grrm.thehedgeknight-第15节

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　〃Ser　Duncan；〃　a　voice　called　out　of　the　dark。　Dunk　turned　to　find　Steely　Pate　standing　behind　him；　holding　an　iron　lantern。　Under　a　short　leather　cloak；　the　armorer　was　bare　from　the　waist　up；　his　broad　chest　and　thick　arms　covered　with　coarse　black　hair。　〃If　you　are　e　for　your　shield；　she　left　it　with　me。〃　He　looked　Dunk　up　and　down。　〃Two　hands　and　two　feet；　I　count。　So　it's　to　be　trial　by　bat；　is　it？〃
　〃A　trial　of　seven。　How　did　you　know？〃
　〃Well；　they　might　have　kissed　you　and　made　you　a　lord；　but　it　didn't　seem　likely；　and　if　it　went　t'other　way；　you'd　be　short　some　parts。　Now　follow　me。
　His　wagon　was　easy　to　distinguish　by　the　sword　and　anvil　painted　on　its　side。　Dunk　followed　Pate　inside。　The　armorer　hung　the　lantern　on　a　hook；　shrugged　out　of　his　wet　cloak；　and　pulled　a　roughspun　tunic　down　over　his　head。　A　hinged　board　dropped　down　from　one　wall　to　make　a　table。　〃Sit；〃　he　said；　shoving　a　low　stool　toward　him。
　Dunk　sat。　〃Where　did　she　go？〃
　〃They　make　for　Dorne。　The　girl's　uncle；　there's　a　wise　man。　Well　gone　is　well　forgot。　Stay　and　be　seen；　and　belike　the　dragon　remembers。　Besides；　he　did　not　think　she　ought　see　you　die。〃　Pate　went　to　the　far　end　of　the　wagon；　rummaged　about　in　the　shadows　a　moment；　and　returned　with　the　shield。　〃Your　rim　was　old　cheap　steel；　brittle　and　rusted；〃　he　said。　〃I've　made　you　a　new　one；　twice　as　thick；　and　put　some　bands　across　the　back。　It　will　be　heavier　now；　but　stronger　too。　The　girl　did　the　paint。〃
　She　had　made　a　better　job　of　it　than　he　could　ever　have　hoped　for。　Even　by　lantern　light；　the　sunset　colors　were　rich　and　bright；　the　tree　tall　and　strong　and　noble。　The　falling　star　was　a　bright　slash　of　paint　across　the　oaken　sky。　Yet　now　that　Dunk　held　it　in　his　hands；　it　seemed　all　wrong。　The　star　was　falling；　what　sort　of　sigil　was　that？　Would　he　fall　just　as　fast？　And　sunset　heralds　night。　〃I　should　have　stayed　with　the　chalice；〃　he　said　miserably。　〃It　had　wings；　at　least；　to　fly　away；　and　Ser　Arlan　said　the　cup　was　full　of　faith　and　fellowship　and　good　things　to　drink。　This　shield　is　all　painted　up　like　death。〃
　〃The　elm's　alive；〃　Pate　pointed　out。　〃See　how　green　the　leaves　are？　Summer　leaves；　for　certain。　And　I've　seen　shields　blazoned　with　skulls　and　wolves　and　ravens；　even　hanged　men　and　bloody　heads。　They　served　well　enough；　and　so　will　this。　You　know　the　old　shield　rhyme？　Oak　and　iron；　guard　me　well　。　。　。〃
　〃Or　else　I'm　dead；　and　doomed　to　hell；〃　Dunk　finished。　He　had　not　thought　of　that　rhyme　in　years。　The　old　man　had　taught　it　to　him；　a　long　time　ago。　〃How　much　do　you　want　for　the　new　rim　and　all？〃　he　asked　Pate。
　〃From　you？〃　Pate　scratched　his　beard。　〃A　copper。〃
　
　The　rain　had　all　but　stopped　as　the　first　wan　light　suffused　the　eastern　sky；　but　it　had　done　its　work。　Lord　Ashford's　men　had　removed　the　barriers；　and　the　tourney　field　was　one　great　morass　of　grey…brown　mud　and　torn　grass。　Tendrils　of　fog　were　writhing　along　the　ground　like　pale　white　snakes　as　Dunk　made　his　way　back　toward　the　lists。　Steely　Pate　walked　with　him。
