grrm.thehedgeknight-第13节

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　〃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　lowered　his　eyes。　〃I　didn't　care　if　Daeron　fought　or　not；　but　I　wanted　to　be　somebody's　squire。　I'm　sorry；　ser。　I　truly　am。〃
　Dunk　looked　at　him　thoughtfully。　He　knew　what　it　was　like　to　want　something　so　badly　that　you　would　tell　a　monstrous　lie　just　to　get　near　it。　〃I　thought　you　were　like　me；〃　he　said。　〃Might　be　you　are。　Only　not　the　way　I　thought。〃
　〃We're　both　from　King's　Landing　still；〃　the　boy　said　hopefully。
　Dunk　had　to　laugh。　〃Yes；　you　from　the　top　of　Aegon's　Hill　and　me　from　the　bottom。〃
　〃That's　not　so　far；　ser。〃
　Dunk　took　a　bite　from　an　onion。　〃Do　I　need　to　call　you　m'lord　or　Your　Grace　or　something？〃
　〃At　court；〃　the　boy　admitted；　〃but　other　times　you　can　keep　on　calling　me　Egg　if　you　like；　Ser。〃
　〃What　will　they　do　with　me；　Egg？〃
　〃My　uncle　wants　to　see　you。　After　you're　done　eating；　ser。〃
　Dunk　shoved　the　platter　aside；　and　stood。　〃I'm　done　now；　then。　I've　already　kicked　one　prince　in　the　mouth；　I　don't　mean　to　keep　another　waiting。〃
　
　Lord　Ashford　had　turned　his　own　chambers　over　to　Prince　Baelor　for　the　duration　of　his　stay；　so　it　was　to　the　lord's　solar　that　Egg　…　no；　Aegon；　he　would　have　to　get　used　to　that　…　conducted　him。　Baelor　sat　reading　by　the　light　of　beeswax　candle。　Dunk　knelt　before　him。　〃Rise；〃　the　prince　said。　〃Would　you　care　for　wine？〃
　〃As　it　please　you；　Your　Grace。〃
　〃Pour　Ser　Duncan　a　cup　of　the　sweet　Dornish　red；　Aegon；〃　the　prince　manded。　〃Try　not　to　spill　it　on　him；　you've　done　him　sufficient　ill　already。〃
　〃The　boy　won't　spill；　Your　Grace；〃　said　Dunk。　〃He's　a　good　boy。　A　good　squire。　And　he　meant　no　harm　to　me；　I　know。〃
　〃One　need　not　intend　harm　to　do　it。　Aegon　should　have　e　to　me　when　he　saw　what　his　brother　was　doing　to　those　puppeteers。　Instead　he　ran　to　you。　That　was　no　kindness。　What　you　did；　ser。。。　well；　I　might　have　done　the　same　in　your　place；　but　I　am　a　prince　of　the　realm；　not　a　hedge　knight。　It　is　never　wise　to　strike　a　king's　grandson　in　anger；　no　matter　the　cause。〃
　Dunk　nodded　grimly。　Egg　offered　him　a　silver　goblet；　brimming　with　wine。　He　accepted　it　and　took　a　long　swallow。
　〃I　hate　Aerion；〃　Egg　said　with　vehemence。　〃And　I　had　to　run　for　Ser　Duncan；　uncle；　the　castle　was　too　far。〃
　〃Aerion　is　your　brother；〃　the　prince　said　firmly；　〃and　the　septons　say　we　must　love　our　brothers。　Aegon；　leave　us　now；　I　would　speak　with　Ser　Duncan　privately。〃
　The　boy　put　down　the　flagon　of　wine　and　bowed　stiffly。　〃As　you　will；　Your　Grace。〃　He　went　to　the　door　of　the　solar　and　closed　it　softly　behind　him。
　Baelor　Breakspear　studied　Dunk's　eyes　for　a　long　moment。　〃Ser　Duncan；　let　me　ask　you　this　…　how　good　a　knight　are　you；　truly？　How　skilled　at　arms？〃
　Dunk　did　not　know　what　to　say。　〃Ser　Arlan　taught　me　sword　and　shield；　and　how　to　tilt　at　rings　and　quintains。〃
