grrm.astormofswords-第84章

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　〃Her？〃　The　Hound　snorted。　〃Is　she　your　mother；　Dondarrion？　Or　your　whore？〃
　Dondarrion？　Beric　Dondarrion　had　been　handsome；　Sansa's　friend　Jeyne　had　fallen　in　love　with　him。　Even　Jeyne　Poole　was　not　so　blind　as　to　think　this　man　was　fair。　Yet　when　Arya　looked　at　him　again；　she　saw　it；　the　remains　of　a　forked　purple　lightning　bolt　on　the　cracked　enamel　of　his　breastplate。
　〃Rocks　and　trees　and　rivers；　that's　what　your　realm　is　made　of；〃　the　Hound　was　saying。　〃Do　the　rocks　need　defending？　Robert　wouldn't　have　thought　so。　If　he　couldn't　fuck　it；　fight　it；　or　drink　it；　it　bored　him；　and　so　would　you　。　。　。　you　brave　panions。〃
　Outrage　swept　the　hollow　hill。　〃Call　us　that　name　again；　dog；　and　you'll　swallow　that　tongue。〃　Lem　drew　his　longsword。
　The　Hound　stared　at　the　blade　with　contempt。　〃Here's　a　brave　man；　baring　steel　on　a　bound　captive。　Untie　me；　why　don't　you？　We'll　see　how　brave　you　are　then。〃　He　glanced　at　the　Mad　Huntsman　behind　him。　〃How　about　you？　Or　did　you　leave　all　your　courage　in　your　kennels？〃
　〃No；　but　I　should　have　left　you　in　a　crow　cage。〃　The　Huntsman　drew　a　knife。　〃I　might　still。〃
　The　Hound　laughed　in　his　face。
　〃We　are　brothers　here；〃　Thoros　of　Myr　declared。　〃Holy　brothers；　sworn　to　the　realm；　to　our　god；　and　to　each　other。〃
　〃The　brotherhood　without　banners。〃　Tom　Sevenstrings　plucked　a　string。　〃The　knights　of　the　hollow　hill。〃
　〃Knights？〃　Clegane　made　the　word　a　sneer。　〃Dondarrion's　a　knight；　but　the　rest　of　you　are　the　sorriest　lot　of　outlaws　and　broken　men　I've　ever　seen。　I　shit　better　men　than　you。〃
　〃Any　knight　can　make　a　knight；〃　said　the　scarecrow　that　was　Beric　Dondarrion；　〃and　every　man　you　see　before　you　has　felt　a　sword　upon　his　shoulder。　We　are　the　forgotten　fellowship。〃
　〃Send　me　on　my　way　and　I'll　forget　you　too；〃　Clegane　rasped。　〃But　if　you　mean　to　murder　me；　then　bloody　well　get　on　with　it。　You　took　my　sword；　my　horse；　and　my　gold；　so　take　my　life　and　be　done　with　it　。　。　。　but　spare　me　this　pious　bleating。〃
　〃You　will　die　soon　enough；　dog；〃　promised　Thoros；　〃but　it　shan't　be　murder；　only　justice。〃
　〃Aye；〃　said　the　Mad　Huntsman；　〃and　a　kinder　fate　than　you　deserve　for　all　your　kind　have　done。　Lions；　you　call　yourselves。　At　Sherrer　and　the　Mummer's　Ford；　girls　of　six　and　seven　years　were　raped；　and　babes　still　on　the　breast　were　cut　in　two　while　their　mothers　watched。　No　lion　ever　killed　so　cruel。〃
　〃I　was　not　at　Sherrer；　nor　the　Mummer's　Ford；〃　the　Hound　told　him。　〃Lay　your　dead　children　at　some　other　door。〃
　Thoros　answered　him。　〃Do　you　deny　that　House　Clegane　was　built　upon　dead　children？　I　saw　them　lay　Prince　Aegon　and　Princess　Rhaenys　before　the　Iron　Throne。　By　rights　your　arms　should　bear　two　bloody　infants　in　place　of　those　ugly　dogs。〃