　The　viewing　stand　had　already　begun　to　fill；　the　lords　and　ladies　clutching　their　cloaks　tight　about　them　against　the　morning　chill。　Smallfolk　were　drifting　toward　the　field　as　well；　and　hundreds　of　them　already　stood　along　the　fence。　So　many　e　to　see　me　die；　thought　Dunk　bitterly；　but　he　wronged　them。　A　few　steps　farther　on；　a　woman　called　out；　〃Good　fortune　to　you。〃　An　old　man　stepped　up　to　take　his　hand　and　said；　〃May　the　gods　give　you　strength；　ser。〃　Then　a　begging　brother　in　a　tattered　brown　robe　said　a　blessing　on　his　sword；　and　a　maid　kissed　his　cheek。　They　are　for　me。　〃Why？〃　he　asked　Pate。　〃What　am　I　to　them？〃
　〃A　knight　who　remembered　his　vows；〃　the　smith　said。
　They　found　Raymun　outside　the　challengers'　paddock　at　the　south　end　of　the　lists；　waiting　with　his　cousin's　horse　and　Dunk's。　Thunder　tossed　restlessly　beneath　the　weight　of　chinet；　chamfron；　and　blanket　of　heavy　mail。　Pate　inspected　the　armor　and　pronounced　it　good　work；　even　though　someone　else　had　forged　it。　Wherever　the　armor　had　e　from；　Dunk　was　grateful。
　Then　he　saw　the　others：　the　one…eyed　man　with　the　salt…and…pepper　beard；　the　young　knight　in　the　striped　yellow…and…black　surcoat　with　the　beehives；　on　the　shield。　Robyn　Rhysling　and　Humfrey　Beesbury；　he　thought　in　astonishment。　And　Ser　Humfrey　Hardyng　as　well。　Hardyng　was　mounted　on　Aerion's　red　charger；　now　barded　in　his　red…and…white　diamonds。
　He　went　to　them。　〃Sers；　I　am　in　your　debt。〃
　〃The　debt　is　Aerion's；〃　Ser　Humfrey　Hardyng　replied；　〃and　we　mean　to　collect　it。〃
　〃I　had　heard　your　leg　was　broken。〃
　〃You　heard　the　truth〃　Hardyng　said。　〃I　cannot　walk。　But　so　long　as　I　can　sit　a　horse；　I　can　fight。〃
　Raymun　took　Dunk　aside。　〃I　hoped　Hardyng　would　want　another　chance　at　Aerion；　and　he　did。　As　it　happens；　the　other　Humfrey　is　his　brother　by　marriage。　Egg　is　responsible　for　Ser　Robyn；　whom　he　knew　from　other　tourneys。　So　you　are　five。〃
　〃Six；〃　said　Dunk　in　wonder；　pointing。　A　knight　was　entering　the　paddock；　his　squire　leading　his　charger　behind　him。　〃The　Laughing　Storm。〃　A　head　taller　than　Ser　Raymun　and　almost　of　a　height　with　Dunk；　Ser　Lyonel　wore　a　cloth…of…gold　surcoat　bearing　the　crowned　stag　of　House　Baratheon；　and　carried　his　antlered　helm　under　his　arm。　Dunk　reached　for　his　hand。　〃Ser　Lyonel；　I　cannot　thank　you　enough　for　ing；　nor　Ser　Steffon　for　bringing　you。〃
　〃Ser　Steffon？〃　Ser　Lyonel　gave　him　a　puzzled　look。　〃It　was　your　squire　who　came　to　me。　The　boy；　Aegon。　My　own　lad　tried　to　chase　him　off；　but　he　slipped　between　his　legs　and　turned　a　flagon　of　wine　over　my　head。〃　He　laughed。　〃There　has　not　been　a　trial　of　seven　for　more　than　a　hundred　years；　do　you　know　that？　I　was　not　about　to　miss　a　chance　to　fight　the　Kingsguard　knights；　and　tweak　Prince　Maekar's　nose　in　the　bargain。〃
　〃Six；〃　Dunk　said　hopefully　to　Raymun　Fossoway　as　Ser　Lyonel　joined　the　others。　〃Your　cousin　will　bring　the　last；　surely。〃
