grrm.thehedgeknight-第4节

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did　not　sound　very　knightly。　He　could　take　Pennytree；　but　what　if　they　asked　him　where　it　was？　Dunk　had　never　been　to　Pennytree；　nor　had　the　old　man　talked　much　about　it。　He　frowned　for　a　moment；　and　then　blurted　out；　〃Ser　Duncan　the　Tall。〃　He　was　tall；　no　one　could　dispute　that；　and　it　sounded　puissant。
　Though　the　little　sneak　did　not　seem　to　think　so。　〃I　have　never　heard　of　any　Ser　Duncan　the　Tall。〃
　〃Do　you　know　every　knight　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms；　then？〃
　The　boy　looked　at　him　boldly。　〃The　good　ones。〃
　〃I'm　as　good　as　any。　After　the　tourney；　they'll　all　know　that。　Do　you　have　a　name；　thief？〃
　The　boy　hesitated。　〃Egg；〃　he　said。
　Dunk　did　not　laugh。　His　head　does　look　like　an　egg。　Small　boys　can　be　cruel；　and　grown　men　as　well。　〃Egg；〃　he　said；　〃I　should　beat　you　bloody　and　send　you　on　your　way；　but　the　truth　is；　I　have　no　pavilion　and　I　have　no　squire　either。　If　you'll　swear　to　do　as　you're　told；　I'll　let　you　serve　me　for　the　tourney。　After　that；　well；　we'll　see。　If　I　decide　you're　worth　your　keep；　you'll　have　clothes　on　your　back　and　food　in　your　belly。　The　clothes　might　be　roughspun　and　the　food　salt　beef　and　salt　fish；　and　maybe　some　venison　from　time　to　time　where　there　are　no　foresters　about；　but　you　won't　go　hungry。　And　I　promise　not　to　beat　you　except　when　you　deserve　it。〃
　Egg　smiled。　〃Yes；　my　lord。〃
　〃Ser；〃　Dunk　corrected。　〃I　am　only　a　hedge　knight。〃　He　wondered　if　the　old　man　was　looking　down　on　him。　I　will　teach　him　the　arts　of　battle；　the　same　as　you　taught　me；　ser。　He　seems　a　likely　lad；　might　be　one　day　he'll　make　a　knight。
　The　fish　was　still　a　little　raw　on　the　inside　when　they　ate　it；　and　the　boy　had　not　removed　all　the　bones；　but　it　still　tasted　a　world　better　than　hard　salt　beef。
　Egg　soon　fell　asleep　beside　the　dying　fire。　Dunk　lay　on　his　back　nearby；　his　big　hands　behind　his　head；　gazing　up　at　the　night　sky。　He　could　hear　distant　music　from　the　tourney　grounds；　half　a　mile　away。　The　stars　were　everywhere；　thousands　and　thousands　of　them。　One　fell　as　he　was　watching；　a　bright　green　streak　that　flashed　across　the　black　and　then　was　gone。
　A　falling　star　brings　luck　to　him　who　sees　it；　Dunk　thought。　But　the　rest　of　them　are　all　in　their　pavilions　by　now；　staring　up　at　silk　instead　of　sky。　So　the　luck　is　mine　alone。
　
　In　the　morning；　he　woke　to　the　sound　of　a　cock　crowing。　Egg　was　still　there；　curled　up　beneath　the　old　man's　second…best　cloak。　Well；　the　boy　did　not　run　off　during　the　night；　that's　a　start。　He　prodded　him　awake　with　his　foot。　〃Up。　There's　work　to　do。〃　The　boy　rose　quick　enough；　rubbing　his　eyes。　〃Help　me　saddle　Sweetfoot；〃　Dunk　told　him。
　〃What　about　breakfast？〃
　〃There's　salt　beef。　After　we're　done。〃
　〃I'd　sooner　eat　the　horse；〃　Egg　said。　〃Ser。〃
　〃You'll　eat　my　fist　if　you　don't　do　as　you're　told。　Get　the　brushes。　They're　in　the　saddle　sack。　Yes；　that　one。〃
　Together　they　brushed　out　the　palfrey's　sorrel　coat；　hefted　Ser　Arlan's　best　saddle　over　her　back；　and　cinched　it　tight。　Egg　was　a　good　worker　once　he　put　his　mind　to　it；　Dunk　saw。
