grrm.astormofswords-第93节

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　Now　this　is　interesting。　Jaime　twisted　to　see　how　Brienne　might　take　the　accusation；　but　the　wench　was　as　singleminded　as　a　mule　with　a　bit　between　his　teeth。　〃I　know　of　no　betrayal。〃　She　chafed　at　the　ropes　around　her　wrists。　〃Lady　Catelyn　manded　me　to　deliver　Larmister　to　his　brother　at　King's　Landing…〃
　〃She　was　trying　to　drown　him　when　we　found　them；〃　said　Urswyck　the　Faithful。
　She　reddened。　〃In　anger　I　forgot　myself；　but　I　would　never　have　killed　him。　if　he　dies　the　Lannisters　will　put　my　lady's　daughters　to　the　sword。〃
　Ser　Aenys　was　unmoved。　〃Why　should　that　trouble　us？〃
　〃Ransom　him　back　to　Riverrun；〃　urged　Ser　Danwell。
　〃Casterly　Rock　has　more　gold；〃　one　brother　objected。
　〃Kill　him！〃　said　another。　〃His　head　for　Ned　Stark's！〃
　Shagwell　the　Fool　somersaulted　to　the　foot　of　the　steps　in　his　grey　and　pink　motley　and　began　to　sing。　〃There　once　was　a　lion　who　danced　with　a　bear；　oh　my；　oh　my　。　。　。〃
　〃Thilenth；　fool。〃　Vargo　Hoat　cuffed　the　man。　〃The　Kingthlayer　ith　not　for　the　bear。　He　ith　mine。〃
　〃He　is　no　one's　should　he　die。〃　Roose　Bolton　spoke　so　softly　that　men　quieted　to　hear　him。　〃And　pray　recall；　my　lord；　you　are　not　master　of　Harrenhal　till　I　march　north。〃
　Fever　made　Jaime　as　fearless　as　he　was　lightheaded。　〃Can　this　be　the　Lord　of　the　Dreadfort？　When　last　I　heard；　my　father　had　sent　you　scampering　off　with　your　tail　betwixt　your　legs。　When　did　you　stop　running　my　lord？〃
　Bolton's　silence　was　a　hundred　times　more　threatening　than　Vargo　Hoat's　slobbering　malevolence。　Pale　as　morning　mist；　his　eyes　concealed　more　than　they　told。　Jaime　misliked　those　eyes。　They　reminded　him　of　the　day　at　King's　Landing　when　Ned　Stark　had　found　him　seated　on　the　Iron　Throne。　The　Lord　of　the　Dreadfort　finally　pursed　his　lips　and　said；　〃You　have　lost　a　hand。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Jaime；　〃I　have　it　here；　hanging　round　my　neck。〃
　Roose　Bolton　reached　down；　snapped　the　cord；　and　flung　the　hand　at　Hoat。　〃Take　this　away。　The　sight　of　it　offends　me。〃
　〃I　will　thend　it　to　hith　lord　father。　I　will　tell　him　he　muth　pay　one　hundred　thouthand　dragonth；　or　we　thall　return　the　Kingthlayer　to　him　pieth　by　pieth。　And　when　we　hath　hith　gold；　we　thall　deliver　Ther　Jaime　to　Karthark；　and　collect　a　maiden　too！〃　A　roar　of　laughter　went　up　from　the　Brave　panions。
　〃A　fine　plan；〃　said　Roose　Bolton；　the　same　way　he　might　say；　〃A　fine　wine；〃　to　a　dinner　panion；　〃though　Lord　Karstark　will　not　be　giving　you　his　daughter。　King　Robb　has　shortened　him　by　a　head；　for　treason　and　murder。　As　to　Lord　Tywin；　he　remains　at　King's　Landing；　and　there　he　will　stay　till　the　new　year；　when　his　grandson　takes　for　bride　a　daughter　of　Highgarden。〃
　〃Winterfell；〃　said　Brienne。　〃You　mean　Winterfell。　King　Joffrey　is　betrothed　to　Sansa　Stark。〃
　〃No　longer。　The　Battle　of　the　Blackwater　changed　all。　The　rose　and　the　lion　joined　there；　to　shatter　Stannis　Baratheon's　host　and　burn　his　fleet　to　ashes。〃
　I　warned　you；　Urswyck；　Jaime　thought；　and　you；　goat。　When　you　bet　against　the　lions；　you　lose　more　than　your　purse。　〃Is　there　word　of　my　sister？〃　he　asked。
