grrm.astormofswords-第122部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　I　have　him。　〃Why；　how　much　would　you　want？〃
　And　by　the　time　the　sun　came　up；　they　were　halfway　back　to　Harrenhal。
　Jaime　pushed　his　horse　much　harder　than　he　had　the　day　before；　and　Steelshanks　and　the　northmen　were　forced　to　match　his　pace。　Even　so；　it　was　midday　before　they　reached　the　castle　on　the　lake。　Beneath　a　darkening　sky　that　threatened　rain；　the　immense　walls　and　five　great　towers　stood　black　and　ominous。　It　looks　so　dead。　The　walls　were　empty；　the　gates　closed　and　barred。　But　high　above　the　barbican；　a　single　banner　hung　limp。　The　black　goat　of　Qohor；　he　knew。　Jaime　cupped　his　hands　to　shout。　〃You　in　there！　Open　your　gates；　or　I'll　kick　them　down！〃
　It　was　not　until　Qyburn　and　Steelshanks　added　their　voices　that　a　head　finally　appeared　on　the　battlements　above　them。　He　goggled　down　at　them；　then　vanished。　A　short　time　later；　they　heard　the　portcullis　being　drawn　upward。　The　gates　swung　open；　and　Jaime　Lannister　spurred　his　horse　through　the　walls；　scarcely　glancing　at　the　murder　holes　as　he　passed　beneath　them。　He　had　been　worried　that　the　goat　might　not　admit　them；　but　it　seemed　as　if　the　Brave　panions　still　thought　of　them　as　allies。　Fools。
　The　outer　ward　was　deserted；　only　the　long　slate…roofed　stables　showed　any　signs　of　life；　and　it　was　not　horses　that　interested　Jaime　just　then。　He　reined　up　and　looked　about。　He　could　hear　sounds　from　somewhere　behind　the　Tower　of　Ghosts；　and　men　shouting　in　half　a　dozen　tongues。　Steelshanks　and　Qyburn　rode　up　on　either　side。　〃Get　what　you　came　back　for；　and　we'll　be　gone　again；〃　said　Walton。　〃I　want　no　trouble　with　the　Mummers。〃
　〃Tell　your　men　to　keep　their　hands　on　their　sword　hilts；　and　the　Mummers　will　want　no　trouble　with　you。　Two　to　one；　remember？〃　Jaime's　head　jerked　round　at　the　sound　of　a　distant　roar；　faint　but　ferocious。　It　echoed　off　the　walls　of　Harrenhal；　and　the　laughter　swelled　up　like　the　sea。　All　of　a　sudden；　he　knew　what　was　happening。　Have　we　e　too　late？　His　stomach　did　a　lurch；　and　he　slammed　his　spurs　into　his　horse；　galloping　across　the　outer　ward；　beneath　an　arched　stone　bridge；　around　the　Wailing　Tower；　and　through　the　Flowstone　Yard。
　They　had　her　in　the　bear　pit。
　King　Harren　the　Black　had　wished　to　do　even　his　bear…baiting　in　lavish　style。　The　pit　was　ten　yards　across　and　five　yards　deep；　walled　in　stone；　floored　with　sand；　and　encircled　by　six　tiers　of　marble　benches。　The　Brave　panions　filled　only　a　quarter　of　the　seats；　Jaime　saw　as　he　swung　down　clumsily　from　his　horse。　The　sellswords　were　so　fixed　on　the　spectacle　beneath　that　only　those　across　the　pit　noticed　their　arrival。
　Brienne　wore　the　same　ill…fitting　gown　she'd　worn　to　supper　with　Roose　Bolton。　No　shield；　no　breastplate；　no　chainmail；　not　even　boiled　leather；　only　pink　satin　and　Myrish　lace。　Maybe　the　goat　thought　she　was　more　amusing　when　dressed　as　a　woman。　Half　her　gown　was　hanging　off　in　tatters；　and　her　left　arm　dripped　blood　where　the　bear　had　raked　her。
　At　least　they　gave　her　a　sword。　The　wench　held　it　one…handed；　moving　sideways；　trying　to　put　some　distance　between　her　and　the　bear。　That's　no　good；　the　ring's　too　small。　She　needed　to　attack；　to　make　a　quick　end　to　it。　Good　steel　was　a　match　for　any　bear。　But　the　wench　seemed　afraid　to　close。　The　Mummers　showered　her　with　insults　and　obscene　suggestions。
