　whether　she　wills　it　or　not。　He'll　know　what's　to　be　done　with　you。　I'll　wager　he　sends　you　back　to　your　lady　mother；　just　as　you　wish。〃
　Tom　Sevenstrings　nodded。　〃Aye；　that's　like　Lord　Beric。　He'll　do　right　by　you；　see　if　he　don't。〃
　Lord　Beric　Dondarrion。　Arya　remembered　all　she'd　heard　at　Harrenhal；　from　the　Lannisters　and　the　Bloody　Mummers　alike。　Lord　Beric　the　wisp　o'　the　wood。　Lord　Beric　who'd　been　killed　by　Vargo　Hoat　and　before　that　by　Ser　Amory　Lorch；　and　twice　by　the　Mountain　That　Rides。　If　he　won't　send　me　home　maybe　I'll　kill　him　too。　〃Why　do　I　have　to　see　Lord　Beric？〃　she　asked　quietly。
　〃We　bring　him　all　our　highborn　captives；〃　said　Anguy。
　Captive。　Arya　took　a　breath　to　still　her　soul。　Calm　as　still　water。　She　glanced　at　the　outlaws　on　their　horses；　and　turned　her　horse's　head。　Now；　quick　as　a　snake；　she　thought；　as　she　slammed　her　heels　into　the　courser's　flank。　Right　between　Greenbeard　and　Jack…Be…Lucky　she　flew；　and　caught　one　glimpse　of　Gendry's　startled　face　as　his　mare　moved　out　of　her　way。　And　then　she　was　in　the　open　field；　and　running。
　North　or　south；　east　or　west；　that　made　no　matter　now。　She　could　find　the　way　to　Riverrun　later；　once　she'd　lost　them。　Arya　leaned　forward　in　the　saddle　and　urged　the　horse　to　a　gallop。　Behind　her　the　outlaws　were　cursing　and　shouting　at　her　to　e　back。　She　shut　her　ears　to　the　calls；　but　when　she　glanced　back　over　her　shoulder　four　of　them　were　ing　after　her；　Anguy　and　Harwin　and　Greenbeard　racing　side　by　side　with　Lem　farther　back；　his　big　yellow　cloak　flapping　behind　him　as　he　rode。　〃Swift　as　a　deer；〃　she　told　her　mount。　〃Run；　now；　run。〃
　Arya　dashed　across　brown　weedy　fields；　through　waist…high　grass　and　piles　of　dry　leaves　that　flurried　and　flew　when　her　horse　galloped　past。　There　were　woods　to　her　left；　she　saw。　I　can　lose　them　there。　A　dry　ditch　ran　along　one　side　of　the　field；　but　she　leapt　it　without　breaking　stride；　and　plunged　in　among　the　stand　of　elm　and　yew　and　birch　trees。　A　quick　peek　back　showed　Anguy　and　Harwin　still　hard　on　her　heels。　Greenbeard　had　fallen　behind；　though；　and　she　could　not　see　Lem　at　all。　〃Faster；〃　she　told　her　horse；　〃you　can；　you　can。〃
　Between　two　elms　she　rode；　and　never　paused　to　see　which　side　the　moss　was　growing　on。　She　leapt　a　rotten　log　and　swung　wide　around　a　monstrous　deadfall；　jagged　with　broken　branches。　Then　up　a　gentle　slope　and　down　the　other　side；　slowing　and　speeding　up　again；　her　horse's　shoes　striking　sparks　off　the　flintstones　underfoot。　At　the　top　of　the　hill　she　glanced　back。　Harwin　had　pushed　ahead　of　Anguy；　but　both　were　ing　hard。　Greenbeard　had　fallen　further　back　and　seemed　to　be　flagging。
　A　stream　barred　her　way。　She　splashed　down　into　it；　through　water　choked　with　wet　brown　leaves。　Some　clung　to　her　horse's　legs　as　they　climbed　the　other　side。　The　undergrowth　was　thicker　here；　the　ground　so　full　of　roots　and　rocks　that　she　had　to　slow；　but　she　kept　as　good　a　pace　as　she　dared。　Another　hill　before　her；　this　one　steeper。　Up　she　went；　and　down　again。　How　big　are　these　woods？　she　wondered。　She　had　the　faster　horse；　she　knew　that；　she　had　stolen　one　of　Roose　Bolton's　best　from　the　stables　at　Harrenhal；　but　his　speed　was　wasted　here。　I　need　to　find　the　fields　again。　I　need　to　find　a　road。　instead　she　found　a　game　trail。　It　was　narrow　and　uneven；　but　it　was　something。　She　raced　along　it；　branches　whipping　at　her　face。　One　snagged　her　hood　and　yanked　it　back；　and　for　half　a　heartbeat　she　feared　they　had　caught　her。　A　vixen　burst　from　the　brush　as　she　passed；　startled　by　the　fury　of　her　flight。　The　game　trail　brought　her　to　another　stream。　Or　was　it　the　same　one？　Had　she　gotten　turned　around？　There　was　no　time　to　puzzle　it　out；　she　could　hear　their　horses　crashing　through　the　trees　behind　her。　Thorns　scratched　at　her　face　like　the　cats　she　used　to　chase　in　King's　Landing。　Sparrows　exploded　from　the　branches　of　an　alder。　But　the　trees　were　thinning　now；　and　suddenly　she　was　out　of　them。　Broad　level　fields　stretched　before　her；　all　weeds　and　wild　wheat；　sodden　and　trampled。　Arya　kicked　her　horse　back　to　a　gallop。　Run；　she　thought；　run　for　Riverrun；　run　for　home。　Had　she　lost　them？　She　took　one　quick　look；　and　there　was　Harwin　six　yards　back　and　gaining。　No；　she　thought；　no；　he　can't；　not　him；　it　isn't　fair。
　Both　horses　were　lathered　and　flagging　by　the　time　he　came　up　beside　her；　reached　over；　and　grabbed　her　bridle。　Arya　was　breathing　hard　herself　then。　She　knew　the　fight　was　done。　〃You　ride　like　a　northman；　milady；〃　Harwin　said　when　he'd　drawn　them　to　a　halt。　〃Your　aunt　was　the　same。　La