grrm.astormofswords-第54章

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　Aerys；　Jaime　thought　resentfully。　It　always　turns　on　Aerys。　He　swayed　with　the　motion　of　his　horse；　wishing　for　a　sword。　Two　swords　would　be　even　better。　One　for　the　wench　and　one　for　me。　We'd　die；　but　we'd　take　half　of　them　down　to　hell　with　us。　〃Why　did　you　tell　him　Tarth　was　the　Sapphire　Isle？〃　Brienne　whispered　when　Urswyck　was　out　of　earshot。　〃He's　like　to　think　my　father's　rich　in　gemstones　。　。　。〃
　〃You　best　pray　he　does。〃
　〃Is　every　word　you　say　a　lie；　Kingslayer？　Tarth　is　called　the　Sapphire　Isle　for　the　blue　of　its　waters。〃
　〃Shout　it　a　little　louder；　wench；　I　don't　think　Urswyck　heard　you。　The　sooner　they　know　how　little　you're　worth　in　ransom；　the　sooner　the　rapes　begin。　Every　man　here　will　mount　you；　but　what　do　you　care？　just　close　your　eyes；　open　your　legs；　and　pretend　they're　all　Lord　Renly。〃
　Mercifully；　that　shut　her　mouth　for　a　time。
　The　day　was　almost　done　by　the　time　they　found　Vargo　Hoat；　sacking　a　small　sept　with　another　dozen　of　his　Brave　panions。　The　leaded　windows　had　been　smashed；　the　carved　wooden　gods　dragged　out　into　the　sunlight。　The　fattest　Dothraki　Jaime　had　ever　seen　was　sitting　on　the　Mother's　chest　when　they　rode　up；　prying　out　her　chalcedony　eyes　with　the　point　of　his　knife。　Nearby；　a　skinny　balding　septon　hung　upside　down　from　the　limb　of　a　spreading　chestnut　tree。　Three　of　the　Brave　panions　were　using　his　corpse　for　an　archery　butt。　One　of　them　must　have　been　good；　the　dead　man　had　arrows　through　both　of　his　eyes。
　When　the　sellswords　spied　Urswyck　and　the　captives；　a　cry　went　up　in　half　a　dozen　tongues。　The　goat　was　seated　by　a　cookflre　eating　a　half…cooked　bird　off　a　skewer；　grease　and　blood　running　down　his　fingers　into　his　long　stringy　beard。　He　wiped　his　hands　on　his　tunic　and　rose。　〃Kingthlayer；〃　he　slobbered。　〃You　are　my　captifth。〃
　〃My　lord；　I　am　Brienne　of　Tarth；〃　the　wench　called　out。　〃Lady　Catelyn　Stark　manded　me　to　deliver　Ser　Jaime　to　his　brother　at　King's　Landing。〃
　The　goat　gave　her　a　disinterested　glance。　〃Thilence　her。〃
　〃Hear　me；〃　Brienne　entreated　as　Rorge　cut　the　ropes　that　bound　her　to　Jaime；　〃in　the　name　of　the　King　in　the　North；　the　king　you　serve；　please；　listen…〃
　Rorge　dragged　her　off　the　horse　and　began　to　kick　her。　〃See　that　you　don't　break　any　bones；〃　Urswyck　called　out　to　him。　〃The　horse…faced　bitch　is　worth　her　weight　in　sapphires。〃
　The　Dornishman　Timeon　and　a　foul…smelling　Ibbenese　pulled　Jaime　down　from　the　saddle　and　shoved　him　roughly　toward　the　cookfire。　It　would　not　have　been　hard　for　him　to　have　grasped　one　of　their　sword　hilts　as　they　manhandled　him；　but　there　were　too　many；　and　he　was　still　in　fetters。　He　might　cut　down　one　or　two；　but　in　the　end　he　would　die　for　it。　Jaime　was　not　ready　to　die　just　yet；　and　certainly　not　for　the　likes　of　Brienne　of　Tarth。
