grrm.astormofswords-第61节

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fought　for　life。　His　arms　bore　slashes　where　he'd　tried　to　block　the　blades；　and　red　still　trickled　slowly　from　the　stab　wounds　that　covered　his　chest　and　belly　and　back　like　so　many　tongueless　mouths；　though　the　rain　had　washed　him　almost　clean。
　Robb　had　donned　his　crown　before　ing　to　the　hall；　and　the　bronze　shone　darkly　in　the　torchlight。　Shadows　hid　his　eyes　as　he　looked　upon　the　dead。　Does　he　see　Bran　and　Rickon　as　well？　She　might　have　wept；　but　there　were　no　tears　left　in　her。　The　dead　boys　were　pale　from　long　imprisonment；　and　both　had　been　fair；　against　their　smooth　white　skin；　the　blood　was　shockingly　red；　unbearable　to　look　upon。　Will　they　lay　Sansa　down　naked　beneath　the　Iron　Throne　after　they　have　killed　her？
　Will　her　skin　seem　as　white；　her　blood　as　red？　From　outside　came　the　steady　wash　of　rain　and　the　restless　howling　of　a　wolf。
　Her　brother　Edmure　stood　to　Robb's　right；　one　hand　upon　the　back　of　his　father's　seat；　his　face　still　puffy　from　sleep。　They　had　woken　him　as　they　had　her；　pounding　on　his　door　in　the　black　of　night　to　yank　him　rudely　from　his　dreams。　Were　they　good　dreams；　brother？　Do　you　dream　of　sunlight　and　laughter　and　a　maiden's　kisses？　I　pray　you　do。　Her　own　dreams　were　dark　and　laced　with　terrors。
　Robb's　captains　and　lords　bannermen　stood　about　the　hall；　some　mailed　and　armed；　others　in　various　states　of　dishevelment　and　undress。　Ser　Raynald　and　his　uncle　Ser　Rolph　were　among　them；　but　Robb　had　seen　fit　to　spare　his　queen　this　ugliness。　The　Crag　is　not　far　from　Casterly　Rock；　Catelyn　recalled。　leyne　may　well　have　played　with　these　boys　when　all　of　them　were　children。
　She　looked　down　again　upon　the　corpses　of　the　squires　Tion　Frey　and　Willem　Lannister；　and　waited　for　her　son　to　speak。
　It　seemed　a　very　long　time　before　Robb　lifted　his　eyes　from　the　bloody　dead。　〃Smalljon；〃　he　said；　〃tell　your　father　to　bring　them　in。〃　Wordless；　Smalljon　Umber　turned　to　obey；　his　steps　echoing　in　the　great　stone　hall。
　As　the　Greatjon　marched　his　prisoners　through　the　doors；　Catelyn　made　note　of　how　some　other　men　stepped　back　to　give　them　room；　as　if　treason　could　somehow　be　passed　by　a　touch；　a　glance；　a　cough。　The　captors　and　the　captives　looked　much　alike；　big　men；　every　one；　with　thick　beards　and　long　hair。　Two　of　the　Greatjon's　men　were　wounded；　and　three　of　their　prisoners。　only　the　fact　that　some　had　spears　and　others　empty　scabbards　served　to　set　them　apart。　All　were　clad　in　mail　hauberks　or　shirts　of　sewn　rings；　with　heavy　boots　and　thick　cloaks；　some　of　wool　and　some　of　fur。　The　north　is　hard　and　cold；　and　has　no　mercy；　Ned　had　told　her　when　she　first　came　to　Winterfell　a　thousand　years　ago。
　〃Five；〃　said　Robb　when　the　prisoners　stood　before　him；　wet　and　silent。　〃Is　that　all　of　them？〃
　〃There　were　eight；〃　rumbled　the　Greatjon。　〃We　killed　two　taking　them；　and　a　third　is　dying　now。〃
　Robb　studied　the　faces　of　the　captives。　〃It　required　eight　of　you　to　kill　two　unarmed　squires。〃
　Edmure　Tully　spoke　up。　〃They　murdered　two　of　my　men　as　well；　to　get　into　the　tower。　Delp　and　Elwood。〃
