grrm.astormofswords-第42节

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　〃She　broke　my　nose。〃　Lem　dumped　her　unceremoniously　to　the　floor。　〃Who　in　seven　hells　is　she　supposed　to　be？〃
　〃The　Hand's　daughter。〃　Harwin　went　to　one　knee　before　her。　〃Arya　Stark；　of　Winterfell。〃
　
　CHAPTER　14
　CATELYN
　
　Robb；　she　knew；　the　moment　she　heard　the　kennels　erupt。
　Her　son　had　returned　to　Riverrun；　and　Grey　Wind　with　him。　Only　the　scent　of　the　great　grey　direwolf　could　send　the　hounds　into　such　a　frenzy　of　baying　and　barking。　He　will　e　to　me；　she　knew。　Edmure　had　not　returned　after　his　first　visit；　preferring　to　spend　his　days　with　Marq　Piper　and　Patrek　Mallister；　listening　to　Rymund　the　Rhymer's　verses　about　the　battle　at　the　Stone　Mill。　Robb　is　not　Edmure；　though。　Robb　will　see　me。
　It　had　been　raining　for　days　now；　a　cold　grey　downpour　that　well　suited　Catelyn's　mood。　Her　father　was　growing　weaker　and　more　delirious　with　every　passing　day；　waking　only　to　mutter；　〃Tansy；〃　and　beg　forgiveness。　Edmure　shunned　her；　and　Ser　Desmond　Grell　still　denied　her　freedom　of　the　castle；　however　unhappy　it　seemed　to　make　him。　Only　the　return　of　Ser　Robin　Ryger　and　his　men；　footweary　and　drenched　to　the　bone；　served　to　lighten　her　spirits。　They　had　walked　back；　it　seemed。　Somehow　the　Kingslayer　had　contrived　to　sink　their　galley　and　escape；　Maester　Vyman　confided。　Catelyn　asked　if　she　might　speak　with　Ser　Robin　to　learn　more　of　what　had　happened；　but　that　was　refused　her。
　Something　else　was　wrong　as　well。　On　the　day　her　brother　returned；　a　few　hours　after　their　argument；　she　had　heard　angry　voices　from　the　yard　below。　When　she　climbed　to　the　roof　to　see；　there　were　knots　of　men　gathered　across　the　castle　beside　the　main　gate。　Horses　were　being　led　from　the　stables；　saddled　and　bridled；　and　there　was　shouting；　though　Catelyn　was　too　far　away　to　make　out　the　words。　one　of　Robb's　white　banners　lay　on　the　ground；　and　one　of　the　knights　turned　his　horse　and　trampled　over　the　direwolf　as　he　spurred　toward　the　gate。　Several　others　did　the　same。　Those　are　men　who　fought　with　Edmure　on　the　fords；　she　thought。　What　could　have　made　them　so　angry？　Has　my　brother　slighted　them　somehow；　given　them　some　insult？　She　thought　she　recognized　Ser　Perwyn　Frey；　who　had　traveled　with　her　to　Bitterbridge　and　Storm's　End　and　back；　and　his　bastard　half　brother　Martyn　Rivers　as　well；　but　from　this　vantage　it　was　hard　to　be　certain。　Close　to　forty　men　poured　out　through　the　castle　gates；　to　what　end　she　did　not　know。
　They　did　not　e　back。　Nor　would　Maester　Vyman　tell　her　who　they　had　been；　where　they　had　gone；　or　what　had　made　them　so　angry。　〃I　am　here　to　see　to　your　father；　and　only　that；　my　lady；〃　he　said。　〃Your　brother　will　soon　be　Lord　of　Riverrun。　What　he　wishes　you　to　know；　he　must　tell　you。〃
　But　now　Robb　was　returned　from　the　west；　returned　in　triumph。　He　will　forgive　me；　Catelyn　told　herself。　He　must　forgive　me；　he　is　my　own　son；　and　Arya　and　Sansa　are　as　much　his　blood　as　mine。　He　will　free　me　from　these　rooms　and　then　I　will　know　what　has　happened。