　〃Thith　ith　a　thweet　day；〃　Vargo　Hoat　said。　Around　his　neck　hung　a　chain　of　linked　coins；　coins　of　every　shape　and　size；　cast　and　hammered；　bearing　the　likenesses　of　kings；　wizards；　gods　and　demons；　and　all　manner　of　fanciful　beasts。
　Coins　from　every　land　where　he　has　fought；　Jaime　remembered。　Greed　was　the　key　to　this　man。　If　he　was　turned　once；　he　can　be　turned　again。　〃Lord　Vargo；　you　were　foolish　to　leave　my　father's　service；　but　it　is　not　too　late　to　make　amends。　He　will　pay　well　for　me；　you　know　it。〃
　〃Oh　yeth；〃　said　Vargo　Hoat。　〃Half　the　gold　in　Cathterly　Rock；　I　thall　have。　But　firth　I　mutht　thend　him　a　methage。〃　He　said　something　in　his　slithery　goatish　tongue。
　Urswyck　shoved　him　in　the　back；　and　a　jester　in　green　and　pink　motley　kicked　his　legs　out　from　under　him。　When　he　hit　the　ground　one　of　the　archers　grabbed　the　chain　between　Jaime's　wrists　and　used　it　to　yank　his　arms　out　in　front　of　him。　The　fat　Dothraki　put　aside　his　knife　to　unsheathe　a　huge　curved　arakh；　the　wickedly　sharp　scythe…sword　the　horselords　loved。
　They　mean　to　scare　me。　The　fool　hopped　on　Jaime's　back；　giggling；　as　the　Dothraki　swaggered　toward　him。　The　goat　wants　me　to　piss　my　breeches　and　beg　his　mercy；　but　he'll　never　have　that　pleasure。　He　was　a　Lannister　of　Casterly　Rock；　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard；　no　sellsword　would　make　him　scream。
　Sunlight　ran　silver　along　the　edge　of　the　arakh　as　it　came　shivering　down；　almost　too　fast　to　see。　And　Jaime　screamed。
　
　CHAPTER　22
　ARYA
　
　The　small　square　keep　was　half　a　ruin；　and　so　too　the　great　grey　knight　who　lived　there。　He　was　so　old　he　did　not　understand　their　questions。　No　matter　what　was　said　to　him；　he　would　only　smile　and　mutter；　〃I　held　the　bridge　against　Ser　Maynard。　Red　hair　and　a　black　temper；　he　had；　but　he　could　not　move　me。　Six　wounds　I　took　before　I　killed　him。　Six！〃
　The　maester　who　cared　for　him　was　a　young　man；　thankfully。　After　the　old　knight　had　drifted　to　sleep　in　his　chair；　he　took　them　aside　and　said；　〃I　fear　you　seek　a　ghost。　We　had　a　bird；　ages　ago；　half　a　year　at　least。　The　Lannisters　caught　Lord　Beric　near　the　Gods　Eye。　He　was　hanged。〃
　〃Aye；　hanged　he　was；　but　Thoros　cut　him　down　before　he　died。〃　Lem's　broken　nose　was　not　so　red　or　swollen　as　it　had　been；　but　it　was　healing　crooked；　giving　his　face　a　lopsided　look。　〃His　lordship's　a　hard　man　to　kill；　he　is。〃
　〃And　a　hard　man　to　find；　it　would　seem；〃　the　maester　said。　〃Have　you　asked　the　Lady　of　the　Leaves？〃
　〃We　shall；〃　said　Greenbeard。
　The　next　morning；　as　they　crossed　the　little　stone　bridge　behind　the　keep；　Gendry　wondered　if　this　was　the　bridge　the　old　man　had　fought　over。　No　one　knew。　〃Most　like　it　is；〃　said　Jack…Be…Lucky。　〃Don't　see　no　other　bridges。〃
