grrm.astormofswords-第66章

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aw　it：　a　dark　hole　under　an　outthrust　of　wet　stone。　He　knelt；　listened；　heard　the　faint　sound　of　water。　〃Ygritte？〃
　〃In　here；〃　her　voice　came　back；　echoing　faintly。
　Jon　had　to　crawl　a　dozen　paces　before　the　cave　opened　up　around　him。　When　he　stood　again；　it　took　his　eyes　a　moment　to　adjust。　Ygritte　had　brought　a　torch；　but　there　was　no　other　light。　She　stood　beside　a　little　waterfall　that　fell　from　a　cleft　in　the　rock　down　into　a　wide　dark　pool。　The　orange　and　yellow　flames　shone　against　the　pale　green　water。
　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　he　asked　her。
　〃I　heard　water。　I　wanted　t'see　how　deep　the　cave　went。〃　She　pointed　with　the　torch。　〃There's　a　passage　goes　down　further。　I　followed　it　a　hundred　paces　before　I　turned　back。〃
　〃A　dead　end？〃
　〃You　know　nothing；　Jon　Snow。　It　went　on　and　on　and　on。　There　are　hundreds　o'　caves　in　these　hills；　and　down　deep　they　all　connect。　There's　even　a　way　under　your　Wall。　Gorne's　Way。〃
　〃Gorne；〃　said　Jon。　〃Gorne　was　King…beyond…the…Wall。〃
　〃Aye；〃　said　Ygritte。　〃Together　with　his　brother　Gendel；　three　thousand　years　ago。　They　led　a　host　o'　free　folk　through　the　caves；　and　the　Watch　was　none　the　wiser。　But　when　they　e　out；　the　wolves　o'　Winterfell　fell　upon　them。〃
　〃There　was　a　battle；〃　Jon　recalled。　〃Gorne　slew　the　King　in　the　North；　but　his　son　picked　up　his　banner　and　took　the　crown　from　his　head；　and　cut　down　Gorne　in　turn。〃
　〃And　the　sound　o'　swords　woke　the　crows　in　their　castles；　and　they　rode　out　all　in　black　to　take　the　free　folk　in　the　rear。〃
　〃Yes。　Gendel　had　the　king　to　the　south；　the　Umbers　to　the　east；　and　the　Watch　to　the　north　of　him。　He　died　as　well。〃
　〃You　know　nothing；　Jon　Snow。　Gendel　did　not　die。　He　cut　his　way　free；　through　the　crows；　and　led　his　people　back　north　with　the　wolves　howling　at　their　heels。　Only　Gendel　did　not　know　the　caves　as　Gorne　had；　and　took　a　wrong　turn。〃　She　swept　the　torch　back　and　forth；　so　the　shadows　jumped　and　moved。　〃Deeper　he　went；　and　deeper；　and　when　he　tried　t'　turn　back　the　ways　that　seemed　familiar　ended　in　stone　rather　than　sky。　Soon　his　torches　began　t'　fail；　one　by　one；　till　finally　there　was　naught　but　dark。　Gendel's　folk　were　never　seen　again；　but　on　a　still　night　you　can　hear　their　children's　children's　children　sobbing　under　the　hills；　still　looking　for　the　way　back　up。　Listen？　Do　you　hear　them？〃
　All　Jon　could　hear　was　the　falling　water　and　the　faint　crackle　of　flames。　〃This　way　under　the　Wall　was　lost　as　well？〃
　〃Some　have　searched　for　it。　Them　that　go　too　deep　find　Gendel's　children；　and　Gendel's　children　are　always　hungry。〃　Smiling；　she　set　the　torch　carefully　in　a　notch　of　rock；　and　came　toward　him。　〃There's　naught　to　eat　in　the　dark　but　flesh；〃　she　whispered；　biting　at　his　neck。