　〃It　was　no　murder；　ser；〃　said　Lord　Rickard　Karstark；　no　more　disfited　by　the　ropes　about　his　wrists　than　by　the　blood　that　trickled　down　his　face。　〃Any　man　who　steps　between　a　father　and　his　vengeance　asks　for　death。〃
　His　words　rang　against　Catelyn's　ears；　harsh　and　cruel　as　the　pounding　of　a　war　drum。　Her　throat　was　dry　as　bone。　I　did　this。　These　two　boys　died　so　my　daughters　might　live。
　〃I　saw　your　sons　die；　that　night　in　the　Whispering　Wood；〃　Robb　told　Lord　Karstark。　〃Tion　Frey　did　not　kill　Torrhen。　Willem　Lannister　did　not　slay　Eddard。　How　then　can　you　call　this　vengeance？　This　was　folly；　and　bloody　murder。　Your　sons　died　honorably　on　a　battlefield；　with　swords　in　their　hands。〃
　〃They　died；〃　said　Rickard　Karstark；　yielding　no　inch　of　ground。　〃The　Kingslayer　cut　them　down。　These　two　were　of　his　ilk。　Only　blood　can　pay　for　blood。〃
　〃The　blood　of　children？〃　Robb　pointed　at　the　corpses。　〃How　old　were　they？　Twelve；　thirteen？　Squires。〃
　〃Squires　die　in　every　battle。〃
　〃Die　fighting；　yes。　Tion　Frey　and　Willem　Lannister　gave　up　their　swords　in　the　Whispering　Wood。　They　were　captives；　locked　in　a　cell；　asleep；　unarmed　。　。　。　boys。　Look　at　them！〃
　Lord　Karstark　looked　instead　at　Catelyn。　〃Tell　your　mother　to　look　at　them；〃　he　said。　〃She　slew　them；　as　much　as　L〃
　Catelyn　put　a　hand　on　the　back　of　Robb's　seat。　The　hall　seemed　to　spin　about　her。　She　felt　as　though　she　might　retch。
　〃My　mother　had　naught　to　do　with　this；〃　Robb　said　angrily。　〃This　was　your　work。　Your　murder。　Your　treason。〃
　〃How　can　it　be　treason　to　kill　Lannisters；　when　it　is　not　treason　to　free　them？〃　asked　Karstark　harshly。　〃Has　Your　Grace　forgotten　that　we　are　at　war　with　Casterly　Rock？　In　war　you　kill　your　enemies。　Didn't　your　father　teach　you　that；　boy？〃
　〃Boy？〃　The　Greatjon　dealt　Rickard　Karstark　a　buffet　with　a　mailed　fist　that　sent　the　other　lord　to　his　knees。
　〃Leave　him！〃　Robb's　voice　rang　with　mand。　Umber　stepped　back　away　from　the　captive。
　Lord　Karstark　spit　out　a　broken　tooth。　〃Yes；　Lord　Umber；　leave　me　to　the　king。　He　means　to　give　me　a　scolding　before　he　forgives　me。　That's　how　he　deals　with　treason；　our　King　in　the　North。〃　He　smiled　a　wet　red　smile。　〃or　should　I　call　you　the　King　Who　Lost　the　North；　Your　Grace？〃
　The　Greatjon　snatched　a　spear　from　the　man　beside　him　and　jerked　it　to　his　shoulder。　〃Let　me　spit　him；　sire。　Let　me　open　his　belly　so　we　can　see　the　color　of　his　guts。〃
　The　doors　of　the　hall　crashed　open；　and　the　Blackfish　entered　with　water　running　from　his　cloak　and　helm。　Tully　men…at…arms　followed　him　in；　while　outside　lightning　cracked　across　the　sky　and　a　hard　black　rain　pounded　against　the　stones　of　Riverrun。　Ser　Brynden　removed　his　helm　and　went　to　one　knee。　〃Your　Grace；〃　was　all　he　said；　but　the　grimness　of　his　tone　spoke　volumes。
　〃I　will　hear　Ser　Brynden　privily；　in　the　audience　chamber。〃　Robb　rose　to　his　feet。　〃Greatjon；　keep　Lord　Karstark　here　till　I　return；　and　hang　the　other　seven。〃
　The　Greatjon　lowered　the　spear。　〃Even　the　dead　ones？〃
　〃Yes。　I　will　not　have　such　fouling　my　lord　uncle's　rivers。　Let　them　feed　the　crows。〃
