grrm.astormofswords-第133节

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st　to　share；　Shagwell？　To　lighten　my　way　down　the　road？　And　Rorge；　did　you　e　to　kiss　me　goodbye？〃
　〃Bugger　off；　cripple；〃　said　Rorge。
　〃If　you　insist。　Rest　assured；　though；　I　will　be　back。　A　Lannister　always　pays　his　debts。〃　Jaime　wheeled　his　horse　around　and　rejoined　Steelshanks　Walton　and　his　two　hundred。
　Lord　Bolton　had　accoutred　him　as　a　knight；　preferring　to　ignore　the　missing　hand　that　made　such　warlike　garb　a　travesty。　Jaime　rode　with　sword　and　dagger　on　his　belt；　shield　and　helm　hung　from　his　saddle；　chainmail　under　a　dark　brown　surcoat。　He　was　not　such　a　fool　as　to　show　the　lion　of　Lannister　on　his　arms；　though；　nor　the　plain　white　blazon　that　was　his　right　as　a　Sworn　Brother　of　the　Kingsguard。　He　found　an　old　shield　in　the　armory；　battered　and　splintered；　the　chipped　paint　still　showing　most　of　the　great　black　bat　of　House　Lothston　upon　a　field　of　silver　and　gold。　The　Lothstons　held　Harrenhal　before　the　Whents　and　had　been　a　powerful　family　in　their　day；　but　they　had　died　out　ages　ago；　so　no　one　was　likely　to　object　to　him　bearing　their　arms。　He　would　be　no　one's　cousin；　no　one's　enemy；　no　one's　sworn　sword　。　。　。　in　sum；　no　one。
　They　left　through　Harrenhal's　smaller　eastern　gate；　and　took　their　leave　of　Roose　Bolton　and　his　host　six　miles　farther　on；　turning　south　to　follow　along　the　lake　road　for　a　time。　Walton　meant　to　avoid　the　kingsroad　as　long　as　he　could；　preferring　the　farmer's　tracks　and　game　trails　near　the　Gods　Eye。
　〃The　kingsroad　would　be　faster。〃　Jaime　was　anxious　to　return　to　Cersei　as　quickly　as　he　could。　if　they　made　haste；　he　might　even　arrive　in　time　for　Joffrey's　wedding。
　〃I　want　no　trouble；〃　said　Steelshanks。　〃Gods　know　who　we'd　meet　along　that　kingsroad。〃
　〃No　one　you　need　fear；　surely？　You　have　two　hundred　men。〃
　〃Aye。　But　others　might　have　more。　M'lord　said　to　bring　you　safe　to　your　lord　father；　and　that's　what　I　mean　to　do。〃
　I　have　e　this　way　before；　Jaime　reflected　a　few　miles　further　on；　when　they　passed　a　deserted　mill　beside　the　lake。　Weeds　now　grew　where　once　the　miller's　daughter　had　smiled　shyly　at　him；　and　the　miller　himself　had　shouted　out；　〃The　tourney's　back　the　other　way；　ser。〃　As　if　I　had　not　known。
　King　Aerys　made　a　great　show　of　Jaime's　investiture。　He　said　his　vows　before　the　king's　pavilion；　kneeling　on　the　green　grass　in　white　armor　while　half　the　realm　looked　on。　When　Ser　Gerold　Hightower　raised　him　up　and　put　the　white　cloak　about　his　shoulders；　a　roar　went　up　that　Jaime　still　remembered；　all　these　years　later。　But　that　very　night　Aerys　had　turned　sour；　declaring　that　he　had　no　need　of　seven　Kingsguard　here　at　Harrenhal。　Jaime　was　manded　to　return　to　King's　Landing　to　guard　the　queen　and　little　Prince　Viserys；　who'd　remained　behind。　Even　when　the　White　Bull　offered　to　take　that　duty　himself；　so　Jaime　might　pete　in　Lord　Whent's　tourney；　Aerys　had　refused。　〃He'll　win　no　glory　here；〃　the　king　had　said。　〃He's　mine　now；　not　Tywin's。　He'll　serve　as　I　see　fit。　I　am　the　king。　I　rule；　and　he'll　obey。〃
