grrm.thehedgeknight-第12节

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and　stamping　on　them。　The　dragon　puppet　was　scattered　all　about　them；　a　broken　wing　here；　its　head　there；　its　tail　in　three　pieces。　And　in　the　midst　of　it　all　stood　Prince　Aerion；　resplendent　in　a　red　velvet　doublet　with　long　dagged　sleeves；　twisting　Tanselle's　arm　in　both　hands。　She　was　on　her　knees；　pleading　with　him。　Aerion　ignored　her。　He　forced　open　her　hand　and　seized　one　of　her　fingers。　Dunk　stood　there　stupidly；　not　quite　believing　what　he　saw。　Then　he　heard　a　crack；　and　Tanselle　screamed。
　One　of　Aerion's　men　tried　to　grab　him；　and　went　flying。　Three　long　strides；　then　Dunk　grabbed　the　prince's　shoulder　and　wrenched　him　around　hard。　His　sword　and　dagger　were　forgotten；　along　with　everything　the　old　man　had　ever　taught　him。　His　fist　knocked　Aerion　off　his　feet；　and　the　toe　of　his　boot　slammed　into　the　prince's　belly。　When　Aerion　went　for　his　knife；　Dunk　stepped　on　his　wrist　and　then　kicked　him　again；　right　in　the　mouth。　He　might　have　kicked　him　to　death　right　then　and　there；　but　the　princeling's　men　swarmed　over　him。　He　had　a　man　on　each　arm　and　another　pounding　him　across　the　back。　No　sooner　had　he　wrestled　free　of　one　than　two　more　were　on　him。
　Finally　they　shoved　him　down　and　pinned　his　arms　and　legs。　Aerion　was　on　his　feet　again。　The　prince's　mouth　was　bloody。　He　pushed　inside　it　with　a　finger。　〃You've　loosened　one　of　my　teeth；〃　he　plained；　〃so　we'll　start　by　breaking　all　of　yours。〃　He　pushed　his　hair　from　his　eyes。　〃You　look　familiar。〃
　〃You　took　me　for　a　stableboy。〃
　Aerion　smiled　redly。　〃I　recall。　You　refused　to　take　my　horse。　Why　did　you　throw　your　life　away？　For　this　whore？〃　Tanselle　was　curled　up　on　the　ground；　cradling　her　maimed　hand。　He　gave　her　a　shove　with　the　toe　of　his　boot。　〃She's　scarcely　worth　it。　A　traitor。　The　dragon　ought　never　lose。〃
　He　is　mad；　thought　Dunk；　but　he　is　still　a　prince's　son；　and　he　means　to　kill　me。　He　might　have　prayed　then；　if　he　had　known　a　prayer　all　the　way　through；　but　there　was　no　time。　There　was　hardly　even　time　to　be　afraid。
　〃Nothing　more　to　say？〃　said　Aerion。　〃You　bore　me；　ser。〃　He　poked　at　his　bloody　mouth　again。　〃Get　a　hammer　and　break　all　his　teeth　out；　Wate；〃　he　manded；　〃and　then　let's　cut　him　open　and　show　him　the　color　of　his　entrails。〃
　〃No！〃　a　boy's　voice　said。　〃Don't　hurt　him！〃
　Gods　be　good；　the　boy；　the　brave　foolish　boy；　Dunk　thought。　He　fought　against　the　arms　restraining　him；　but　it　was　no　good。　〃Hold　your　tongue；　you　stupid　boy。　Run　away。　They'll　hurt　you！〃
　〃No　they　won't。〃　Egg　moved　closer。　〃If　they　do；　they'll　answer　to　my　father。　And　my　uncle　as　well。　Let　go　of　him；　I　said。　Wate；　Yorkel；　you　know　me。　Do　as　I　say。〃
　The　hands　holding　his　left　arm　were　gone；　and　then　the　others。　Dunk　did　not　understand　what　was　happening。　The　men…at…arms　were　backing　away。　One　even　knelt。　Then　the　crowd　parted　for　Raymun　Fossoway。　He　had　donned　mail　and　helm；　and　his　hand　was　on　his　sword。　His　cousin　Ser　Steffon；　just　behind　him；　had　already　bared　his　blade；　and　with　them　were　a　half…dozen　men…at…arms　with　the　red　apple　badge　sewn　on　their　breasts。