　A　roar　went　up　from　the　crowd。　At　the　north　end　of　the　meadow；　a　column　of　knights　came　trotting　out　of　the　river　mist。　The　three　Kingsguard　came　first；　like　ghosts　in　their　gleaming　white　enamel　armor；　long　white　cloaks　trailing　behind　them。　Even　their　shields　were　white；　blank　and　clean　as　a　field　of　new…fallen　snow。　Behind　rode　Prince　Maekar　and　his　sons。　Aerion　was　mounted　on　a　dapple　grey；　orange　and　red　flickering　through　the　slashes　in　the　horse's　caparison　at　each　stride。　His　brother's　destrier　was　a　smaller　bay；　armored　in　overlapping　black　and　gold　scales。　A　green　silk　plume　trailed　from　Daeron's　helm。　It　was　their　father　who　made　the　most　fearsome　appearance；　however。　Black　curved　dragon　teeth　ran　across　his　shoulders；　along　the　crest　of　his　helm；　and　down　his　back；　and　the　huge　spiked　mace　strapped　to　his　saddle　was　as　deadly…looking　a　weapon　as　any　Dunk　had　ever　seen。
　〃Six；〃　Raymun　exclaimed　suddenly。　〃They　are　only　six。〃
　It　was　true；　Dunk　saw。　Three　black　knights　and　three　white。　They　are　a　man　short　as　well。　Was　it　possible　that　Aerion　had　not　been　able　to　find　a　seventh　man？　What　would　that　mean？　Would　they　fight　six　against　six　if　neither　found　a　seventh？
　Egg　slipped　up　beside　him　as　he　was　trying　to　puzzle　it　out。　〃Ser；　it's　time　you　donned　your　armor。〃
　〃Thank　you；　squire。　If　you　would　be　so　good？〃　Steely　Pate　lent　the　lad　a　hand。　Hauberk　and　gorget；　greaves　and　gauntlet；　coif　and　codpiece；　they　turned　him　into　steel；　checking　each　buckle　and　each　clasp　thrice。　Ser　Lyonel　sat　sharpening　his　sword　on　a　whetstone　while　the　Humfreys　talked　quietly；　Ser　Robyn　prayed；　and　Raymun　Fossoway　paced　back　and　forth；　wondering　where　his　cousin　had　got　to。
　Dunk　was　fully　armored　by　the　time　Ser　Steffon　finally　appeared。　〃Raymun；〃　he　called；　〃my　mail；　if　you　please。〃　He　had　changed　into　a　padded　doublet　to　wear　beneath　his　steel。
　〃Ser　Steffon；〃　said　Dunk；　〃what　of　your　friends？　We　need　another　knight　to　make　our　seven。〃
　〃You　need　two；　I　fear；〃　Ser　Steffon　said。　Raymun　laced　up　the　back　of　the　hauberk。
　〃M'lord？〃　Dunk　did　not　understand。　〃Two？〃
　Ser　Steffon　picked　up　a　gauntlet　of　fine　lobstered　steel　and　slid　his　left　hand；　into　it；　flexing　his　fingers。　〃I　see　five　here；〃　be　said　while　Raymun　fastened　his　sword　belt。　〃Beesbury；　Rhysling；　Hardyng；　Baratheon；　and　yourself。〃
　〃And　you；〃　said　Dunk。　〃You're　the　sixth。〃
　〃I　am　the　seventh；〃　said　Ser　Steffon；　smiling；　〃but　for　the　other　side。　I　fight　with　Prince　Aerion　and　the　accusers。〃
　Raymun　had　been　about　to　hand　his　cousin　his　helm。　He　stopped　as　if　struck。　〃No。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Ser　Steffon　shrugged。　〃Ser　Duncan　understands；　I　am　sure。　I　have　a　duty　to　my　prince。〃
　〃You　told　him　to　rely　on　you。〃　Raymun　had　gone　pale。
　〃Did　I？〃　He　took　the　helm　from　his　cousin's　hands。　〃No　doubt　I　was　sincere　at　the　time。　Bring　me　my　horse。〃
　〃Get　him　yourself；〃　said；Raymun　angrily。　〃If　you　think　I　wish　any　part　of　this；　you're　as　thick　as　you　are　vile。〃
　〃Vile？〃　Ser　Steffon　tsked。　〃Guard　your　tongue；　Raymun。　We're　both　apples　from　the　same　tree。　And　you　are　my　squire。　Or　have　you　forgotten　your　vows？〃
　〃No。　Have　you　forgotten　yours？　You　swore　to　be　a　knight。〃
　〃I　shall　be　more　than　a　knight　before　this　day　is　done。　Lord　Fossoway。　I　like　the　sound　of　that。〃　Smiling；　he　pulled　on　his　other　gauntlet；　turned　away