　The　Hound's　mouth　twitched。　〃Do　you　take　me　for　my　brother？　Is　being　born　Clegane　a　crime？〃
　〃Murder　is　a　crime。〃
　〃Who　did　I　murder？〃
　〃Lord　Lothar　Mallery　and　Ser　Gladden　Wylde；〃　said　Harwin。
　〃My　brothers　Lister　and　Lennocks；〃　declared　Jack…Be…Lucky。
　〃Goodman　Beck　and　Mudge　the　miller's　son；　from　Donnelwood；〃　an　old　woman　called　from　the　shadows。
　〃Merriman's　widow；　who　loved　so　sweet；〃　added　Greenbeard。
　〃Them　septons　at　Sludgy　Pond。〃
　〃Ser　Andrey　Charlton。　His　squire　Lucas　Roote。　Every　man；　woman；　and　child　in　Fieldstone　and　Mousedown　Mill。〃
　〃Lord　and　Lady　Deddings；　that　was　so　rich。〃
　Tom　Sevenstrings　took　up　the　count。　〃Alyn　of　Winterfell；　Joth　Quickbow；　Little　Matt　and　his　sister　Randa；　Anvil　Ryn。　Ser　Ormond。　Ser　Dudley。　Pate　of　Mory；　Pate　of　Lancewood；　Old　Pate；　and　Pate　of　Shermer's　Grove。　Blind　Wyl　the　Whittler。　Goodwife　Maerie。　Maerie　the　Whore。　Becca　the　Baker。　Ser　Raymun　Darry；　Lord　Darry；　young　Lord　Darry。　The　Bastard　of　Bracken。　Fletcher　Will。　Harsley。　Goodwife　Nolla…〃
　〃Enough。〃　The　Hound's　face　was　tight　with　anger。　〃You're　making　noise。　These　names　mean　nothing。　Who　were　they？〃
　〃People；〃　said　Lord　Beric。　〃People　great　and　small；　young　and　old。　Good　people　and　bad　people；　who　died　on　the　points　of　Lannister　spears　or　saw　their　bellies　opened　by　Lannister　swords。〃
　〃It　wasn't　my　sword　in　their　bellies。　Any　man　who　says　it　was　is　a　bloody　liar。〃
　〃You　serve　the　Lannisters　of　Casterly　Rock；〃　said　Thoros。
　〃Once。　Me　and　thousands　more。　Is　each　of　us　guilty　of　the　crimes　of　the　others？〃　Clegane　spat。　〃Might　be　you　are　knights　after　all。　You　lie　like　knights；　maybe　you　murder　like　knights。〃
　Lem　and　Jack…Be…Lucky　began　to　shout　at　him；　but　Dondarrion　raised　a　hand　for　silence。　〃Say　what　you　mean；　Clegane。〃
　〃A　knight's　a　sword　with　a　horse。　The　rest；　the　vows　and　the　sacred　oils　and　the　lady's　favors；　they're　silk　ribbons　tied　round　the　sword。　Maybe　the　sword's　prettier　with　ribbons　hanging　off　it；　but　it　will　kill　you　just　as　dead。　Well；　bugger　your　ribbons；　and　shove　your　swords　up　your　arses。　I'm　the　same　as　you。　The　only　difference　is；　I　don't　lie　about　what　I　am。
　So；　kill　me；　but　don't　call　me　a　murderer　while　you　stand　there　telling　each　other　that　your　shit　don't　stink。　You　hear　me？〃
　Arya　squirted　past　Greenbeard　so　fast　he　never　saw　her。　〃You　are　a　murderer！〃　she　screamed。　〃You　killed　Mycah；　don't　say　you　never　did。　You　murdered　him！〃
　The　Hound　stared　at　her　with　no　flicker　of　recognition。　〃And　who　was　this　Mycah；　boy？〃
　〃I'm　not　a　boy！　But　Mycah　was。　He　was　a　butcher's　boy　and　you　killed　him。　Jory　said　you　cut　him　near　in　half；　and　he　never　even　had　a　sword。〃　She　could　feel　them　looking　at　her　now；　the　women　and　the　children　and　the　men　who　called　themselves　the　knights　of　the　hollow　hill。　〃Who's　this　now？〃　someone　asked。