　Prince　Aerion　paid　them　no　mind。　〃Impudent　little　wretch；〃　he　said　to　Egg；　spitting　a　mouthful　of　blood　at　the　boy's　feet。　〃What　happened　to　your　hair？〃
　〃I　cut　it　off；　brother；〃　said　Egg。　〃I　didn't　want　to　look　like　you。〃
　
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　The　second　day　of　the　tourney　was　overcast；　with　a　gusty　wind　blowing　from　the　west。　The　crowds　should　be　less　on　a　day　like　this；　Dunk　thought。　It　would　have　been　easier　for　them　to　find　a　spot　near　the　fence　to　see　the　jousting　up　close。　Egg　might　have　sat　on　the　rail；　while　I　stood　behind　him。
　Instead　Egg　would　have　a　seat　in　the　viewing　box；　dressed　in　silks　and　furs；　while　Dunk's　view　would　be　limited　to　the　four　walls　of　the　tower　cell　where　Lord　Ashford's　men　had　confined　him。　The　chamber　had　a　window；　but　it　faced　in　the　wrong　direction。　Even　so；　Dunk　crammed　himself　into　the　window　seat　as　the　sun　came　up；　and　stared　gloomily　off　across　town　and　field　and　forest。　They　had　taken　his　hempen　sword　belt；　and　his　sword　and　dagger　with　it；　and　they　had　taken　his　silver　as　well。　He　hoped　Egg　or　Raymun　would　remember　Chestnut　and　Thunder。
　〃Egg；〃　he　muttered　low　under　his　breath。　His　squire；　a　poor　lad　plucked　from　the　streets　of　King's　Landing。　Had　ever　a　knight　been　made　such　a　fool？　Dunk　the　lunk；　thick　as　a　castle　wall　and　slow　as　an　aurochs。
　He　had　not　been　permitted　to　speak　to　Egg　since　Lord　Ashford's　soldiers　had　scooped　them　all　up　at　the　puppet　show。　Nor　Raymun；　nor　Tanselle；　nor　anyone；　not　even　Lord　Ashford　himself。　He　wondered　if　he　would　ever　see　any　of　them　again。　For　all　he　knew；　they　meant　to　keep　him　in　this　small　room　until　he　died。　What　did　I　think　would　happen？　he　asked　himself　bitterly。　I　knocked　down　a　prince's　son　and　kicked　him　in　the　face。
　Beneath　these　grey　skies；　the　flowing　finery　of　the　highborn　lords　and　great　champions　would　not　seem　quite　so　splendid　as　it　had　the　day　before。　The　sun；　walled　behind　the　clouds；　would　not　brush　their　steel　helms　with　brilliance；　nor　make　their　gold　and　silver　chasings　glitter　and　flash；　but　even　so；　Dunk　wished　he　were　in　the　crowd　to　watch　the　jousting。　It　would　be　a　good　day　for　hedge　knights；　for　men　in　plain　mail　on　unbarded　horses。
　He　could　hear　them；　at　least。　The　horns　of　the　heralds　carried　well；　and　from　time　to　time　a　roar　from　the　crowd　told　him　that　someone　had　fallen；　or　risen；　or　done　something　especially　bold。　He　heard　faint　hoofbeats　too；　and　once　in　a　great　while　the　clash　of　swords　or　the　snap　of　a　lance。　Dunk　winced　whenever　he　heard　that　last；　it　reminded　him　of　the　noise　Tanselle's　finger　had　made　when　Aerion　broke　it。　There　were　other　sounds　too；　closer　at　hand：　footfalls　in　the　hall　outside　his　door；　the　stamp　of　hooves　in　the　yard　below；　shouts　and　voices　from　the　castle　walls。　Sometimes　they　drowned　out　the　tourney。　Dunk　supposed　that　was　just　as　well。
