grrm.astormofswords-第207部分

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　〃Was　it　a　long　fall？〃　Grenn　wanted　to　know。　〃Did　landing　in　the　pool　of　water　save　his　life？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Dolorous　Edd。　〃He　was　dead　already；　from　that　axe　in　his　head。　Still；　it　was　pretty　lucky；　missing　the　rocks。〃
　Three…Finger　Hobb　had　promised　the　brothers　roast　haunch　of　mammoth　that　night；　maybe　in　hopes　of　cadging　a　few　more　votes。　If　that　was　his　notion；　he　should　have　found　a　younger　mammoth；　Sam　thought；　as　he　pulled　a　string　of　gristle　out　from　between　his　teeth。　Sighing；　he　pushed　the　food　away。
　There　would　be　another　vote　shortly；　and　the　tensions　in　the　air　were　thicker　than　the　smoke。　Cotter　Pyke　sat　by　the　fire；　surrounded　by　rangers　from　Eastwatch。　Ser　Denys　Mallister　was　near　the　door　with　a　smaller　group　of　Shadow　Tower　men。　fanos　Slynt　has　the　best　place；　Sam　realized；　halfway　between　the　flames　and　the　drafts。　He　was　alarmed　to　see　Bowen　Marsh　beside　him；　wan…faced　and　haggard；　his　head　still　wrapped　in　linen；　but　listening　to　all　that　Lord　Janos　had　to　say。　When　he　pointed　that　out　to　his　friends；　Pyp　said；　〃And　look　down　there；　that's　Ser　Alliser　whispering　with　Othell　Yarwyck。〃
　After　the　meal　Maester　Aernon　rose　to　ask　if　any　of　the　brothers　wished　to　speak　before　they　cast　their　tokens。　Dolorous　Edd　got　up；　stone…faced　and　glum　as　ever。　〃I　just　want　to　say　to　whoever　is　voting　for　me　that　I　would　certainly　make　an　awful　Lord　mander。　But　so　would　all　these　others。〃　He　was　followed　by　Bowen　Marsh；　who　stood　with　one　hand　on　Lord　Slynt's　shoulder。　〃Brothers　and　friends；　I　am　asking　that　my　name　be　withdrawn　from　this　choosing。　My　wound　still　troubles　me；　and　the　task　is　too　large　for　me；　I　fear　。　。　。　but　not　for　Lord　Janos　here；　who　manded　the　gold　cloaks　of　King's　Landing　for　many　years。　Let　us　all　give　him　our　support。〃
　Sam　heard　angry　mutters　from　Cotter　Pyke's　end　of　the　room；　and　Ser　Denys　looked　at　one　of　his　panions　and　shook　his　head。　It　is　too　late；　the　damage　is　done。　He　wondered　where　Jon　was；　and　why　he　had　stayed　away。
　Most　of　the　brothers　were　unlettered；　so　by　tradition　the　choosing　was　done　by　dropping　tokens　into　a　big　potbellied　iron　kettle　that　Three…Finger　Hobb　and　Owen　the　Oaf　had　dragged　over　from　the　kitchens。　The　barrels　of　tokens　were　off　in　a　corner　behind　a　heavy　drape；　so　the　voters　could　make　their　choice　unseen。　You　were　allowed　to　have　a　friend　cast　your　token　if　you　had　duty；　so　some　men　took　two　tokens；　three；　or　four；　and　Ser　Denys　and　Cotter　Pyke　voted　for　the　garrisons　they　had　left　behind。
　When　the　hall　was　finally　empty；　save　for　them；　Sam　and　Clydas　upended　the　kettle　in　front　of　Maester　Aemon。　A　cascade　of　seashells；　stones；　and　copper　pennies　covered　the　table。　Aemon's　wrinkled　hands　sorted　with　surprising　speed；　moving　the　shells　here；　the　stones　there；　the　pennies　to　one　side；　the　occasional　arrowhead；　nail；　and　a　off　to　themselves。　Sam　and　Clydas　counted　the　piles；　each　of　them　keeping　his　own　tally。
　Tonight　it　was　Sam's　turn　to　give　his　results　first。　〃Two　hundred　and　three　for　Ser　Denys　Mallister；〃　he　said。　〃One　hundred　and　sixty…nine　for　Cotter　Pyke。　One　hundred　and　thirty…seven　for　Lord　Janos　Slynt；　seventy…two　for　Othell　Yarwyck；　five　for　Three…Finger　Hobb；　and　two　for　Dolorous　Edd。〃
　〃I　had　one　hundred　and　sixty…eight　for　Pyke；〃　Clydas　said。　〃We　are　two　votes　short　by　my　count；　and　one　by　Sam's。〃