　〃This　is　none　of　our　concern；〃　Steelshanks　warned　Jaime。　〃Lord　Bolton　said　the　wench　was　theirs；　to　do　with　as　they　liked。〃
　〃Her　name's　Brienne。〃　Jaime　descended　the　steps；　past　a　dozen　startled　sellswords。　Vargo　Hoat　had　taken　the　lord's　box　in　the　lowest　tier。　〃Lord　Vargo；〃　he　called　over　the　shouts。
　The　Qohorik　almost　spilt　his　wine。　〃Kingthlayer？〃　The　left　side　of　his　face　was　bandaged　clumsily；　the　linen　over　his　ear　spotted　with　blood。
　〃Pull　her　out　of　there。〃
　〃Thay　out　of　thith；　Kingthlayer；　unleth　you'd　like　another　thump。〃
　He　waved　a　wine　cup。　〃Your　thee…mooth　bit　oth　my　ear。　Thmall　wonder　her　father　will　not　ranthom　thuch　a　freak。〃
　A　roar　turned　Jaime　back　around。　The　bear　was　eight　feet　tall。　Gregor　Clegane　with　a　pelt；　he　thought；　though　likely　smarter。　The　beast　did　not　have　the　reach　the　Mountain　had　with　that　monster　greatsword　of　his；　though。
　Bellowing　in　fury；　the　bear　showed　a　mouth　full　of　great　yellow　teeth；　then　fell　back　to　all　fours　and　went　straight　at　Brienne。　There's　your　chance；　Jaime　thought。　Strike！　Now！
　Instead；　she　poked　out　ineffectually　with　the　point　of　her　blade。　The　bear　recoiled；　then　came　on；　rumbling。　Brienne　slid　to　her　left　and　poked　again　at　the　bear's　face。　This　time　he　lifted　a　paw　to　swat　the　sword　aside。
　He's　wary；　Jaime　realized。　He's　gone　up　against　other　men。　He　knows　swords　and　spears　can　hurt　him。　But　that　won't　keep　him　off　her　long。　〃Kill　him！〃　he　shouted；　but　his　voice　was　lost　amongst　all　the　other　shouts。　If　Brienne　heard；　she　gave　no　sign。　She　moved　around　the　pit；　keeping　the　wall　at　her　back。　Too　close。　If　the　bear　pins　her　by　the　wall　。　。　。
　The　beast　turned　clumsily；　too　far　and　too　fast。　Quick　as　a　cat；　Brienne　changed　direction。　There's　the　wench　I　remember。　She　leapt　in　to　land　a　cut　across　the　bear's　back。　Roaring；　the　beast　went　up　on　his　hind　legs　again。　Brienne　scrambled　back　away。　Where's　the　blood？　Then　suddenly　he　understood。　Jaime　rounded　on　Hoat。　〃You　gave　her　a　tourney　sword。〃
　The　goat　brayed　laughter；　spraying　him　with　wine　and　spittle。　〃of　courth。〃
　〃I'll　pay　her　bloody　ransom。　Gold；　sapphires；　whatever　you　want。　Pull　her　out　of　there。〃
　〃You　want　her？　Go　get　her。〃
　So　he　did。
　He　put　his　good　hand　on　the　marble　rail　and　vaulted　over；　rolling　as　he　hit　the　sand。　The　bear　turned　at　the　thump；　sniffing；　watching　this　new　intruder　warily。　Jaime　scrambled　to　one　knee。　Well；　what　in　seven　hells　do　I　do　now？　He　filled　his　fist　with　sand。　〃Kingslayer？〃　he　heard　Brienne　say；　astonished。
　〃Jaime。〃　He　uncoiled；　flinging　the　sand　at　the　bear's　face。　The　bear　mauled　the　air　and　roared　like　blazes。
　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　〃Something　stupid。　Get　behind　me。〃　He　circled　toward　her；　putting　himself　between　Brienne　and　the　bear。
　〃You　get　behind。　I　have　the　sword。〃
　〃A　swordwith　no　point　and　no　edge。　Get　behindme！〃　He　saw　something　half…buried　in　the　sand；　and　snatched　it　up　with　his　good　hand。　It　proved　to　be　a　human　jawbone；　with　some　greenish　flesh　still　clinging　to　it；　crawling　with　maggots。　Charming；　he　thought；　wondering　whose　face　he　held。　The　bear　was　edging　closer；　so　Jaime　whipped　his　arm　around　and　flung　bone；　meat；　and　maggots　at　the　beast's　head。　He　missed　by　a　good　yard。　I　ought　to　lop　my　left　hand　off　as　well；　for　all　the　good　it　does　me。
　Brienne　tried　to　dart　around；　but　he　kicked　her　legs　out　from　under　her。　She　fell　in　the　sand；　clutching　the　useless　sword。　Jaime　straddled　her；　and　the　bear　came　charging。
