grrm.astormofswords-第147节

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　〃He　might　still　be　alive；〃　said　Pyp。　〃He　might　surprise　us　all　and　e　riding　up　tomorrow。〃
　〃With　Mance　Rayder's　head；　aye。〃　Grenn　was　trying　to　sound　cheerful；　Jon　could　tell。　〃Sam　the　Slayer！〃
　Jon　tried　to　sit　again。　It　was　as　much　a　mistake　as　the　first　time。　He　cried　out；　cursing。
　〃Grenn；　go　wake　Maester　Aemon；〃　said　Pyp。　〃Tell　him　Jon　needs　more　milk　of　the　poppy。〃
　Yes；　Jon　thought。　〃No；〃　he　said。　〃The　Magnar　。　。　。〃
　〃We　know；〃　said　Pyp。　〃The　sentries　on　the　Wall　have　been　told　to　keep　one　eye　on　the　south；　and　Donal　Noye　dispatched　some　men　to　Weatherback　Ridge　to　watch　the　kingsroad。　Maester　Aemon's　sent　birds　to　Eastwatch　and　the　Shadow　Tower　too。〃
　Maester　Aemon　shuffled　to　the　bedside；　one　hand　on　Grenn's　shoulder。　〃Jon；　be　gentle　with　yourself。　It　is　good　that　you　have　woken；　but　you　must　give　yourself　time　to　heal。　We　drowned　the　wound　with　boiling　wine；　and　closed　you　up　with　a　poultice　of　nettle；　mustard　seed　and　moldy　bread；　but　unless　you　rest　。　。　。〃
　〃I　can't。〃　Jon　fought　through　the　pain　to　sit。　〃Mance　will　be　here　soon　。　。　。　thousands　of　men；　giants；　mammoths　。　。　。　has　word　been　sent　to　Winterfell？　To　the　king？〃　Sweat　dripped　off　his　brow。　He　closed　his　eyes　a　moment。
　Grenn　gave　Pyp　a　strange　look。　〃He　doesn't　know。〃
　〃Jon；〃　said　Maester　Aemon；　〃much　and　more　happened　while　you　were　away；　and　little　of　it　good。　Balon　Greyjoy　has　crowned　himself　again　and　sent　his　longships　against　the　north。　Kings　sprout　like　weeds　at　every　hand　and　we　have　sent　appeals　to　all　of　them；　yet　none　will　e。　They　have　more　pressing　uses　for　their　swords；　and　we　are　far　off　and　forgotten。　And　Winterfell　。　。　。　Jon；　be　strong　。　。　。　Winterfell　is　no　more　。　。　。〃
　〃No　more？〃　Jon　stared　at　Aemon's　white　eyes　and　wrinkled　face。　〃My　brothers　are　at　Winterfell。　Bran　and　Rickon　。　。　。〃
　The　maester　touched　his　brow。　〃I　am　so　very　sorry；　Jon。　Your　brothers　died　at　the　mand　of　Theon　Greyjoy；　after　he　took　Winterfell　in　his　father's　name。　When　your　father's　bannermen　threatened　to　retake　it；　he　put　the　castle　to　the　torch。〃
　〃Your　brothers　were　avenged；〃　Grenn　said。　〃Bolton's　son　killed　all　the　ironmen；　and　it's　said　he's　flaying　Theon　Greyjoy　inch　by　inch　for　what　he　did。〃
　〃I'm　sorry；　Jon。〃　Pyp　squeezed　his　shoulder。　〃We　are　all。〃
　Jon　had　never　liked　Theon　Greyjoy；　but　he　had　been　their　father's　ward。　Another　spasm　of　pain　twisted　up　his　leg；　and　the　next　he　knew　he　was　flat　on　his　back　again。　〃There's　some　mistake；〃　he　insisted。　〃At　Queenscrown　I　saw　a　direwolf；　a　grey　direwolf　。　。　。　grey。。　。　it　knew　me。〃　If　Bran　was　dead；　could　some　part　of　him　live　on　in　his　wolf；　as　Orell　lived　within　his　eagle？
　〃Drink　this。〃　Grenn　held　a　cup　to　his　lips。　Jon　drank。　His　head　was　full　of　wolves　and　eagles；　the　sound　of　his　brothers'　laughter。　The　faces　above　him　began　to　blur　and　fade。　They　can't　be　dead。　Theon　would　never　do　that。　And　Winterfell　。　。　。　grey　granite；　oak　andiron；　crows　wheeling　around　the　towers；　steam　rising　off　the　hot　pools　in　the　godswood；　the　stone　kings　sitting　on　their　thrones　。　。　。　how　could　Winterfell　be　gone？
