grrm.astormofswords-第93章

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　〃Nonetheless；　he　had　one。　Hoat　is　more　cunning　than　he　appears。　No　man　mands　a　pany　such　as　the　Brave　panions　for　long　unless　he　has　some　wits　about　him。〃　Bolton　stabbed　a　chunk　of　meat　with　the　point　of　his　dagger；　put　it　in　his　mouth；　chewed　thoughtfully；　swallowed。　〃Lord　Vargo　abandoned　House　Lannister　because　I　offered　him　Harrenhal；　a　reward　a　thousand　times　greater　than　any　he　could　hope　to　have　from　Lord　Tywin。　As　a　stranger　to　Westeros；　he　did　not　know　the　prize　was　poisoned。〃
　〃The　curse　of　Harren　the　Black？〃　mocked　Jaime。
　〃The　curse　of　Tywin　Lannister。〃　Bolton　held　out　his　goblet　and　Elmar　refilled　it　silently。　〃Our　goat　should　have　consulted　the　Tarbecks　or　the　Reynes。　They　might　have　warned　him　how　your　lord　father　deals　with　betrayal。〃
　〃There　are　no　Tarbecks　or　Reynes；〃　said　Jaime。
　〃My　point　precisely。　Lord　Vargo　doubtless　hoped　that　Lord　Starmis　would　triumph　at　King's　Landing；　and　thence　confirm　him　in　his　possession　of　this　castle　in　gratitude　for　his　small　part　in　the　downfall　of　House　Lannister。〃　He　gave　a　dry　chuckle。　〃He　knows　little　of　Starmis　Baratheon　either；　I　fear。　That　one　might　have　given　him　Harrenhal　for　his　service　。　。　。　but　he　would　have　given　him　a　noose　for　his　crimes　as　well。〃
　〃A　noose　is　kinder　than　what　he'll　get　from　my　father。〃
　〃By　now　he　has　e　to　the　same　realization。　With　Stannis　broken　and　Renly　dead；　only　a　Stark　victory　can　save　him　from　Lord　Tywin's　vengeance；　but　the　chances　of　that　grow　perishingly　slim。〃
　〃King　Robb　has　won　every　battle；〃　Brienne　said　stoutly；　as　stubbornly　loyal　of　speech　as　she　was　of　deed。
　〃Won　every　battle；　while　losing　the　Freys；　the　Karstarks；　Winterfell；　and　the　north。　A　pity　the　wolf　is　so　young。　Boys　of　sixteen　always　believe　they　are　immortal　and　invincible。　An　older　man　would　bend　the　knee；　I'd　think。　After　a　war　there　is　always　a　peace；　and　with　peace　there　are　pardons　。　。　。　for　the　Robb　Starks；　at　least。　Not　for　the　likes　of　Vargo　Hoat。〃　Bolton　gave　him　a　small　smile。　〃Both　sides　have　made　use　of　him；　but　neither　will　shed　a　tear　at　his　passing。　The　Brave　panions　did　not　fight　in　the　Battle　of　the　Blackwater；　yet　they　died　there　all　the　same。〃
　〃You'll　forgive　me　if　I　don't　mourn？〃
　〃You　have　no　pity　for　our　wretched　doomed　goat？　Ah；　but　the　gods　must　。　。　。　else　why　deliver　you　into　his　hands？〃　Bolton　chewed　another　chunk　of　meat。　〃Karhold　is　smaller　and　meaner　than　Harrenhal；　but　it　lies　well　beyond　the　reach　of　the　lion's　claws。　Once　wed　to　Alys　Karstark；　Hoat　might　be　a　lord　in　truth。　If　he　could　collect　some　gold　from　your　father　so　much　the　better；　but　he　would　have　delivered　you　to　Lord　Rickard　no　matter　how　much　Lord　Tywin　paid。　His　price　would　be　the　maid；　and　safe　refuge。
