grrm.astormofswords-第112节

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　more　merciful　than　fire；　but　I　don't　think　Garigus　much　appreciated　the　kindness　I　showed　him。〃
　The　water　had　grown　cool。　When　Jaime　opened　his　eyes；　he　found　himself　staring　at　the　stump　of　his　sword　hand。　The　hand　that　made　me　Kingslayer。　The　goat　had　robbed　him　of　his　glory　and　his　shame；　both　at　once。　Leaving　what？　Who　am　I　now？
　The　wench　looked　ridiculous；　clutching　her　towel　to　her　meager　teats　with　her　thick　white　legs　sticking　out　beneath。　〃Has　my　tale　turned　you　speechless？　e；　curse　me　or　kiss　me　or　call　me　a　liar。　Something。〃
　〃If　this　is　true；　how　is　it　no　one　knows？〃
　〃The　knights　of　the　Kingsguard　are　sworn　to　keep　the　king's　secrets。　Would　you　have　me　break　my　oath？〃　Jaime　laughed。　〃Do　you　think　the　noble　Lord　of　Winterfell　wanted　to　hear　my　feeble　explanations？　Such　an　honorable　man。　He　only　had　to　look　at　me　to　judge　me　guilty。〃　Jaime　lurched　to　his　feet；　the　water　running　cold　down　his　chest。　〃By　what　right　does　the　wolf　judge　the　lion？　By　what　right？〃　A　violent　shiver　took　him；　and　he　smashed　his　stump　against　the　rim　of　the　tub　as　he　tried　to　climb　out。
　Pain　shuddered　through　him　。　。　。　and　suddenly　the　bathhouse　was　spinning。　Brienne　caught　him　before　he　could　fall。　Her　arm　was　all　gooseflesh；　clammy　and　chilled；　but　she　was　strong；　and　gentler　than　he　would　have　thought。　Gentler　than　Cersei；　he　thought　as　she　helped　him　from　the　tub；　his　legs　wobbly　as　a　limp　cock。　〃Guards！〃　he　heard　the　wench　shout。　〃The　Kingslayer！〃
　Jaime；　he　thought；　my　name　is　Jaime。
　The　next　he　knew；　he　was　lying　on　the　damp　floor　with　the　guards　and　the　wench　and　Qybum　all　standing　over　him　looking　concerned。　Brienne　was　naked；　but　she　seemed　to　have　forgotten　that　for　the　moment。　〃The　heat　of　the　tubs　will　do　it；〃　Maester　Qyburn　was　telling　them。　No；　he's　not　a　maester；　they　took　his　chain。　〃There's　still　poison　in　his　blood　as　well；　and　he's　malnourished。　What　have　you　been　feeding　him？〃
　〃Worms　and　piss　and　grey　vomit；〃　offered　Jaime。
　〃Hardbread　and　water　and　oat　porridge；〃　insisted　the　guard。　〃He　don't　hardly　eat　it；　though。　What　should　we　do　with　him？〃
　〃Scrub　him　and　dress　him　and　carry　him　to　Kingspyre；　if　need　be；〃　Qyburn　said。　〃Lord　Bolton　insists　he　will　sup　with　him　tonight。　The　time　is　growing　short。〃
　〃Bring　me　clean　garb　for　him；〃　Brienne　said；　〃I'll　see　that　he's　washed　and　dressed。〃
　The　others　were　all　too　glad　to　give　her　the　task。　They　lifted　him　to　his　feet　and　sat　him　on　a　stone　bench　by　the　wall。　Brienne　went　away　to　retrieve　her　towel；　and　returned　with　a　stiff　brush　to　finish　scrubbing　him。　One　of　the　guards　gave　her　a　razor　to　trim　his　beard。　Qyburn　returned　with　roughspun　smallclothes；　clean　black　woolen　breeches；　a　loose　green　tunic；　and　a　leather　jerkin　that　laced　up　the　front。　Jaime　was　feeling　less　dizzy　by　then；　though　no　less　clumsy。　With　the　wench's　help　he　managed　to　dress　himself。　〃Now　all　I　need　is　a　silver　looking　glass。〃
　The　Bloody　Maester　had　brought　fresh　clothing　for　Brienne　as　well；　a　stained　pink　satin　gown　and　a　linen　undertunic。　〃I　am　sorry；　my　lady。　These　were　the　only　women's　garments　in　Harrenhal　large　enough　to　fit　YOU。〃