　〃Sam's　count　is　correct；〃　said　Maester　Aemon。　〃Jon　Snow　did　not　cast　a　token。　it　makes　no　matter。　No　one　is　close。〃
　Sam　was　more　relieved　than　disappointed。　Even　with　Bowen　Marsh's　support；　Lord　Janos　was　still　only　third。　〃Who　are　these　five　who　keep　voting　for　Three…Finger　Hobb？〃　he　wondered。
　〃Brothers　who　want　him　out　of　the　kitchens？〃　said　Clydas。
　〃Ser　Denys　is　down　ten　votes　since　yesterday；〃　Sam　pointed　out。　〃And　Cotter　Pyke　is　down　almost　twenty。　That's　not　good。〃
　〃Not　good　for　their　hopes　of　being　Lord　mander；　certainly；〃　said　Maester　Aemon。　〃Yet　it　may　be　good　for　the　Night's　Watch；　in　the　end。　That　is　not　for　us　to　say。　Ten　days　is　not　unduly　long。　There　was　once　a　choosing　that　lasted　near　two　years；　some　seven　hundred　votes。　The　brothers　will　e　to　a　decision　in　their　own　time。〃
　Yes；　Sam　thought；　but　what　decision？
　Later；　over　cups　of　watered　wine　in　the　privacy　of　Pyp's　cell；　Sam's　tongue　loosened　and　he　found　himself　thinking　aloud。　〃Cotter　Pyke　and　Ser　Denys　Mallister　have　been　losing　ground；　but　between　them　they　still　have　almost　two…thirds；〃　he　told　Pyp　and　Grenn。　〃Either　one　would　be　fine　as　Lord　mander。　Someone　needs　to　convince　one　of　them　to　withdraw　and　support　the　other。〃
　〃Someone？〃　said　Grenn；　doubtfully。　〃What　someone？〃
　〃Grenn　is　so　dumb　he　thinks　someone　might　be　him；〃　said　Pyp。　〃Maybe　when　someone　is　done　with　Pyke　and　Mallister；　he　should　convince　King　Stannis　to　marry　Queen　Cersei　too。〃
　〃King　Stannis　is　married；〃　Grenn　objected。
　〃What　am　I　going　to　do　with　him；　Sam？〃　sighed　Pyp。
　〃Cotter　Pyke　and　Ser　Denys　don't　like　each　other　much；〃　Grenn　argued　stubbornly。　〃They　fight　about　everything。〃
　〃Yes；　but　only　because　they　have　different　ideas　about　what's　best　for　the　Watch；〃　said　Sam。　〃If　we　explained…〃
　〃We？〃　said　Pyp。　〃How　did　someone　change　to　we？　I'm　the　mummer's　monkey；　remember？　And　Grenn　is；　well；　Grenn。　〃　He　smiled　at　Sam；　and　wiggled　his　ears。　〃You；　now　。　。　。　you're　a　lord's　son；　and　the　maester's　steward。　。。〃
　〃And　Sam　the　Slayer；〃　said　Grenn。　〃You　slew　an　Other。〃
　〃It　was　the　dragonglass　that　killed　it；〃　Sam　told　him　for　the　hundredth　time。
　〃A　lord's　son；　the　maester's　steward；　and　Sam　the　Slayer；〃　Pyp　mused。　〃You　could　talk　to　them；　might　be　。　。　。〃
　〃I　could；〃　said　Sam；　sounding　as　gloomy　as　Dolorous　Edd；　〃if　I　wasn't　too　craven　to　face　them。〃
　
　CHAPTER　76
　JON
　
　Jon　prowled　around　Satin　in　a　slow　circle；　sword　in　hand；　forcing　him　to　turn。　〃Get　your　shield　up；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　too　heavy；〃　the　Oldtown　boy　plained。　　
　〃It's　as　heavy　as　it　needs　to　be　to　stop　a　sword；〃　Jon　said。　〃Now　get　it　up。〃　He　stepped　forward；　slashing。　Satin　jerked　the　shield　up　in　time　to　catch　the　sword　on　its　rim；　and　swung　his　own　blade　at　Jon's　ribs。　〃Good；〃　Jon　said；　when　he　felt　the　impact　on　his　own　shield。　〃That　was　good。　But　you　need　to　put　your　body　into　it。　Get　your　weight　behind　the　steel　and　you'll　do　more　damage　than　with　arm　strength　alone。　e；　try　it　again；　drive　at　me；　but　keep　the　shield　up　or　I'll　ring　your　head　like　a　bell　。　。　。〃
　Instead　Satin　took　a　step　backward　and　raised　his　visor。　〃Jon；〃　he　said；　in　an　anxious　voice。
　When　he　turned；　she　was　standing　behind　him；　with　half　a　dozen　queen's　men　around　her。　Small　wonder　the　yard　grew　so　quiet。　He　had　glimpsed　Melisandre　at　her　nightfires；　and　ing　and　going　about　the　castle；　but　never　so　close。　She's　beautiful；　he　thought　。　。　。　but　there　was　something　more　than　a　little　unsettling　about　red　eyes。　〃my　lady。〃
