grrm.astormofswords-第56章

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　Lady　Smallwood　gave　him　a　scornful　look。　〃I　hardly　think　they'd　be　hunting　him　if　he　was　chained　up　under　Riverrun。〃
　〃What　did　m'lady　tell　them？〃　asked　Jack…Be…Lucky。
　〃Why；　that　I　had　Ser　Jaime　naked　in　my　bed；　but　I'd　left　him　much　too　exhausted　to　e　down。　One　of　them　had　the　effrontery　to　call　me　a　liar；　so　we　saw　them　off　with　a　few　quarrels。　I　believe　they　made　for　Blackbottom　Bend。〃
　Arya　squirmed　restlessly　in　her　seat。　〃What　northmen　was　it；　who　came　looking　after　the　Kingslayer？〃
　Lady　Smallwood　seemed　surprised　that　she'd　spoken。　〃They　did　not　give　their　names；　child；　but　they　wore　black；　with　the　badge　of　a　white　sun　on　the　breast。〃
　A　white　sun　on　black　was　the　sigil　of　Lord　Karstark；　Arya　thought。　Those　were　Robb's　men。　She　wondered　if　they　were　still　close。　If　she　could　give　the　outlaws　the　slip　and　find　them；　maybe　they　would　take　her　to　her　mother　at　Riverrun　。　。　。
　〃Did　they　say　how　Lannister　came　to　escape？〃　Lem　asked。
　〃They　did；〃　said　Lady　Smallwood。　〃Not　that　I　believe　a　word　of　it。　They　claimed　that　Lady　Catelyn　set　him　free。〃
　That　startled　Tom　so　badly　he　snapped　a　string。　〃Go　on　with　you；〃　he　said。　〃That's　madness。〃
　It's　not　true；　thought　Arya。　It　couldn't　be　true。
　〃I　thought　the　same；〃　said　Lady　Smallwood。
　That　was　when　Harwin　remembered　Arya。　〃Such　talk　is　not　for　your　ears；　milady。〃
　〃No；　I　want　to　hear。〃
　The　outlaws　were　adamant。　〃Go　on　with　you；　skinny　squirrel；〃　said　Greenbeard。　〃Be　a　good　little　lady　and　go　play　in　the　yard　while　we　talk；　now。〃
　Arya　stalked　away　angry；　and　would　have　slammed　the　door　if　it　hadn't　been　so　heavy。　Darkness　had　settled　over　Acorn　Hall。　A　few　torches　burned　along　the　walls；　but　that　was　all。　The　gates　of　the　little　castle　were　closed　and　barred。　She　had　promised　Harwin　that　she　would　not　try　and　run　away　again；　she　knew；　but　that　was　before　they　started　telling　lies　about　her　mother。
　〃Arya？〃　Gendry　had　followed　her　out。　〃Lady　Smallwood　said　there's　a　smithy。　Want　to　have　a　look？〃
　〃If　you　want。〃　She　had　nothing　else　to　do。
　〃This　Thoros；〃　Gendry　said　as　they　walked　past　the　kennels；　〃is　he　the　same　Thoros　who　lived　in　the　castle　at　King's　Landing？　A　red　priest；　fat；　with　a　shaved　head？〃
　〃I　think　so。〃　Arya　had　never　spoken　to　Thoros　at　King's　Landing　that　she　could　recall；　but　she　knew　who　he　was。　He　and　Jalabhar　Xho　had　been　the　most　colorful　figures　at　Robert's　court；　and　Thoros　was　a　great　friend　of　the　king　as　well。
　〃He　won't　remember　me；　but　he　used　to　e　to　our　forge。〃　The　Smallwood　forge　had　not　been　used　in　some　time；　though　the　smith　had　hung　his　tools　neatly　on　the　wall。　Gendry　lit　a　candle　and　set　it　on　the　anvil　while　he　took　down　a　pair　of　tongs。　〃My　master　always　scolded　him　about　his　flaming　swords。　It　was　no　way　to　treat　good　steel；　he'd　say；　but　this　Thoros　never　used　good　steel。　He'd　just　dip　some　cheap　sword　in　wildfire　and　set　it　alight。　It　was　only　an　alchemist's　trick；　my　master　said；　but　it　scared　the　horses　and　some　of　the　greener　knights。〃