　〃I　expect　I'll　be　gone　most　of　the　day；〃　he　told　the　boy　as　he　mounted。　〃You're　to　stay　here　and　put　the　camp　in　order。　Make　sure　no　other　thieves　e　nosing　about。〃
　〃Can　I　have　a　sword　to　run　them　off　with？〃　Egg　asked。　He　had　blue　eyes；　Dunk　saw；　very　dark；　almost　purple。　His　bald　head　made　them　seem　huge；　somehow。
　〃No；〃　said　Dunk。　〃A　knife's　enough。　And　you　had　best　be　here　when　I　e　back；　do　you　hear　me？　Rob　me　and　run　off　and　I'll　hunt　you　down；　I　swear　I　will。　With　dogs。〃
　〃You　don't　have　any　dogs；〃　Egg　pointed　out。
　〃I'll　get　some；〃　said　Dunk。　〃Just　for　you。〃　He　turned　Sweetfoot's　head　toward　the　meadow　and　moved　off　at　a　brisk　trot；　hoping　the　threat　would　be　enough　to　keep　the　boy　honest。　Save　for　the　clothes　on　his　back；　the　armor　in　his　sack；　and　the　horse　beneath　him；　everything　Dunk　owned　in　the　world　was　back　at　that　camp。　I　am　a　great　fool　to　trust　the　boy　so　far；　but　it　is　no　more　than　the　old　man　did　for　me；　he　reflected。　The　Mother　must　have　sent　him　to　me　so　that　I　could　pay　my　debt。
　As　he　crossed　the　field；　be　heard　the　ring　of　hammers　from　the　riverside；　where　carpenters　were　nailing　together　jousting　barriers　and　raising　a　lofty　viewing　stand。　A　few　new　pavilions　were　going　up　as　well；　while　the　knights　who　had　e　earlier　slept　off　last　night's　revels　or　sat　to　break　their　fasts。　Dunk　could　smell　woodsmoke；　and　bacon　as　well。
　To　the　north　of　the　meadow　flowed　the　river　Cockleswent；　a　vassal　stream　to　the　mighty　Mander。　Beyond　the　shallow　ford　lay　town　and　castle。　Dunk　had　seen　many　a　market　town　during　his　journeys　with　the　old　man。　This　was　prettier　than　most；　the　whitewashed　houses　with　their　thatched　roofs　had　an　inviting　aspect　to　them。　When　he　was　smaller；　he　used　to　wonder　what　it　would　be　like　to　live　in　such　a　place；　to　sleep　every　night　with　a　roof　over　your　head；　and　wake　every　morning　with　the　same　walls　wrapped　around　you。　It　may　be　that　soon　I'll　know。　Aye；　and　Egg　too。　It　could　happen。　Stranger　things　happened　every　day。
　Ashford　Castle　was　a　stone　structure　built　in　the　shape　of　a　triangle；　with　round　towers　rising　thirty　feet　tall　at　each　point　and　thick　crenellated　walls　running　between。　Orange　banners　flew　from　its　battlements；　displaying　the　white　sun…and…chevron　sigil　of　its　lord。　Men…at…arms　in　orange…and…white　livery　stood　outside　the　gates　with　halberds；　watching　people　e　and　go；　seemingly　more　intent　on　joking　with　a　pretty　milkmaid　than　in　keeping　anyone　out。　Dunk　reined　up　in　front　of　the　short；　bearded　man　he　took　for　their　captain　and　asked　for　the　master　of　the　games。
　〃It's　Plummer　you　want；　he's　steward　here。　I'll　show　you。〃
　Inside　the　yard；　a　stableboy　took　Sweetfoot　for　him。　Dunk　slung　Ser　Arlan's　battered　shield　over　a　shoulder　and　followed　the　guards　captain　back　of　the　stables　to　a　turret　built　into　an　angle　of　the　curtain　wall。　Steep　stone　steps　led　up　to　the　wallwalk。　〃e　to　enter　your　master's　name　for　the　lists？〃　the　captain　asked　as　they　climbed。
　〃It's　my　own　name　I'll　be　putting　in。〃
　〃Is　it　now？〃　Was　the　man　smirking？　Dunk　was　not　certain。　〃That　door　there。　I'll　leave　you　to　it　and　get　back　to　my　post。〃
