grrm.thehedgeknight-第5节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


the　loser's　armor　and　horse；　or　his　gold；　and　I　can　stand　a　loss　myself
　He　walked　slowly　down　the　steps；　reluctant　to　get　on　with　what　he　must　do　next。　In　the　yard；　he　collared　one　of　the　stableboys。　〃I　must　speak　with　Lord　Ashford's　master　of　horse。〃
　〃I'll　find　him　for　you。〃
　It　was　cool　and　dim　in　the　stables。　An　unruly　grey　stallion　snapped　at　him　as　he　passed；　but　Sweetfoot　only　whickered　softly　and　nuzzled　his　hand　when　he　raised　it　to　her　nose。　〃You're　a　good　girl；　aren't　you？〃　he　murmured。　The　old　man　always　said　that　a　knight　should　never　love　a　horse；　since　more　than　a　few　were　like　to　die　under　him；　but　he　never　heeded　his　own　counsel　either。　Dunk　had　often　seen　him　spend　his　last　copper　on　an　apple　for　old　Chestnut　or　some　oats　for　Sweetfoot　and　Thunder。　The　palfrey　had　been　Ser　Arlan's　riding　horse；　and　she　had　borne　him　tirelessly　over　thousands　of　miles；　all　up　and　down　the　Seven　Kingdoms。　Dunk　felt　as　though　he　were　betraying　an　old　friend；　but　what　choice　did　he　have？　Chestnut　was　too　old　to　be　worth　much　of　anything；　and　Thunder　must　carry　him　in　the　lists。
　Some　time　passed　before　the　master　of　horse　deigned　to　appear。　As　he　waited；　Dunk　heard　a　blare　of　trumpets　from　the　walls；　and　a　voice　in　the　yard。　Curious；　he　led　Sweetfoot　to　the　stable　door　to　see　what　was　happening。　A　large　party　of　knights　and　mounted　archers　poured　through　the　gates；　a　hundred　men　at　least；　riding　some　of　the　most　splendid　horses　that　Dunk　had　ever　seen。　Some　great　lord　has　e。　He　grabbed　the　arm　of　a　stableboy　as　he　ran　past。　〃Who　are　they？〃
　The　boy　looked　at　him　queerly。　〃Can't　you　see　the　banners？〃　He　wrenched　free　and　hurried　off。
　The　banners。。。　As　Dunk　turned　his　head；　a　gust　of　wind　lifted　the　black　silk　pennon　atop　the　tall　staff；　and　the　fierce　three…headed　dragon　of　House　Targaryen　seemed　to　spread　its　wings；　breathing　scarlet　fire。　The　banner…bearer　was　a　tall　knight　in　white　scale　armor　chased　with　gold；　a　pure　white　cloak　streaming　from　his　shoulders。　Two　of　the　other　riders　were　armored　in　white　from　head　to　heel　as　well。　Kingsguard　knights　with　the　royal　banner。　Small　wonder　Lord　Ashford　and　his　sons　came　hurrying　out　the　doors　of　the　keep；　and　the　fair　maid　too；　a　short　girl　with　yellow　hair　and　a　round　pink　face。　She　does　not　seem　so　fair　to　me；　Dunk　thought。　The　puppet　girl　was　prettier。
　〃Boy；　let　go　of　that　nag　and　see　to　my　horse。〃
　A　rider　had　dismounted　in　front　of　the　stables。　He　is　talking　to　me；　Dunk　realized。　〃I　am　not　a　stableboy；　m'lord。〃
　〃Not　clever　enough？〃　The　speaker　wore　a　black　cloak　bordered　in　scarlet　satin；　but　underneath　was　raiment　bright　as　flame；　all　reds　and　yellows　and　golds。　Slim　and　straight　as　a　dirk；　though　only　of　middling　height；　he　was　near　Dunk's　own　age。　Curls　of　silver…gold　hair　framed　a　face　sculpted　and　imperious；　high　brow　and　sharp　cheekbones；　straight　nose；　pale　smooth　skin　without　blemish。　His　eyes　were　a　deep　violet　color。　〃If　you　cannot　manage　a　horse；　fetch　me　some　wine　and　a　pretty　wench。〃
