grrm.astormofswords-第61章

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　The　Liddle　took　out　a　knife　and　whittled　at　a　stick。　〃When　there　was　a　Stark　in　Winterfell；　a　maiden　girl　could　walk　the　kingsroad　in　her　name…day　gown　and　still　go　unmolested；　and　travelers　could　find　fire；　bread；　and　salt　at　many　an　inn　and　holdfast。　But　the　nights　are　colder　now；　and　doors　are　closed。　There's　squids　in　the　wolfswood；　and　flayed　men　ride　the　kingsroad　asking　after　strangers。〃
　The　Reeds　exchanged　a　look。　〃Flayed　men？〃　said　Jojen。
　〃The　Bastard's　boys；　aye。　He　was　dead；　but　now　he's　not。　And　paying　good　silver　for　wolfskins；　a　man　hears；　and　maybe　gold　for　word　of　certain　other　walking　dead。〃　He　looked　at　Bran　when　he　said　that；　and　at　Summer　stretched　out　beside　him。　〃As　to　that　Wall；〃　the　man　went　on；　〃it's　not　a　place　that　I'd　be　going。　The　Old　Bear　took　the　Watch　into　the　haunted　woods；　and　all　that　e　back　was　his　ravens；　with　hardly　a　message　between　them。　Dark　wings；　dark　words；　me　mother　used　to　say；　but　when　the　birds　fly　silent；　seems　to　me　that's　even　darker。〃　He　poked　at　the　fire　with　his　stick。　〃It　was　different　when　there　was　a　Stark　in　Winterfell。　But　the　old　wolf's　dead　and　young　one's　gone　south　to　play　the　game　of　thrones；　and　all　that's　left　us　is　the　ghosts。〃
　〃The　wolves　will　e　again；〃　said　Jojen　solemnly。
　〃And　how　would　you　be　knowing；　boy？〃
　〃I　dreamed　it。〃
　〃Some　nights　I　dream　of　me　mother　that　I　buried　nine　years　past；〃　the　man　said；　〃but　when　I　wake；　she's　not　e　back　to　us。〃
　〃There　are　dreams　and　dreams；　my　lord。〃
　〃Hodor；〃　said　Hodor。
　They　spent　that　night　together；　for　the　rain　did　not　let　up　till　well　past　dark；　and　only　Summer　seemed　to　want　to　leave　the　cave。　When　the　fire　had　burned　down　to　embers；　Bran　let　him　go。　The　direwolf　did　not　feel　the　damp　as　people　did；　and　the　night　was　calling　him。　Moonlight　painted　the　wet　woods　in　shades　of　silver　and　turned　the　grey　peaks　white。　Owls　hooted　through　the　dark　and　flew　silently　between　the　pines；　while　pale　goats　moved　along　the　mountainsides。　Bran　closed　his　eyes　and　gave　himself　up　to　the　wolf　dream；　to　the　smells　and　sounds　of　midnight。
　When　they　woke　the　next　morning；　the　fire　had　gone　out　and　the　Liddle　was　gone；　but　he'd　left　a　sausage　for　them；　and　a　dozen　oatcakes　folded　up　neatly　in　a　green　and　white　cloth。　Some　of　the　cakes　had　pinenuts　baked　in　them　and　some　had　blackberries。　Bran　ate　one　of　each；　and　still　did　not　know　which　sort　he　liked　the　best。　One　day　there　would　be　Starks　in　Winterfell　again；　he　told　himself；　and　then　he'd　send　for　the　Liddles　and　pay　them　back　a　hundredfold　for　every　nut　and　berry。
　The　trail　they　followed　was　a　little　easier　that　day；　and　by　noon　the　sun　came　breaking　through　the　clouds。　Bran　sat　in　his　basket　up　on　Hodor's　back　and　felt　almost　content。　He　dozed　off　once；　lulled　to　sleep　by　the　smooth　swing　of　the　big　stableboy's　stride　and　the　soft　humming　sound　he　made　sometimes　when　he　walked。　Meera　woke　him　up　with　a　light　touch　on　his　arm。　〃Look；〃　she　said；　pointing　at　the　sky　with　her　frog　spear；　〃an　eagle。〃
　Bran　lifted　his　head　and　saw　it；　its　grey　wings　spread　and　still　as　it　floated　on　the　wind。　He　followed　it　with　his　eyes　as　it　circled　higher；　wondering　what　it　would　be　like　to　soar　about　the　world　so　effortless。　Better　than　climbing；　even。　He　tried　to　reach　the　eagle；　to　leave　his　stupid　crippled　body　and　rise　into　the　sky　to　join　it；　the　way　he　joined　with　Summer。　The　greenseers　could　do　it。　I　should　be　able　to　do　it　too。　He　tried　and　tried；　until　the　eagle　vanished　in　the　golden　haze　of　the　afternoon。　〃It's　gone；〃　he　said；　disappointed。
　〃We'll　see　others；〃　said　Meera。　〃They　live　up　here。〃
　〃I　suppose。〃
　〃Hodor；〃　said　Hodor。
　〃Hodor；〃　Bran　agreed。
　Jojen　kicked　a　pinecone。　〃Hodor　likes　it　when　you　say　his　name；　I　think。〃