　That　was　the　first　time　that　Jaime　understood。　It　was　not　his　skill　with　sword　and　lance　that　had　won　him　his　white　cloak；　nor　any　feats　of　valor　he'd　performed　against　the　Kingswood　Brotherhood。　Aerys　had　chosen　him　to　spite　his　father；　to　rob　Lord　Tywin　of　his　heir。
　Even　now；　all　these　years　later；　the　thought　was　bitter。　And　that　day；　as　he'd　ridden　south　in　his　new　white　cloak　to　guard　an　empty　castle；　it　had　been　almost　too　much　to　stomach。　He　would　have　ripped　the　cloak　off　then　and　there　if　he　could　have；　but　it　was　too　late。　He　had　said　the　words　whilst　half　the　realm　looked　on；　and　a　Kingsguard　served　for　life。
　Qyburn　fell　in　beside　him。　〃Is　your　hand　troubling　you？〃
　〃The　lack　of　my　hand　is　troubling　me。　〃　The　mornings　were　the　hardest。　In　his　dreams　Jaime　was　a　whole　man；　and　each　dawn　he　would　lie　half…awake　and　feel　his　fingers　move。　It　was　a　nightmare；　some　part　of　him　would　whisper；　refusing　to　believe　even　now；　only　a　nightmare。　But　then　he　would　open　his　eyes。
　〃I　understand　you　had　a　visitor　last　night；〃　said　Qyburn。　〃I　trust　that　you　enjoyed　her？〃
　Jaime　gave　him　a　cool　look。　〃She　did　not　say　who　sent　her。〃
　The　maester　smiled　modestly。　〃Your　fever　was　largely　gone；　and　I　thought　you　might　enjoy　a　bit　of　exercise。　Pia　is　quite　skilled；　would　you　not　agree？　And　so　。　。　。　willing。〃
　She　had　been　that；　certainly。　She　had　slipped　in　his　door　and　out　of　her　clothes　so　quickly　that　Jaime　had　thought　he　was　still　dreaming。
　It　hadn't　been　until　the　woman　slid　in　under　his　blankets　and　put　his　good　hand　on　her　breast　that　he　roused。　She　was　a　pretty　little　thing；　too。　〃I　was　a　slip　of　a　girl　when　you　came　for　Lord　Whent's　tourney　and　the　king　gave　you　your　cloak；〃　she　confessed。　〃You　were　so　handsome　all　in　white；　and　everyone　said　what　a　brave　knight　you　were。　Sometimes　when　I'm　with　some　man；　I　close　my　eyes　and　pretend　it's　you　on　top　of　me；　with　your　smooth　skin　and　gold　curls。　I　never　truly　thought　I'd　have　you；　though。〃
　Sending　her　away　had　not　been　easy　after　that；　but　Jaime　had　done　it　all　the　same。　I　have　a　woman；　he　reminded　himself。　〃Do　you　send　girls　to　everyone　you　leech？〃　he　asked　Qyburn。
　〃More　often　Lord　Vargo　sends　them　to　me。　He　likes　me　to　examine　them；　before　。　。　。　well；　suffice　it　to　say　that　once　he　loved　unwisely；　and　he　has　no　wish　to　do　so　again。　But　have　no　fear；　Pia　is　quite　healthy。　As　is　your　maid　of　Tarth。〃
　Jaime　gave　him　a　sharp　look。　〃Brienne？〃
　〃Yes。　A　strong　girl；　that　one。　And　her　maidenhead　is　still　intact。　As　of　last　night；　at　least。〃　Qyburn　gave　a　chuckle。
　〃He　sent　you　to　examine　her？〃
　〃To　be　sure。　He　is　。　。　。　fastidious；　shall　we　say？〃
　〃Does　this　concern　the　ransom？〃　Jaime　asked。　〃Does　her　father　require　proof　she　is　still　maiden？〃
　〃You　have　not　heard？〃　Qyburn　gave　a　shrug。　〃We　had　a　bird　from　Lord　Selwyn。　In　answer　to　mine。　The　Evenstar　offers　three　hundred　dragons　for　his　daughter's　safe　return。　I　had　told　Lord　Vargo　there　were　no　sapphires　on　Tarth；　but　he　will　not　listen。　He　is　convinced　the　Evenstar　intends　to　cheat　him。〃
　〃Three　hundred　dragons　is　a　fair　ransom　for　a　knight。　The　goat　should　take　what　he　can　get。〃
