grrm.astormofswords-第40节

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d　within　an　inch　of　her　ear　and　buried　itself　in　the　trunk　of　the　willow　behind　her。　By　then　the　bowman　had　a　second　arrow　notched　and　drawn。　She'd　thought　she　understood　what　Syrio　meant　by　quick　as　a　snake　and　smooth　as　summer　silk；　but　now　she　knew　she　hadn't。　The　arrow　thrummed　behind　her　like　a　bee。　〃You　missed；〃　she　said。
　〃More　fool　you　if　you　think　so；〃　said　Anguy。　〃They　go　where　I　send　them。〃
　〃That　they　do；〃　agreed　Lem　Lemoncloak。
　There　were　a　dozen　steps　between　the　archer　and　the　point　of　her　sword。　We　have　no　chance；　Arya　realized；　wishing　she　had　a　bow　like　his；　and　the　skill　to　use　it。　Glumly；　she　lowered　her　heavy　longsword　till　the　point　touched　the　ground。　〃We'll　e　see　this　inn；〃　she　conceded；　trying　to　hide　the　doubt　in　her　heart　behind　bold　words。　〃You　walk　in　front　and　we'll　ride　behind；　so　we　can　see　what　you're　doing。〃
　Tom　Sevenstrings　bowed　deeply　and　said；　〃Before；　behind；　it　makes　no　matter。　e　along；　lads；　let's　show　them　the　way。　Anguy；　best　pull　up　those　arrows；　we　won't　be　needing　them　here。〃
　Arya　sheathed　her　sword　and　crossed　the　road　to　where　her　friends　sat　on　their　horses；　keeping　her　distance　from　the　three　strangers。　〃Hot　Pie；　get　those　cabbages；〃　she　said　as　she　vaulted　into　her　saddle。　〃And　the　carrots　too。〃
　For　once　he　did　not　argue。　They　set　off　as　she　had　wanted；　walking　their　horses　slowly　down　the　rutted　road　a　dozen　paces　behind　the　three　on　foot。　But　before　very　long；　somehow　they　were　riding　right　on　top　of　them。　Tom　Sevenstrings；　walked　slowly；　and　liked　to　strum　his　woodharp　as　he　went。　〃Do　you　know　any　songs？〃　he　asked　them。　〃I'd　dearly　love　someone　to　sing　with；　that　I　would。　Lem　can't　carry　a　tune；　and　our　longbow　lad　only　knows　marcher　ballads；　every　one　of　them　a　hundred　verses　long。〃
　〃We　sing　real　songs　in　the　marches；〃　Anguy　said　mildly。
　〃Singing　is　stupid；〃　said　Arya。　〃Singing　makes　noise。　We　heard　you　a　long　way　off。　We　could　have　killed　you。〃
　Tom's　smile　said　he　did　not　think　so。　〃There　are　worse　things　than　dying　with　a　song　on　your　lips。〃
　〃If　there　were　wolves　hereabouts；　we'd　know　it；〃　groused　Lem。　〃Or　lions。　These　are　our　woods。〃
　〃You　never　knew　we　were　there；〃　said　Gendry。
　〃Now；　lad；　you　shouldn't　be　so　certain　of　that；〃　said　Tom。　〃Sometimes　a　man　knows　more　than　he　says。〃
　Hot　Pie　shifted　his　seat。　〃I　know　the　song　about　the　bear；〃　he　said。　〃Some　of　it；　anyhow。〃
　Tom　ran　his　fingers　down　his　strings。　〃Then　let's　hear　it；　pie　boy。〃　He　threw　back　his　head　and　sang；　〃A　bear　there　was；　a　bear；　a　bear！　All　black　and　brown；　and　covered　with　hair　。　。　。〃
　Hot　Pie　joined　in　lustily；　even　bouncing　in　his　saddle　a　little　on　the　rhymes。　Arya　stared　at　him　in　astonishment。　He　had　a　good　voice　and　he　sang　well。　He　never　did　anything　well；　except　bake；　she　thought　to　herself。