　When　the　dreams　took　him；　he　found　himself　back　home　once　more；　splashing　in　the　hot　pools　beneath　a　huge　white　weirwood　that　had　his　father's　face。　Ygritte　was　with　him；　laughing　at　him；　shedding　her　skins　till　she　was　naked　as　her　name　day；　trying　to　kiss　him；　but　he　couldn't；　not　with　his　father　watching。　He　was　the　blood　of　Winterfell；　a　man　of　the　Night's　Watch。　I　will　not　father　a　bastard；　he　told　her。　I　will　not。　I　will　not。　〃You　know　nothing；　Jon　Snow；〃　she　whispered；　her　skin　dissolving　in　the　hot　water；　the　flesh　beneath　sloughing　off　her　bones　until　only　skull　and　skeleton　remained；　and　the　pool　bubbled　thick　and　red。
　
　CHAPTER　49
　CATELYN
　
　They　heard　the　Green　Fork　before　they　saw　it；　an　endless　susurrus；　like　the　growl　of　some　great　beast。　The　river　was　a　boiling　torrent；　half　again　as　wide　as　it　had　been　last　year；　when　Robb　had　divided　his　army　here　and　vowed　to　take　a　Frey　to　bride　as　the　price　of　his　crossing。　He　needed　Lord　Walder　and　his　bridge　then；　and　he　needs　them　even　more　now。　Catelyn's　heart　was　full　of　misgivings　as　she　watched　the　murky　green　waters　swirl　past。　There　is　no　way　we　will　ford　this；　nor　swim　across；　and　it　could　be　a　moon's　turn　before　these　waters　fall　again。
　As　they　neared　the　Twins；　Robb　donned　his　crown　and　summoned　Catelyn　and　Edmure　to　ride　beside　him。　Ser　Raynald　Westerling　bore　his　banner；　the　direwolf　of　Stark　on　its　ice…white　field。
　The　gatehouse　towers　emerged　from　the　rain　like　ghosts；　hazy　grey　apparitions　that　grew　more　solid　the　closer　they　rode。　The　Frey　stronghold　was　not　one　castle　but　two；　mirror　images　in　wet　stone　standing　on　opposite　sides　of　the　water；　linked　by　a　great　arched　bridge。　From　the　center　of　its　span　rose　the　Water　Tower；　the　river　running　straight　and　swift　below。　Channels　had　been　cut　from　the　banks；　to　form　moats　that　made　each　twin　an　island。　The　rains　had　turned　the　moats　to　shallow　lakes。
　Across　the　turbulent　waters；　Catelyn　could　see　several　thousand　men　encamped　around　the　eastern　castle；　their　banners　hanging　like　so　many　drowned　cats　from　the　lances　outside　their　tents。　The　rain　made　it　impossible　to　distinguish　colors　and　devices。　Most　were　grey；　it　seemed　to　her；　though　beneath　such　skies　the　whole　world　seemed　grey。
　〃Tread　lightly　here；　Robb；〃　she　cautioned　her　son。　〃Lord　Walder　has　a　thin　skin　and　a　sharp　tongue；　and　some　of　these　sons　of　his　will　doubtless　take　after　their　father。　You　must　not　let　yourself　be　provoked。〃
　〃I　know　the　Freys；　Mother。　I　know　how　much　I　wronged　them；　and　how　much　I　need　them。　I　shall　be　as　sweet　as　a　septon。〃
　Catelyn　shifted　her　seat　unfortably。　〃If　we　are　offered　refreshment　when　we　arrive；　on　no　account　refuse。　Take　what　is　offered；　and　eat　and　drink　where　all　can　see。　If　nothing　is　offered；　ask　for　bread　and　cheese　and　a　cup　of　wine。〃
　〃I'm　more　wet　than　hungry　。　。　。〃
　〃Robb；　listen　to　me。　Once　you　have　eaten　of　his　bread　and　salt；　you　have　the　guest　right；　and　the　laws　of　hospitality　protect　you　beneath　his　roof。〃
