grrm.astormofswords-第44节

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　〃All　of　which　will　only　salt　Lord　Walder's　wounds。　It　has　always　rankled　him　that　older　houses　look　down　on　the　Freys　as　upstarts。　This　insult　is　not　the　first　he's　borne；　to　hear　him　tell　it。　Jon　Arryn　was　disinclined　to　foster　his　grandsons；　and　my　father　refused　the　offer　of　one　of　his　daughters　for　Edmure。〃　She　inclined　her　head　toward　her　brother　as　he　rejoined　them。
　〃Your　Grace；〃　Brynden　Blackflsh　said；　〃perhaps　we　had　best　continue　this　in　private。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Robb　sounded　tired。　〃I　would　kill　for　a　cup　of　wine。　The　audience　chamber；　I　think。〃
　As　they　started　up　the　steps；　Catelyn　asked　the　question　that　had　been　troubling　her　since　she　entered　the　hall。　〃Robb；　where　is　Grey　Wind？〃
　〃In　the　yard；　with　a　haunch　of　mutton。　I　told　the　kennelmaster　to　see　that　he　was　fed。〃
　〃You　always　kept　him　with　you　before。〃
　〃A　hall　is　no　place　for　a　wolf。　He　gets　restless；　you've　seen。　Growling　and　snapping。　I　should　never　have　taken　him　into　battle　with　me。　He's　killed　too　many　men　to　fear　them　now。　Jeyne's　anxious　around　him；　and　he　terrifies　her　mother。〃
　And　there's　the　heart　of　it；　Catelyn　thought。　〃He　is　part　of　you；　Robb。　To　fear　him　is　to　fear　you。〃
　〃I　am　not　a　wolf；　no　matter　what　they　call　me。〃　Robb　sounded　cross。　〃Grey　Wind　killed　a　man　at　the　Crag；　another　at　Ashemark；　and　six　or　seven　at　Oxcross。　If　you　had　seen…〃
　〃I　saw　Bran's　wolf　tear　out　a　man's　throat　at　Winterfell；〃　she　said　sharply；　〃and　loved　him　for　it。〃
　〃That's　different。　The　man　at　the　Crag　was　a　knight　Jeyne　had　known　all　her　life。　You　can't　blame　her　for　being　afraid。　Grey　Wind　doesn't　like　her　uncle　either。　He　bares　his　teeth　every　time　Ser　Rolph　es　near　him。〃
　A　chill　went　through　her。　〃Send　Ser　Rolph　away。　At　once。〃
　〃Where？　Back　to　the　Crag；　so　the　Lannisters　can　mount　his　head　on　a　spike？　Jeyne　loves　him。　He's　her　uncle；　and　a　fair　knight　besides。　I　need　more　men　like　Rolph　Spicer；　not　fewer。　I　am　not　going　to　banish　him　just　because　my　wolf　doesn't　seem　to　like　the　way　he　smells。〃
　〃Robb。〃　She　stopped　and　held　his　arm。　〃I　told　you　once　to　keep　Theon　Greyjoy　close；　and　you　did　not　listen。　Listen　now。　Send　this　man　away。　I　am　not　saying　you　must　banish　him。　Find　some　task　that　requires　a　man　of　courage；　some　honorable　duty；　what　it　is　matters　not　。　。　。　but　do　not　keep　him　near　you。〃
　He　frowned。　〃Should　I　have　Grey　Wind　sniff　all　my　knights？　There　might　be　others　whose　smell　he　mislikes。〃
　〃Any　man　Grey　Wind　mislikes　is　a　man　I　do　not　want　close　to　you。　These　wolves　are　more　than　wolves；　Robb。　You　must　know　that。　I　think　perhaps　the　gods　sent　them　to　us。　Your　father's　gods；　the　old　gods　of　the　north。　Five　wolf　pups；　Robb；　five　for　five　Stark　children。〃
　〃Six；〃　said　Robb。　〃There　was　a　wolf　for　Jon　as　well。　I　found　them；　remember？　I　know　how　many　there　were　and　where　they　came　from。　I　used　to　think　the　same　as　you；　that　the　wolves　were　our　guardians；　our　protectors；　until　。　。　。〃
　〃Until？〃　she　prompted。
