grrm.astormofswords-第107部分

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　〃Yes；　but　what　if　he　won't？〃　she　insisted。
　Lord　Beric　sighed。　〃Then　I　will　send　you　to　Lady　Smallwood　for　a　time；　or　perhaps　to　mine　own　castle　of　Blackhaven。　But　that　will　not　be　necessary；　I'm　certain。　I　do　not　have　the　power　to　give　you　back　your　father；　no　more　than　Thoros　does；　but　I　can　at　least　see　that　you　are　returned　safely　to　your　mother's　arms。〃
　〃Do　you　swear？〃　she　asked　him。　Yoren　had　promised　to　take　her　home　too；　only　he'd　gotten　killed　instead。
　〃On　my　honor　as　a　knight；〃　the　lightning　lord　said　solemnly。
　It　was　raining　when　Lem　returned　to　the　brewhouse；　muttering　curses　as　water　ran　off　his　yellow　cloak　to　puddle　on　the　floor。　Anguy　and　Jack…Be…Lucky　sat　by　the　door　rolling　dice；　but　no　matter　which　game　they　played　one…eyed　Jack　had　no　luck　at　all。　Tom　Sevenstrings　replaced　a　string　on　his　woodharp；　and　sang　〃The　Mother's　Tears；〃　〃When　Willum's　Wife　Was　Wet；〃　〃Lord　Harte　Rode　Out　on　a　Rainy　Day；〃　and　then　〃The　Rains　of　Castamere。〃
　
　And　who　are　you；　the　proud　lord　said；　that　I　must　bow　so　low？
　Only　a　cat　of　a　different　coat；　that's　all　the　truth　I　know
　In　a　coat　of　gold　or　a　coat　of　red；　a　lion　still　has　claws；
　And　mine　are　long　and　sharp；　my　lord；　as　long　and　sharp　as　yours。
　And　so　he　spoke；　and　so　he　spoke；　that　lord　of　Castamere；
　But　now　the　rains　weep　o'er　his　hall；　with　no　one　there　to　hear。
　Yes　now　the　rains　weep　o'er　his　hall；　and　not　a　soul　to　hear。
　
　Finally　Tom　ran　out　of　rain　songs　and　put　away　his　harp。　Then　there　was　only　the　sound　of　the　rain　itself　beating　down　on　the　slate　roof　of　the　brewhouse。　The　dice　game　ended；　and　Arya　stood　on　one　leg　and　then　the　other　listening　to　Merrit　plain　about　his　horse　throwing　a　shoe。
　〃I　could　shoe　him　for　you；〃　said　Gendry；　all　of　a　sudden。　〃I　was　only　a　'prentice；　but　my　master　said　my　hand　was　made　to　hold　a　hammer。　I　can　shoe　horses；　close　up　rents　in　mail；　and　beat　the　dents　from　plate。　I　bet　I　could　make　swords　too。〃
　〃What　are　you　saying；　lad？〃　asked　Harwin。
　〃I'll　smith　for　you。〃　Gendry　went　to　one　knee　before　Lord　Beric。　〃If　you'll　have　me；　m'lord；　I　could　be　of　use。　I've　made　tools　and　knives　and　once　I　made　a　helmet　that　wasn't　so　bad。　One　of　the　Mountain's　men　stole　it　from　me　when　we　was　taken。〃
　Arya　bit　her　lip。　He　means　to　leave　me　too。
　〃You　would　do　better　serving　Lord　Tully　at　Riverrun；〃　said　Lord　Beric。　〃I　cannot　pay　for　your　work。〃
　〃No　one　ever　did。　I　want　a　forge；　and　food　to　eat；　some　place　I　can　sleep。　That's　enough；　m'lord。〃
　〃A　smith　can　find　a　wele　most　anywhere。　A　skilled　armorer　even　more　so。　Why　would　you　choose　to　stay　with　us？〃
　Arya　watched　Gendry　screw　up　his　stupid　face；　thinking。　〃At　the　hollow　hill；　what　you　said　about　being　King　Robert's　men；　and　brothers；　I　liked　that。　I　liked　that　you　gave　the　Hound　a　trial。　Lord　Bolton　just　hanged　folk　or　took　off　their　heads；　and　Lord　Tywin　and　Ser　Amory　were　the　same。　I'd　sooner　smith　for　you。〃
　〃We　got　plenty　of　mail　needs　mending；　m'lord；〃　Jack　reminded　Lord　Beric。　〃Most　we　took　off　the　dead；　and　there's　holes　where　the　death　came　through。〃
　〃You　must　be　a　lackwit；　boy；〃　said　Lem。　〃We're　outlaws。　Lowborn　scum；　most　of　us；　excepting　his　lordship。　Don't　think　it'll　be　like　Tom's　fool　songs　neither。　You　won't　be　stealing　no　kisses　from　a　princess；　nor　riding　in　no　tourneys　in　stolen　armor。　You　join　us；　you'll　end　with　your　neck　in　a　noose；　or　your　head　mounted　up　above　some　castle　gate。〃