　〃The　goat　is　Lord　of　Harrenhal；　and　the　Lord　of　Harrenhal　does　not　haggle。〃
　The　news　irritated　him；　though　he　supposed　he　should　have　seen　it　ing。　The　lie　spared　you　awhile；　wench。　Be　grateful　for　that　much。　〃If　her　maidenhead's　as　hard　as　the　rest　of　her；　the　goat　will　break　his　cock　off　trying　to　get　in；〃　he　jested。　Brienne　was　tough　enough　to　survive　a　few　rapes；　Jaime　judged；　though　if　she　resisted　too　vigorously　Vargo　Hoat　might　start　lopping　off　her　hands　and　feet。　And　if　he　does；　why　should　I　care？　I　might　still　have　a　hand　if　she　had　let　me　have　my　cousin's　sword　without　getting　stupid。　He　had　almost　taken　off　her　leg　himself　with　that　first　stroke　of　his；　but　after　that　she　had　given　him　more　than　he　wanted。　Hoat　may　not　know　how　freakish　strong　she　is。　He　had　best　be　careful；　or　she'll　snap　that　skinny　neck　of　his；　and　wouldn't　that　be　sweet？
　Qybum's　panionship　was　wearing　on　him。　Jaime　trotted　toward　the　head　of　the　column。　A　round　little　tick　of　a　northman　name　of　Nage　went　before　Steelshanks　with　the　peace　banner；　a　rainbow…striped　flag　with　seven　long　tails；　on　a　staff　topped　by　a　seven…pointed　star。　〃Shouldn't　you　northmen　have　a　different　sort　of　peace　banner？〃　he　asked　Walton。　〃What　are　the　Seven　to　you？〃
　〃Southron　gods；〃　the　man　said；　〃but　it's　a　southron　peace　we　need；　to　get　you　safe　to　your　father。〃
　My　father。　Jaime　wondered　whether　Lord　Tywin　had　received　the　goat's　demand　for　ransom；　with　or　without　his　rotted　hand。　What　is　a　swordsman　worth　without　his　sword　hand？　Half　the　gold　in　Casterly　Rock？
　Three　hundred　dragons？　Or　nothing？　His　father　had　never　been　unduly　swayed　by　sentiment。　Tywin　Lannister's　own　father　Lord　Tytos　had　once　imprisoned　an　unruly　bannerman；　Lord　Tarbeck。　The　redoubtable　Lady　Tarbeck　responded　by　capturing　three　Lannisters；　including　young　Stafford；　whose　sister　was　betrothed　to　cousin　Tywin。　〃Send　back　my　lord　and　love；　or　these　three　shall　answer　for　any　harm　that　es　him；〃　she　had　written　to　Casterly　Rock。　Young　Tywin　suggested　his　father　oblige　by　sending　back　Lord　Tarbeck　in　three　pieces。　Lord　Tytos　was　a　gentler　sort　of　lion；　however；　so　Lady　Tarbeck　won　a　few　more　years　for　her　muttonheaded　lord；　and　Stafford　wed　and　bred　and　blundered　on　till　Oxcross。　But　Tywin　Lannister　endured；　eternal　as　Casterly　Rock。　And　now　you　have　a　cripple　for　a　son　as　well　as　a　dwarf；　my　lord。　How　you　will　hate　that　。　。　。
　The　road　led　them　through　a　burned　village。　It　must　have　been　a　year　or　more　since　the　place　had　been　put　to　torch。　The　hovels　stood　blackened　and　roofless；　but　weeds　were　growing　waist　high　in　all　the　surrounding　fields。　Steelshanks　called　a　halt　to　allow　them　to　water　the　horses。　I　know　this　place　too；　Jaime　thought　as　he　waited　by　the　well。　There　had　been　a　small　inn　where　only　a　few　foundation　stones　and　a　chimney　now　stood；　and　he　had　gone　in　for　a　cup　of　ale。　A　dark…eyed　serving　wench　brought　him　cheese　and　apples；　but　the　innkeep　had　refused　his　coin。　〃It's　an　honor　to　have　a　knight　of　the　Kingsguard　under　my　roof；　ser；〃　the　man　had　said。　〃It's　a　tale　I'll　tell　my　grandchildren。〃　Jaime　looked