　〃You'd　know　for　certain　if　there　was　a　song；〃　said　Tom　Sevenstrings。　〃One　good　song；　and　we'd　know　who　Ser　Maynard　used　to　be　and　why　he　wanted　to　cross　this　bridge　so　bad。　Poor　old　Lychester　might　be　as　far　famed　as　the　Dragonknight　if　he'd　only　had　sense　enough　to　keep　a　singer。〃
　〃Lord　Lychester's　sons　died　in　Robert's　Rebellion；〃　grumbled　Lem。　〃Some　on　one　side；　some　on　Vother。　He's　not　been　right　in　the　head　since。　No　bloody　song's　like　to　help　any　o'　that。〃
　〃What　did　the　maester　mean；　about　asking　the　Lady　of　the　Leaves？〃　Arya　asked　Anguy　as　they　rode。
　The　archer　smiled。　〃Wait　and　see。〃
　Three　days　later；　as　they　rode　through　a　yellow　wood；　Jack…Be…Lucky　unslung　his　hom　and　blew　a　signal；　a　different　one　than　before。　The　sounds　had　scarcely　died　away　when　rope　ladders　unrolled　from　the　limbs　of　trees。　〃Hobble　the　horses　and　up　we　go；〃　said　Tom；　half　singing　the　words。　They　climbed　to　a　hidden　village　in　the　upper　branches；　a　maze　of　rope　walkways　and　little　moss…covered　houses　concealed　behind　walls　of　red　and　gold；　and　were　taken　to　the　Lady　of　the　Leaves；　a　stick…thin　white…haired　woman　dressed　in　roughspun。　〃We　cannot　stay　here　much　longer；　with　autumn　on　us；〃　she　told　them。　〃A　dozen　wolves　went　down　the　Hayford　road　nine　days　past；　hunting。　If　they'd　chanced　to　look　up　they　might　have　seen　us。〃
　〃You've　not　seen　Lord　Beric？〃　asked　Tom　Sevenstrings。
　〃He's　dead。〃　The　woman　sounded　sick。　〃The　Mountain　caught　him；　and　drove　a　dagger　through　his　eye。　A　begging　brother　told　us。　He　had　it　from　the　lips　of　a　man　who　saw　it　happen。〃
　〃That's　an　old　stale　tale；　and　false；〃　said　Lem。　〃The　lightning　lord's　not　so　easy　to　kill。　Ser　Gregor　might　have　put　his　eye　out；　but　a　man　don't　die　o'　that。　lack　could　tell　you。〃
　〃Well；　I　never　did；〃　said　one…eyed　Jack…Be…Lucky。　〃My　father　got　himself　good　and　hanged　by　Lord　Piper's　bailiff；　my　brother　Wat　got　sent　to　the　Wall；　and　the　Lannisters　killed　my　other　brothers。　An　eye；　that's　nothing。〃
　〃You　swear　he's　not　dead？〃　The　woman　clutched　Lem's　arm。　〃Bless　you；　Lem；　that's　the　best　tidings　we've　had　in　half　a　year。　May　the　Warrior　defend　him；　and　the　red　priest　too。〃
　The　next　night　they　found　shelter　beneath　the　scorched　shell　of　a　sept；　in　a　burned　village　called　Sallydance。　Only　shards　remained　of　its　windows　of　leaded　glass；　and　the　aged　septon　who　greeted　them　said　the　looters　had　even　made　off　with　the　Mother's　costly　robes；　the　Crone's　gilded　lantern；　and　the　silver　crown　the　Father　had　worn。　〃They　hacked　the　Maiden's　breasts　off　too；　though　those　were　only　wood；〃　he　told　them。　〃And　the　eyes；　the　eyes　were　jet　and　lapis　and　mother…of…pearl；　they　pried　them　out　with　their　knives。　May　the　Mother　have　mercy　on　them　all。〃
　〃Whose　work　was　this？〃　said　Lem　Lemoncloak。　〃Mummers？〃
　〃No；〃　the　old　man　said。　〃Northmen；　they　were。　Savages　who　worship　trees。　They　wanted　the　Kingslayer；　they　said。〃
