grrm.thehedgeknight-第11节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
exploded out of the back of his neck in a gout of bright blood。 Screaming； the horse crashed sideways； knocking the wooden barrier to pieces as he fell。 Ser Humfrey tried to leap free； but a foot caught in a stirrup and they heard his shriek as his leg was crushed between the splintered fence and falling horse。
All of Ashford Meadow was shouting。 Men ran onto the field to extricate Ser Humfrey； but the stallion； dying in agony； kicked at them as they approached。 Aerion； having raced blithely around the carnage to the end of the lists； wheeled his horse and came galloping back。 He was shouting too； though Dunk could not make out the words over the almost human screams of the dying horse。 Vaulting from the saddle； Aerion drew his sword and advanced on his fallen foe。 His own squires and one of Ser Humfrey's had to pull him back。 Egg squirmed on Dunk's shoulders。 〃Let me down；〃 the boy said。 〃The poor horse； let me down。〃
Dunk felt sick himself。 What would I do if such a fate befell Thunder？ A man…at…arms with a pole…axe dispatched Ser Humfrey's stallion； ending the hideous screams。 Dunk turned and forced his way through the press。 When he came to open ground； he lifted Egg off his shoulders。 The boy's hood had fallen back and his eyes were red。 〃A terrible sight； aye；〃 he told the lad； 〃but a squire must needs be strong。 You'll see worse mishaps at other tourneys； I fear。〃
〃It was no mishap；〃 Egg said； mouth trembling。 〃Aerion meant to do it。 You saw。〃
Dunk frowned。 It had looked that way to him as well； but it was hard to accept that any knight could be so unchivalrous； least of all one who was blood of the dragon。 〃I saw a knight green as summer grass lose control of his lance；〃 he said stubbornly； 〃and I'll hear no more of it。 The jousting is done for the day； I think。 e； lad。〃
He was right about the end of the day's contests。 By the time the chaos had been set to rights； the sun was low in the west； and Lord Ashford had called a halt。
As the shadows of evening crept across the meadow； a hundred torches were lit along the merchant's row。 Dunk bought a horn of ale for himself and half a horn for the boy； to cheer him。 They wandered for a time； listening to a sprightly air on pipes and drums and watching a puppet show about Nymeria； the warrior queen with the ten thousand ships。 The puppeteers had only two ships； but managed a rousing sea battle all the same。 Dunk wanted to ask the girl Tanselle if she had finished painting his shield； but he could see that she was busy。 I'll wait until she is done for the night； he resolved。 Perhaps she'll have a thirst then。
〃Ser Duncan；〃 a voice called behind him。 And then again； 〃Ser Duncan。〃 Suddenly Dunk remembered that was him。 〃I saw you among the smallfolk today； with this boy on your shoulders；〃 said Raymun Fossoway as he came up； smiling。 〃Indeed； the two of you were hard to miss。〃
〃The boy is my squire。 Egg； this is Raymun Fossoway。〃 Dunk had to pull the boy forward； and even then Egg lowered his head and stared at Raymun's boots as he mumbled a greeting。
〃Well met； lad；〃 Raymun said easily。 〃Ser Duncan； why not watch from the viewing gallery？ All knights are wele there。〃
Dunk was at ease among smallfolk and servants； the idea of claiming a place among the lords； ladies； and landed knights made him unfortable。 〃I would not have wanted any closer view of that last tilt。〃
Raymun grimaced。 〃Nor I。 Lord Ashford declared Ser Humfrey the victor and awarded him Prince Aerion's courser； but even so； he will not be able to continue。 His leg was broken in two places。 Prince Baelor sent his own maester to tend him。〃
〃Will there be another champion in Ser Humfrey's place？〃
〃Lord Ashford had a mind to grant the place to Lord Caron； or perhaps the other Ser Humfrey； the one who gave Hardyng such a splendid match； but Prince Baelor told him that it would not be seemly to remove Ser Humfrey's shield and pavilion under the circumstances。 I believe they will continue with four champions in place of five。〃
Four champions； Dunk thought。 Leo Tyrell； Lyonel Baratheon； Tybolt Lannister； and Prince Valarr。 He had seen enough this first day to know how little chance he would stand against the first three。 Which left only。。。
A hedge knight cannot challenge a prince。 Valarr is second in line to the Iron Throne。 He is Baelor Breakspear's son； and his blood is the blood of Aegon the Conqueror and the Young Dragon and Prince Aemon the Dragonknight； and I am some boy the old man found behind a pot shop in Flea Bottom。