　Robb's　mouth　tightened。　until　they　told　me　that　Theon　had　murdered　Bran　and　Rickon。　Small　good　their　wolves　did　them。　I　am　no　longer　a　boy；　Mother。　I'm　a　king；　and　I　can　protect　myself。〃　He　sighed。　〃I　will　find　some　duty　for　Ser　Rolph；　some　pretext　to　send　him　away。　Not　because　of　his　smell；　but　to　ease　your　mind。　You　have　suffered　enough。〃
　Relieved；　Catelyn　kissed　him　lightly　on　the　cheek　before　the　others　could　e　around　the　turn　of　the　stair；　and　for　a　moment　he　was　her　boy　again；　and　not　her　king。
　Lord　Hoster's　private　audience　chamber　was　a　small　room　above　the　Great　Hall；　better　suited　to　intimate　discussions。　Robb　took　the　high　seat；　removed　his　crown；　and　set　it　on　the　floor　beside　him　as　Catelyn　rang　for　wine。　Edmure　was　filling　his　uncle's　ear　with　the　whole　story　of　the　fight　at　the　Stone　Mill。　it　was　only　after　the　servants　had　e　and　gone　that　the　Blackfish　cleared　his　throat　and　said；　〃I　think　we've　all　heard　sufficient　of　your　boasting；　Nephew。〃
　Edmure　was　taken　aback。　〃Boasting？　What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I　mean；〃　said　the　Blackfish；　〃that　you　owe　His　Grace　your　thanks　for　his　forbearance。　He　played　out　that　mummer's　farce　in　the　Great　Hall　so　as　not　to　shame　you　before　your　own　people。　Had　it　been　me　I　would　have　flayed　you　for　your　stupidity　rather　than　praising　this　folly　of　the　fords。〃
　〃Good　men　died　to　defend　those　fords；　Uncle。〃　Edmure　sounded　outraged。　〃What；　is　no　one　to　win　victories　but　the　Young　Wolf？　Did　I　steal　some　glory　meant　for　you；　Robb？〃
　〃Your　Grace；〃　Robb　corrected；　icy。　〃You　took　me　for　your　king；　Uncle。　or　have　you　forgotten　that　as　well？〃
　The　Blackfish　said；　〃You　were　manded　to　hold　Riverrun；　Edmure；　no　more。〃
　〃I　held　Riverrun；　and　I　bloodied　Lord　Tywin's　nose　。　。　。〃
　〃So　you　did；〃　said　Robb。　〃But　a　bloody　nose　won't　win　the　war；　will　it？　Did　you　ever　think　to　ask　yourself　why　we　remained　in　the　west　so　long　after　Oxcross？　You　knew　I　did　not　have　enough　men　to　threaten　Lannisport　or　Casterly　Rock。〃
　〃Why　。　。　。　there　were　other　castles　。　。　。　gold；　cattle　。　。　。〃
　〃You　think　we　stayed　for　plunder？〃　Robb　was　incredulous。　〃Uncle；　I　wanted　Lord　Tywin　to　e　west。〃
　〃We　were　all　horsed；〃　Ser　Brynden　said。　〃The　Lannister　host　was　mainly　foot。　We　planned　to　run　Lord　Tywin　a　merry　chase　up　and　down　the　coast；　then　slip　behind　him　to　take　up　a　strong　defensive　position　athwart　the　gold　road；　at　a　place　my　scouts　had　found　where　the　ground　would　have　been　greatly　in　our　favor。　If　he　had　e　at　us　there；　he　would　have　paid　a　grievous　price。　But　if　he　did　not　attack；　he　would　have　been　trapped　in　the　west；　a　thousand　leagues　from　where　he　needed　to　be。　All　the　while　we　would　have　lived　off　his　land；　instead　of　him　living　off　ours。〃
　〃Lord　Stannis　was　about　to　fall　upon　King's　Landing；〃　Robb　said。　〃He　might　have　rid　us　of　Joffrey；　the　queen；　and　the　Imp　in　one　red　stroke。　Then　we　might　have　been　able　to　make　a　peace。〃
　Edmure　looked　from　uncle　to　nephew。　〃You　never　told　me。〃
　〃I　told　you　to　hold　Riverrun；　〃　said　Robb。　〃What　part　of　that　mand　did　you　fail　to　prehend？〃