　Jon　nuzzled　her　hair　and　filled　his　nose　with　the　smell　of　her。　〃You　sound　like　Old　Nan；　telling　Bran　a　monster　story。〃
　Ygritte　punched　his　shoulder。　〃An　old　woman；　am　I？〃
　〃You're　older　than　me。〃
　〃Aye；　and　wiser。　You　know　nothing；　Jon　Snow。〃　She　pushed　away　from　him；　and　shrugged　out　of　her　rabbitskin　vest。
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃
　〃Showing　you　how　old　I　am。〃　She　unlaced　her　doeskin　shirt；　tossed　it　aside；　pulled　her　three　woolen　undershirts　up　over　her　head　all　at　once。　〃I　want　you　should　see　me。〃
　〃We　shouldn't…〃
　〃We　should。〃　Her　breasts　bounced　as　she　stood　on　one　leg　to　pull　one　boot；　then　hopped　onto　her　other　foot　to　attend　to　the　other。　Her　nipples　were　wide　pink　circles。　〃You　as　well；〃　Ygritte　said　as　she　yanked　down　her　sheepskin　breeches。　〃If　you　want　to　look　you　have　to　show。　You　know　nothing；　Jon　Snow。〃
　〃I　know　I　want　you；〃　he　heard　himself　say；　all　his　vows　and　all　his　honor　forgotten。　She　stood　before　him　naked　as　her　name　day；　and　he　was　as　hard　as　the　rock　around　them。　He　had　been　in　her　half　a　hundred　times　by　now；　but　always　beneath　the　furs；　with　others　all　around　them。　He　had　never　seen　how　beautiful　she　was。　Her　legs　were　skinny　but　well　muscled；　the　hair　at　the　juncture　of　her　thighs　a　brighter　red　than　that　on　her　head。　Does　that　make　it　even　luckier？　He　pulled　her　close。　〃I　love　the　smell　of　you；〃　he　said。　〃I　love　your　red　hair。　I　love　your　mouth；　and　the　way　you　kiss　me。　I　love　your　smile。　I　love　your　teats。〃　He　kissed　them；　one　and　then　the　other。　〃I　love　your　skinny　legs；　and　what's　between　them。〃　He　knelt　to　kiss　her　there；　lightly　on　her　mound　at　first；　but　Ygritte　moved　her　legs　apart　a　little；　and　he　saw　the　pink　inside　and　kissed　that　as　well；　and　tasted　her。　She　gave　a　little　gasp。　〃If　you　love　me　all　so　much；　why　are　you　still　dressed？〃　she　whispered。　〃You　know　nothing；　Jon　Snow。　Noth…oh。　Oh。　OHHH。〃
　Afterward；　she　was　almost　shy；　or　as　shy　as　Ygritte　ever　got。　〃That　thing　you　did；〃　she　said；　when　they　lay　together　on　their　piled　clothes。　〃With　your　。　。　。　mouth。〃　She　hesitated。　〃Is　that　。　。　。　is　it　what　lords　do　to　their　ladies；　down　in　the　south？〃
　〃I　don't　think　so。〃　No　one　had　ever　told　Jon　just　what　lords　did　with　their　ladies。　〃I　only　。　。　。　wanted　to　kiss　you　there；　that's　all。　You　seemed　to　like　it。〃
　〃Aye。　I　。　。　。　I　liked　it　some。　No　one　taught　you　such？〃
　〃There's　been　no　one；〃　he　confessed。　〃Only　you。〃
　〃A　maid；〃　she　teased。　〃You　were　a　maid。〃
　He　gave　her　closest　nipple　a　playful　pinch。　〃I　was　a　man　of　the　Night's　Watch。〃　Was；　he　heard　himself　say。　What　was　he　now？　He　did　not　want　to　look　at　that。　〃Were　you　a　maid？〃
　Ygritte　pushed　herself　onto　an　elbow。　〃I　am　nineteen；　and　a　spearwife；　and　kissed　by　fire。　How　could　I　be　maiden？〃
　〃Who　was　he？〃