His head hurt just thinking about it。 〃Who does your cousin mean to challenge？〃 he asked Raymun。
〃Ser Tybolt； all things being equal。 They are well matched。 My cousin keeps a sharp watch on every tilt； though。 Should any man be wounded on the morrow； or show signs of exhaustion or weakness； Steffon will be quick to knock on his shield； you may count on it。 No one has ever accused him of an excess of chivalry。〃 He laughed； as if to take the sting from his words。 〃Ser Duncan； will you join me for a cup of wine？〃
〃I have a matter I must attend to；〃 said Dunk； unfortable with the notion of accepting hospitality he could not return。
〃I could wait here and bring your shield when the puppet show is over； ser；〃 said Egg。 〃They're going to do Symeon Star…Eyes later； and make the dragon fight again as well。〃
〃There； you see； your matter is attended to； and the wine awaits；〃 said Raymun。 〃It's an Arbor vintage； too。 How can you refuse me？〃
Bereft of excuses； Dunk had no choice but to follow； leaving Egg at the puppet show。 The apple of House Fossoway flew above a gold…colored pavilion where Raymun attended his cousin。 Behind it； two servants were basting a goat with honey and herbs over a small cookfire。 〃There's food as well； if you're hungry；〃 Raymun said negligently as he held the flap for Dunk。 A brazier of coals lit the interior and made the air pleasantly warm。 Raymun filled two cups with wine。 〃They say Aerion is in a rage at Lord Ashford for awarding his charger to Ser Humfrey；〃 he mented as he poured； 〃but I'll wager it was his uncle who counseled it。〃 He handed Dunk a wine cup。
〃Prince Baelor is an honorable man。〃
〃As the Bright Prince is not？〃 Raymun laughed。 〃Don't look so anxious； Ser Duncan； there's none here but us。 It is no secret that Aerion is a bad piece of work。 Thank the gods that he is well down in the order of succession。〃
〃You truly believe he meant to kill the horse？〃
〃Is there any doubt of it？ If Prince Maekar had been here； it would have gone differently； I promise you。 Aerion is all smiles and chivalry so long as his father is watching； if the tales be true； but when he's not 。 。 。〃
〃I saw that Prince Maekar's chair was empty。〃
〃He's left Ashford to search for his sons； along with Roland Crakehall of the Kingsguard。 There's a wild tale of robber knights going about； but I'll wager the prince is just off drunk again。〃
The wine was fine and fruity； as good a cup as he had ever tasted。 He rolled it in his mouth； swallowed； and said； 〃Which prince is this now？〃
〃Maekar's heir。 Daeron； he's named； after the king。 They call him Daeron the Drunken； though not in his father's hearing。 The youngest boy was with him as well。 They left Summerhall together but never reached Ashford。〃 Raymun drained his cup and set it aside。 〃Poor Maekar。〃
〃Poor？〃 said Dunk； startled。 〃The king's son？〃
〃The king's fourth son；〃 said Raymun； 〃not quite as bold as Prince Baelor； nor as clever as Prince Aerys； nor as gentle as Prince Rhaegel。 And now he must suffer seeing his own sons overshadowed by his brother's。 Daeron is a sot； Aerion is vain and cruel； the third son was so unpromising they gave him to the Citadel to make a maester of him； and the youngest …〃
〃Ser！ Ser Duncan！〃 Egg burst in panting。 His hood had fallen back； and the light from the brazier shone in his big dark eyes。 〃You have to run； he's hurting her！〃
Dunk lurched to his feet； confused。 〃Hurting？ Who？〃
〃Aerion！〃 the boy shouting。 〃He's hurting her。 The puppet girl。 Hurry。〃 Whirling； he darted back out into the night。
Dunk made to follow； but Raymun caught his arm。 〃Ser Duncan。 Aerion； he said。 A prince of the blood。 Be careful。〃
It was good counsel； he knew。 The old man would have said the same。 But he could not listen。 He wrenched free of Raymun's hand and shouldered his way out of the pavilion。 He could hear shouting off in the direction of the merchants' row。 Egg was almost out of sight。 Dunk ran after him。 His legs were long and the boy's short； he quickly closed the distance。
A wall of watchers had gathered around the puppeteers。 Dunk shouldered through them； ignoring their curses。 A man…at…arms in the royal livery stepped up to block him。 Dunk put a big band on his chest and shoved； sending the man flailing backward to sprawl on his arse in the dirt。
The puppeteer's stall had been knocked on its side。 The fat Dornishwoman was on the ground weeping。 One man…at…arms was dangling the puppets of Florian and Jonquil from his hands as another set them afire with a torch。 Three more men were opening chests； spilling more puppets on the ground and stamping on them。 The dragon puppet was scattered all about them； a broken wing here； its head t