　It　was　obvious　at　once　that　the　gown　had　been　cut　for　someone　with　slimmer　arms；　shorter　legs；　and　much　fuller　breasts。　The　fine　Myrish　lace　did　little　to　conceal　the　bruising　that　mottled　Brienne's　skin。　All　in　all；　the　garb　made　the　wench　look　ludicrous。　She　has　thicker　shoulders　than　I　do；　and　a　bigger　neck；　Jaime　thought。　Small　wonder　she　prefers　to　dress　in　mail。　Pink　was　not　a　kind　color　for　her　either。　A　dozen　cruel　japes　leaped　into　his　head；　but　for　once　he　kept　them　there。　Best　not　to　make　her　angry；　he　was　no　match　for　her　one…handed。
　Qyburn　had　brought　a　flask　as　well。　〃What　is　it？〃　Jaime　demanded　when　the　chainless　maester　pressed　him　to　drink。
　〃Licorice　steeped　in　vinegar；　with　honey　and　cloves。　It　will　give　you　some　strength　and　clear　your　head。〃
　〃Bring　me　the　potion　that　grows　new　hands；〃　said　Jaime。　〃That's　the　one　I　want。〃
　〃Drink　it；〃　Brienne　said；　unsmiling；　and　he　did。
　It　was　half　an　hour　before　he　felt　strong　enough　to　stand。　After　the　dim　wet　warmth　of　the　bathhouse；　the　air　outside　was　a　slap　across　the　face。　〃M'lord　will　be　looking　for　him　by　now；〃　a　guard　told　Qyburn。　〃Her　too。　Do　I　need　to　carry　him？〃
　〃I　can　still　walk。　Brienne；　give　me　your　arm。〃
　Clutching　her；　Jaime　let　them　herd　him　across　the　yard　to　a　vast　draughty　hall；　larger　even　than　the　throne　room　in　King's　Landing。　Huge　hearths　lined　the　walls；　one　every　ten　feet　or　so；　more　than　he　could　count；　but　no　fires　had　been　lit；　so　the　chill　between　the　walls　went　bone…deep。　A　dozen　spearmen　in　fur　cloaks　guarded　the　doors　and　the　steps　that　led　up　to　the　two　galleries　above。　And　in　the　center　of　that　immense　emptiness；　at　a　trestle　table　surrounded　by　what　seemed　like　acres　of　smooth　slate　floor；　the　Lord　of　the　Dreadfort　waited；　attended　only　by　a　cupbearer。
　〃My　lord；〃　said　Brienne；　when　they　stood　before　him。
　Roose　Bolton's　eyes　were　paler　than　stone；　darker　than　milk；　and　his　voice　was　spider　soft。　〃I　am　pleased　that　you　are　strong　enough　to　attend　me；　ser。　My　lady；　do　be　seated。〃　He　gestured　at　the　spread　of　cheese；　bread；　cold　meat；　and　fruit　that　covered　the　table。　〃Will　you　drink　red　or　white？　Of　indifferent　vintage；　I　fear。　Ser　Amory　drained　Lady　Whent's　cellars　nearly　dry。〃
　〃I　trust　you　killed　him　for　it。〃　Jaime　slid　into　the　offered　seat　quickly；　so　Bolton　could　not　see　how　weak　he　was。　〃White　is　for　Starks。　I'll　drink　red　like　a　good　Lannister。〃
　〃I　would　prefer　water；〃　said　Brienne。
　〃Elmar；　the　red　for　Ser　Jaime；　water　for　the　Lady　Brienne；　and　hippocras　for　myself。〃　Bolton　waved　a　hand　at　their　escort；　dismissing　them；　and　the　men　beat　a　silent　retreat。
　Habit　made　Jaime　reach　for　his　wine　with　his　right　hand。　His　stump　rocked　the　goblet；　spattering　his　clean　linen　bandages　with　bright　red　spots　and　forcing　him　to　catch　the　cup　with　his　left　hand　before　it　fell；　but　Bolton　pretended　not　to　notice　his　clumsiness。　The　northman　helped　himself　to　a　prune　and　ate　it　with　small　sharp　bites。　〃Do　try　these；　Ser　Jaime。　They　are　most　sweet；　and　help　move　the　bowels　as　well。　Lord　Vargo　took　them　from　an　inn　before　he　burnt　it。〃
