grrm.thehedgeknight-第16节

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way；　and　crossed　the　paddock　to　his　horse。　Though　the　other　defenders　stared　at　him　with　contemptuous　eyes；　no　one　made　a　move　to　stop　him。
　Dunk　watched　Ser　Steffon　lead　his　destrier　back　across　the　field。　His　hands　coiled　into　fists；　but　his　throat　felt　too　raw　for　speech。　No　word　would　move　the　likes　of　him　anyway。
　〃Knight　me。〃　Raymun　put　a　hand　on　Dunk's　shoulder　and　turned　him。　〃I　will　take　my　cousin's　place。　Ser　Duncan；　knight　me。〃　He　went　to　one　knee。
　Frowning；　Dunk　moved　a　hand　to　the　hilt　of　his　longsword；　then　hesitated。　〃Raymun；　I　。　。　。　I　should　not。〃
　〃You　must。　Without　me；　you　are　only　five。〃
　〃The　lad　has　the　truth　of　it；〃　said　Ser　Lyonel　Baratheon。　〃Do　it；　Ser　Duncan。　Any　knight　can　make　a　knight。〃
　〃Do　you　doubt　my　courage？〃　Raymun　asked。
　〃No；〃　said　Dunk。　〃Not　that；　but　。　。　。〃　Still　he　hesitated。
　A　fanfare　of　trumpets　cut　the　misty　morning　air。　Egg　came　running　up　to　them。　〃Ser；　Lord　Ashford　summons　you。
　The　Laughing　Storm　gave　an　impatient　shake　of　the　head。　〃Go　to　him；　Ser　Duncan。　I'll　give　squire　Raymun　his　knighthood。〃　He　slid　his　sword　out　of　his　sheath　and　shouldered　Dunk　aside。　〃Raymun　of　House　Fossoway；〃　he　began　solemnly；　touching　the　blade　to　the　squire's　right　shoulder；　〃in　the　name　of　the　Warrior　I　charge　you　to　be　brave。〃　The　sword　moved　from　his　right　shoulder　to　his　left。　〃In　the　name　of　the　Father　I　charge　you　to　be　just。〃　Back　to　the　right。　〃In　the　name　of　the　Mother　I　charge　you　to　defend　the　young　and　innocent。〃　The　left。　〃In　the　name　of　the　Maid　I　charge　you　to　protect　all　women。〃
　Dunk　left　them　there；　feeling　as　relieved　as　he　was　guilty。　We　are　still　one　short；　he　thought　as　Egg　held　Thunder　for　him。　Where　will　I　find　another　man？　He　turned　the　horse　and　rode　slowly　toward　the　viewing　stand；　where　Lord　Ashford　stood　waiting。　From　the　north　end　of　the　lists；　Prince　Aerion　advanced　to　meet　him。　〃Ser　Duncan；〃　he　said　cheerfully；　〃it　would　seem　you　have　only　five　champions。〃
　〃Six；〃　said　Dunk。　〃Ser　Lyonel　is　knighting　Raymun　Fossoway。　We　will　fight　you　six　against　seven。〃　Men　had　won　at　far　worse　odds；　he　knew。　But　Lord　Ashford　shook　his　head。　〃That　is　not　permitted；　ser。　If　you　cannot　find　another　knight　to　take　your　side；　you　must　be　declared　guilty　of　the　crimes　of　which　you　stand　accused。〃
　Guilty；　thought　Dunk。　Guilty　of　loosening　a　tooth；　and　for　that　I　must　die。　〃M'lord；　I　beg　a　moment。〃
　〃You　have　it。〃
　Dunk　rode　slowly　along　the　fence。　The　viewing　stand　was　crowded　with　knights。　〃M'lords；〃　he　called　to　them；　〃do　none　of　you　remember　Ser　Arlan　of　Pennytree？　I　was　his　squire。　We　served　many　of　you。　Ate　at　your　tables　and　slept　in　your　halls。〃　He　saw　Manfred　Dondarrion　seated　in　the　highest　tier。　〃Ser　Arlan　took　a　wound　in　your　lord　father's　service。〃　The　knight　said　something　to　the　lady　beside　him；　paying　no　heed。　Dunk　was　forced　to　move　on。　〃Lord　Lannister；　Ser　Arlan　unhorsed　you　once　in　tourney。〃　The　Grey　Lion　examined　his　gloved　hands；　studiedly　refusing　to　raise　his　eyes。　〃He　was　a　good　man；　and　he　taught　me　how　to　be　a　knight。　Not　only　sword　and　lance；　but　honor。　A　knight　defends　the　innocent；　he　said。　That's　all　I　did。　I　need　one　more　knight　to　fight　beside　me。　One；　that's　all。　Lord　Caron？　Lord　Swann？〃　Lord　Swann　laughed　softly　as　Lord　Caron　whispered　in　his　ear。