　The　Hound　answered。　〃Seven　hells。　The　little　sister。　The　brat　who　tossed　Joff　's　pretty　sword　in　the　river。〃　He　gave　a　bark　of　laughter。　〃Don't　you　know　you're　dead？〃
　〃No；　you're　dead；〃　she　threw　back　at　him。
　Harwin　took　her　arm　to　draw　her　back　as　Lord　Beric　said；　〃The　girl　has　named　you　a　murderer。　Do　you　deny　killing　this　butcher's　boy；　Mycah？〃
　The　big　man　shrugged。　〃I　was　Joffrey's　sworn　shield。　The　butcher's　boy　attacked　a　prince　of　the　blood。〃
　〃That's　a　lie！〃　Arya　squirmed　in　Harwin's　grip。　〃It　was　me。　I　hit　Joffrey　and　threw　Lion's　Paw　in　the　river。　Mycah　just　ran　away；　like　I　told　him。〃
　〃Did　you　see　the　boy　attack　Prince　Joffrey？〃　Lord　Beric　Dondarrion　asked　the　Hound。
　〃I　heard　it　from　the　royal　lips。　It's　not　my　place　to　question　princes。〃　Clegane　jerked　his　hands　toward　Arya。　〃This　one's　own　sister　told　the　same　tale　when　she　stood　before　your　precious　Robert。〃
　〃Sansa's　just　a　liar；〃　Arya　said；　furious　at　her　sister　all　over　again。　〃It　wasn't　like　she　said。　It　wasn't。〃
　Thoros　drew　Lord　Beric　aside。　The　two　men　stood　talking　in　low　whispers　while　Arya　seethed。　They　have　to　kill　him。　I　prayed　for　him　to　die；　hundreds　and　hundreds　of　times。
　Beric　Dondarrion　turned　back　to　the　Hound。　〃You　stand　accused　of　murder；　but　no　one　here　knows　the　truth　or　falsehood　of　the　charge；　so　it　is　not　for　us　to　judge　you。　Only　the　Lord　of　Light　may　do　that　now。　I　sentence　you　to　trial　by　battle。〃
　The　Hound　frowned　suspiciously；　as　if　he　did　not　trust　his　ears。　〃Are　you　a　fool　or　a　madman？〃
　〃Neither。　I　am　a　just　lord。　Prove　your　innocence　with　a　blade；　and　you　shall　be　free　to　go。〃
　〃No；〃　Arya　cried；　before　Harwin　covered　her　mouth。　No；　they　can't；　he'll　go　free。　The　Hound　was　deadly　with　a　sword；　everyone　knew　that。　He'll　laugh　at　them；　she　thought。
　And　so　he　did；　a　long　rasping　laugh　that　echoed　off　the　cave　walls；　a　laugh　choking　with　contempt。　〃So　who　will　it　be？〃　He　looked　at　Lem　Lemoncloak。　〃The　brave　man　in　the　piss…yellow　cloak？　No？　How　about　you；　Huntsman？　You've　kicked　dogs　before；　try　me。〃　He　saw　Greenbeard。　〃You're　big　enough；　Tyrosh；　step　forward。　Or　do　you　mean　to　make　the　little　girl　fight　me　herself？〃　He　laughed　again。　〃e　on；　who　wants　to　die？
　〃It's　me　you'll　face；〃　said　Lord　Beric　Dondarrion。
　Arya　remembered　all　the　tales。　He　can't　be　killed；　she　thought；　hoping　against　hope。　The　Mad　Huntsman　sliced　apart　the　ropes　that　bound　Sandor　Clegane's　hands　together。　〃I'll　need　sword　and　armor。〃　The　Hound　rubbed　a　torn　wrist。
　〃Your　sword　you　shall　have；〃　declared　Lord　Beric；　〃but　your　innocence　must　be　your　armor。〃
　Clegane's　mouth　twitched。　〃My　innocence　against　your　breastplate；　is　that　the　way　of　it？〃
　〃Ned；　help　me　remove　my　breastplate。〃