　Prince　Baelor　seemed　troubled　by　that　answer。　〃My　brother　Maekar　returned　to　the　castle　a　few　hours　ago。　He　found　his　heir　drunk　in　an　inn　a　day's　ride　to　the　south。　Maekar　would　never　admit　as　much；　but　I　believe　it　was　his　secret　hope　that　his　sons　might　outshine　mine　in　this　tourney。　Instead　they　have　both　shamed　him；　but　what　is　he　to　do？　They　are　blood　of　his　blood。　Maekar　is　angry；　and　must　needs　have　a　target　for　his　wrath。　He　has　chosen　you。
　〃Me？〃　Dunk　said　miserably。
　〃Aerion　has　already　filled　his　father's　ear。　And　Daeron　has　not　helped　you　either。　To　excuse　his　own　cowardice；　he　told　my　brother　that　a　huge　robber　knight；　chance　met　on　the　road；　made　off　with　Aegon。　I　fear　you　have　been　cast　as　this　robber　knight；　ser。　In　Daeron's　tale；　he　has　spent　all　these　days　pursuing　you　hither　and　yon；　to　win　back　his　brother。〃
　〃But　Egg　will　tell　him　the　truth。　Aegon；　I　mean。
　〃Egg　will　tell　him；　I　have　no　doubt；〃　said　Prince　Baelor；　〃but　the　boy　has　been　known　to　lie　too；　as　you　have　good　reason　to　recall。　Which　son　will　my　brother　believe？　As　for　the　matter　of　these　puppeteers；　by　the　time　Aerion　is　done　twisting　the　tale　it　will　be　high　treason。　The　dragon　is　the　sigil　of　the　royal　House。　To　portray　one　being　slain；　sawdust　blood　spilling　from　its　neck。。。　well；　it　was　doubtless　innocent；　but　it　was　far　from　wise。　Aerion　calls　it　a　veiled　attack　on　House　Targaryen；　an　incitement　to　revolt。　Maekar　will　likely　agree。　My　brother　has　a　prickly　nature；　and　he　has　placed　all　his　best　hopes　on　Aerion；　since　Daeron　has　been　such　a　grave　disappointment　to　him。〃　The　prince　took　a　sip　of　wine；　then　set　the　goblet　aside。　〃Whatever　my　brother　believes　or　fails　to　believe；　one　truth　is　beyond　dispute。　You　laid　hands　upon　the　blood　of　the　dragon。　For　that　offense；　you　must　be　tried；　and　judged；　and　punished。〃
　〃Punished？〃　Dunk　did　not　like　the　sound　of　that。
　〃Aerion　would　like　your　head；　with　or　without　teeth。　He　will　not　have　it；　I　promise　you；　but　I　cannot　deny　him　a　trial。　As　my　royal　father　is　hundreds　of　leagues　away；　my　brother　and　I　must　sit　in　judgment　of　you；　along　with　Lord　Ashford；　whose　domains　these　are；　and　Lord　Tyrell　of　Highgarden；　his　liege　lord。　The　last　time　a　man　was　found　guilty　of　striking　one　of　royal　blood；　it　was　decreed　that　he　should　lose　the　offending　hand。〃
　〃My　hand？〃　said　Dunk；　aghast。
　〃And　your　foot。　You　kicked　him　too；　did　you　not？〃
　Dunk　could　not　speak。
　〃To　be　sure；　I　will　urge　my　fellow　judges　to　be　merciful。　I　am　the　King's　Hand　and　the　heir　to　the　throne；　my　word　carries　some　weight。　But　so　does　my　brother's。　The　risk　is　there。〃
　〃I；〃　said　Dunk；　〃I。。。　Your　Grace；　I。。。〃　They　meant　no　treason；　it　was　only　a　wooden　dragon；　it　was　never　meant　to　be　a　royal　prince；　he　wanted　to　say；　but　his　words　had　deserted　him　once　and　all。　He　had　never　been　any　good　with　words。
　〃You　have　another　choice；　though；〃　Prince　Baelor　said　quietly。　〃Whether　it　is　a　better　choice　or　a　worse　one；　I　cannot　say；　but　I　remind　you　that　any　knight　accused　of　a　crime　has　the　right　to　demand　trial　by　bat。　So　I　ask　you　once　again；　Ser　Duncan　the　Tall　…　how　good　a　knight　are　you？　Truly？〃
　
　A　trial　of　seven；〃　said　Prince　Aerion；　smiling。　〃That　is　my　right；　I　do　believe。