　A　small　brook　flowed　into　the　Trident　a　little　farther　on。　As　they　waded　across；　their　singing　flushed　a　duck　from　among　the　reeds。　Anguy　stopped　where　he　stood；　unslung　his　bow；　notched　an　arrow；　and　brought　it　down。　The　bird　fell　in　the　shallows　not　far　from　the　bank。　Lem　took　off　his　yellow　cloak　and　waded　in　knee…deep　to　retrieve　it；　plaining　all　the　while。　〃Do　you　think　Shama　might　have　lemons　down　in　that　cellar　of　hers？〃　said　Anguy　to　Tom　as　they　watched　Lem　splash　around；　cursing。　〃A　Domish　girl　once　cooked　me　duck　with　lemons。〃　He　sounded　wistful。
　Tom　and　Hot　Pie　resumed　their　song　on　the　other　side　of　the　brook；　with　the　duck　hanging　from　Lem's　belt　beneath　his　yellow　cloak。　Somehow　the　singing　made　the　miles　seem　shorter。　It　was　not　very　long　at　all　until　the　inn　appeared　before　them；　rising　from　the　riverbank　where　the　Trident　made　a　great　bend　to　the　north。　Arya　squinted　at　it　suspiciously　as　they　neared。　It　did　not　look　like　an　outlaws'　lair；　she　had　to　admit；　it　looked　friendly；　even　homey；　with　its　whitewashed　upper　story　and　slate　roof　and　the　smoke　curling　up　lazy　from　its　chimney。　Stables　and　other　outbuildings　surrounded　it；　and　there　was　an　arbor　in　back；　and　apple　trees；　a　small　garden。　The　inn　even　had　its　own　dock；　thrusting　out　into　the　river；　and　。　。　。
　〃Gendry；〃　she　called；　her　voice　low　and　urgent。　〃They　have　a　boat。　We　could　sail　the　rest　of　the　way　up　to　Riven…un。　It　would　be　faster　than　riding；　I　think。〃
　He　looked　dubious。　〃Did　you　ever　sail　a　boat？〃
　〃You　put　up　the　sail；〃　she　said；　〃and　the　wind　pushes　it。〃
　〃What　if　the　wind　is　blowing　the　wrong　way？〃
　〃Then　there's　oars　to　row。〃
　〃Against　the　current？〃　Gendry　frowned。　〃Wouldn't　that　be　slow？　And　what　if　the　boat　tips　over　and　we　fall　into　the　water？　It's　not　our　boat　anyway；　it's　the　inn's。〃
　We　could　take　it。　Arya　chewed　her　lip　and　said　nothing。　They　dismounted　in　front　of　stables。　There　were　no　other　horses　to　be　seen；　but　Arya　noticed　fresh　manure　in　many　of　the　stalls。　〃One　of　us　should　watch　the　horses；〃　she　said；　wary。
　Tom　overheard　her。　〃There's　no　need　for　that；　Squab。　e　eat；　they'll　be　safe　enough。〃
　〃I'll　stay；〃　Gendry　said；　ignoring　the　singer。　〃You　can　e　get　me　after　you've　had　some　food。〃
　Nodding；　Arya　set　off　after　Hot　Pie　and　Lem。　Her　sword　was　still　in　its　sheath　across　her　back；　and　she　kept　a　hand　close　to　the　hilt　of　the　dagger　she　had　stolen　from　Roose　Bolton；　in　case　she　didn't　like　whatever　they　found　within。
　The　painted　sign　above　the　door　showed　a　picture　of　some　old　king　on　his　knees。　Inside　was　the　mon　room；　where　a　very　tall　ugly　woman　with　a　knobby　chin　stood　with　her　hands　on　her　hips；　glaring。　〃Don't　just　stand　there；　boy；〃　she　snapped。　〃Or　are　you　a　girl？　Either　one；　you're　blocking　my　door。　Get　in　or　get　out。　Lem；　what　did　I　tell　you　about　my　floor？　You're　all　mud。〃
　〃We　shot　a　duck。〃　Lem　held　it　out　like　a　peace　banner。
　The　woman　snatched　it　from　his　hand。　〃Anguy　shot　a　duck；　is　what　you're　meaning。　Get　your　boots　off；　are　you　deaf　or　just　stupid？〃　She　turned　away。　〃Husband！〃　she　called　loudly。　〃Get　up　here；　the　lads　are　back。　Husband！〃
　Up　the　cellar　steps　came　a　man　in　a　stained　apron；　grumbling。　He　was　a　head　shorter　than　the　woman；　with　a　lumpy　face　and　loose　yellowish　skin　that　still　showed　the　marks　of　some　pox。　〃I'm　here；　woman；　quit　your　bellowing。　What　is　it　now？〃