　There　was　a　deep　twang；　and　a　feathered　shaft　sprouted　suddenly　beneath　the　beast's　left　eye。　Blood　and　slaver　ran　from　his　open　mouth；　and　another　bolt　took　him　in　the　leg。　The　bear　roared；　reared。　He　saw　Jaime　and　Brienne　again　and　lumbered　toward　them。　More　crossbows　fired；　the　quarrels　ripping　through　fur　and　flesh。　At　such　short　range；　the　bowmen　could　hardly　miss。　The　shafts　hit　as　hard　as　maces；　but　the　bear　took　another　step。　The　poor　dumb　brave　brute。　When　the　beast　swiped　at　him；　he　danced　aside；　shouting；　kicking　sand。　The　bear　turned　to　follow　his　tormentor；　and　took　another　two　quarrels　in　the　back。　He　gave　one　last　rumbling　growl；　settled　back　onto　his　haunches；　stretched　out　on　the　bloodstained　sand；　and　died。
　Brienne　got　back　to　her　knees；　clutching　the　sword　and　breathing　short　ragged　breaths。　Steelshanks's　archers　were　winding　their　crossbows　and　reloading　while　the　Bloody　Mummers　shouted　curses　and　threats　at　them。　Rorge　and　Three　Toes　had　swords　out；　Jaime　saw；　and　Zollo　was　uncoiling　his　whip。
　〃You　thlew　my　bear！〃　Vargo　Hoat　shrieked。
　〃And　I'll　serve　you　the　same　if　you　give　me　trouble；〃　Steelshanks　threw　back。　〃We're　taking　the　wench。〃
　〃Her　name　is　Brienne；〃　Jaime　said。　〃Brienne；　the　maid　of　Tarth。　You　are　still　maiden；　I　hope？〃
　Her　broad　homely　face　turned　red。　〃Yes。〃
　〃Oh；　good；〃　Jaime　said。　〃I　only　rescue　maidens。〃　To　Hoat　he　said；　〃You'll　have　your　ransom。　For　both　of　us。　A　Lannister　pays　his　debts。　Now　fetch　some　ropes　and　get　us　out　of　here。〃
　〃Bugger　that；〃　Rorge　growled。　〃Kill　them；　Hoat。　Or　you'll　bloody　well　wish　you　had！〃
　The　Qohorik　hesitated。　Half　his　men　were　drunk；　the　northmen　stone　sober；　and　there　were　twice　as　many。　Some　of　the　crossbowmen　had　reloaded　by　now。　〃Pull　them　out；〃　Hoat　said；　and　then；　to　Jaime；　〃I　hath　chothen　to　be　merthiful。　Tell　your　lord　father。〃
　〃I　will；　my　lord。〃　Not　that　it　will　do　you　any　good。
　Not　until　they　were　half　a　league　from　Harrenhal　and　out　of　range　of　archers　on　the　walls　did　Steelshanks　Walton　let　his　anger　show。　〃Are　you　mad；　Kingslayer？　Did　you　mean　to　die？　No　man　can　fight　a　bear　with　his　bare　hands！〃
　〃One　bare　hand　and　one　bare　stump；〃　Jaime　corrected。　〃But　I　hoped　you'd　kill　the　beast　before　the　beast　killed　me。　Elsewise；　Lord　Bolton　would　have　peeled　you　like　an　orange；　no？〃
　Steelshanks　cursed　him　roundly　for　a　fool　of　Lannister；　spurred　his　horse；　and　galloped　away　up　the　column。
　〃Ser　Jaime？〃　Even　in　soiled　pink　satin　and　torn　lace；　Brienne　looked　more　like　a　man　in　a　gown　than　a　proper　woman。　〃I　am　grateful；　but　。　。　。　you　were　well　away。　Why　e　back？〃
　A　dozen　quips　came　to　mind；　each　crueler　than　the　one　before；　but　Jaime　only　shrugged。　〃I　dreamed　of　you；〃　he　said。
　
　CHAPTER　45
　CATELYN
　
　Rob　bid　farewell　to　his　young　queen　thrice。　Once　in　the　godswood　efore　the　heart　tree；　in　sight　of　gods　and　men。　The　second　time　eneath　the　portcullis；　where　Jeyne　sent　him　forth　with　a　long　embrace　and　a　longer　kiss。　And　finally　an　hour　beyond　the　Tumblestone；　when　the　girl　came　galloping　up　on　a　well…lathered　horse　to　plead　with　her　young　king　to　take　her　along。
　Robb　was　touched　by　that；　Catelyn　saw；　but　abashed　as　well。　The　day　was　damp　and　grey；　a　drizzle　had　begun　to　fall；　and　the　last　thing　he　wanted　was　to　call　a　halt　to　his　march　so　he　could　stand　in　the　wet　and　console　a　tearful　young　wife　in　front　of　half　his　army。　He　speaks　her　gently；　she　thought　as　she　watched　them　together；　but　there　is　anger　undernea