　When　Dunk　pushed　open　the　door；　the　steward　was　sitting　at　a　trestle　table；　scratching　on　a　piece　of　parchment　with　a　quill。　He　had　thinning　grey　hair　and　a　narrow　pinched　face。　〃Yes？〃　he　said；　looking　up。　〃What　do　you　want；　man？〃
　Dunk　pulled　shut　the　door。　〃Are　you　Plummer　the　steward？　I　came　for　the　tourney。　To　enter　the　lists。〃
　Plummer　pursed　his　lips。　〃My　lord's　tourney　is　a　contest　for　knights。　Are　you　a　knight？〃
　He　nodded；　wondering　if　his　ears　were　red。
　〃A　knight　with　a　name；　mayhaps？〃
　〃Dunk。〃　Why　had　he　said　that？　〃Ser　Duncan。　The　Tall。〃
　〃And　where　might　you　be　from；　Ser　Duncan　the　Tall？〃
　〃Everyplace。　I　was　squire　to　Ser　Arlan　of　Pennytree　since　I　was　five　or　six。　This　is　his　shield。〃　He　showed　it　to　the　steward。　〃He　was　ing　to　the　tourney；　but　he　caught　a　chill　and　died；　so　I　came　in　his　stead。　He　knighted　me　before　he　passed；　with　his　own　sword。〃　Dunk　drew　the　longsword　and　laid　it　on　the　scarred　wooden　table　between　them。
　The　master　of　the　lists　gave　the　blade　no　more　than　a　glance。　〃A　sword　it　is；　for　a　certainty。　I　have　never　heard　of　this　Arlan　of　Pennytree；　however。　You　were　his　squire；　you　say？〃
　〃He　always　said　he　meant　for　me　to　be　a　knight；　as　he　was。　When　he　was　dying　he　called　for　his　longsword　and　bade　me　kneel。　He　touched　me　once　on　my　right　shoulder　and　once　on　my　left；　and　said　some　words；　and　when　I　got　up　he　said　I　was　a　knight。〃
　〃Hmpf。〃　The　man　Plummer　rubbed　his　nose。　〃Any　knight　can　make　a　knight；　it　is　true；　though　it　is　more　customary　to　stand　a　vigil　and　be　anointed　by　a　septon　before　taking　your　vows。　Were　there　any　witnesses　to　your　dubbing？〃
　〃Only　a　robin；　up　in　a　thorn　tree。　I　heard　it　as　the　old　man　was　saying　the　words。　He　charged　me　to　be　a　good　knight　and　true；　to　obey　the　seven　gods；　defend　the　weak　and　innocent；　serve　my　lord　faithfully　and　defend　the　realm　with　all　my　might；　and　I　swore　that　I　would。〃
　〃No　doubt。〃　Plummer　did　not　deign　to　call　him　ser；　Dunk　could　not　help　but　notice。　〃I　shall　need　to　consult　with　Lord　Ashford。　Will　you　or　your　late　master　be　known　to　any　of　the　good　knights　here　assembled？〃
　Dunk　thought　a　moment。　〃There　was　a　pavilion　flying　the　banner　of　House　Dondarrion？　The　black；　with　purple　lightning？〃
　〃That　would　be　Ser　Manfred；　of　that　House。〃
　〃Ser　Arlan　served　his　lord　father　in　Dorne；　three　years　past。　Ser　Manfred　might　remember　me。〃
　〃I　would　advise　you　to　speak　to　him。　If　he　will　vouch　for　you；　bring　him　here　with　you　on　the　morrow；　at　this　same　time。
　〃As　you　say；　m'lord。〃　He　started　for　the　door。
　〃Ser　Duncan；〃　the　steward　called　after　him。
　Dunk　turned　back。
　〃You　are　aware；〃　the　man　said；　〃that　those　vanquished　in　tourney　forfeit　their　arms；　armor；　and　horse　to　the　victors；　and　must　needs　ransom　them　back？〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃And　do　you　have　the　coin　to　pay　such　ransom？〃
　Now　he　knew　his　ears　were　red。　〃I　won't　have　need　of　coin；〃　he　said；　praying　it　was　true。　All　I　need　is　one　victory。　If　I　win　my　first　tilt；　I'll　have　the　loser's　armor　and　horse；　or　his　gold；　and　I　can　stand　a　loss　myself
　He　walked　slowly　down　the