　〃The　king　would　speak　with　you；　Jon　Snow。〃
　Jon　thrust　the　practice　sword　into　the　earth。　〃Might　I　be　allowed　to　change？　I　am　in　no　fit　state　to　stand　before　a　king。〃
　〃We　shall　await　you　atop　the　Wall；〃　said　Melisandre。　We；　Jon　heard；　not　he。　It's　as　they　say。　This　is　his　true　queen；　not　the　one　he　left　at　Eastwatch。
　He　hung　his　mail　and　plate　inside　the　armory；　returned　to　his　own　cell；　discarded　his　sweat…stained　clothes；　and　donned　a　fresh　set　of　blacks。　It　would　be　cold　and　windy　in　the　cage；　he　knew；　and　colder　and　windier　still　on　top　of　the　ice；　so　he　chose　a　heavy　hooded　cloak。　Last　of　all　he　collected　Longclaw；　and　slung　the　bastard　sword　across　his　back。
　Melisandre　was　waiting　for　him　at　the　base　of　the　Wall。　She　had　sent　her　queen's　men　away。　〃What　does　His　Grace　want　of　me？〃　Jon　asked　her　as　they　entered　the　cage。
　〃All　you　have　to　give；　Jon　Snow。　He　is　a　king。〃
　He　shut　the　door　and　pulled　the　bell　cord。　The　winch　began　to　turn。　They　rose。　The　day　was　bright　and　the　Wall　was　weeping；　long　fingers　of　water　trickling　down　its　face　and　glinting　in　the　sun。　In　the　close　confines　of　the　iron　cage；　he　was　acutely　aware　of　the　red　woman's　presence。　She　even　smells　red。　The　scent　reminded　him　of　Mikken's　forge；　of　the　way　iron　smelled　when　red…hot；　the　scent　was　smoke　and　blood。　Kissed　by　fire；　he　thought；　remembering　Ygritte。　The　wind　got　in　amongst　Melisandre's　long　red　robes　and　sent　them　flapping　against　Jon's　legs　as　he　stood　beside　her。　〃You　are　not　cold；　my　lady？〃　he　asked　her。
　She　laughed。　〃Never。〃　The　ruby　at　her　throat　seemed　to　pulse；　in　time　with　the　beating　of　her　heart。　〃The　Lord's　fire　lives　within　me；　Jon　Snow。　Feel。〃　She　put　her　hand　on　his　cheek；　and　held　it　there　while　he　felt　how　warm　she　was。　〃That　is　how　life　should　feel；〃　she　told　him。　〃Only　death　is　cold。〃
　They　found　Stannis　Baratheon　standing　alone　at　the　edge　of　the　Wall；　brooding　over　the　field　where　he　had　won　his　battle；　and　the　great　green　forest　beyond。　He　was　dressed　in　the　same　black　breeches；　tunic；　and　boots　that　a　brother　of　the　Night's　Watch　might　wear。　Only　his　cloak　set　him　apart；　a　heavy　golden　cloak　trimmed　in　black　fur；　and　pinned　with　a　brooch　in　the　shape　of　a　flaming　heart。　〃I　have　brought　you　the　Bastard　of　Winterfell；　Your　Grace；〃　said　Melisandre。
　Stannis　turned　to　study　him。　Beneath　his　heavy　brow　were　eyes　like　bottomless　blue　pools。　His　hollow　cheeks　and　strong　jaw　were　covered　with　a　short…cropped　blue…black　beard　that　did　little　to　conceal　the　gauntness　of　his　face；　and　his　teeth　were　clenched。　His　neck　and　shoulders　were　clenched　as　well；　and　his　right　hand。　Jon　found　himself　remembering　something　Donal　Noye　once　said　about　the　Baratheon　brothers。　Robert　was　the　true　steel。　Stannis　is　pure　iron；　black　and　hard　and　strong；　but　brittle；　the　way　iron　gets。　He'll　break　before　he　bends。　Uneasily；　he　knelt；　wondering　why　this　brittle　king　had　need　of　him。
　〃Rise。　I　have　heard　much　and　more　of　you；　Lord　Snow。〃
　〃I　am　no　lord；　sire。〃　Jon　rose。　〃I　know　what　you　have　heard。　That　I　am　a　tumcloak；　and　craven。　That　I　slew　my　brother　Qhorin　Halfhand　so　the　wildlings　would　spare　my　life。　That　I　rode　with　Mance　Rayder；　and　took　a　wildling　wife。〃
　〃Aye。　All　that；　and　more。　You　are　a　warg　too；　they　say；　a　skinchanger　who　walks　at　night　as　a　wolf。〃　King　Stannis　had　a　hard　smile。　〃How　much　of　it　is　true？〃
　〃I　had　a　direwolf；　Ghost。　I　left　him　when　I　climbed　the　Wall　near　Greyguard；　a