　〃She　is　well。　As　is　your　。　。　。　nephew。〃　Bolton　paused　before　he　said　nephew；　a　pause　that　said　I　know。　〃Your　brother　also　lives；　though　he　took　a　wound　in　the　battle。〃　He　beckoned　to　a　dour　northman　in　a　studded　brigantine。　〃Escort　Ser　Jaime　to　Qybum。　And　unbind　this　woman's　hands。〃　As　the　rope　between　Brienne's　wrists　was　slashed　in　two；　he　said；　〃Pray　forgive　us；　my　lady。　In　such　troubled　times　it　is　hard　to　know　friend　from　foe。〃
　Brienne　rubbed　inside　her　wrist　where　the　hemp　had　scraped　her　skin　bloody。　〃My　lord；　these　men　tried　to　rape　me。〃
　〃Did　they？〃　Lord　Bolton　turned　his　pale　eyes　on　Vargo　Hoat。　〃I　am　displeased。　By　that；　and　this　of　Ser　Jaime's　hand。〃
　There　were　five　northmen　and　as　many　Freys　in　the　yard　for　every　Brave　panion。　The　goat　might　not　be　as　clever　as　some；　but　he　could　count　that　high　at　least。　He　held　his　tongue。
　〃They　took　my　sword；〃　Brienne　said；　〃my　armor　。　。　。〃
　〃You　shall　have　no　need　of　armor　here；　my　lady；〃　Lord　Bolton　told　her。　〃In　Harrenhal；　you　are　under　my　protection。　Amabel；　find　suitable　rooms　for　the　Lady　Brienne。　Walton；　you　will　see　to　Ser　Jaime　at　once。〃　He　did　not　wait　for　an　answer；　but　turned　and　climbed　the　steps；　his　fur…trimmed　cloak　swirling　behind。　Jaime　had　only　enough　time　to　exchange　a　quick　look　with　Brienne　before　they　were　marched　away；　separately。
　In　the　maester's　chambers　beneath　the　rookery；　a　grey…haired；　fatherly　man　named　Qybum　sucked　in　his　breath　when　he　cut　away　the　linen　from　the　stump　of　Jaime's　hand。
　〃That　bad？　Will　I　die？〃
　Qybum　pushed　at　the　wound　with　a　finger；　and　wrinkled　his　nose　at　the　gush　of　pus。　〃No。　Though　in　a　few　more　days　。　。　。〃　He　sliced　away　Jaime's　sleeve。　〃The　corruption　has　spread。　See　how　tender　the　flesh　is？　I　must　cut　it　all　away。　The　safest　course　would　be　to　take　the　arm　off。〃
　〃Then　you'll　die；〃　Jaime　promised。　〃Clean　the　stump　and　sew　it　up。　I'll　take　my　chances。〃
　Qybum　frowned。　〃I　can　leave　you　the　upper　arm；　make　the　cut　at　your　elbow；　but　。　。　。〃
　〃Take　any　part　of　my　arm；　and　you'd　best　chop　off　the　other　one　as　well；　or　I'll　strangle　you　with　it　afterward。〃
　Qybum　looked　in　his　eyes。　Whatever　he　saw　there　gave　him　pause。　〃Very　well。　I　will　cut　away　the　rotten　flesh；　no　more。　Try　to　burn　out　the　corruption　with　boiling　wine　and　a　poultice　of　nettle；　mustard　seed；　and　bread　mold。　Mayhaps　that　will　suffice。　It　is　on　your　head。　You　will　want　milk　of　the　poppy…〃
　〃No。〃　Jaime　dare　not　let　himself　be　put　to　sleep；　he　might　be　short　an　arm　when　he　woke；　no　matter　what　the　man　said。
　Qyburn　was　taken　aback。　〃There　will　be　pain。〃
　〃I'll　scream。〃
　〃A　great　deal　of　pain。〃
　〃I'll　scream　very　loudly。〃
　〃Will　you　take　some　wine　at　least？〃
　〃Does　the　High　Septon　ever　pray？〃
　〃Of　that　I　am　not　certain。　I　shall　bring　the　wine。　Lie　back；　I　must　needs　strap　down　your　arm。〃
　With　a　bowl　and　a　sharp　blade；　Qyburn　cleaned　the　stump　while　Jaime　gulped　down　strongwine；　spilling　it　all　over　himself　in　the　process。　His　left　hand　did　not　seem　to　know　how　to　find　his　mouth；　but　there　was　something　to　be　said　for　that。　The　smell　of　wine　in　his　sodden　beard　helped　disguise　the　stench　of　pus。