　〃A　boy　at　a　feast；　five　years　past。　He'd　e　trading　with　his　brothers；　and　he　had　hair　like　mine；　kissed　by　fire；　so　I　thought　he　would　be　lucky。　But　he　was　weak。　When　he　came　back　t'　try　and　steal　me；　Longspear　broke　his　arm　and　ran　him　off；　and　he　never　tried　again；　not　once。〃
　〃It　wasn't　Longspear；　then？〃　Jon　was　relieved。　He　liked　Longspear；　with　his　homely　face　and　friendly　ways。
　She　punched　him。　〃That's　vile。　Would　you　bed　your　sister？〃
　〃Longspear's　not　your　brother。〃
　〃He's　of　my　village。　You　know　nothing；　Jon　Snow。　A　true　man　steals　a　woman　from　afar；　t'　strengthen　the　clan。　Women　who　bed　brothers　or　fathers　or　clan　kin　offend　the　gods；　and　are　cursed　with　weak　and　sickly　children。　Even　monsters。〃
　〃Craster　weds　his　daughters；〃　Jon　pointed　out。
　She　punched　him　again。　〃Craster's　more　your　kind　than　ours。　His　father　was　a　crow　who　stole　a　woman　out　of　Whitetree　village；　but　after　he　had　her　he　flew　back　t'　his　Wall。　She　went　t'　Castle　Black　once　t'　show　the　crow　his　son；　but　the　brothers　blew　their　horns　and　run　her　off。　Craster's　blood　is　black；　and　he　bears　a　heavy　curse。〃　She　ran　her　fingers　lightly　across　his　stomach。　〃I　feared　you'd　do　the　same　once。　Fly　back　to　the　Wall。　You　never　knew　what　t'　do　after　you　stole　me。〃
　Jon　sat　up。　〃Ygritte；　I　never　stole　you。〃
　〃Aye；　you　did。　You　jumped　down　the　mountain　and　killed　Orell；　and　afore　I　could　get　my　axe　you　had　a　knife　at　my　throat。　I　thought　you'd　have　me　then；　or　kill　me；　or　maybe　both；　but　you　never　did。　And　when　I　told　you　the　tale　o'　Bael　the　Bard　and　how　he　plucked　the　rose　o'　Winterfell；　I　thought　you'd　know　to　pluck　me　then　for　certain；　but　you　didn't。　You　know　nothing；　Jon　Snow。〃　She　gave　him　a　shy　smile。　〃You　might　be　learning　some；　though。〃
　The　light　was　shifting　all　about　her；　Jon　noticed　suddenly。　He　looked　around。　〃We　had　best　go　up。　The　torch　is　almost　done。〃
　〃Is　the　crow　afeared　o'　Gendel's　children？〃　she　said；　with　a　grin。　〃It's　only　a　little　way　up；　and　I'm　not　done　with　you；　Jon　Snow。〃　She　pushed　him　back　down　on　the　clothes　and　straddled　him。　〃Would　you　。　。　。　〃　She　hesitated。
　〃What？〃　he　prompted；　as　the　torch　began　to　gutter。
　〃Do　it　again？〃　Ygritte　blurted。　〃With　your　mouth？　The　lord's　kiss？　And　I　。　。。　I　could　see　if　you　liked　it　any。〃
　By　the　time　the　torch　burned　out；　Jon　Snow　no　longer　cared。
　His　guilt　came　back　afterward；　but　weaker　than　before。　If　this　is　so　wrong；　he　wondered；　why　did　the　gods　make　it　feel　so　good？
　The　grotto　was　pitch…dark　by　the　time　they　finished。　The　only　light　was　the　dim　glow　of　the　passage　back　up　to　the　larger　cavern；　where　a　score　of　fires　burned。　They　were　soon　fumbling　and　bumping　into　each　other　as　they　tried　to　dress　in　the　dark。　Ygritte　stumbled　into　the　pool　and　screeched　at　the　cold　of　the　water。　When　Jon　laughed；　she　pulled　him　in　too。　They　wrestled　and　splashed　in　the　dark；　and　then　she　was　in　his　arms　again；　and　it　turned　out　they　were　not　finished　after　all。
