grrm.astormofswords-第7章

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　Her　brother　Edmure　had　named　Ser　Desmond　castellan　of　Riverrun　when　he　rode　off　to　battle；　so　it　fell　to　him　to　deal　with　her　crime。　To　ease　his　disfort　he　brought　her　father's　steward　with　him；　dour　Utherydes　Wayn。　The　two　men　stood　and　looked　at　her；　Ser　Desmond　stout；　red…faced；　embarrassed；　Utherydes　grave；　gaunt；　melancholy。　Each　waited　for　the　other　to　speak。　They　have　given　their　lives　to　my　father's　service；　and　I　have　repaid　them　with　disgrace；　Catelyn　thought　wearily。
　〃Your　sons；〃　Ser　Desmond　said　at　last。　〃Maester　Vyman　told　us。　The　poor　lads。　Terrible。　Terrible。　But　。　。　。〃
　〃We　share　your　grief；　my　lady；〃　said　Utherydes　Wayn。　〃All　Riverrun　mourns　with　you；　but　。　。　。〃
　〃The　news　must　have　driven　you　mad；〃　Ser　Desmond　broke　in；　〃a　madness　of　grief；　a　mother's　madness；　men　will　understand。　You　did　not　know　。　。　。〃
　〃I　did；〃　Catelyn　said　firmly。　〃I　understood　what　I　was　doing　and　knew　it　was　treasonous。　If　you　fail　to　punish　me；　men　will　believe　that　we　connived　together　to　free　Jaime　Lannister。　It　was　mine　own　act　and　mine　alone；　and　I　alone　must　answer　for　it。　Put　me　in　the　Kingslayer's　empty　irons；　and　I　will　wear　them　proudly；　if　that　is　how　it　must　be。〃
　〃Fetters？〃　The　very　word　seemed　to　shock　poor　Ser　Desmond。　〃For　the　king's　mother；　my　lord's　own　daughter？　Impossible。〃
　〃Mayhaps；〃　said　the　steward　Utherydes　Wayn；　〃my　lady　would　consent　to　be　confined　to　her　chambers　until　Ser　Edmure　returns。　A　time　alone；　to　pray　for　her　murdered　sons？〃
　〃Confined；　aye；〃　Ser　Desmond　said。　〃Confined　to　a　tower　cell；　that　would　serve。〃
　〃If　I　am　to　be　confined；　let　it　be　in　my　father's　chambers；　so　I　might　fort　him　in　his　last　days。〃
　Ser　Desmond　considered　a　moment。　〃Very　well。　You　shall　lack　no　fort　nor　courtesy；　but　freedom　of　the　castle　is　denied　you。　Visit　the　sept　as　you　need；　but　elsewise　remain　in　Lord　Hoster's　chambers　until　Lord　Edmure　returns。〃
　〃As　you　wish。〃　Her　brother　was　no　lord　while　their　father　lived；　but　Catelyn　did　not　correct　him。　〃Set　a　guard　on　me　if　you　must；　but　I　give　you　my　pledge　that　I　shall　attempt　no　escape。〃
　Ser　Desmond　nodded；　plainly　glad　to　be　done　with　his　distasteful　task；　but　sad…eyed　Utherydes　Wayn　lingered　a　moment　after　the　castellan　took　his　leave。　〃It　was　a　grave　thing　you　did；　my　lady；　but　for　naught。　Ser　Desmond　has　sent　Ser　Robin　Ryger　after　them；　to　bring　back　the　Kingslayer　。　。　。　or　failing　that；　his　head。〃
　Catelyn　had　expected　no　less。　May　the　Warrior　give　strength　to　your　sword　arm；　Brienne；　she　prayed。　She　had　done　all　she　could；　nothing　remained　but　to　hope。
　Her　things　were　moved　into　her　father's　bedchamber；　dominated　by　the　great　canopied　bed　she　had　been　born　in；　its　pillars　carved　in　the　shapes　of　leaping　trout。　Her　father　himself　had　been　moved　half　a　turn　down　the　stair；　his　sickbed　placed　to　face　the　triangular　balcony　that　opened　off　his　solar；　from　whence　he　could　see　the　rivers　that　he　had　always　loved　so　well。