　Dunk　reined　up　before　Ser　Otho　Bracken；　lowering　his　voice。　〃Ser　Otho；　all　know　you　for　a　great　champion。　Join　us；　I　beg　you。　In　the　names　of　the　old　gods　and　the　new。　My　cause　is　just。〃
　〃That　may　be；〃　said　the　Brute　of　Bracken；　who　had　at　least　the　grace　to　reply；　〃but　it　is　your　cause；　not　mine。　I　know　you　not；　boy。〃
　Heartsick；　Dunk　wheeled　Thunder　and　raced　back　and　forth　before　the　tiers　of　pale　cold　men。　Despair　made　him　shout。　〃ARE　THERE　NO　TRUE　KNIGHTS　AMONG　YOU？〃
　Only　silence　answered。
　Across　the　field；　Prince　Aerion　laughed。　〃The　dragon　is　not　mocked；〃　he　called　out。
　Then　came　a　voice。　〃I　will　take　Ser　Duncan's　side。〃
　A　black　stallion　emerged　from　out　of　the　river　mists；　a　black　knight　on　his　back。　Dunk　saw　the　dragon　shield；　and　the　red　enamel　crest　upon　his　helm　with　its　three　roaring　heads。　The　Young　Prince。　Gods　be　good；　it　is　truly　him？
　Lord　Ashford　made　the　same　mistake。　〃Prince　Valarr？〃
　〃No。〃　The　black　knight　lifted　the　visor　of　his　helm。　〃I　did　not　think　to　enter　the　lists　at　Ashford；　my　lord；　so　I　brought　no　armor。　My　son　was　good　enough　to　lend　me　his。〃　Prince　Baelor　smiled　almost　sadly。
　The　accusers　were　thrown　into　confusion；　Dunk　could　see。　Prince　Maekar　spurred　his　mount　forward。　〃Brother；　have　you　taken　leave　of　your　senses？〃　He　pointed　a　mailed　finger　at　Dunk。　〃This　man　attacked　my　son。〃
　〃This　man　protected　the　weak；　as　every　true　knight　must；〃　replied　Prince　Baelor。　〃Let　the　gods　determine　if　he　was　right　or　wrong。〃　He　gave　a　tug　on　his　reins；　turned　Valarr's　huge　black　destrier；　and　trotted　to　the　south　end　of　the　field。
　Dunk　brought　Thunder　up　beside　him；　and　the　other　defenders　gathered　round　them；　Robyn　Rhysling　and　Ser　Lyonel；　the　Humfreys。　Good　men　all；　but　are　they　good　enough？　〃Where　is　Raymun？〃
　〃Ser　Raymun；　if　you　please。〃　He　cantered　up；　a　grim　smile　lighting　his　face　beneath　his　plumed　helm。　〃My　pardons；　ser。　I　needed　to　make　a　small　change　to　my　sigil；　lest　I　be　mistaken　for　my　dishonorable　cousin。〃　He　showed　them　all　his　shield。　The　polished　golden　field　remained　the　same；　and　the　Fossoway　apple；　but　this　apple　was　green　instead　of　red。　〃I　fear　I　am　still　not　ripe　。　。　。　but　better　green　than　wormy；　eh？〃
　Ser　Lyonel　laughed；　and　Dunk　grinned　despite　himself。　Even　Prince　Baelor　seemed　to　approve。
　Lord　Ashford's　septon　had　e　to　the　front　of　the　viewing　stand　and　raised　his　crystal　to　call　the　throng　to　prayer。
　〃Attend　me；　all　of　you；〃　Baelor　said　quietly。　〃The　accusers　will　be　armed　with　heavy　war　lances　for　the　first　charge。　Lances　of　ash；　eight　feet　long；　banded　against　splitting　and　tipped　with　a　steel　point　sharp　enough　to　drive　through　plate　with　the　weight　of　a　warhorse　behind　it。〃
　〃We　shall　use　the　same；〃　said　Ser　Humfrey　Beesbury。　Behind　him；　the　septon　was　calling　on　the　Seven　to　look　down　and　judge　this　dispute；　and　grant　victory　to　the　men　whose　cause　was　just。