　Arya　heard　him；　and　chewed　her　lip。　She　could　feel　Gendry　looking　at　her。　it　made　her　angry　and　ashamed。
　There　were　a　dozen　men　living　in　the　vault　beneath　the　sept；　amongst　cobwebs　and　roots　and　broken　wine　casks；　but　they　had　no　word　of　Beric　Dondarrion　either。　Not　even　their　leader；　who　wore　soot…blackened　armor　and　a　crude　lightning　bolt　on　his　cloak。　When　Greenbeard　saw　Arya　staring　at　him；　he　laughed　and　said；　〃The　lightning　lord　is　everywhere　and　nowhere；　skinny　squirrel。〃
　〃I'm　not　a　squirrel；〃　she　said。　〃I'll　almost　be　a　woman　soon。　I'll　be　one…and…ten。〃
　〃Best　watch　out　I　don't　marry　you；　then！〃　He　tried　to　tickle　her　under　the　chin；　but　Arya　slapped　his　stupid　hand　away。
　Lem　and　Gendry　played　tiles　with　their　hosts　that　night；　while　Tom　Sevenstrings　sang　a　silly　song　about　Big　Belly　Ben　and　the　High　Septon's　goose。　Anguy　let　Arya　try　his　longbow；　but　no　matter　how　hard　she　bit　her　lip　she　could　not　draw　it。　〃You　need　a　lighter　bow；　milady；〃　the　freckled　bowman　said。　〃If　there's　seasoned　wood　at　Riverrun；　might　be　I'll　make　you　one。〃
　Tom　overheard　him；　and　broke　off　his　song。　〃You're　a　young　fool；　Archer。　If　we　go　to　Riverrun　it　will　only　be　to　collect　her　ransom；　won't　be　no　time　for　you　to　sit　about　making　bows。　Be　thankful　if　you　get　out　with　your　hide。　Lord　Hoster　was　hanging　outlaws　before　you　were　shaving。　And　that　son　of　his　。　。　。　a　man　who　hates　music　can't　be　trusted；　I　always　say。〃
　〃It's　not　music　he　hates；〃　said　Lem。　〃It's　you；　fool。〃
　〃Well；　he　has　no　cause。　The　wench　was　willing　to　make　a　man　of　him；　is　it　my　fault　he　drank　too　much　to　do　the　deed？〃
　Lem　snorted　through　his　broken　nose。　〃Was　it　you　who　made　a　song　of　it；　or　some　other　bloody　arse　in　love　with　his　own　voice？〃
　〃I　only　sang　it　the　once；〃　Tom　plained。　〃And　who's　to　say　the　song　was　about　him？　'Twas　a　song　about　a　fish。〃
　〃A　floppy　fish；〃　said　Anguy；　laughing。
　Arya　didn't　care　what　Tom's　stupid　songs　were　about。　She　turned　to　Harwin。　〃What　did　he　mean　about　ransom？〃
　〃We　have　sore　need　of　horses；　milady。　Armor　as　well。　Swords；　shields；　spears。　All　the　things　coin　can　buy。　Aye；　and　seed　for　planting。　Winter　is　ing；　remember？〃　He　touched　her　under　the　chin。　〃You　will　not　be　the　first　highborn　captive　we've　ransomed。　Nor　the　last；　I'd　hope。〃
　That　much　was　true；　Arya　knew。　Knights　were　captured　and　ransomed　all　the　time；　and　sometimes　women　were　too。　But　what　if　Robb　won't　pay　their　price？　She　wasn't　a　famous　knight；　and　kings　were　supposed　to　put　the　realm　before　their　sisters。　And　her　lady　mother；　what　would　she　say？　Would　she　still　want　her　back；　after　all　the　things　she'd　done？　Arya　chewed　her　lip　and　wondered。
　The　next　day　they　rode　to　a　place　called　High　Heart；　a　hill　so　lofty　that　from　atop　it　Arya　felt　as　though　she　could　see　half　the　world。　Around　its　brow　stood　a　ring　of　huge　pale　stumps；　all　that　remained　of　a　circle