　〃Hang　this；〃　she　said；　handing　him　the　duck。
　Anguy　shuffled　his　feet。　〃We　were　thinking　we　might　eat　it；　Shama。　With　lemons。　If　you　had　some。〃
　〃Lemons。　And　where　would　we　get　lemons？　Does　this　look　like　Dome　to　you；　you　freckled　fool？　Why　don't　you　hop　out　back　to　the　lemon　trees　and　pick　us　a　bushel；　and　some　nice　olives　and　pomegranates　too。〃　She　shook　a　finger　at　him。　〃Now；　I　suppose　I　could　cook　it　with　Lem's　cloak；　if　you　like；　but　not　till　it's　hung　for　a　few　days。　You'll　eat　rabbit；　or　you　won't　eat。　Roast　rabbit　on　a　spit　would　be　quickest；　if　you've　got　a　hunger。　or　might　be　you'd　like　it　stewed；　with　ale　and　onions。〃
　Arya　could　almost　taste　the　rabbit。　〃We　have　no　coin；　but　we　brought　some　carrots　and　cabbages　we　could　trade　you。〃
　〃Did　you　now？　And　where　would　they　be？〃
　〃Hot　Pie；　give　her　the　cabbages；〃　Arya　said；　and　he　did；　though　he　approached　the　old　woman　as　gingerly　as　if　she　were　Rorge　or　Biter　or　Vargo　Hoat。
　The　woman　gave　the　vegetables　a　close　inspection；　and　the　boy　a　closer　one。　〃Where　is　this　hot　pie？〃
　〃Here。　Me。　It's　my　name。　And　she's　。　。　。　ah　。　。　。　Squab。〃
　〃Not　under　my　roof。　I　give　my　diners　and　my　dishes　different　names；　so　as　to　tell　them　apart。　Husband！〃
　Husband　had　stepped　outside；　but　at　her　shout　he　hurried　back。　〃The　duck's　hung。　What　is　it　now；　woman？〃
　〃Wash　these　vegetables；〃　she　manded。　〃The　rest　of　you；　sit　down　while　I　start　the　rabbits。　The　boy　will　bring　you　drink。〃　She　looked　down　her　long　nose　at　Arya　and　Hot　Pie。　〃I　am　not　in　the　habit　of　serving　ale　to　children；　but　the　cider's　run　out；　there's　no　cows　for　milk；　and　the　river　water　tastes　of　war；　with　all　the　dead　men　drifting　downstream。　If　I　served　you　a　cup　of　soup　full　of　dead　flies；　would　you　drink　it？〃
　〃Arry　would；〃　said　Hot　Pie。　〃I　mean；　Squab。〃
　〃So　would　Lem；〃　offered　Anguy　with　a　sly　smile。
　〃Never　you　mind　about　Lem；〃　Shama　said。　〃It's　ale　for　all。〃　She　swept　off　toward　the　kitchen。
　Anguy　and　Tom　Sevenstrings　took　the　table　near　the　hearth　while　Lem　was　hanging　his　big　yellow　cloak　on　a　peg。　Hot　Pie　plopped　down　heavily　on　a　bench　at　the　table　by　the　door；　and　Arya　wedged　herself　in　beside　him。
　Tom　unslung　his　harp。　〃A　lonely　inn　on　a　forest　road；〃　he　sang；　slowly　picking　out　a　tune　to　go　with　the　words。　〃The　innkeep's　wife　was　plain　as　a　toad。〃
　〃Shut　up　with　that　now　or　we　won't　be　getting　no　rabbit；〃　Lem　warned　him。　〃You　know　how　she　is。〃
　Arya　leaned　close　to　Hot　Pie。　〃Can　you　sail　a　boat？〃　she　asked。　Before　he　could　answer；　a　thickset　boy　of　fifteen　or　sixteen　appeared　with　tankards　of　ale。　Hot　Pie　took　his　reverently　in　both　hands；　and　when　he　sipped　he　smiled　wider　than　Arya　had　ever　seen　him　smile。　〃Ale；〃　he　whispered；　〃and　rabbit。〃
　〃Well；　here's　to　His　Grace；〃　Anguy　the　Archer　called　out　cheerfully；　lifting　a　toast。　〃Seven　save　the　king！〃
　〃All　twelve　o'them；〃　Lem　Lemoncloak　muttered。　He　drank；　and　wiped　the　foam　from　his　mouth　with　the　back　of　his　hand。
　Husband　came　bustling　in　through　the　front　door；　with　an　apron　full　of　washed　vegetables。　〃There's　strange　horses　in　the　stable；〃　he