　〃No；〃　Baelor　said。　〃We　will　arm　ourselves　with　tourney　lances　instead。〃
　〃Tourney　lances　are　made　to　break；〃　objected　Raymun。
　〃They　are　also　made　twelve　feet　long。　If　our　points　strike　home；　theirs　cannot　touch　us。　Aim　for　helm　or　chest。　In　a　tourney　it　is　a　gallant　thing　to　break　your　lance　against　a　foe's　shield；　but　here　it　may　well　mean　death。　If　we　can　unhorse　them　and　keep　our　own　saddles；　the　advantage　is　ours。〃　He　glanced　to　Dunk。　〃If　Ser　Duncan　is　killed；　it　is　considered　that　the　gods　have　judged　him　guilty；　and　the　contest　is　over。　If　both　of　his　accusers　are　slain；　or　withdraw　their　accusations；　the　same　is　true。　Elsewise；　all　seven　of　one　side　or　the　other　must　perish　or　yield　for　the　trial　to　end。〃
　〃Prince　Daeron　will　not　fight；〃　Dunk　said。
　〃Not　well；　anyway；〃　laughed　Ser　Lyonel。　〃Against　that；　we　have　three　of　the　White　Swords　to　contend　with。〃
　Baelor　took　that　calmly。　〃My　brother　erred　when　he　demanded　that　the　Kingsguard　fight　for　his　son。　Their　oath　forbids　them　to　harm　a　prince　of　the　blood。　Fortunately；　I　am　such。〃　He　gave　them　a　faint　smile。　〃Keep　the　others　off　me　long　enough；　and　I　shall　deal　with　the　Kingsguard。〃
　〃My　prince；　is　that　chivalrous？〃　asked　Ser　Lyonel　Baratheon　as　the　septon　was　finishing　his　invocation。
　〃The　gods　will　let　us　know；〃　said　Baelor　Breakspear。
　
　A　deep　expectant　silence　had　fallen　across　Ashford　Meadow。
　Eighty　yards　away；　Aerion's　grey　stallion　trumpeted　with　impatience　and　pawed　the　muddy　ground。　Thunder　was　very　still　by　parison；　he　was　an　older　horse；　veteran　of　half　a　hundred　fights；　and　he　knew　what　was　expected　of　him。　Egg　handed　Dunk　up　his　shield。　〃May　the　gods　be　with　you；　ser；〃　the　boy　said。
　The　sight　of　his　elm　tree　and　shooting　star　gave　him　heart。　Dunk　slid　his　left　arm　through　the　strap　and　tightened　his　fingers　around　the　grip。　Oak　and　iron；　guard　me　well；　or　else　I'm　dead　and　doomed　to　hell。　Steely　Pate　brought　his　lance　to　him；　but　Egg　insisted　that　it　must　be　he　who　put　it　into　Dunk's　hand。
　To　either　side；　his　panions　took　up　their　own　lances　and　spread　out　in　a　long　line。　Prince　Baelor　was　to　his　right　and　Ser　Lyonel　to　his　left；　but　the　narrow　eye　slit　of　the　greathelm　limited　Dunk's　vision　to　what　was　directly　ahead　of　him。　The　viewing　stand　was　gone；　and　likewise　the　smallfolk　crowding　the　fence；　there　was　only　the　muddy　field；　the　pale　blowing　mist；　the　river；　town；　and　castle　to　the　north；　and　the　princeling　on　his　grey　charger　with　flames　on　his　helm　and　a　dragon　on　his　shield。　Dunk　watched　Aerion's　squire　hand　him　a　war　lance；　eight　feet　long　and　black　as　night。　He　will　put　that　through　my　heart　if　he　can。
　A　horn　sounded。
　For　a　heartbeat　Dunk　sat　as　still　as　a　fly　in　amber；　though　all　the　horses　were　moving。　A　stab　of　panic　went　through　him。　I　have　forgotten；　he　thought　wildly；　I　have　forgotten　all；　I　will　shame　myself　I　will　lose　everything。
　Thunder　saved　him。　The　big　brown　stallion　knew　what　to　do；　even　if　his　rider　did　not。　He　broke　into　a　slow　trot。　Dunk's　training　took　over　then。　He　gave　the　warhorse　a　light　touch　of　spur　an