　〃Jon　Snow；〃　she　told　him；　when　he'd　spent　his　seed　inside　her；　〃don't　move　now；　sweet。　I　like　the　feel　of　you　in　there；　I　do。　Let's　not　go　back　t'　Styr　and　Jarl。　Let's　go　down　inside；　and　join　up　with　Gendel's　children。　I　don't　ever　want　t'　leave　this　cave；　Jon　Snow。　Not　ever。〃
　
　CHAPTER　27
　DAENERYS
　
　〃All？〃　The　slave　girl　sounded　wary。　〃Your　Grace；　did　this　one's　worthless　ears　mishear　you？〃
　Cool　green　light　filtered　down　through　the　diamond…shaped　panes　of　colored　glass　set　in　the　sloping　triangular　walls；　and　a　breeze　was　blowing　gently　through　the　terrace　doors；　carrying　the　scents　of　fruit　and　flowers　from　the　garden　beyond。　〃Your　ears　heard　true；〃　said　Dany。　〃I　want　to　buy　them　all。　Tell　the　Good　Masters；　if　you　will。〃
　She　had　chosen　a　Qartheen　gown　today。　The　deep　violet　silk　brought　out　the　purple　of　her　eyes。　The　cut　of　it　bared　her　left　breast。　While　the　Good　Masters　of　Astapor　conferred　among　themselves　in　low　voices；　Dany　sipped　tart　persimmon　wine　from　a　tall　silver　flute。　She　could　not　quite　make　out　all　that　they　were　saying；　but　she　could　hear　the　greed。
　Each　of　the　eight　brokers　was　attended　by　two　or　three　body　slaves　。　。　。　though　one　Grazdan；　the　eldest；　had　six。　So　as　not　to　seem　a　beggar；　Dany　had　brought　her　own　attendants；　Irri　and　Jhiqui　in　their　sandsilk　trousers　and　painted　vests；　old　Whitebeard　and　mighty　Belwas；　her　bloodriders。　Ser　Jorah　stood　behind　her　sweltering　in　his　green　surcoat　with　the　black　bear　of　Mormont　embroidered　upon　it。　The　smell　of　his　sweat　was　an　earthy　answer　to　the　sweet　perfumes　that　drenched　the　Astapori。
　〃All；〃　growled　Kraznys　mo　Nakloz；　who　smelled　of　peaches　today。　The　slave　girl　repeated　the　word　in　the　mon　Tongue　of　Westeros。　〃Of　thousands；　there　are　eight。　is　this　what　she　means　by　all？　There　are　also　six　centuries；　who　shall　be　part　of　a　ninth　thousand　when　plete。　Would　she　have　them　too？〃
　〃I　would；〃　said　Dany　when　the　question　was　put　to　her。　〃The　eight　thousands；　the　six　centuries　。　。　。　and　the　ones　still　in　training　as　well。　The　ones　who　have　not　earned　the　spikes。〃
　Kraznys　turned　back　to　his　fellows。　once　again　they　conferred　among　themselves。　The　translator　had　told　Dany　their　names；　but　it　was　hard　to　keep　them　straight。　Four　of　the　men　seemed　to　be　named　Grazdan；　presumably　after　Grazdan　the　Great　who　had　founded　Old　Ghis　in　the　dawn　of　days。　They　all　looked　alike；　thick　fleshy　men　with　amber　skin；　broad　noses；　dark　eyes。　Their　wiry　hair　was　black；　or　a　dark　red；　or　that　queer　mixture　of　red　and　black　that　was　peculiar　to　Ghiscari。　All　wrapped　themselves　in　tokars；　a　garment　permitted　only　to　freeborn　men　of　Astapor。
　It　was　the　fringe　on　the　tokar　that　proclaimed　a　man's　status；　Dany　had　been　told　by　Captain　Groleo。　In　this　cool　green　room　atop　the　pyramid；　two　of　the　slavers　wore　tokars　fringed　in　silver；　five