　〃My　bowels　move　fine；　that　goat's　no　lord；　and　your　prunes　don't　interest　me　half　so　much　as　your　intentions。〃
　〃Regarding　you？〃　A　faint　smile　touched　Roose　Bolton's　lips。　〃You　are　a　perilous　prize；　ser。　You　sow　dissension　wherever　you　go。　Even　here；　in　my　happy　house　of　Harrenhal。〃　His　voice　was　a　whisker　above　a　whisper。　〃And　in　Riverrun　as　well；　it　seems。　Do　you　know；　Edmure　Tully　has　offered　a　thousand　golden　dragons　for　your　recapture？〃
　Is　that　all？　〃My　sister　will　pay　ten　times　as　much。〃
　〃Will　she？〃　That　smile　again；　there　for　an　instant；　gone　as　quick。　〃Ten　thousand　dragons　is　a　formidable　sum。　Of　course；　there　is　Lord　Karstark's　offer　to　consider　as　well。　He　promises　the　hand　of　his　daughter　to　the　man　who　brings　him　your　head。〃
　〃Leave　it　to　your　goat　to　get　it　backward；〃　said　Jaime。
　Bolton　gave　a　soft　chuckle。　〃Harrion　Karstark　was　captive　here　when　we　took　the　castle；　did　you　know？　I　gave　him　all　the　Karhold　men　still　with　me　and　sent　him　off　with　Glover。　I　do　hope　nothing　ill　befell　him　at　Duskendale　。　。　。　else　Alys　Karstark　would　be　all　that　remains　of　Lord　Rickard's　progeny。〃　He　chose　another　prune。　〃Fortunately　for　you；　I　have　no　need　of　a　wife。　I　wed　the　Lady　Walda　Frey　whilst　I　was　at　the　Twins。〃
　〃Fair　Walda？　〃　Awkwardly；　Jaime　tried　to　hold　the　bread　with　his　stump　while　tearing　it　with　his　left　hand。
　〃Fat　Walda。　My　lord　of　Frey　offered　me　my　bride's　weight　in　silver　for　a　dowry；　so　I　chose　accordingly。　Elmar；　break　off　some　bread　for　Ser　Jaime。〃
　The　boy　tore　a　fist…sized　chunk　off　one　end　of　the　loaf　and　handed　it　to　Jaime。　Brienne　tore　her　own　bread。　〃Lord　Bolton；〃　she　asked；　〃it's　said　you　mean　to　give　Harrenhal　to　Vargo　Hoat。〃
　〃That　was　his　price；〃　Lord　Bolton　said。　〃The　Lannisters　are　not　the　only　men　who　pay　their　debts。　I　must　take　my　leave　soon　in　any　case。　Edmure　Tully　is　to　wed　the　Lady　Roslin　Frey　at　the　Twins；　and　my　king　mands　my　attendance。〃
　〃Edmure　weds？〃　said　Jaime。　〃Not　Robb　Stark？〃
　〃His　Grace　King　Robb　is　wed。〃　Bolton　spit　a　prune　pit　into　his　hand　and　put　it　aside。　〃To　a　Westerling　of　the　Crag。　I　am　told　her　name　is　Jeyne。　No　doubt　you　know　her；　ser。　Her　father　is　your　father's　bannerman。〃
　〃My　father　has　a　good　many　bannermen；　and　most　of　them　have　daughters。〃　Jaime　groped　one…handed　for　his　goblet；　trying　to　recall　this　Jeyne。　The　Westerlings　were　an　old　house；　with　more　pride　than　power。
　〃This　cannot　be　true；〃　Brienne　said　stubbornly。　〃King　Robb　was　sworn　to　wed　a　Frey。　He　would　never　break　faith；　he…〃
　〃His　Grace　is　a　boy　of　sixteen；〃　said　Roose　Bolton　mildly。　〃And　I　would　thank　you　not　to　question　my　word；　my　lady。〃
　Jaime　felt　almost　sorry　for　Robb　Stark。　He　won　the　war　on　the　battlefield　and　lost　it　in　a　bedchamber；　poor　fool。　〃How　does　Lord　Walder　relish　dining　on　trout　in　place　of　wolf？〃　he　asked。
　〃Oh；　trout　makes　for　a　tasty　supper。〃　Bolton　lifted　a　pale　finger　toward　his　cupbearer。　〃Though　my　poor　Elmar　is　bereft。　He　was　to　wed　Arya　Stark；　but　my　good　father　of　Frey　had　no　choice　but　to　break　the　betrothal　whe