grrm.astormofswords-第53章

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　Jaime　could　not　have　said　how　long　he　pressed　the　attack。　it　might　have　been　minutes　or　it　might　have　been　hours；　time　slept　when　swords　woke。　He　drove　her　away　from　his　cousin's　corpse；　drove　her　across　the　road；　drove　her　into　the　trees。　She　stumbled　once　on　a　root　she　never　saw；　and　for　a　moment　he　thought　she　was　done；　but　she　went　to　one　knee　instead　of　falling；　and　never　lost　a　beat。　Her　sword　leapt　up　to　block　a　downcut　that　would　have　opened　her　from　shoulder　to　groin；　and　then　she　cut　at　him；　again　and　again；　fighting　her　way　back　to　her　feet　stroke　by　stroke。
　The　dance　went　on。　He　pinned　her　against　an　oak；　cursed　as　she　slipped　away；　followed　her　through　a　shallow　brook　half…choked　with　fallen　leaves。　Steel　rang；　steel　sang；　steel　screamed　and　sparked　and　scraped；　and　the　woman　started　grunting　like　a　sow　at　every　crash；　yet　somehow　he　could　not　reach　her。　It　was　as　if　she　had　an　iron　cage　around　her　that　stopped　every　blow。
　〃Not　bad　at　all；〃　he　said　when　he　paused　for　a　second　to　catch　his　breath；　circling　to　her　right。
　〃For　a　wench？〃
　〃For　a　squire；　say。　A　green　one。〃　He　laughed　a　ragged；　breathless　laugh。　〃e　on；　e　on；　my　sweetling；　the　music's　still　playing。　Might　I　have　this　dance；　my　lady？〃
　Grunting；　she　came　at　him；　blade　whirling；　and　suddenly　it　was　Jaime　struggling　to　keep　steel　from　skin。　One　of　her　slashes　raked　across　his　brow；　and　blood　ran　down　into　his　right　eye。　The　Others　take　her；　and　Riverrun　as　well！　His　skills　had　gone　to　rust　and　rot　in　that　bloody　dungeon；　and　the　chains　were　no　great　help　either。　His　eye　closed；　his　shoulders　were　going　numb　from　the　jarring　they'd　taken；　and　his　wrists　ached　from　the　weight　of　chains；　manacles；　and　sword。　His　longsword　grew　heavier　with　every　blow；　and　Jaime　knew　he　was　not　swinging　it　as　quickly　as　he'd　done　earlier；　nor　raising　it　as　high。
　She　is　stronger　than　I　am。
　The　realization　chilled　him。　Robert　had　been　stronger　than　him；　to　be　sure。　The　White　Bull　Gerold　Hightower　as　well；　in　his　heyday；　and　Ser　Arthur　Dayne。　Amongst　the　living；　Greatjon　Umber　was　stronger；　Strongboar　of　Crakehall　most　likely；　both　Cleganes　for　a　certainty。　The　Mountain's　strength　was　like　nothing　human。　It　did　not　matter。　With　speed　and　skill；　Jaime　could　beat　them　all。　But　this　was　a　woman。　A　huge　cow　of　a　woman；　to　be　sure；　but　even　so　。　。　。　by　rights；　she　should　be　the　one　wearing　down。
　Instead　she　forced　him　back　into　the　brook　again；　shouting；　〃Yield！　Throw　down　the　sword！〃
　A　slick　stone　turned　under　Jaime's　foot。　As　he　felt　himself　falling；　he　twisted　the　mischance　into　a　diving　lunge。　His　point　scraped　past　her　parry　and　bit　into　her　upper　thigh。　A　red　flower　blossomed；　and　Jaime　had　an　instant　to　savor　the　sight　of　her　blood　before　his　knee　slammed　into　a　rock。　The　pain　was　blinding。　Brienne　splashed　into　him　and　kicked　away　his　sword。　〃YIELD！〃