　By　the　time　Ser　Desmond　came　for　her；　she　had　bathed　and　dressed　and　bed　out　her　auburn　hair。　〃King　Robb　has　returned　from　the　west；　my　lady；〃　the　knight　said；　〃and　mands　that　you　attend　him　in　the　Great　Hall。〃
　It　was　the　moment　she　had　dreamt　of　and　dreaded。　Have　I　lost　two　sons；　or　three？　She　would　know　soon　enough。
　The　hall　was　crowded　when　they　entered。　Every　eye　was　on　the　dais；　but　Catelyn　knew　their　backs：　Lady　Mormont's　patched　ringmail；　the　Greatjon　and　his　son　looming　above　every　other　head　in　the　hall；　Lord　Jason　Mallister　white…haired　with　his　winged　helm　in　the　crook　of　his　arm；　Tytos　Blackwood　in　his　magnificent　raven…feather　cloak　。　。　。　Half　of　them　will　want　to　hang　me　now。　The　other　half　may　only　turn　their　eyes　away。　She　had　the　uneasy　feeling　that　someone　was　missing；　too。
　Robb　stood　on　the　dais。　He　is　a　boy　no　longer；　she　realized　with　a　pang。　He　is　sixteen　now；　a　man　grown。　fust　look　at　him。　War　had　melted　all　the　softness　from　his　face　and　left　him　hard　and　lean。　He　had　shaved　his　beard　away；　but　his　auburn　hair　fell　uncut　to　his　shoulders。　The　recent　rains　had　rusted　his　mail　and　left　brown　stains　on　the　white　of　his　cloak　and　surcoat。　Or　perhaps　the　stains　were　blood。　On　his　head　was　the　sword　crown　they　had　fashioned　him　of　bronze　and　iron。　He　bears　it　more　fortably　now　He　bears　it　like　a　king。
　Edmure　stood　below　the　crowded　dais；　head　bowed　modestly　as　Robb　praised　his　victory。　〃　。　。　。　fell　at　the　Stone　Mill　shall　never　be　forgotten。　Small　wonder　Lord　Tywin　ran　off　to　fight　Stannis。　He'd　had　his　fill　of　northmen　and　rivermen　both。〃　That　brought　laughter　and　approving　shouts；　but　Robb　raised　a　hand　for　quiet。　〃Make　no　mistake；　though。　The　Lannisters　will　march　again；　and　there　will　be　other　battles　to　win　before　the　kingdom　is　secure。〃
　The　Greatjon　roared　out；　〃King　in　the　North！〃　and　thrust　a　mailed　fist　into　the　air。　The　river　lords　answered　with　a　shout　of　〃King　of　the　Trident！〃　The　hall　grew　thunderous　with　pounding　fists　and　stamping　feet。
　Only　a　few　noted　Catelyn　and　Ser　Desmond　amidst　the　tumult；　but　they　elbowed　their　fellows；　and　slowly　a　hush　grew　around　her。　She　held　her　head　high　and　ignored　the　eyes。　Let　them　think　what　they　will。　It　is　Robb's　judgment　that　matters。
　The　sight　of　Ser　Brynden　Tully's　craggy　face　on　the　dais　gave　her　fort。　A　boy　she　did　not　know　seemed　to　be　acting　as　Robb's　squire。　Behind　him　stood　a　young　knight　in　a　sand…colored　surcoat　blazoned　with　seashells；　and　an　older　one　who　wore　three　black　pepperpots　on　a　saffron　bend；　across　a　field　of　green　and　silver　stripes。　Between　them　were　a　handsome　older　lady　and　a　pretty　maid　who　looked　to　be　her　daughter。　There　was　another　girl　as　well；　near　Sansa's　age。　The　seashells　were　the　sigil　of　some　lesser　house；　Catelyn　knew；　the　older　man's　she　did　not　recognize。　Prisoners？　Why　would　Robb　bring　captives　onto　the　dais？
　Utherydes　Wayn　banged　his　staff　on　the　floor　as　Ser　Desmond　escorted　her　forward。　If　Robb　looks　at　me　as　Edmure　did；　I　do　not　know　what　I　will　do。　But　it　seemed　to　her　that　it　was　not　anger　she　saw　in　her　son's　eyes；　but　something　else　。　。　。　apprehension；　perhaps？　No；　that　made　no　sense。　What　should　he　fear？　He　was　the　Young　Wolf；　King　of　the　Trident　and　the　North。