　〃But　to　sell　you　he　must　keep　you；　and　the　riverlands　are　full　of　those　who　would　gladly　steal　you　away。　Glover　and　Tallhart　were　broken　at　Duskendale；　but　remnants　of　their　host　are　still　abroad；　with　the　Mountain　slaughtering　the　stragglers。　A　thousand　Karstarks　prowl　the　lands　south　and　east　of　Riverrun；　hunting　you。　Elsewhere　are　Darry　men　left　lordless　and　lawless；　packs　of　four…footed　wolves；　and　the　lightning　lord's　outlaw　bands。　Dondarrion　would　gladly　hang　you　and　the　goat　together　from　the　same　tree。〃　The　Lord　of　the　Dreadfort　sopped　up　some　of　the　blood　with　a　chunk　of　bread。　〃Harrenhal　was　the　only　place　Lord　Vargo　could　hope　to　hold　you　safe；　but　here　his　Brave　panions　are　much　outnumbered　by　my　own　men；　and　by　Ser　Aenys　and　his　Freys。　No　doubt　he　feared　I　might　return　you　to　Ser　Edmure　at　Riverrun　。　。　。　or　worse；　send　you　on　to　your　father。
　〃By　maiming　you；　he　meant　to　remove　your　sword　as　a　threat；　gain　himself　a　grisly　token　to　send　to　your　father；　and　diminish　your　value　to　me。　For　he　is　my　man；　as　I　am　King　Robb's　man。　Thus　his　crime　is　mine；　or　may　seem　so　in　your　father's　eyes。　And　therein　lies　my　。　。　。　small　difficulty。〃　He　gazed　at　Jaime；　his　pale　eyes　unblinking；　expectant；　chill。
　I　see。　〃You　want　me　to　absolve　you　of　blame。　To　tell　my　father　that　this　stump　is　no　work　of　yours。〃　Jaime　laughed。　〃My　lord；　send　me　to　Cersei；　and　I'll　sing　as　sweet　a　song　as　you　could　want；　of　how　gently　you　treated　me。〃　Any　other　answer；　he　knew；　and　Bolton　would　give　him　back　to　the　goat。　〃Had　I　a　hand；　I'd　write　it　out。　How　I　was　maimed　by　the　sellsword　my　own　father　brought　to　Westeros；　and　saved　by　the　noble　Lord　Bolton。〃
　〃I　will　trust　to　your　word；　ser。〃
　There's　something　I　don't　often　hear。　〃How　soon　might　we　be　permitted　to　leave？　And　how　do　you　mean　to　get　me　past　all　these　wolves　and　brigands　and　Karstarks？〃
　〃You　will　leave　when　Qyburn　says　you　are　strong　enough；　with　a　strong　escort　of　picked　men　under　the　mand　of　my　captain；　Walton。　Steelshanks；　he　is　called。　A　soldier　of　iron　loyalty。　Walton　will　see　you　safe　and　whole　to　King's　Landing。〃
　〃Provided　Lady　Catelyn's　daughters　are　delivered　safe　and　whole　as　well；〃　said　the　wench。　〃My　lord；　your　man　Walton's　protection　is　wele；　but　the　girls　are　my　charge。〃
　The　Lord　of　the　Dreadfort　gave　her　an　uninterested　glance。　〃The　girls　need　not　concern　you　any　further；　my　lady。　The　Lady　Sansa　is　the　dwarf's　wife；　only　the　gods　can　part　them　now。〃
　〃His　wife？〃　Brienne　said；　appalled。　〃The　Imp？　But　。　。　。　he　swore；　before　the　whole　court；　in　sight　of　gods　and　men　。　。　。〃
　She　is　such　an　innocent。　Jaime　was　almost　as　surprised；　if　truth　be　told；　but　he　hid　it　better。　Sansa　Stark；　that　ought　to　put　a　smile　on　Tyrion's　face。　He　remembered　how　happy　his　brother　had　been　with　his　little　crofter's　daughter　。　。　。　for　a　fortnight。