　She　screwed　up　her　face；　trying　to　remember　if　her　father　had　ever　talked　about　Thoros。　〃He　isn't　very　priestly；　is　he？〃
　〃No；〃　Gendry　admitted。　〃Master　Mott　said　Thoros　could　outdrink　even　King　Robert。　They　were　pease　in　a　pod；　he　told　me；　both　gluttons　and　sots。〃
　〃You　shouldn't　call　the　king　a　sot。〃　Maybe　King　Robert　had　drunk　a　lot；　but　he'd　been　her　father's　friend。
　〃I　was　talking　about　Thoros。〃　Gendry　reached　out　with　the　tongs　as　if　to　pinch　her　face；　but　Arya　swatted　them　away。　〃He　liked　feasts　and　tourneys；　that　was　why　King　Robert　was　so　fond　of　him。　And　this　Thoros　was　brave。　When　the　walls　of　Pyke　crashed　down；　he　was　the　first　through　the　breach。　He　fought　with　one　of　his　flaming　swords；　setting　ironmen　afire　with　every　slash。〃
　〃I　wish　I　had　a　flaming　sword。〃　Arya　could　think　of　lots　of　people　she'd　like　to　set　on　fire。
　〃It's　only　a　trick；　I　told　you。　The　wildfire　ruins　the　steel。　My　master　sold　Thoros　a　new　sword　after　every　tourney。　Every　time　they　would　have　a　fight　about　the　price。〃　Gendry　hung　the　tongs　back　up　and　took　down　the　heavy　hammer。　〃Master　Mott　said　it　was　time　I　made　my　first　longsword。　He　gave　me　a　sweet　piece　of　steel；　and　I　knew　just　how　I　wanted　to　shape　the　blade。　Only　Yoren　came；　and　took　me　away　for　the　Night's　Watch。〃
　〃You　can　still　make　swords　if　you　want；〃　said　Arya。　〃You　can　make　them　for　my　brother　Robb　when　we　get　to　Riverrun。〃
　〃Riverrun。〃　Gendry　put　the　hammer　down　and　looked　at　her。　〃You　look　different　now。　Like　a　proper　little　girl。〃
　〃I　look　like　an　oak　tree；　with　all　these　stupid　acorns。〃
　〃Nice；　though。　A　nice　oak　tree。〃　He　stepped　closer；　and　sniffed　at　her。　〃You　even　smell　nice　for　a　change。〃
　〃You　don't。　You　stink。〃　Arya　shoved　him　back　against　the　anvil　and　made　to　run；　but　Gendry　caught　her　arm。　She　stuck　a　foot　between　his　legs　and　tripped　him；　but　he　yanked　her　down　with　him；　and　they　rolled　across　the　floor　of　the　smithy。　He　was　very　strong；　but　she　was　quicker。　Every　time　he　tried　to　hold　her　still　she　wriggled　free　and　punched　him。　Gendry　only　laughed　at　the　blows；　which　made　her　mad。　He　finally　caught　both　her　wrists　in　one　hand　and　started　to　tickle　her　with　the　other；　so　Arya　slammed　her　knee　between　his　legs；　and　wrenched　free。　Both　of　them　were　covered　in　dirt；　and　one　sleeve　was　tom。　on　her　stupid　acorn　dress。　〃I　bet　I　don't　look　so　nice　now；〃　she　shouted。
　Tom　was　singing　when　they　returned　to　the　hall。
　
　My　featherbed　is　deep　and　soft；　and　there　I'll　lay　you　down；
　I'll　dress　you　all　in　yellow　silk；　and　on　your　head　a　crown。
　For　you　shall　be　my　lady　love；　and　I　shall　be　your　lord。