　Lord　Hoster　was　sleeping　when　Catelyn　entered。　She　went　out　to　the　balcony　and　stood　with　one　hand　on　the　rough　stone　balustrade。　Beyond　the　point　of　the　castle　the　swift　Tumblestone　joined　the　placid　Red　Fork；　and　she　could　see　a　long　way　downriver。　If　a　striped　sail　es　from　the　east；　it　will　be　Ser　Robin　returning。　For　the　moment　the　surface　of　the　waters　was　empty。　She　thanked　the　gods　for　that；　and　went　back　inside　to　sit　with　her　father。
　Catelyn　could　not　say　if　Lord　Hoster　knew　that　she　was　there；　or　if　her　presence　brought　him　any　fort；　but　it　gave　her　solace　to　be　with　him。　What　would　you　say　if　you　knew　my　crime；　Father？　she　wondered。　Would　you　have　done　as　I　did；　if　it　were　Lysa　and　me　in　the　hands　of　our　enemies？　Or　would　you　condemn　me　too；　and　call　it　mother's　madness？
　There　was　a　smell　of　death　about　that　room；　a　heavy　smell；　sweet　and　foul；　clinging。　It　reminded　her　of　the　sons　that　she　had　lost；　her　sweet　Bran　and　her　little　Rickon；　slain　at　the　hand　of　Theon　Greyjoy；　who　had　been　Ned's　ward。　She　still　grieved　for　Ned；　she　would　always　grieve　for　Ned；　but　to　have　her　babies　taken　as　well　。　。　。　〃It　is　a　monstrous　cruel　thing　to　lose　a　child；〃　she　whispered　softly；　more　to　herself　than　to　her　father。
　Lord　Hoster's　eyes　opened。　〃Tansy；〃　he　husked　in　a　voice　thick　with　pain。
　He　does　not　know　me。　Catelyn　had　grown　accustomed　to　him　taking　her　for　her　mother　or　her　sister　Lysa；　but　Tansy　was　a　name　strange　to　her。　〃It's　Catelyn；〃　she　said。　〃It's　Cat；　Father。〃
　〃Forgive　me　。　。　。　the　blood　。　。　。　oh；　please　。　。　。　Tansy　。　。　。
　Could　there　have　been　another　woman　in　her　father's　life？　Some　village　maiden　he　had　wronged　when　he　was　young；　perhaps？　Could　he　have　found　fort　in　some　serving　wench's　arms　after　Mother　died？　It　was　a　queer　thought；　unsettling。　Suddenly　she　felt　as　though　she　had　not　known　her　father　at　all。　〃Who　is　Tansy；　my　lord？　Do　you　want　me　to　send　for　her；　Father？　Where　would　I　find　the　woman？　Does　she　still　live？〃
　Lord　Hoster　groaned。　〃Dead。〃　His　hand　groped　for　hers。　〃You'll　have　others　。　。　。　sweet　babes；　and　trueborn。〃
　Others？　Catelyn　thought。　Has　he　forgotten　that　Ned　is　gone？　Is　he　still　talking　to　Tansy；　or　is　it　me　now；　or　Lysa；　or　Mother？
　When　he　coughed；　the　sputum　came　up　bloody。　He　clutched　her　fingers。　〃　。　。　。　be　a　good　wife　and　the　gods　will　bless　you　。　。　。　sons　。　。　。　trueborn　sons　。　。　。　aaahhh。〃　The　sudden　spasm　of　pain　made　Lord　Hoster's　hand　tighten。　His　nails　dug　into　her　hand；　and　he　gave　a　muffled　scream。
　Maester　Vyman　came　quickly；　to　mix　another　dose　of　milk　of　the　poppy　and　help　his　lord　swallow　it　down。　Soon　enough；　Lord　Hoster　Tully　had　fallen　back　into　a　heavy　sleep。