　〃What　the　Imp　did　or　did　nor　swear　scarcely　matters　now；〃　said　Lord　Bolton。　〃Least　of　all　to　you。〃　The　wench　looked　almost　wounded。　Perhaps　she　finally　felt　the　steel　jaws　of　the　trap　when　Roose　Bolton　beckoned　to　his　guards。　〃Ser　Jaime　will　continue　on　to　King's　Landing。　I　said　nothing　about　you；　I　fear。　it　would　be　unconscionable　of　me　to　deprive　Lord　Vargo　of　both　his　prizes。〃　The　Lord　of　the　Dreadfort　reached　out　to　pick　another　prune。　〃Were　I　you；　my　lady；　I　should　worry　less　about　Starks　and　rather　more　about　sapphires。
　
　CHAPTER　38
　TYRION
　
　A　horse　whickered　impatiently　behind　him；　from　amidst　the　ranks　of　gold　cloaks　drawn　up　across　the　road。　Tyrion　could　hear　Lord　Gyles　coughing　as　well。　He　had　not　asked　for　Gyles；　no　more　than　he'd　asked　for　Ser　Addam。　or　Jalabhar　Xho　or　any　of　the　rest；　but　his　lord　father　felt　Doran　Martell　might　take　it　ill　if　only　a　dwarf　came　out　to　escort　him　across　the　Blackwater。
　Joffrey　should　have　met　the　Dornishmen　himself；　he　reflected　as　he　sat　waiting；　but　he　would　have　mucked　it　up；　no　doubt。　Of　late　the　king　had　been　repeating　little　jests　about　the　Dornish　that　he'd　picked　up　from　Mace　Tyrell's　men…atarms。　How　many　Dornishmen　does　it　take　to　shoe　a　horse？　Nine。　One　to　do　the　shoeing；　and　eight　to　lift　the　horse　up。　Somehow　Tyrion　did　not　think　Doran　Martell　would　find　that　amusing。
　He　could　see　their　banners　flying　as　the　riders　emerged　from　the　green　of　the　living　wood　in　a　long　dusty　column。　From　here　to　the　river；　only　bare　black　trees　remained；　a　legacy　of　his　battle。　Too　many　banners；　he　thought　sourly；　as　he　watched　the　ashes　kick　up　under　the　hooves　of　the　approaching　horses；　as　they　had　beneath　the　hooves　of　the　Tyrell　van　as　it　smashed　Stannis　in　the　flank。　Martell's　brought　half　the　lords　of　Dorne；　by　the　look　of　it。　He　tried　to　think　of　some　good　that　might　e　of　that；　and　failed。　〃How　many　banners　do　you　count？〃　he　asked　Brorm。
　The　sellsword　knight　shaded　his　eyes。　〃Eight　。　。　。　no；　nine。〃
　Tyrion　turned　in　his　saddle。　〃Pod；　e　up　here。　Describe　the　arms　you　see；　and　tell　me　which　houses　they　represent。〃
　Podrick　Payne　edged　his　gelding　closer。　He　was　carrying　the　royal　standard；　Joffrey's　great　stag…and…lion；　and　struggling　with　its　weight。
　Bronn　bore　Tyrion's　own　banner；　the　lion　of　Lannister　gold　on　crimson。　He's　getting　taller；　Tyrion　realized　as　Pod　stood　in　his　stirrups　for　a　better　look。　He'll　soon　tower　over　me　like　all　the　rest。　The　lad　had　been　making　a　diligent　study　of　Domish　heraldry；　at　Tyrion's　mand；　but　as　ever　he　was　nervous。　〃I　can't　see。　The　wind　is　flapping　them。〃
　〃Bronn；　tell　the　boy　what　you　see。〃
　Bronn　looked　very　much　the　knight　today；　in　his　new　doublet　and　cloak；　the　flaming　chain　across　his　chest。　〃A　red　sun　on　orange；〃　he　called；　〃with　a　spear　through　its　back。〃
　〃Martell；〃　Podrick　Payne　said　at　once；　visibly　relieved。　〃House　Martell　of　Sunspear；　my　lord。　The　Prince　of　Dome。〃