　I'll　always　keep　you　warm　and　safe；　and　guard　you　with　my　sword。
　
　Harwin　took　one　look　at　them　and　burst　out　laughing；　and　Anguy　smiled　one　of　his　stupid　freckly　smiles　and　said；　〃Are　we　certain　this　one　is　a　highborn　lady？〃　But　Lem　Lernoncloak　gave　Gendry　a　clout　alongside　the　head。　〃You　want　to　fight；　fight　with　me！　She's　a　girl；　and　half　your　age！　You　keep　your　hands　off　o'　her；　you　hear　me？〃
　〃I　started　it　〃　said　Arya。　〃Gendry　was　just　talking。〃
　〃Leave　the　boy；　Lem；〃　said　Harwin。　〃Arya　did　start　it；　I　have　no　doubt。　She　was　much　the　same　at　Winterfell。〃
　Tom　winked　at　her　as　he　sang：
　
　And　how　she　smiled　and　how　she　laughed；　the　maiden　of　the　tree。
　She　spun　away　and　said　to　him；　no　featherbed　for　me。
　I'll　wear　a　gown　of　golden　leaves；　and　bind　my　hair　with　grass；
　But　you　can　be　my　forest　love；　and　me　your　forest　lass。
　
　〃I　have　no　gowns　of　leaves；〃　said　Lady　Smallwood　with　a　small　fond　smile；　〃but　Carellen　left　some　other　dresses　that　might　serve。　e；　child；　let　us　go　upstairs　and　see　what　we　can　find。〃
　It　was　even　worse　than　before；　Lady　Smallwood　insisted　that　Arya　take　another　bath；　and　cut　and　b　her　hair　besides；　the　dress　she　put　her　in　this　time　was　sort　of　lilac…colored；　and　decorated　with　little　baby　pearls。　The　only　good　thing　about　it　was　that　it　was　so　delicate　that　no　one　could　expect　her　to　ride　in　it。　So　the　next　morning　as　they　broke　their　fast；　Lady　Smallwood　gave　her　breeches；　belt；　and　tunic　to　wear；　and　a　brown　doeskin　jerkin　dotted　with　iron　studs。　〃They　were　my　son's　things；〃　she　said。　〃He　died　when　he　was　seven。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　my　lady。〃　Arya　suddenly　felt　bad　for　her；　and　ashamed。　〃I'm　sorry　I　tore　the　acorn　dress　too。　it　was　pretty。〃
　〃Yes；　child。　And　so　are　you。　Be　brave。〃
　
　CHAPTER　23
　DAENERYS
　
　In　the　center　of　the　Plaza　of　Pride　stood　a　red　brick　fountain　whose　waters　smelled　of　brimstone；　and　in　the　center　of　the　fountain　a　monstrous　harpy　made　of　hammered　bronze。　Twenty　feet　tall　she　reared。　She　had　a　woman's　face；　with　gilded　hair；　ivory　eyes；　and　pointed　ivory　teeth。　Water　gushed　yellow　from　her　heavy　breasts。　But　in　place　of　arms　she　had　the　wings　of　a　bat　or　a　dragon；　her　legs　were　the　legs　of　an　eagle；　and　behind　she　wore　a　scorpion's　curled　and　venomous　tail。
　The　harpy　of　Ghis；　Dany　thought。　Old　Ghis　had　fallen　five　thousand　years　ago；　if　she　remembered　true；　its　legions　shattered　by　the　might　of　young　Valyria；　its　brick　walls　pulled　down；　its　streets　and　buildings　turned　to　ash　and　cinder　by　dragonflame；　its　very　fields　sown　with　salt；　sulfur；　and　skulls。　The　gods　of　Ghis　were　dead；　and　so　too　its　people；　these　Astapori　were　mongrels；　Ser　Jorah　said。　Even　the　Ghiscari　tongue　was　largely　forgotten；　the　slave　cities　spoke　the　High　Valyrian　of　their　conquerors；　or　what　they　had　made　of　it。