　Nothing　helped　when　the　time　came　to　pare　away　the　rotten　flesh。　Jaime　did　scream　then；　and　pounded　his　table　with　his　good　fist；　over　and　over　and　over　again。　He　screamed　again　when　Qyburn　poured　boiling　wine　over　what　remained　of　his　stump。　Despite　all　his　vows　and　all　his　fears；　he　lost　consciousness　for　a　time。　When　he　woke；　the　maester　was　sewing　at　his　arm　with　needle　and　catgut。　〃I　left　a　flap　of　skin　to　fold　back　over　your　wrist。〃
　〃You　have　done　this　before；〃　muttered　Jaime；　weakly。　He　could　taste　blood　in　his　mouth　where　he'd　bitten　his　tongue。
　〃No　man　who　serves　with　Vargo　Hoat　is　a　stranger　to　stumps。　He　makes　them　wherever　he　goes。〃
　Qyburn　did　not　look　a　monster；　Jaime　thought。　He　was　spare　and　soft…spoken；　with　warm　brown　eyes。　〃How　does　a　maester　e　to　ride　with　the　Brave　panions？〃
　〃The　Citadel　took　my　chain。〃　Qyburn　put　away　his　needle。　〃I　should　do　something　about　that　wound　above　your　eye　as　well。　The　flesh　is　badly　inflamed。〃
　Jaime　closed　his　eyes　and　let　the　wine　and　Qyburn　do　their　work。　〃Tell　me　of　the　battle。〃　As　keeper　of　Harrenhal's　ravens；　Qyburn　would　have　been　the　first　to　hear　the　news。
　〃Lord　Stannis　was　caught　between　your　father　and　the　fire。　It's　said　the　Imp　set　the　river　itself　aflame。〃
　Jaime　saw　green　flames　reaching　up　into　the　sky　higher　than　the　tallest　towers；　as　burning　men　screamed　in　the　streets。　Ihave　dreamed　this　dream　before。　it　was　almost　funny；　but　there　was　no　one　to　share　the　joke。
　〃Open　your　eye。〃　Qyburn　soaked　a　cloth　in　warm　water　and　dabbed　at　the　crust　of　dried　blood。　The　eyelid　was　swollen；　but　Jaime　found　he　could　force　it　open　halfway。　Qyburn's　face　loomed　above。　〃How　did　you　e　by　this　one？〃　the　maester　asked。
　〃A　wench's　gift。〃
　〃Rough　wooing；　my　lord？〃
　〃This　wench　is　bigger　than　me　and　uglier　than　you。　You'd　best　see　to　her　as　well。　She's　still　limping　on　the　leg　I　pricked　when　we　fought。〃
　〃I　will　ask　after　her。　What　is　this　woman　to　you？〃
　〃My　protector。〃　Jaime　had　to　laugh；　no　matter　how　it　hurt。
　〃I'll　grind　some　herbs　you　can　mix　with　wine　to　bring　down　your　fever。　e　back　on　the　morrow　and　I'll　put　a　leech　on　your　eye　to　drain　the　bad　blood。〃
　〃A　leech。　Lovely。〃
　〃Lord　Bolton　is　very　fond　of　leeches；〃　Qyburn　said　primly。
　〃Yes；〃　said　Jaime。　〃He　would　be。〃
　
　CHAPTER　32
　TYRION
　
　Nothing　remained　beyond　the　King's　Gate　but　mud　and　ashes　and　bits　of　burned　bone；　yet　already　there　were　people　living　in　the　shadow　of　the　city　walls；　and　others　selling　fish　from　barrows　and　barrels。　Tyrion　felt　their　eyes　on　him　as　he　rode　past；　chilly　eyes；　angry　and　unsympathetic。　No　one　dared　speak　to　him；　or　try　to　bar　his　way；　not　with　Bronn　beside　him　in　oiled　black　mail。　If　I　were　alone；　though；　they　would　pull　me　down　and　smash　my　face　in　with　a　cobblestone；　as　they　did　for　Preston　Greenfield。
　〃They　e　back　quicker　than　the　rats；〃　he　plained。　〃We　burned　them　out　once；　you'd　think　they'd　take　that　as　a　lesson。〃
　〃Give　me　a　few　dozen　gold　cloaks　and　I'll　kill　them　all；〃　said　Bronn。　〃Once　they're　dead　they　don