　〃My　horse　would　have　known　that　one；〃　said　Tyrion　dryly。　〃Give　him　another；　Bronn。〃
　〃There's　a　purple　flag　with　yellow　balls。
　〃Lemons？〃　Pod　said　hopefully。　〃A　purple　fleld　strewn　with　lemons？　For　House　Dalt？　Of；　of　Lemonwood。〃
　〃Might　be。　Next's　a　big　black　bird　on　yellow。　Something　pink　or　white　in　its　claws；　hard　to　say　with　the　banner　flapping。〃
　〃The　vulture　of　Blackmont　grasps　a　baby　in　its　talons；〃　said　Pod。　〃House　Blackmont　of　Blackmont；　ser。〃
　Bronn　laughed。　〃Reading　books　again？　Books　will　ruin　your　sword　eye；　boy。　I　see　a　skull　too。　A　black　banner。〃
　〃The　crowned　skull　of　House　Manwoody；　bone　and　gold　on　black。〃　Pod　sounded　more　confident　with　every　correct　answer。　〃The　Manwoodys　of　Kingsgrave。〃
　〃Three　black　spiders？〃
　〃They're　scorpions；　ser。　House　Qorgyle　of　Sandstone；　three　scorpions　black　on　red。〃
　〃Red　and　yellow；　a　jagged　line　between。〃
　〃The　flames　of　Hellholt。　House　Uller。〃
　Tyrion　was　impressed。　The　boy's　not　half　stupid；　once　he　gets　his　tongue　untied。　〃Go　on；　Pod；〃　he　urged。　〃If　you　get　them　all；　I'll　make　you　a　gift。〃
　〃A　pie　with　red　and　black　slices；〃　said　Bronn。　〃There's　a　gold　hand　in　the　middle。〃
　〃House　Allyrion　of　Godsgrace。〃
　〃A　red　chicken　eating　a　snake；　looks　like。〃
　〃The　Gargalens　of　Salt　Shore。　A　cockatrice。　Ser。　Pardon。　Not　a　chicken。　Red；　with　a　black　snake　in　its　beak。〃
　〃Very　good！〃　exclaimed　Tyrion。　〃One　more；　lad。〃
　Bronn　scanned　the　ranks　of　the　approaching　Domishmen。　〃The　last's　a　golden　feather　on　green　checks。〃
　〃A　golden　quill；　ser。　Jordayne　of　the　Tor。〃
　Tyrion　laughed。　〃Nine；　and　well　done。　I　could　not　have　named　them　all　myself。〃　That　was　a　lie；　but　it　would　give　the　boy　some　pride；　and　that　he　badly　needed。
　Martell　brings　some　formidable　panions；　it　would　seem。　Not　one　of　the　houses　Pod　had　named　was　small　or　insignificant。　Nine　of　the　greatest　lords　of　Dorne　were　ing　up　the　kingsroad；　them　or　their　heirs；　and　somehow　Tyrion　did　not　think　they　had　e　all　this　way　just　to　see　the　dancing　bear。　There　was　a　message　here。　And　not　one　I　like。　He　wondered　if　it　had　been　a　mistake　to　ship　Myrcella　down　to　Sunspear。
　〃My　lord；〃　Pod　said；　a　little　timidly；　〃there's　no　litter。〃
　Tyrion　turned　his　head　sharply。　The　boy　was　right。
　〃Doran　Martell　always　travels　in　a　litter；〃　the　boy　said。　〃A　carved　litter　with　silk　hangings；　and　suns　on　the　drapes。〃
　Tyrion　had　heard　the　same　talk。　Prince　Doran　was　past　fifty；　and　gouty。　He　may　have　wanted　to　make　faster　time；　he　told　himself。　He　may　have　feared　his　litter　would　make　too　tempting　a　target　for　brigands；　or　that　it　would　prove　too　cumbersome　in　the　high　passes　of　the　Boneway。　Perhaps　his　gout　is　better。
　So　why　did　he　have　such　a　bad　feeling　about　this？
　This　waiting　was　intolerable。　〃Banners　forward；〃　he　snapped。　〃We'll　meet　them。〃　He　kick