　Robb　looked　more　amused　than　afraid。　〃I　have　an　army　to　protect　me；　Mother；　I　don't　need　to　trust　in　bread　and　salt。　But　if　it　pleases　Lord　Walder　to　serve　me　stewed　crow　smothered　in　maggots；　I'll　eat　it　and　ask　for　a　second　bowl。〃
　Four　Freys　rode　out　from　the　western　gatehouse；　wrapped　in　heavy　cloaks　of　thick　grey　wool。　Catelyn　recognized　Ser　Ryman；　son　of　the　late　Ser　Stevron；　Lord　Walder's　firstborn。　With　his　father　dead；　Ryman　was　heir　to　the　Twins。　The　face　she　saw　beneath　his　hood　was　fleshy；　broad；　and　stupid。　The　other　three　were　likely　his　own　sons；　Lord　Walder's　great　grandsons。
　Edmure　confirmed　as　much。　〃Edwyn　is　eldest；　the　pale　slender　man　with　the　constipated　look。　The　wiry　one　with　the　beard　is　Black　Walder；　a　nasty　bit　of　business。　Petyr　is　on　the　bay；　the　lad　with　the　unfortunate　face。　Petyr　Pimple；　his　brothers　call　him。　Only　a　year　or　two　older　than　Robb；　but　Lord　Walder　married　him　off　at　ten　to　a　woman　thrice　his　age。　Gods；　I　hope　Roslin　doesn't　take　after　him。〃
　They　halted　to　let　their　hosts　e　to　them。　Robb's　banner　drooped　on　its　staff；　and　the　steady　sound　of　rainfall　mingled　with　the　rush　of　the　swollen　Green　Fork　on　their　right。　Grey　Wind　edged　forward；　tail　stiff；　watching　through　slitted　eyes　of　dark　gold。　When　the　Freys　were　a　halfdozen　yards　away　Catelyn　heard　him　growl；　a　deep　rumble　that　seemed　almost　one　with　rush　of　the　river。　Robb　looked　startled。　〃Grey　Wind；　to　me。　To　me！〃
　Instead　the　direwolf　leapt　forward；　snarling。
　Ser　Ryman's　palfrey　shied　off　with　a　whinny　of　fear；　and　Petyr　Pimple's　reared　and　threw　him。　Only　Black　Walder　kept　his　mount　in　hand。　He　reached　for　the　hilt　of　his　sword。　〃No！〃　Robb　was　shouting。　〃Grey　Wind；　here。　Here。〃　Catelyn　spurred　between　the　direwolf　and　the　horses。　Mud　spattered　from　the　hooves　of　her　mare　as　she　cut　in　front　of　Grey　Wind。　The　wolf　veered　away；　and　only　then　seemed　to　hear　Robb　calling。
　〃Is　this　how　a　Stark　makes　amends？〃　Black　Walder　shouted；　with　naked　steel　in　hand。　〃A　poor　greeting　I　call　it；　to　set　your　wolf　upon　us。　Is　this　why　you've　e？〃
　Ser　Ryman　had　dismounted　to　help　Petyr　Pimple　back　to　his　feet。　The　lad　was　muddy；　but　unhurt。
　〃I've　e　to　make　my　apology　for　the　wrong　I　did　your　House；　and　to　see　my　uncle　wed。〃　Robb　swung　down　from　the　saddle。　〃Petyr；　take　my　horse。　Yours　is　almost　back　to　the　stable。〃
　Petyr　looked　to　his　father　and　said；　〃I　can　ride　behind　one　of　my　brothers。〃
　The　Freys　made　no　sign　of　obeisance。　〃You　e　late；〃　Ser　Ryman　declared。
　〃The　rains　delayed　us；〃　said　Robb。　〃I　sent　a　bird。〃
　〃I　do　not　see　the　woman。〃
　By　the　woman　Ser　Ryman　meant　Jeyne　Westerling；　all　knew。　Lady　Catelyn　smiled　apologetically。　〃Queen　Jeyne　was　weary　after　so　much　travel；　sers。　No　doubt　she　will　be　pleased　to　visit　when　times　are　more　settled。〃
　〃My　grandfather　will　be　displeased。〃　Though　Black　Walder　had　sheathed　his　sword；　his　tone　was　no　friendlier。　〃I've　told　him　much　of　the　lady；　and　he　wished　to　behold　her　with　his　own　eyes。〃
　Edwyn　cleared　his　throat。　〃We　have　chambers　prepared　for　you　in　the　Water　Tower；　Your　Grace；〃　he　told　Robb　with　careful　courtesy；　〃as　well　as　for　Lord　Tully　and　Lady　Stark。　Your　lords