　〃Hodor's　not　his　true　name；〃　Bran　explained。　〃It's　just　some　word　he　says。　His　real　name　is　Walder；　Old　Nan　told　me。　She　was　his　grandmother's　grandmother　or　something。〃　Talking　about　Old　Nan　made　him　sad。　〃Do　you　think　the　ironmen　killed　her？〃　They　hadn't　seen　her　body　at　Winterfell。　He　didn't　remember　seeing　any　women　dead；　now　that　he　thought　back。　〃She　never　hurt　no　one；　not　even　Theon。　She　just　told　stories。　Theon　wouldn't　hurt　someone　like　that。　Would　he？〃
　〃Some　people　hurt　others　just　because　they　can；〃　said　Jojen。
　〃And　it　wasn't　Theon　who　did　the　killing　at　Winterfell；〃　said　Meera。　〃Too　many　of　the　dead　were　ironmen。〃　She　shifted　her　frog　spear　to　her　other　hand。　〃Remember　Old　Nan's　stories；　Bran。　Remember　the　way　she　told　them；　the　sound　of　her　voice。　So　long　as　you　do　that；　part　of　her　will　always　be　alive　in　you。〃
　〃I'll　remember；〃　he　promised。　They　climbed　without　speaking　for　a　long　time；　following　a　crooked　game　trail　over　the　high　saddle　between　two　stony　peaks。　Scrawny　soldier　pines　clung　to　the　slopes　around　them。　Far　ahead　Bran　could　see　the　icy　glitter　of　a　stream　where　it　tumbled　down　a　mountainside。　He　found　himself　listening　to　Jojen's　breathing　and　the　crunch　of　pine　needles　under　Hodor's　feet。　〃Do　you　know　any　stories？〃　he　asked　the　Reeds　all　of　a　sudden。
　Meera　laughed。　〃Oh；　a　few。〃
　〃A　few；〃　her　brother　admitted。
　〃Hodor；〃　said　Hodor；　humming。
　〃You　could　tell　one；〃　said　Bran。　〃While　we　walked。　Hodor　likes　stories　about　knights。　I　do；　too。〃
　〃There　are　no　knights　in　the　Neck；〃　said　Jojen。
　〃Above　the　water；〃　his　sister　corrected。　〃The　bogs　are　full　of　dead　ones；　though。〃
　〃That's　true；〃　said　Jojen。　〃Andals　and　ironmen；　Freys　and　other　fools；　all　those　proud　warriors　who　set　out　to　conquer　Greywater。　Not　one　of　them　could　find　it。　They　ride　into　the　Neck；　but　not　back　out。　And　sooner　or　later　they　blunder　into　the　bogs　and　sink　beneath　the　weight　of　all　that　steel　and　drown　there　in　their　armor。〃
　The　thought　of　drowned　knights　under　the　water　gave　Bran　the　shivers。　He　didn't　object；　though；　he　liked　the　shivers。
　〃There　was　one　knight；〃　said　Meera；　〃in　the　year　of　the　false　spring。　The　Knight　of　the　Laughing　Tree；　they　called　him。　He　might　have　been　a　crannogman；　that　one。〃
　〃Or　not。〃　Jojen's　face　was　dappled　with　green　shadows。　〃Prince　Bran　has　heard　that　tale　a　hundred　times；　I'm　sure。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Bran。　〃I　haven't。　And　if　I　have　it　doesn't　matter。　Sometimes　Old　Nan　would　tell　the　same　story　she'd　told　before；　but　we　never　minded；　if　it　was　a　good　story。　Old　stories　are　like　old　friends；　she　used　to　say。　You　have　to　visit　them　from　time　to　time。〃
　〃That's　true。〃　Meera　walked　with　her　shield　on　her　back；　pushing　an　occasional　branch　out　of　the　way　with　her　frog　spear。　just　when　Bran　began　to　think　that　she　wasn't　going　to　tell　the　story　after　all；　she　began；　〃Once　there　was　a　curious　lad　who　lived　in　the　Neck。　He　was　small　like　all　crannogmen；　but　brave　and　smart　and　strong　as　well。　He　grew　up　hunting　and　fishing　and　climbing　trees；　and　learned　all　the　magics　of　my　people。〃
　Bran　was　almost　certain　he　had　never　heard　this　story。　〃Did　he　have　green　dreams　like　Jojen？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Meera；　〃but　he　could　breathe　mud　and　run　on　leaves；　and　change　earth　to　water　and　water　to　earth　with　no　more　than　a　whispered　word。　He　could　talk　to　trees　and　weave　words　and　make　castles　appear　and　disappear。〃
　〃I　wish　I　could；〃　Bran　said　plaintively。　〃When　does　he　meet　the　tree　knight？〃
　Meera　made　a　face　at　him。　〃Sooner　if　a　certain　prince　would　be　quiet。〃
　〃I　was　just　asking。〃