　Jaime　drove　his　shoulder　into　her　legs；　bringing　her　down　on　top　of　him。　They　rolled；　kicking　and　punching　until　finally　she　was　sitting　astride　him。　He　managed　to　jerk　her　dagger　from　its　sheath；　but　before　he　could　plunge　it　into　her　belly　she　caught　his　wrist　and　slammed　his　hands　back　on　a　rock　so　hard　he　thought　she'd　wrenched　an　arm　from　its　socket。　Her　other　hand　spread　across　his　face。　〃Yield！〃　She　shoved　his　head　down；　held　it　under；　pulled　it　up。　〃Yield！〃　Jaime　spit　water　into　her　face。　A　shove；　a　splash；　and　he　was　under　again；　kicking　uselessly；　fighting　to　breathe。　Up　again。　〃Yield；　or　I'll　drown　you！〃
　〃And　break　your　oath？〃　he　snarled。　〃Like　me？〃
　She　let　him　go；　and　he　went　down　with　a　splash。
　And　the　woods　rang　with　coarse　laughter。
　Brienne　lurched　to　her　feet。　She　was　all　mud　and　blood　below　the　waist；　her　clothing　askew；　her　face　red。　She　looks　as　if　they　caught　us　fucking　instead　of　fighting。　Jaime　crawled　over　the　rocks　to　shallow　water；　wiping　the　blood　from　his　eye　with　his　chained　hands。　Armed　men　lined　both　sides　of　the　brook。　Small　wonder；　we　were　making　enough　noise　to　wake　a　dragon。　〃Well　met；　friends；〃　he　called　to　them　amiably。　〃My　pardons　if　I　disturbed　you。　You　caught　me　chastising　my　wife。〃
　〃Seemed　to　me　she　was　doing　the　chastising。〃　The　man　who　spoke　was　thick　and　powerful；　and　the　nasal　bar　of　his　iron　halfhelm　did　not　wholly　conceal　his　lack　of　a　nose。
　These　were　not　the　outlaws　who　had　killed　Ser　Cleos；　Jaime　realized　suddenly。　The　scum　of　the　earth　surrounded　them：　swarthy　Dornishmen　and　blond　Lyseni；　Dothraki　with　bells　in　their　braids；　hairy　Ibbenese；　coal…black　Summer　Islanders　in　feathered　cloaks。　He　knew　them。　The　Brave　panions。
　Brienne　found　her　voice。　〃I　have　a　hundred　stags…〃
　A　cadaverous　man　in　a　tattered　leather　cloak　said；　〃We'll　take　that　for　a　start；　m'lady。〃
　〃Then　we'll　have　your　cunt；〃　said　the　noseless　man。　〃It　can't　be　as　ugly　as　the　rest　of　you。〃
　〃Turn　her　over　and　rape　her　arse；　Rorge；〃　urged　a　Dornish　spearman　with　a　red　silk　scarf　wound　about　his　helm。　〃That　way　you　won't　need　to　look　at　her。〃
　〃And　rob　her　o'　the　pleasure　o'　looking　at　me？〃　noseless　said；　and　the　others　laughed。
　Ugly　and　stubborn　though　she　might　be；　the　wench　deserved　better　than　to　be　gang　raped　by　such　refuse　as　these。　〃Who　mands　here？〃　Jaime　demanded　loudly。
　〃I　have　that　honor；　Ser　Jaime。〃　The　cadaver's　eyes　were　rimmed　in　red；　his　hair　thin　and　dry。　Dark　blue　veins　could　be　seen　through　the　pallid　skin　of　his　hands　and　face。　〃Urswyck　I　am。　Called　Urswyck　the　Faithful。〃
　〃You　know　who　I　am？〃
　The　sellsword　inclined　his　head。　〃it　takes　more　than　a　beard　and　a　shaved　head　to　deceive　the　Brave　panions。〃