　Yet　the　symbol　of　the　Old　Empire　still　endured　here；　though　this　bronze　monster　had　a　heavy　chain　dangling　from　her　talons；　an　open　manacle　at　either　end。　The　harpy　of　Ghis　had　a　thunderbolt　in　her　claws。　This　is　the　harpy　of　Astapor。
　〃Tell　the　Westerosi　whore　to　lower　her　eyes；〃　the　slaver　Kraznys　mo　Nakloz　plained　to　the　slave　girl　who　spoke　for　him。　〃I　deal　in　meat；　not　metal。　The　bronze　is　not　for　sale。　Tell　her　to　look　at　the　soldiers。　Even　the　dim　purple　eyes　of　a　sunset　savage　can　see　how　magnificent　my　creatures　are；　surely。〃
　Kraznys's　High　Valyrian　was　twisted　and　thickened　by　the　characteristic　growl　of　Ghis；　and　flavored　here　and　there　with　words　of　slaver　argot。　Dany　understood　him　well　enough；　but　she　smiled　and　looked　blankly　at　the　slave　girl；　as　if　wondering　what　he　might　have　said。
　〃The　Good　Master　Kraznys　asks；　are　they　not　magnificent？〃　The　girl　spoke　the　mon　Tongue　well；　for　one　who　had　never　been　to　Westeros。　No　older　than　ten；　she　had　the　round　flat　face；　dusky　skin；　and　golden　eyes　of　Naath。　The　Peaceful　People；　her　folk　were　called。　All　agreed　that　they　made　the　best　slaves。
　〃They　might　be　adequate　to　my　needs；〃　Dany　answered。　It　had　been　Ser　Jorah's　suggestion　that　she　speak　only　Dothraki　and　the　mon　Tongue　while　in　Astapor。　My　bear　is　more　clever　than　he　looks。　〃Tell　me　of　their　training。〃
　〃The　Westerosi　woman　is　pleased　with　them；　but　speaks　no　praise；　to　keep　the　price　down；〃　the　translator　told　her　master。　〃She　wishes　to　know　how　they　were　trained。〃
　Kraznys　mo　Nakloz　bobbed　his　head。　He　smelled　as　if　he'd　bathed　in　raspberries；　this　slaver；　and　his　jutting　red…black　beard　glistened　with　oil。　He　has　larger　breasts　than　I　do；　Dany　reflected。　She　could　see　them　through　the　thin　sea…green　silk　of　the　gold…fringed　tokar　he　wound　about　his　body　and　over　one　shoulder。　His　left　hand　held　the　tokar　in　place　as　he　walked；　while　his　right　clasped　a　short　leather　whip。　〃Are　all　Westerosi　pigs　so　ignorant？〃　he　plained。　〃All　the　world　knows　that　the　Unsullied　are　masters　of　spear　and　shield　and　shortsword。〃　He　gave　Dany　a　broad　smile。　〃Tell　her　what　she　would　know；　slave；　and　be　quick　about　it。　The　day　is　hot。〃
　That　much　at　least　is　no　lie。　A　matched　pair　of　slave　girls　stood　behind　them；　holding　a　striped　silk　awning　over　their　heads；　but　even　in　the　shade　Dany　felt　light…headed；　and　Kraznys　was　perspiring　freely。　The　Plaza　of　Pride　had　been　baking　in　the　sun　since　dawn。　Even　through　the　thickness　of　her　sandals；　she　could　feel　the　warmth　of　the　red　bricks　underfoot。　Waves　of　heat　rose　off　them　shimmering　to　make　the　stepped　pyramids　of　Astapor　around　the　plaza　seem　half　a　dream。
　If　the　Unsullied　felt　the　heat；　however；　they　gave　no　hint　of　it。　They　could　be　made　of　brick　themselves；　the　way　they　stand　there。　A　thousand　had　been　marched　out　of　their　barracks　for　her　inspection；　dr