　〃It's　no　more　than　they'd　do　for　you；〃　said　Gendry。
　〃Aye；　that's　so；〃　said　Jack…Be…Lucky　cheerfully。　〃The　crows　await　us　all；　M'lord；　the　boy　seems　brave　enough；　and　we　do　have　need　of　what　he　brings　us。　Take　him；　says　Jack。〃
　〃And　quick；〃　suggested　Harwin；　chuckling；　〃before　the　fever　passes　and　he　es　back　to　his　senses。〃
　A　wan　smile　crossed　Lord　Beric's　lips。　〃Thoros；　my　sword。〃
　This　time　the　lightning　lord　did　not　set　the　blade　afire；　but　merely　laid　it　light　on　Gendry's　shoulder。　〃Gendry；　do　you　swear　before　the　eyes　of　gods　and　men　to　defend　those　who　cannot　defend　themselves；　to　protect　all　women　and　children；　to　obey　your　captains；　your　liege　lord；　and　your　king；　to　fight　bravely　when　needed　and　do　such　other　tasks　as　are　laid　upon　you；　however　hard　or　humble　or　dangerous　they　may　be？〃
　〃I　do；　m'lord。〃
　The　marcher　lord　moved　the　sword　from　the　right　shoulder　to　the　left；　and　said；　〃Arise　Ser　Gendry；　knight　of　the　hollow　hill；　and　be　wele　to　our　brotherhood。〃
　From　the　door　came　rough；　rasping　laughter。
　The　rain　was　running　off　him。　His　burned　arm　was　wrapped　in　leaves　and　linen　and　bound　tight　against　his　chest　by　a　crude　rope　sling；　but　the　older　burns　that　marked　his　face　glistened　black　and　slick　in　the　glow　of　their　little　fire。　〃Making　more　knights；　Dondarrion？〃　the　intruder　said　in　a　growl。　〃I　ought　to　kill　you　all　over　again　for　that。〃
　Lord　Beric　faced　him　coolly。　〃I'd　hoped　we'd　seen　the　last　of　you；　Clegane。　How　did　you　e　to　find　us？〃
　〃It　wasn't　hard。　You　made　enough　bloody　smoke　to　be　seen　in　Oldtown。〃
　〃What's　bee　of　the　sentries　I　posted？〃
　Clegane's　mouth　twitched。　〃Those　two　blind　men？　Might　be　I　killed　them　both。　What　would　you　do　if　I　had？〃
　Anguy　strung　his　bow。　Notch　was　doing　the　same。　〃Do　you　wish　to　die　so　very　much；　Sandor？〃　asked　Thoros。　〃You　must　be　mad　or　drunk　to　follow　us　here。〃
　〃Drunk　on　rain？　You　didn't　leave　me　enough　gold　to　buy　a　cup　of　wine；　you　whoresons。〃
　Anguy　drew　an　arrow。　〃We're　outlaws。　Outlaws　steal。　It's　in　the　songs；　if　you　ask　nice　Tom　may　sing　you　one。　Be　thankful　we　didn't　kill　you。〃
　〃e　try　it；　Archer。　I'll　take　that　quiver　off　you　and　shove　those　arrows　up　your　freckly　little　arse。〃
　Anguy　raised　his　longbow；　but　Lord　Beric　lifted　a　hand　before　he　could　loose。　〃Why　did　you　e　here；　Clegane？〃
　〃To　get　back　what's　mine。〃
　〃Your　gold？〃
　〃What　else？　It　wasn't　for　the　pleasure　of　looking　at　your　face；　Dondarrion；　I'll　tell　you　that。　You're　uglier　than　me　now。　And　a　robber　knight　besides；　it　seems。〃
　〃I　gave　you　a　note　for　your　gold；〃　Lord　Beric　said　calmly。　〃A　promise　to　pay；　when　the　war's　done。〃
　〃I　wiped　my　arse　with　your　paper。　I　want　the　gold。〃
　〃We　don't　have　it。　I　sent　it　south　with　Greenbeard　and　the　Huntsman；　to　buy　grain　and　seed　across　the　Mander。〃
　〃To　feed　all　them　whose　crops　you　burned；〃　said　Gendry。
　〃Is　that　the　tale；　now？〃　Sandor　Clegane　laughed　again。　〃As　it　happens；　that's　just　what　I　meant　to　do　with　it。　Feed　a　bunch　of　ugly　peasants　and　their　poxy　whelps。〃
　〃You're　lying；〃　said　Gendry。
　〃The　boy　has　a　mouth　on　him；　I　see。　Why　believe　them　and　not　me？　Couldn't　be　my　face；　could　it？〃　Clegane　glanced　at　Arya。　〃You　going　to　make　her　a　knight　too；　Dondarrion？　The　first　eight…year…old　girl　knight？〃
　〃I'm　twelve；〃　Arya　lied　loudly；　〃and　I　could　be　a　knight　if　I　wanted。　I　could　have　killed　you　too；　only　Lem　took　my　knife。〃　Remembering　that　still　made　her　angry。