　〃A　hedge　knight　is　the　truest　kind　of　knight；　Dunk；〃　the　old　man　had　told　him；　a　long…long　time　ago。　〃Other　knights　serve　the　lords　who　keep　them；　or　from　whom　they　hold　their　lands；　but　we　serve　where　we　will；　for　men　whose　causes　we　believe　in。　Every　knight　swears　to　protect　the　weak　and　innocent；　but　we　keep　the　vow　best；　I　think。〃　Queer　how　strong　that　memory　seemed。　Dunk　had　quite　forgotten　those　words。　And　perhaps　the　old　man　had　as　well；　toward　the　end。
　The　morning　turned　to　afternoon。　The　distant　sounds　of　the　tourney　began　to　dwindle　and　die。　Dusk　began　to　seep　into　the　cell；　but　Dunk　still　sat　in　the　window　seat；　looking　out　on　the　gathering　dark　and　trying　to　ignore　his　empty　belly。
　And　then　he　heard　footsteps　and　a　jangling　of　iron　keys。　He　uncoiled　and　rose　to　his　feet　as　the　door　opened。　Two　guards　pushed　in；　one　bearing　an　oil　lamp。　A　servingman　followed　with　a　tray　of　food。　Behind　came　Egg。　〃Leave　the　lamp　and　the　food　and　go；〃　the　boy　told　them。
　They　did　as　he　manded；　though　Dunk　noticed　that　they　left　the　heavy　wooden　door　ajar。　The　smell　of　the　food　made　him　realize　how　ravenous　he　was。　There　was　hot　bread　and　honey；　a　bowl　of　pease　porridge；　a　skewer　of　roast　onions　and　well…charred　meat。　He　sat　by　the　tray；　pulled　apart　the　bread　with　his　hands；　and　stuffed　some　into　his　mouth。　〃There's　no　knife；〃　he　observed。　〃Did　they　think　I'd　stab　you；　boy？〃
　〃They　didn't　tell　me　what　they　thought。〃　Egg　wore　a　close…fitting　black　wool　doublet　with　a　tucked　waist　and　long　sleeves　lined　with　red　satin。　Across　his　chest　was　sewn　the　three…headed　dragon　of　House　Targaryen。　〃My　uncle　says　I　must　humbly　beg　your　forgiveness　for　deceiving　you。〃
　〃Your　uncle；〃　said　Dunk。　〃That　would　be　Prince　Baelor。〃
　The　boy　looked　miserable。　〃I　never　meant　to　lie。〃
　〃But　you　did。　About　everything。　Starting　with　your　name。　I　never　heard　of　a　Prince　Egg。〃
　〃It's　short　for　Aegon。　My　brother　Aemon　named　me　Egg。　He's　off　at　the　Citadel　now；　learning　to　be　a　maester。　And　Daeron　sometimes　calls　me　Egg　as　well；　and　so　do　my　sisters。〃
　Dunk　lifted　the　skewer　and　bit　into　a　chunk　of　meat。　Goat；　flavored　with　some　lordly　spice　he'd　never　tasted　before。　Grease　ran　down　his　chin。　〃Aegon；〃　he　repeated。　〃Of　course　it　would　be　Aegon。　Like　Aegon　the　Dragon。　How　many　Aegons　have　been　king？〃
　〃Four；〃　the　boy　said。　〃Four　Aegons。〃
　Dunk　chewed；　swallowed；　and　tore　off　some　more　bread。　〃Why　did　you　do　it？　Was　it　some　jape；　to　make　a　fool　of　the　stupid　hedge　knight？〃
　〃No。〃　The　boy's　eyes　filled　with　tears；　but　he　stood　there　manfully。　〃I　was　supposed　to　squire　for　Daeron。　He's　my　oldest　brother。　I　learned　everything　I　had　to　learn　to　be　a　good　squire；　but　Daeron　isn't　a　very　good　knight。　He　didn't　want　to　ride　in　the　tourney；　so　after　we　left　Summerhall　he　stole　away　from　our　escort；　only　instead　of　doubling　back　he　went　straight　on　toward　Ashford；　thinking　they'd　never　look　for　us　that　way。　It　was　him　shaved　my　head。　He　knew　my　father　would　send　men　hunting　us。　Daeron　has　mon　hair；　sort　of　a　pale　brown；　nothing　special；　but　mine　is　like　Aerion's　and　my　father's。〃
　〃The　blood　of　the　dragon；〃　Dunk　said。　〃Silver…gold　hair　and　purple　eyes；　everyone　knows　that。〃　Thick　as　a　castle　wall；　Dunk。
　〃Yes。　So　Daeron　shaved　it　off。　He　meant　for　us　to　hide　until　the　tourney　was　over。　Only　then　you　took　me　for　a　stableboy；　and　。　。　。〃　He　l