　Arya　got　goosebumps　when　Lord　Beric　said　her　father's　name；　but　this　Ned　was　only　a　boy；　a　fair…haired　squire　no　more　than　ten　or　twelve。　He　stepped　up　quickly　to　undo　the　clasps　that　fastened　the　battered　steel　about　the　Marcher　lord。　The　quilting　beneath　was　rotten　with　age　and　sweat；　and　fell　away　when　the　metal　was　pulled　loose。　Gendry　sucked　in　his　breath。　〃Mother　have　mercy。〃
　Lord　Beric's　ribs　were　outlined　starkly　beneath　his　skin。　A　puckered　crater　scarred　his　breast　just　above　his　left　nipple；　and　when　he　turned　to　call　for　sword　and　shield；　Arya　saw　a　matching　scar　upon　his　back。　The　lance　went　through　him。　The　Hound　had　seen　it　too。　Is　he　scared？　Arya　wanted　him　to　be　scared　before　he　died；　as　scared　as　Mycah　must　have　been。
　Ned　fetched　Lord　Beric　his　swordbelt　and　a　long　black　surcoat。　It　was　meant　to　be　worn　over　armor；　so　it　draped　his　body　loosely；　but　across　it　crackled　the　forked　purple　lightning　of　his　House。　He　unsheathed　his　sword　and　gave　the　belt　back　to　his　squire。
　Thoros　brought　the　Hound　his　swordbelt。　〃Does　a　dog　have　honor？〃　the　priest　asked。　〃Lest　you　think　to　cut　your　way　free　of　here；　or　seize　some　child　for　a　hostage　。　。　。　Anguy；　Dennet；　Kyle；　feather　him　at　the　first　sign　of　treachery。〃　Only　when　the　three　bowmen　had　notched　their　shafts　did　Thoros　hand　Clegane　the　belt。
　The　Hound　ripped　the　sword　free　and　threw　away　the　scabbard。　The　Mad　Huntsman　gave　him　his　oaken　shield；　all　studded　with　iron　and　painted　yellow；　the　three　black　dogs　of　Clegane　emblazoned　upon　it。　The　boy　Ned　helped　Lord　Beric　with　his　own　shield；　so　hacked　and　battered　that　the　purple　lightning　and　the　scatter　of　stars　upon　it　had　almost　been　obliterated。
　But　when　the　Hound　made　to　step　toward　his　foe；　Thoros　of　Myr　stopped　him。　〃First　we　pray。〃　He　turned　toward　the　fire　and　lifted　his　arms。　〃Lord　of　Light；　look　down　upon　us。〃
　All　around　the　cave；　the　brotherhood　without　banners　lifted　their　own　voices　in　response。　〃Lord　of　Light；　defend　us。〃
　〃Lord　of　Light；　protect　us　in　the　darkness。〃
　〃Lord　of　Light；　shine　your　face　upon　us。〃
　〃Light　your　flame　among　us；　R'hllor；〃　said　the　red　priest。　〃Show　us　the　truth　or　falseness　of　this　man。　Strike　him　down　if　he　is　guilty；　and　give　strength　to　his　sword　if　he　is　true。　Lord　of　Light；　give　us　wisdom。〃
　〃For　the　night　is　dark；〃　the　others　chanted；　Harwin　and　Anguy　loud　as　all　the　rest；　〃and　full　of　terrors。〃
　〃This　cave　is　dark　too；〃　said　the　Hound；　〃but　I'm　the　terror　here。　I　hope　your　god's　a　sweet　one；　Dondarrion。　You're　going　to　meet　him　shortly。〃
　Unsmiling；　Lord　Beric　laid　the　edge　of　his　longsword　against　the　palm　of　his　left　hand；　and　drew　it　slowly　down。　Blood　ran　dark　from　the　gash　he　made；　and　washed　over　the　steel。
　And　then　the　sword　took　fire。
　Arya　heard　Gendry　whisper　a　prayer。
　〃Burn　in　seven　hells；〃　the　Hound　cursed。　〃You；　and　Thoros　too。〃　He　threw　a　glance　at　the　red　priest。　〃When　I'm　done　with　him　you'll　be　next；　Myr。〃
　〃Every　word　you　say　proclaims　your　guilt；　dog；〃　an