　Her　uncle　was　the　first　to　greet　her。　As　black　a　fish　as　ever；　Ser　Brynden　had　no　care　for　what　others　might　think。　He　leapt　off　the　dais　and　pulled　Catelyn　into　his　arms。　When　he　said；　〃It　is　good　to　see　you　home；　Cat；〃　she　had　to　struggle　to　keep　her　posure。　〃And　you；〃　she　whispered。
　〃Mother。〃
　Catelyn　looked　up　at　her　tall　kingly　son。　〃Your　Grace；　I　have　prayed　for　your　safe　return。　I　had　heard　you　were　wounded。〃
　〃I　took　an　arrow　through　the　arm　while　storming　the　Crag；〃　he　said。　〃It's　healed　well；　though。　I　had　the　best　of　care。〃
　〃The　gods　are　good；　then。〃　Catelyn　took　a　deep　breath。　Say　it。　It　cannot　be　avoided。　〃They　will　have　told　you　what　I　did。　Did　they　tell　you　my　reasons？〃
　〃For　the　girls。〃
　〃I　had　five　children。　Now　I　have　three。〃
　〃Aye；　my　lady。〃　Lord　Rickard　Karstark　pushed　past　the　Greatjon；　like　some　grim　specter　with　his　black　mail　and　long　ragged　grey　beard；　his　narrow　face　pinched　and　cold。　〃And　I　have　one　son；　who　once　had　three。　You　have　robbed　me　of　my　vengeance。〃
　Catelyn　faced　him　calmly。　〃Lord　Rickard；　the　Kingslayer's　dying　would　not　have　bought　life　for　your　children。　His　living　may　buy　life　for　mine。〃　The　lord　was　unappeased。　〃Jaime　Lannister　has　played　you　for　a　fool。　You've　bought　a　bag　of　empty　words；　no　more。　My　Torrhen　and　my　Eddard　deserved　better　of　you。〃
　〃Leave　off；　Karstark；〃　rumbled　the　Greatjon；　crossing　his　huge　arms　against　his　chest。　〃It　was　a　mother's　folly。　Women　are　made　that　way。〃
　〃A　mother's　folly？〃　Lord　Karstark　rounded　on　Lord　Umber。　〃I　name　it　treason。〃
　〃Enough。〃　For　just　an　instant　Robb　sounded　more　like　Brandon　than　his　father。　〃No　man　calls　my　lady　of　Winterfell　a　traitor　in　my　hearing；　Lord　Rickard。〃　When　he　turned　to　Catelyn；　his　voice　softened。　〃If　I　could　wish　the　Kingslayer　back　in　chains　I　would。　You　freed　him　without　my　knowledge　or　consent　。　。　。　but　what　you　did；　I　know　you　did　for　love。　For　Arya　and　Sansa；　and　out　of　grief　for　Bran　and　Rickon。　Love's　not　always　wise；　I've　learned。　It　can　lead　us　to　great　folly；　but　we　follow　our　hearts　。　。　。　wherever　they　take　us。　Don't　we；　Mother？〃
　Is　that　what　I　did？　〃If　my　heart　led　me　into　folly；　I　would　gladly　make　whatever　amends　I　can　to　Lord　Karstark　and　yourself。〃
　Lord　Rickard's　face　was　implacable。　〃Will　your　amends　warm　Torrhen　and　Eddard　in　the　cold　graves　where　the　Kingslayer　laid　them？〃　He　shouldered　between　the　Greatjon　and　Maege　Mormont　and　left　the　hall。
　Robb　made　no　move　to　detain　him。　〃Forgive　him；　Mother。〃
　〃If　you　will　forgive　me。〃
　〃I　have。　I　know　what　it　is　to　love　so　greatly　you　can　think　of　nothing　else。〃
　Catelyn　bowed　her　head。　〃Thank　you。〃　I　have　not　lost　this　child；　at　least。
　〃We　must　talk；〃　Robb　went　on。　〃You　and　my　uncles。　Of　this　and　。　。　。　other　things。　Steward；　call　an　end。〃
　Utherydes　Wayn　slammed　his　staff　on　the　floor　and　shouted　the　dismissal；　and　river　lords　and　northerners　alike　moved　toward　the　doors。　It　was　only　then　that　Catelyn　realized　what　was　amiss。　The　wolf。　The　wolf　is　not　here。　Where　is　Grey