　〃The　lad　knew　the　magics　of　the　crannogs；〃　she　continued；　〃but　he　wanted　more。　Our　people　seldom　travel　far　from　home；　you　know。　We're　a　small　folk；　and　our　ways　seem　queer　to　some；　so　the　big　people　do　not　always　treat　us　kindly。　But　this　lad　was　bolder　than　most；　and　one　day　when　he　had　grown　to　manhood　he　decided　he　would　leave　the　crannogs　and　visit　the　Isle　of　Faces。〃
　〃No　one　visits　the　Isle　of　Faces；〃　objected　Bran。　〃That's　where　the　green　men　live。〃
　〃It　was　the　green　men　he　meant　to　find。　So　he　donned　a　shirt　sewn　with　bronze　scales；　like　mine；　took　up　a　leathern　shield　and　a　threepronged　spear；　like　mine；　and　paddled　a　little　skin　boat　down　the　Green　Fork。〃
　Bran　closed　his　eyes　to　try　and　see　the　man　in　his　little　skin　boat。　In　his　head；　the　crannogman　looked　like　Jojen；　only　older　and　stronger　and　dressed　like　Meera。
　〃He　passed　beneath　the　Twins　by　night　so　the　Freys　would　not　attack　him；　and　when　he　reached　the　Trident　he　climbed　from　the　river　and　put　his　boat　on　his　head　and　began　to　walk。　It　took　him　many　a　day；　but　finally　he　reached　the　Gods　Eye；　threw　his　boat　in　the　lake；　and　paddled　out　to　the　isle　of　Faces。〃
　〃Did　he　meet　the　green　men？〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Meera；　〃but　that's　another　story；　and　not　for　me　to　tell。　My　prince　asked　for　knights。〃
　〃Green　men　are　good　too。〃
　〃They　are；〃　she　agreed；　but　said　no　more　about　them。　〃All　that　winter　the　crannogman　stayed　on　the　isle；　but　when　the　spring　broke　he　heard　the　wide　world　calling　and　knew　the　time　had　e　to　leave。　His　skin　boat　was　just　where　he'd　left　it；　so　he　said　his　farewells　and　paddled　off　toward　shore。　He　rowed　and　rowed；　and　finally　saw　the　distant　towers　of　a　castle　rising　beside　the　lake。　The　towers　reached　ever　higher　as　he　neared　shore；　until　he　realized　that　this　must　be　the　greatest　castle　in　all　the　world。〃
　〃Harrenhal！〃　Bran　knew　at　once。　〃It　was　Harrenhal！〃
　Meera　smiled。　〃Was　it？　Beneath　its　walls　he　saw　tents　of　many　colors；　bright　banners　cracking　in　the　wind；　and　knights　in　mail　and　plate　on　barded　horses。　He　smelled　roasting　meats；　and　heard　the　sound　of　laughter　and　the　blare　of　heralds'　trumpets。　A　great　tourney　was　about　to　mence；　and　champions　from　all　over　the　land　had　e　to　contest　it。　The　king　himself　was　there；　with　his　son　the　dragon　prince。　The　White　Swords　had　e；　to　wele　a　new　brother　to　their　ranks。　The　storm　lord　was　on　hand；　and　the　rose　lord　as　well。　The　great　lion　of　the　rock　had　quarreled　with　the　king　and　stayed　away；　but　many　of　his　bannermen　and　knights　attended　all　the　same。　The　crannogman　had　never　seen　such　pageantry；　and　knew　he　might　never　see　the　like　again。　Part　of　him　wanted　nothing　so　much　as　to　be　part　of　it。〃
　Bran　knew　that　feeling　well　enough。　When　he'd　been　little；　all　he　had　ever　dreamed　of　was　being　a　knight。　But　that　had　been　before　he　fell　and　lost　his　legs。
　〃The　daughter　of　the　great　castle　reigned　as　queen　of　love　and　beauty　when　the　tourney　opened。　Five　champions　had　sworn　to　defend　her　crown；　her　four　brothers　of　Harrenhal；　and　her　famous　uncle；　a　white　knight　of　the　Kingsguard。〃
　〃Was　she　a　fair　maid？〃
　〃She　was；〃　said　Meera；　hopping　over　a　stone；　〃but　there　were　others　fairer　still。　One　was　the　wife　of　the　dragon　prince；　who'd　brought　a　dozen　lady　panions　to　attend　her。　The　knights　all　begged　them　for　favors　to　tie　about　their　lances。〃
　〃This　isn't　going　to　be　one　of　those　love　stories；　is　it？〃　Bran　asked　suspiciously。　〃Hodor　doesn't　like　those　so　much。〃
　〃Hodor；〃　said　Hodor　agreeably。
　〃He　likes　the　stories　where　the　knights　fight　monsters。〃
　〃Sometimes　the　knights　are　the　monsters；　Bran。　The　little　crannogman　was　walking　across　the　field；　enjoying　the　warm　spring　day　and　harming　none；　when　he　was　set　upon　by　three　squires。　They　were　none　older　than　fifteen；　yet　even　so　they　were　bigger　than　him；　all　three。　This　was　their　world；　as　they　saw　it；　and　he　had　no　right　to　be　there。　They　snatched　away　his　spear　and　knocked　him　to　the　ground；　cursing　him　for