　The　Bloody　Mummers；　you　mean。　Jaime　had　no　more　use　for　these　than　he　did　for　Gregor　Clegane　or　Amory　Lorch。　Dogs；　his　father　called　them　all；　and　he　used　them　like　dogs；　to　hound　his　prey　and　put　fear　in　their　hearts。　〃If　you　know　me；　Urswyck；　you　know　you'll　have　your　reward。　A　Lannister　always　pays　his　debts。　As　for　the　wench；　she's　highborn；　and　worth　a　good　ransom。〃
　The　other　cocked　his　head。　〃Is　it　so？　How　fortunate。〃
　There　was　something　sly　about　the　way　Urswyck　was　smiling　that　Jaime　did　not　like。　〃You　heard　me。　Where's　the　goat？〃
　〃A　few　hours　distant。　He　will　be　pleased　to　see　you；　I　have　no　doubt；　but　I　would　not　call　him　a　goat　to　his　face。　Lord　Vargo　grows　prickly　about　his　dignity。〃
　Since　when　has　that　slobbering　savage　had　dignity？　〃I'll　be　sure　and　remember　that；　when　I　see　him。　Lord　of　what；　pray？〃
　〃Harrenhal。　It　has　been　promised。〃
　Harrenhal？　Has　my　father　taken　leave　of　his　senses？　Jaime　raised　his　hands。　〃I'll　have　these　chains　off。〃
　Urswyck's　chuckle　was　papery　dry。
　Something　is　very　wrong　here。　Jaime　gave　no　sign　of　his　disfiture；　but　only　smiled。　〃Did　I　say　something　amusing？〃
　Noseless　grinned。　〃You're　the　funniest　thing　I　seen　since　Biter　chewed　that　septa's　teats　off。〃
　〃You　and　your　father　lost　too　many　battles；〃　offered　the　Dornishman。　〃We　had　to　trade　our　lion　pelts　for　wolfskins。〃
　Urswyck　spread　his　hands。　〃What　Timeon　means　to　say　is　that　the　Brave　panions　are　no　longer　in　the　hire　of　House　Lannister。　We　now　serve　Lord　Bolton；　and　the　King　in　the　North。〃
　Jaime　gave　him　a　cold；　contemptuous　smile。　〃And　men　say　I　have　shit　for　honor？〃
　Urswyck　was　unhappy　with　that　ment。　At　his　signal；　two　of　the　Mummers　grasped　Jaime　by　the　arms　and　Rorge　drove　a　mailed　fist　into　his　stomach。　As　he　doubled　over　grunting；　he　heard　the　wench　protesting；　〃Stop；　he's　not　to　be　harmed！　Lady　Catelyn　sent　us；　an　exchange　of　captives；　he's　under　my　protection　。　。　。　〃　Rorge　hit　him　again；　driving　the　air　from　his　lungs。　Brienne　dove　for　her　sword　beneath　the　waters　of　the　brook；　but　the　Mummers　were　on　her　before　she　could　lay　hands　on　it。　Strong　as　she　was；　it　took　four　of　them　to　beat　her　into　submission。
　By　the　end　the　wench's　face　was　as　swollen　and　bloody　as　Jaime's　must　have　been；　and　they　had　knocked　out　two　of　her　teeth。　It　did　nothing　to　improve　her　appearance。　Stumbling　and　bleeding；　the　two　captives　were　dragged　back　through　the　woods　to　the　horses；　Brienne　limping　from　the　thigh　wound　he'd　given　her　in　the　brook。　Jaime　felt　sorry　for　her。　She　would　lose　her　maidenhood　tonight；　he　had　no　doubt。　That　noseless　bastard　would　have　her　for　a　certainty；　and　some　of　the　others　would　likely　take　a　turn。
　The　Dornishman　bound　them　back　to　back　atop　Brienne's　plow　horse　while　the　other　Mummers　were　stripping　Cleos　Frey　to　his　skin　to　divvy　up　his　possessions。　Rorge　won　the　bloodstained　surcoat　with　its　proud　Lannister　and　Frey　quarterings。　The　arrows　had　punched　holes　through　lions　and　towers　alike。