　Prince　Baelor　drummed　his　fingers　on　the　table；　frowning。　To　his　left；　Lord　Ashford　nodded　slowly。　〃Why？〃　Prince　Maekar　demanded；　leaning　forward　toward　his　son。　〃Are　you　afraid　to　face　this　hedge　knight　alone；　and　let　the　gods　decide　the　truth　of　your　accusations？〃
　〃Afraid？〃　said　Aerion。　〃Of　such　as　this？　Don't　be　absurd；　Father。　My　thought　is　for　my　beloved　brother。　Daeron　has　been　wronged　by　this　Ser　Duncan　as　well；　and　has　first　claim　to　his　blood。　A　trial　of　seven　allows　both　of　us　to　face　him。〃
　〃Do　me　no　favors；　brother；〃　muttered　Daeron　Targaryen。　The　eldest　son　of　Prince　Maekar　looked　even　worse　than　he　had　when　Dunk　had　encountered　him　in　the　inn。　He　seemed　to　be　sober　this　time；　his　red…and…black　doublet　unstained　by　wine；　but　his　eyes　were　bloodshot；　and　a　fine　sheen　of　sweat　covered　his　brow。　〃I　am　content　to　cheer　you　on　as　you　slay　the　rogue。〃
　〃You　are　too　kind；　sweet　brother；〃　said　Prince　Aerion；　all　smiles；　〃but　it　would　be　selfish　of　me　to　deny　you　the　right　to　prove　the　truth　of　your　words　at　the　hazard　of　your　body。　I　must　insist　upon　a　trial　of　seven。〃
　Dunk　was　lost。　〃Your　Grace；　my　lords；〃　he　said　to　the　dais。　〃I　do　not　understand。　What　is　this　trial　of　seven？〃
　Prince　Baelor　shifted　unfortably　in　his　seat。　〃It　is　another　form　of　trial　by　bat。　Ancient；　seldom　invoked。　It　came　across　the　narrow　sea　with　the　Andals　and　their　seven　gods。　In　any　trial　by　bat；　the　accuser　and　accused　are　asking　the　gods　to　decide　the　issue　between　them。　The　Andals　believed　that　if　the　seven　champions　fought　on　each　side；　the　gods；　being　thus　honored；　would　be　more　like　to　take　a　hand　and　see　that　a　just　result　was　achieved。〃
　〃Or　mayhap　they　simply　had　a　taste　for　swordplay；〃　said　Lord　Leo　Tyrell；　a　cynical　smile　touching　his　lips。　〃Regardless；　Ser　Aerion　is　within　his　rights。　A　trial　of　seven　it　must　be。〃
　〃I　must　fight　seven　men；　then？〃　Dunk　asked　hopelessly。
　〃Not　alone；　ser；〃　Prince　Maekar　said　impatiently。
　〃Don't　play　the　fool；　it　will　not　serve。　It　must　be　seven　against　seven。　You　must　needs　find　six　other　knights　to　fight　beside　you。〃
　Six　knights；　Dunk　thought。　They　might　as　well　have　told　him　to　find　six　thousand。　He　had　no　brothers；　no　cousins；　no　old　rades　who　had　stood　beside　him　in　battle。　Why　would　six　strangers　risk　their　own　lives　to　defend　a　hedge　knight　against　two　royal　princelings？　〃Your　Graces；　my　lords；〃　he　said；　〃what　if　no　one　will　take　my　part？〃
　Maekar　Targaryen　looked　down　on　him　coldly。　〃If　a　cause　is　just；　good　men　will　fight　for　it。　If　you　can　find　no　champions；　ser；　it　will　be　because　you　are　guilty。　Could　anything　be　more　plain？〃
　
　Dunk　had　never　felt　so　alone　as　he　did　when　he　walked　out　the　gates　of　Ashford　Castle　and　heard　the　portcullis　rattle　down　behind　him。　A　soft　rain　was　falling；　light　as　dew　on　his　skin；　and　yet　he　shivered　at　the　touch　of　it。　Across　the　river；　colored　rings　haloed　the　scant　few　pavilions　where　fires　still　burned。　The　night　was　half　gone；　he　guessed。　Dawn　would　be　on　him　in　a　few　hours。　And　with　dawn　es　death。
　They　had　given　him　back　his　sword　and　silver；　yet　as　he　waded　across　the　fo