　〃I。　。　。　m'lord；　pardons；　I'm　no　serving　man　either。　I　have　the　honor　to　be　a　knight。〃
　〃Knighthood　has　fallen　on　sad　days；〃　said　the　princeling；　but　then　one　of　the　stableboys　came　rushing　up；　and　he　turned　away　to　hand　him　the　reins　of　his　palfrey；　a　splendid　blood　bay。　Dunk　was　forgotten　in　an　instant。　Relieved；　he　slunk　back　inside　the　stables　to　wait　for　the　master　of　horse。　He　felt　ill…at…ease　enough　around　the　lords　in　their　pavilions；　he　had　no　business　speaking　to　princes。
　That　the　beautiful　stripling　was　a　prince　he　had　no　doubt。　The　Targaryens　were　the　blood　of　lost　Valyria　across　the　seas；　and　their　silver…gold　hair　and　violet　eyes　set　them　apart　from　mon　men。　Dunk　knew　Prince　Baelor　was　older；　but　the　youth　might　well　have　been　one　of　his　sons：　Valarr；　who　was　often　called　〃the　Young　Prince〃　to　set　him　apart　from　his　father；　or　Matarys；　〃the　Even　Younger　Prince；〃　as　old　Lord　Swann's　fool　had　named　him　once。　There　were　other　princelings　as　well；　cousins　to　Valarr　and　Matarys。　Good　King　Daeron　had　four　grown　sons；　three　with　sons　of　their　own。　The　line　of　the　dragonkings　had　almost　died　out　during　his　father's　day；　but　it　was　monly　said　that　Daeron　II　and　his　sons　had　left　it　secure　for　all　time。
　〃You。　Man。　You　asked　for　me。〃　Lord　Ashford's　master　of　horse　had　a　red　face　made　redder　by　his　orange　livery；　and　a　brusque　manner　of　speaking。　〃What　is　it？　I　have　no　time　for…〃
　〃I　want　to　sell　this　palfrey；〃　Dunk　broke　in　quickly；　before　the　man　could　dismiss　him。　〃She's　a　good　horse；　sure　of　foot…〃
　〃I　have　no　time；　I　tell　you。〃　The　man　gave　Sweetfoot　no　more　than　a　glance。　〃My　lord　of　Ashford　has　no　need　of　such。　Take　her　to　the　town；　perhaps　Henly　will　give　you　a　silver　or　three。〃　That　quick；　he　was　turning　away。
　〃Thank　you；　m'lord；〃　Dunk　said　before　he　could　go。　〃M'lord；　has　the　king　e？〃
　The　master　of　horse　laughed　at　him。　〃No；　thank　the　gods。　This　infestation　of　princes　is　trial　enough。　Where　am　I　going　to　find　the　stalls　for　all　these　animals？　And　fodder？〃　He　strode　off　shouting　at　his　stableboys。
　By　the　time　Dunk　left　the　stable；　Lord　Ashford　had　escorted　his　princely　guests　into　the　hail；　but　two　of　the　Kingsguard　knights　in　their　white　armor　and　snowy　cloaks　still　lingered　in　the　yard；　talking　with　the　captain　of　the　guard。　Dunk　halted　before　them。　〃M'lords；　I　am　Ser　Duncan　the　Tall。〃
　〃Well　met；　Ser　Duncan；〃　answered　the　bigger　of　the　white　knights。　〃I　am　Ser　Roland　Crakehall；　and　this　is　my　Sworn　Brother；　Ser　Donnel　of　Duskendale。〃
　The　seven　champions　of　the　Kingsguard　were　the　most　puissant　warriors　in　all　the　Seven　Kingdoms；　saving　only　perhaps　the　crown　prince；　Baelor　Breakspear　himself。　〃Have　you　e　to　enter　the　lists？〃　Dunk　asked　anxiously。
　〃It　would　not　be　fitting　for　us　to　ride　against　those　we　are　sworn　to　protect；〃　answered　Ser　Donnel；　red　of　hair　and　beard。
　〃Prince　Valarr　has　the　honor　to　be　one　of　Lady　Ashford's　champions；〃　explained　Ser　Roland；　〃and　two　of　his　cousins　mean　to　challenge。　The　rest　of　us　have　e　only　to　watch。〃