　〃He　was　asking　after　a　woman；〃　said　Cat。　〃Tansy。〃
　〃Tansy？〃　The　maester　looked　at　her　blankly。
　〃You　know　no　one　by　that　name？　A　serving　girl；　a　woman　from　some　nearby　village？　Perhaps　someone　from　years　past？〃　Catelyn　had　been　gone　from　Riven…an　for　a　very　long　time。
　〃No；　my　lady。　I　can　make　inquiries；　if　you　like。　Utherydes　Wayn　would　surely　know　if　any　such　person　ever　served　at　Riverrun。　Tansy；　did　you　say？　The　smallfolk　often　name　their　daughters　after　flowers　and　herbs。〃　The　maester　looked　thoughtful。　〃There　was　a　widow；　I　recall；　she　used　to　e　to　the　castle　looking　for　old　shoes　in　need　of　new　soles。　Her　name　was　Tansy；　now　that　I　think　on　it。　Or　was　it　Pansy？　Some　such。　But　she　has　not　e　for　many　years　。　。　。〃
　〃Her　name　was　Violet；〃　said　Catelyn；　who　remembered　the　old　woman　very　well。
　〃Was　it？〃　The　maester　looked　apologetic。　〃My　pardons；　Lady　Catelyn；　but　I　may　not　stay。　Ser　Desmond　has　decreed　that　we　are　to　speak　to　you　only　so　far　as　our　duties　require。〃
　〃Then　you　must　do　as　he　mands。〃　Catelyn　could　not　blame　Ser　Desmond；　she　had　given　him　small　reason　to　trust　her；　and　no　doubt　he　feared　that　she　might　use　the　loyalty　that　many　of　the　folk　of　Riverrun　would　still　feel　toward　their　lord's　daughter　to　work　some　further　mischief。　I　am　free　of　the　war；　at　least；　she　told　herself；　if　only　for　a　little　while。
　After　the　maester　had　gone；　she　donned　a　woolen　cloak　and　stepped　out　onto　the　balcony　once　more。　Sunlight　shimmered　on　the　rivers；　gilding　the　surface　of　the　waters　as　they　rolled　past　the　castle。　Catelyn　shaded　her　eyes　against　the　glare；　searching　for　a　distant　sail；　dreading　the　sight　of　one。　But　there　was　nothing；　and　nothing　meant　that　her　hopes　were　still　alive。
　All　that　day　she　watched；　and　well　into　the　night；　until　her　legs　ached　from　the　standing。　A　raven　came　to　the　castle　in　late　afternoon；　flapping　down　on　great　black　wings　to　the　rookery。　Dark　wings；　dark　words；　she　thought；　remembering　the　last　bird　that　had　e　and　the　horror　it　had　brought。
　Maester　Vyman　returned　at　evenfall　to　minister　to　Lord　Tully　and　bring　Catelyn　a　modest　supper　of　bread；　cheese；　and　boiled　beef　with　horseradish。　〃I　spoke　to　Utherydes　Wayn；　my　lady。　He　is　quite　certain　that　no　woman　by　the　name　of　Tansy　has　ever　been　at　Riverrun　during　his　service。〃
　〃There　was　a　raven　today；　I　saw。　Has　Jaime　been　taken　again？〃　Or　slain；　gods　forbid？
　〃No；　my　lady；　we've　had　no　word　of　the　Kingslayer。〃
　〃Is　it　another　battle；　then？　is　Edmure　in　difficulty？　Or　Robb？　Please；　be　kind；　put　my　fears　at　rest。〃
　〃My　lady；　I　should　not　。　。　。〃　Vyman　glanced　about；　as　if　to　make　certain　no　one　else　was　in　the　room。　〃Lord　Tywin　has　left　the　riverlands。　All's　quiet　on　the　fords。〃
　〃Whence　came　the　raven；　then？〃
　〃From　the　west；〃　he　answered；　busying　himself　with　Lord　Hoster's　bedclothes　and　avoiding　her　eyes。