　〃When　you　stopped　Lord　Tywin　on　the　Red　Fork；〃　said　the　Blackfish；　liyou　delayed　him　just　long　enough　for　riders　out　of　Bitterbridge　to　reach　him　with　word　of　what　was　happening　to　the　east。　Lord　Tywin　turned　his　host　at　once；　joined　up　with　Matthis　Rowan　and　Randyll　Tarly　near　the　headwaters　of　the　Blackwater；　and　made　a　forced　march　to　Tumbler's　Falls；　where　he　found　Mace　Tyrell　and　two　of　his　sons　waiting　with　a　huge　host　and　a　fleet　of　barges。　They　floated　down　the　river；　disembarked　half　a　day's　ride　from　the　city；　and　took　Stannis　in　the　rear。〃
　Catelyn　remembered　King　Renly's　court；　as　she　had　seen　it　at　Bitterbridge。　A　thousand　golden　roses　streaming　in　the　wind；　Queen　Man　gaery's　shy　smile　and　soft　words；　her　brother　the　Knight　of　Flowers　with　the　bloody　linen　around　his　temples。　If　you　had　to　fall　into　a　woman's　arms；　my　son；　why　couldn't　they　have　been　Margaery　Tyrell's？　The　wealth　and　power　of　Highgarden　could　have　made　all　the　difference　in　the　fighting　yet　to　e。　And　perhaps　Grey　Wind　would　have　liked　the　smell　of　her　as　well。
　Edmure　looked　ill。　〃I　never　meant　。　。　。　never；　Robb；　you　must　let　me　make　amends。　I　will　lead　the　van　in　the　next　battle！〃
　For　amends；　Brother？　Or　for　glory？　Catelyn　wondered。
　〃The　next　battle；〃　Robb　said。　〃Well；　that　will　be　soon　enough。　Once　Joffrey　is　wed；　the　Lannisters　will　take　the　fleld　against　me　once　more；　I　don't　doubt；　and　this　time　the　Tyrells　will　march　beside　them。　And　I　may　need　to　fight　the　Freys　as　well；　if　Black　Walder　has　his　way　。　。　。　…
　〃So　long　as　Theon　Greyjoy　sits　in　your　father's　seat　with　your　brothers'　blood　on　his　hands；　these　other　foes　must　wait；〃　Catelyn　told　her　son。　〃Your　first　duty　is　to　defend　your　own　people；　win　back　Winterfell；　and　hang　Theon　in　a　crow's　cage　to　die　slowly。　Or　else　put　off　that　crown　for　good；　Robb；　for　men　will　know　that　you　are　no　true　king　at　all。〃
　From　the　way　Robb　looked　at　her；　she　could　tell　that　it　had　been　a　long　while　since　anyone　had　dared　speak　to　him　so　bluntly。　〃When　they　told　me　Winterfell　had　fallen；　I　wanted　to　go　north　at　once；〃　he　said；　with　a　hint　of　defensiveness。　〃I　wanted　to　free　Bran　and　Rickon；　but　I　thought　。　。　。　I　never　dreamed　that　Theon　could　harm　them；　truly。　If　I　had　。　。　。〃
　〃It　is　too　late　for　ifs；　and　too　late　for　rescues；〃　Catelyn　said。　〃All　that　remains　is　vengeance。〃
　〃The　last　word　we　had　from　the　north；　Ser　Rodrik　had　defeated　a　force　of　ironmen　near　Torrhen's　Square；　and　was　assembling　a　host　at　Castle　Cerwyn　to　retake　Winterfell　'　〃　said　Robb。　〃By　now　he　may　have　done　it。　There　has　been　no　news　for　a　long　while。　And　what　of　the　Trident；　if　I　turn　north？　I　can't　ask　the　river　lords　to　abandon　their　own　people。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Catelyn。　〃Leave　them　to　guard　their　own；　and　win　back　the　north　with　northmen。〃
　〃How　will　you　get　the　northmen　to　the　north？〃　her　brother　Edmure　asked。　〃The　ironmen　control　the　sunset　sea。　The　Greyjoys　hold　Moat　Cailin　as　well。　No　army　has　ever　taken　Moat　Cailin　from　the　south。　Even　to　march　against　it　is　madness。　We　could　be　trapped　on　the　causeway；　with　the　ironborn　before　us　and　angry　Freys　at　our　backs。〃
　〃We　must　win　back　the　Freys；〃　said　Robb。　〃With　them；　we　still　have　some　chance　of　success；　however　small。　Without　them；　I　see　no　hope。　I