　〃I　hope　you're　pleased；　wench；〃　Jaime　whispered　at　Brienne。　He　coughed；　and　spat　out　a　mouthful　of　blood。　〃If　you'd　armed　me；　we'd　never　have　been　taken。〃　She　made　no　answer。　There's　a　pig…stubborn　bitch；　he　thought。　But　brave；　yes。　He　could　not　take　that　from　her。　〃When　we　make　camp　for　the　night；　you'll　be　raped；　and　more　than　once；〃　he　warned　her。　〃You'd　be　wise　not　to　resist。　If　you　fight　them；　you'll　lose　more　than　a　few　teeth。〃
　He　felt　Brienne's　back　stiffen　against　his。　〃Is　that　what　you　would　do；　if　you　were　a　woman？〃
　If　I　were　a　woman　I'd　be　Cersei。　〃If　I　were　a　woman；　I'd　make　them　kill　me。　But　I'm　not。〃　Jaime　kicked　their　horse　to　a　trot。　〃　Urswyck！　A　word！〃
　The　cadaverous　sellsword　in　the　ragged　leather　cloak　reined　up　a　moment；　then　fell　in　beside　him。　〃What　would　you　have　of　me；　ser？　And　mind　your　tongue；　or　I'll　chastise　you　again。〃
　〃Gold；〃　said　Jaime。　〃You　do　like　gold？〃
　Urswyck　studied　him　through　reddened　eyes。　〃It　has　its　uses；　I　do　confess。〃
　Jaime　gave　Urswyck　a　knowing　smile。　〃All　the　gold　in　Casterly　Rock。　Why　let　the　goat　enjoy　it？　Why　not　take　us　to　King's　Landing；　and　collect　my　ransom　for　yourself　？　Hers　as　well；　if　you　like。　Tarth　is　called　the　Sapphire　Isle；　a　maiden　told　me　once。〃　The　wench　squirmed　at　that；　but　said　nothing。
　〃Do　you　take　me　for　a　tumcloak？〃
　〃Certainly。　What　else？〃
　For　half　a　heartbeat　Urswyck　considered　the　proposition。　〃King's　Landing　is　a　long　way；　and　your　father　is　there。　Lord　Tywin　may　resent　us　for　selling　Harrenhal　to　Lord　Bolton。〃
　He's　cleverer　than　he　looks。　Jaime　had　been　been　looking　forward　to　hanging　the　wretch　while　his　pockets　bulged　with　gold。　〃Leave　me　to　deal　with　my　father。　I'll　get　you　a　royal　pardon　for　any　crimes　you　have　mitted。　I'll　get　you　a　knighthood。〃
　〃Ser　Urswyck；〃　the　man　said；　savoring　the　sound。　〃How　proud　my　dear　wife　would　be　to　hear　it。　If　only　I　hadn't　killed　her。〃　He　sighed。　〃And　what　of　brave　Lord　Vargo？〃
　〃Shall　I　sing　you　a　verse　of　'The　Rains　of　Castamere'？　The　goat　won't　be　quite　so　brave　when　my　father　gets　hold　of　him。〃
　〃And　how　will　he　do　that？　Are　your　father's　arms　so　long　that　they　can　reach　over　the　walls　of　Harrenhal　and　pluck　us　out？〃
　〃If　need　be。〃　King　Harren's　monstrous　folly　had　fallen　before；　and　it　could　fall　again。　〃Are　you　such　a　fool　as　to　think　the　goat　can　outfight　the　lion？〃
　Urswyck　leaned　over　and　slapped　him　lazily　across　the　face。　The　sheer　casual　insolence　of　it　was　worse　than　the　blow　itself。　He　does　not　fear　me；　Jaime　realized；　with　a　chill。　〃I　have　heard　enough；　Kingslayer。　I　would　have　to　be　a　great　fool　indeed　to　believe　the　promises　of　an　oathbreaker　like　you。〃　He　kicked　his　horse　and　galloped　smartly　ahead。
　Aerys；　Jaime　thought　resentfully。　It　alw