　Relieved；　Dunk　thanked　the　white　knights　for　their　kindness；　and　rode　out　through　the　castle　gates　before　another　prince　should　think　to　accost　him。　Three　princelings；　he　pondered　as　he　turned　the　palfrey　toward　the　streets　of　Ashford　town。　Valarr　was　the　eldest　son　of　Prince　Baelor；　second　in　line　to　the　Iron　Throne；　but　Dunk　did　not　know　how　much　of　his　father's　fabled　prowess　with　lance　and　sword　he　might　have　inherited。　About　the　other　Targaryen　princes　he　knew　even　less。　What　will　I　do　if　I　have　to　ride　against　a　prince？　Will　I　even　be　allowed　to　challenge　one　so　highborn？　He　did　not　know　the　answer。　The　old　man　had　often　said　he　was　thick　as　a　castle　wall；　and　just　now　he　felt　it。
　
　*　*　*
　
　Henly　liked　the　look　of　Sweetfoot　well　enough　until　he　heard　Dunk　wanted　to　sell　her。　Then　all　the　stableman　could　see　in　her　were　faults。　He　offered　three　hundred　silvers。　Dunk　said　he　must　have　three　thousand。　After　much　arguing　and　cursing；　they　settled　at　seven　hundred　fifty　silver　stags。　That　was　a　deal　closer　to　Henly's　starting　price　than　to　Dunk's；　which　made　him　feel　the　loser　in　the　tilt；　but　the　stableman　would　go　no　higher；　so　in　the　end　he　had　no　choice　but　to　yield。　A　second　argument　began　when　Dunk　declared　that　the　price　did　not　include　the　saddle；　and　Henly　insisted　that　it　had。
　Finally　it　was　all　settled。　As　Henly　left　to　fetch　his　coin；　Dunk　stroked　Sweetfoot's　mane　and　told　her　to　be　brave。　〃If　I　win；　I'll　e　back　and　buy　you　again；　I　promise。〃　He　had　no　doubt　that　all　the　palfrey's　flaws　would　vanish　in　the　intervening　days；　and　she　would　be　worth　twice　what　she　was　today。
　The　stableman　gave　him　three　gold　pieces　and　the　rest　in　silver。　Dunk　bit　one　of　the　gold　coins　and　smiled。　He　had　never　tasted　gold　before；　nor　handled　it。　〃Dragons；〃　men　called　the　coins；　since　they　were　stamped　with　the　three…headed　dragon　of　House　Targaryen　on　one　side。　The　other　bore　the　likeness　of　the　king。　Two　of　the　coins　Henly　gave　him　had　King　Daeron's　face；　the　third　was　older；　well　worn；　and　showed　a　different　man。　His　name　was　there　under　his　head；　but　Dunk　could　not　read　the　letters。　Gold　had　been　shaved　off　its　edges　too；　he　saw。　He　pointed　this　out　to　Henly；　and　loudly。　The　stableman　grumbled；　but　handed　over　another　few　silvers　and　a　fistful　of　coppers　to　make　up　the　weight。　Dunk　handed　a　few　of　the　coppers　right　back；　and　nodded　at　Sweetfoot。　〃That's　for　her；〃　he　said。　〃See　that　she　has　some　Oats　tonight。　Aye；　and　an　apple　too。〃
　With　the　shield　on　his　arm　and　the　sack　of　old　armor　slung　over　his　shoulder；　Dunk　set　out　on　foot　through　the　sunny　streets　of　Ashford　town。　The　heft　of　all　that　coin　in　his　pouch　made　him　feel　queer；　almost　giddy　on　one　hand；　and　anxious　on　the　other。　The　old　man　had　never　trusted　him　with　more　than　a　coin　or　two　at　a　time。　He　could　live　a　year　on　this　much　money。　And　what　will　I　do　when　it's　gone；　sell　Thunder？　That　road　ended　in　beggary　or　outlawry。　This　chance　will　never　e　again；　I　must　risk　all。
　By　the　time　he　splashed　back　across　the　ford　to　the　south　bank　of　the　Cockleswent；　the　morning　was　almost　done　and　the　tourney　grounds　had　e　to　life　once　more。　The　winesellers　and　sausage　makers　were　doing　a　brisk　trade；　a　dancing　bear　was　shuffling　a