　One　of　the　captives　dropped　to　his　knees。　〃Mercy；　sire。　I　killed　no　one；　I　only　stood　at　the　door　to　watch　for　guards。〃
　Robb　considered　that　a　moment。　〃Did　you　know　what　Lord　Rickard　intended？　Did　you　see　the　knives　drawn？　Did　you　hear　the　shouts；　the　screams；　the　cries　for　mercy？〃
　〃Aye；　I　did；　but　I　took　no　part。　I　was　only　the　watcher；　I　swear　it　。　。　。〃
　〃Lord　Umber；〃　said　Robb；　〃this　one　was　only　the　watcher。　Hang　him　last；　so　he　may　watch　the　others　die。　Mother；　Uncle；　with　me；　if　you　please。〃　He　turned　away　as　the　Greatjon's　men　closed　upon　the　prisoners　and　drove　them　from　the　hall　at　spearpoint。　Outside　the　thunder　crashed　and　boomed；　so　loud　it　sounded　as　if　the　castle　were　ing　down　about　their　ears。　Is　this　the　sound　of　a　kingdom　falling？　Catelyn　wondered。
　It　was　dark　within　the　audience　chamber；　but　at　least　the　sound　of　the　thunder　was　muffled　by　another　thickness　of　wall。　A　servant　entered　with　an　oil　lamp　to　light　the　fire；　but　Robb　sent　him　away　and　kept　the　lamp。　There　were　tables　and　chairs；　but　only　Edmure　sat；　and　he　rose　again　when　he　realized　that　the　others　had　remainded　standing。　Robb　took　off　his　crown　and　placed　it　on　the　table　before　him。
　The　Blackfish　shut　the　door。　〃The　Karstarks　are　gone。〃
　〃All？〃　Was　it　anger　or　despair　that　thickened　Robb's　voice　like　that？　Even　Catelyn　was　not　certain。
　〃All　the　fighting　men；〃　Ser　Brynden　replied。　〃A　few　camp　followers　and　serving　men　were　left　with　their　wounded。　We　questioned　as　many　as　we　needed；　to　be　certain　of　the　truth。　They　started　leaving　at　nightfall；　stealing　off　in　ones　and　twos　at　first；　and　then　in　larger　groups。　The　wounded　men　and　servants　were　told　to　keep　the　campfires　lit　so　no　one　would　know　they'd　gone；　but　once　the　rains　began　it　didn't　matter。〃
　〃Will　they　re…form；　away　from　Riverrun？〃　asked　Robb。
　〃No。　They've　scattered；　hunting。　Lord　Karstark　has　sworn　to　give　the　hand　of　his　maiden　daughter　to　any　man　highborn　or　low　who　brings　him　the　head　of　the　Kingslayer。〃
　Gods　be　good。　Catelyn　felt　ill　again。
　〃Near　three　hundred　riders　and　twice　as　many　mounts；　melted　away　in　the　night。〃　Robb　rubbed　his　temples；　where　the　crown　had　left　its　mark　in　the　soft　skin　above　his　ears。　〃All　the　mounted　strength　of　Karhold；　lost。〃
　Lost　by　me。　By　me；　may　the　gods　forgive　me。　Catelyn　did　not　need　to　be　a　soldier　to　grasp　the　trap　Robb　was　in。　For　the　moment　he　held　the　riverlands；　but　his　kingdom　was　surrounded　by　enemies　to　every　side　but　east；　where　Lysa　sat　aloof　on　her　mountaintop。　Even　the　Trident　was　scarce　secure　so　long　as　the　Lord　of　the　Crossing　withheld　his　allegiance。　And　now　to　lose　the　Karstarks　as　well　。　。　。
　〃No　word　of　this　must　leave　Riverrun；〃　her　brother　Edmure　said。　〃Lord　Tywin　would　。　。　。　the　Lannisters　pay　their　debts；　they　are　always　saying　that。　Mother　have　mercy；　when　he　hears。〃
　Sansa。　Catelyn's　nails　dug　into　the　soft　flesh　of　her　palms；　so　hard　did　she　close　her　hand。
　Robb　gave　Edmure　a　look　that　chilled。　〃Would　you　make　me　a　liar　as　well　as　a　murderer；　Uncle？〃
　〃We　need　speak　no　falsehood。　Only　say　nothing。　Bury　the　boys　and