　〃plain　to　Lem；　not　me。　Then　tuck　your　tail　between　your　legs　and　run。　Do　you　know　what　dogs　do　to　wolves？〃
　〃Next　time　I　will　kill　you。　I'll　kill　your　brother　too！〃
　〃No。〃　His　dark　eyes　narrowed。　〃That　you　won't。〃　He　turned　back　to　Lord　Beric。　〃Say；　make　my　horse　a　knight。　He　never　shits　in　the　hall　and　doesn't　kick　more　than　most；　he　deserves　to　be　knighted。　Unless　you　meant　to　steal　him　too。〃
　〃Best　climb　on　that　horse　and　go；〃　warned　Lem。
　〃I'll　go　with　my　gold。　Your　own　god　said　I'm　guiltless　…
　〃The　Lord　of　Light　gave　you　back　your　life；〃　declared　Thoros　of　Myr。　〃He　did　not　proclaim　you　Baelor　the　Blessed　e　again。〃　The　red　priest　unsheathed　his　sword；　and　Arya　saw　that　Jack　and　Merrit　had　drawn　as　well。　Lord　Beric　still　held　the　blade　he'd　used　to　dub　Gendry。　Maybe　this　time　they'll　kill　him。
　The　Hound's　mouth　gave　another　twitch。　〃You're　no　more　than　mon　thieves。〃
　Lem　glowered。　〃Your　lion　friends　ride　into　some　village；　take　all　the　food　and　every　coin　they　find；　and　call　it　foraging。　The　wolves　as　well；　so　why　not　us？　No　one　robbed　you；　dog。　You　just　been　good　and　foraged。〃　Sandor　Clegane　looked　at　their　faces；　every　one；　as　if　he　were　trying　to　mit　them　all　to　memory。　Then　he　walked　back　out　into　the　darkness　and　the　pouring　rain　from　whence　he'd　e；　with　never　another　word。　The　outlaws　waited；　wondering　。　。　。
　〃I　best　go　see　what　he　did　to　our　sentries。〃　Harwin　took　a　wary　look　out　the　door　before　he　left；　to　make　certain　the　Hound　was　not　lurking　just　outside。
　〃How'd　that　bloody　bastard　get　all　that　gold　anyhow？〃　Lem　Lemoncloak　said；　to　break　the　tension。
　Anguy　shrugged。　〃He　won　the　Hand's　tourney。　In　King's　Landing。〃　The　bowman　grinned。　〃I　won　a　fair　fortune　myself；　but　then　I　met　Dancy；　Jayde；　and　Alayaya。　They　taught　me　what　roast　swan　tastes　like；　and　how　to　bathe　in　Arbor　wine。〃
　〃Pissed　it　all　away；　did　you？〃　laughed　Harwin。
　〃Not　all。　I　bought　these　boots；　and　this　excellent　dagger。〃
　〃You　ought　t'have　bought　some　land　and　made　one　o'　them　roast　swan　girls　an　honest　woman；〃　said　Jack…Be…Lucky。　〃Raised　yourself　a　crop　o'　turnips　and　a　crop　o'　sons。〃
　〃Warrior　defend　me！　What　a　waste　that　would　have　been；　to　turn　my　gold　to　turnips。〃
　〃I　like　turnips；〃　said　Jack；　aggrieved。　〃I　could　do　with　some　mashed　turnips　right　now。〃
　Thoros　of　Myr　paid　no　heed　to　the　banter。　〃The　Hound　has　lost　more　than　a　few　bags　of　coin；〃　he　mused。　〃He　has　lost　his　master　and　kennel　as　well。　He　cannot　go　back　to　the　Lannisters；　the　Young　Wolf　would　never　have　him；　nor　would　his　brother　be　like　to　wele　him。　That　gold　was　all　he　had　left；　it　seems　to　me。〃
　〃Bloody　hell；〃　said　Watty　the　Miller。　〃He'll　e　murder　us　in　our　sleep　for　sure；　then。〃
　〃No。〃　Lord　Beric　had　sheathed　his　sword。　〃Sandor　Clegane　would　kill　us　all　gladly；　but　not　in　our　sleep。　Anguy；　on　the　morrow；　take　the　rear　with　Beardless　Dick。　If　you　see　Clegane　still　sniffing　after　us；　kill　his　horse。〃
　〃That's　a　good　horse；〃　Anguy　protested。
　〃Aye；〃　said　Lem。　〃It's　the　bloody　rider　we　should　be　killing。　We　could　use　that　horse。〃
　〃I'm　with　Lem；〃　Notch　said。　〃Let　me　feather　the　dog　a　few　times；　discourage　him　some。〃
　Lord　Beric　shook　his　head。　〃Clegane　won　his　life　beneath　the　hollow　hill。　I　will　not　rob　him　of　it。〃
　〃My　lord　is　wise；〃　Thoros　told　the　others。　〃Brothers；　a　trial　by　battle　is　a　holy　thing。　You　heard　me　ask　R'hllor　to　take　a　hand；　and　you　saw　his　fiery　finge