　〃Was　it　news　of　Robb？〃
　He　hesitated。　〃Yes；　my　lady。〃
　〃Something　is　wrong。〃　She　knew　it　from　his　manner。　He　was　hiding　something　from　her。　〃Tell　me。　Is　it　Robb？　Is　he　hurt？〃　Not　dead；　gods　be　good；　please　do　not　tell　me　that　he　is　dead。
　〃His　Grace　took　a　wound　storming　the　Crag；〃　Maester　Vyman　said；　still　evasive；　〃but　writes　that　it　is　no　cause　for　concern；　and　that　he　hopes　to　return　soon。〃
　〃A　wound？　What　sort　of　wound？　How　serious？〃
　〃No　cause　for　concern；　he　writes。〃
　〃All　wounds　concern　me。　Is　he　being　cared　for？〃
　〃I　am　certain　of　it。　The　maester　at　the　Crag　will　tend　to　him；　I　have　no　doubt。〃
　〃Where　was　he　wounded？〃
　〃My　lady；　I　am　manded　not　to　speak　with　you。　I　am　sorry。〃　Gathering　up　his　potions；　Vyman　made　a　hurried　exit；　and　once　again　Catelyn　was　left　alone　with　her　father。　The　milk　of　the　poppy　had　done　its　work；　and　Lord　Hoster　was　sunk　in　heavy　sleep。　A　thin　line　of　spittle　ran　down　from　one　corner　of　his　open　mouth　to　dampen　his　pillow。　Catelyn　took　a　square　of　linen　and　wiped　it　away　gently。　When　she　touched　him；　Lord　Hoster　moaned。　〃Forgive　me；〃　he　said；　so　softly　she　could　scarcely　hear　the　words。　〃Tansy　。　。　。　blood　。　。　。　the　blood　。　。　。　gods　be　kind　。　。　。〃
　His　words　disturbed　her　more　than　she　could　say；　though　she　could　make　no　sense　of　them。　Blood；　she　thought。　Must　it　all　e　back　to　blood？　Father；　who　was　this　woman；　and　what　did　you　do　to　her　that　needs　so　much　forgiveness？
　That　night　Catelyn　slept　fitfully；　haunted　by　formless　dreams　of　her　children；　the　lost　and　the　dead。　Well　before　the　break　of　day；　she　woke　with　her　father's　words　echoing　in　her　ears。　Sweet　babes；　and　trueborn　。　。　。　why　would　he　say　that；　unless　。　。　。　could　he　have　fathered　a　bastard　on　this　woman　Tansy？　She　could　not　believe　it。　Her　brother　Edmure；　yes；　it　would　not　have　surprised　her　to　learn　that　Edmure　had　a　dozen　natural　children。　But　not　her　father；　not　Lord　Hoster　Tully；　never。
　Could　Tansy　be　some　pet　name　he　called　Lysa；　the　way　he　called　me　Cat？　Lord　Hoster　had　mistaken　her　for　her　sister　before。　You'll　have　others；　he　said。　Sweet　babes；　and　trueborn。　Lysa　had　miscarried　five　times；　twice　in　the　Eyrie；　thrice　at　King's　Landing　。　。　。　but　never　at　Riverrun；　where　Lord　Hoster　would　have　been　at　hand　to　fort　her。　Never；　unless　。　。　。　unless　she　was　with　child；　that　first　time　。　。　。
　She　and　her　sister　had　been　married　on　the　same　day；　and　left　in　their　father's　care　when　their　new　husbands　had　ridden　off　to　rejoin　Robert's　rebellion。　Afterward；　when　their　moon　blood　did　not　e　at　the　accustomed　time；　Lysa　had　gushed　happily　of　the　sons　she　was　certain　they　carried。　〃Your　son　will　be　heir　to　Winterfell　and　mine　to　the　Eyrie。　Oh；　they'll　be　the　best　of　friends；　like　your　Ned　and　Lord　Robert。　They'll　be　more　brothers　than　cousins；　truly；　I　just　know　it。〃　She　was　so　ha