grrm.astormofswords-第30部分

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　〃It'll　put　a　bolt　through　your　heart　all　the　same。〃
　〃Perhaps。　But　before　you　can　wind　it　again　my　cousin　here　will　spill　your　entrails　on　the　floor。〃
　〃Don't　be　scaring　the　lad；　now；〃　Ser　Cleos　said。
　〃We　mean　no　harm；〃　the　wench　said。　〃And　we　have　coin　to　pay　for　food　and　drink。〃　She　dug　a　silver　piece　from　her　pouch。
　The　boy　looked　suspiciously　at　the　coin；　and　then　at　Jaime's　manacles。　〃Why's　this　one　in　irons？〃
　〃Killed　some　crossbowmen；〃　said　Jaime。　〃Do　you　have　ale？〃
　〃Yes。〃　The　boy　lowered　the　crossbow　an　inch。　〃Undo　your　swordbelts　and　let　them　fall；　and　might　be　we'll　feed　you。〃　He　edged　around　to　peer　through　the　thick；　diamond…shaped　windowpanes　and　see　if　any　more　of　them　were　outside。　〃That's　a　Tully　sail。〃
　〃We　e　from　Riverrun。〃　Brienne　undid　the　clasp　on　her　belt　and　let　it　clatter　to　the　floor。　Ser　Cleos　followed　suit。
　A　sallow　man　with　a　pocked　doughy　face　stepped　through　the　cellar　door；　holding　a　butcher's　heavy　cleaver。　〃Three；　are　you？　We　got　horsemeat　enough　for　three；　The　horse　was　old　and　tough；　but　the　meat's　still　fresh。〃
　〃Is　there　bread？〃　asked　Brienne。
　〃Hardbread　and　stale　oatcakes。〃
　Jaime　grinned。　〃Now　there's　an　honest　innkeep。　They'll　all　serve　you　stale　bread　and　stringy　meat；　but　most　don't　own　up　to　it　so　freely。〃
　〃I'm　no　innkeep。　I　buried　him　out　back；　with　his　women。〃
　〃Did　you　kill　them？〃
　〃Would　I　tell　you　if　I　did？〃　The　man　spat。　〃Likely　it　were　wolves'　work；　or　maybe　lions；　what's　the　difference？　The　wife　and　I　found　them　dead。　The　way　we　see　it；　the　place　is　ours　now。〃
　〃Where　is　this　wife　of　yours？〃　Ser　Cleos　asked。
　The　man　gave　him　a　suspicious　squint。　〃And　why　would　you　be　wanting　to　know　that？　She's　not　here　。　。　。　no　more'n　you　three　will　be；　unless　I　like　the　taste　of　your　silver。〃
　Brienne　tossed　the　coin　to　him。　He　caught　it　in　the　air；　bit　it；　and　tucked　it　away。
　〃She's　got　more；〃　the　boy　with　the　crossbow　announced。
　〃So　she　does。　Boy；　go　down　and　find　me　some　onions。〃
　The　lad　raised　the　crossbow　to　his　shoulder；　gave　them　one　last　sullen　look；　and　vanished　into　the　cellar。
　〃Your　son？〃　Ser　Cleos　asked。
　〃Just　a　boy　the　wife　and　me　took　in。　We　had　two　sons；　but　the　lions　killed　one　and　the　other　died　of　the　flux。　The　boy　lost　his　mother　to　the　Bloody　Mummers。　These　days；　a　man　needs　someone　to　keep　watch　while　he　sleeps。〃　He　waved　the　cleaver　at　the　tables。　〃Might　as　well　sit。〃
　The　hearth　was　cold；　but　Jaime　picked　the　chair　nearest　the　ashes　and　stretched　out　his　long　legs　under　the　table。　The　clink　of　his　chains　acpanied　his　every　movement。　An　irritating　sound。　Before　this　is　done；　I'll　wrap　these　chains　around　the　wench's　throat；　seehowshe　likes　them　then。
　The　man　who　wasn't　an　innkeep　charred　three　huge　horse　steaks　and　fried　the　onions　in　bacon　grease；　which　almost　made　up　for　the　stale　oatcakes。　Jaime　and　Cleos　drank　ale；　Brienne　a　cup　of　cider。　The　boy　kept　his　distance；　perching　atop　the　cider　barrel　with　his　crossbow　across　his　knees；　cocked　and　loaded。　The　cook　drew　a　tankard　of　ale　and　sat　with　them。　〃What　news　from　Riverrun？〃　he　asked　Ser　Cleos；　taking　him　for　their　leader。
　Ser　Cleos　glanced　at　Brienne　before　answering。　〃Lord　Hoster　is　failing；　but　his　son　holds　the　fords　of　the　Red　Fork　against　the　Lannisters。　There　have　been　battles。〃
　〃Battles　everywhere。　Where　are　you　bound；　ser？〃
　〃King's　Landing。〃　Ser　Cleos　wiped　grease　off　his　lips。
　Their　host　snorted。　〃Then　you're　three　fools。　Last　I　heard；　King　Stannis　was　outside　the　city　walls。　They　say　he　has　a　hundred　thousand　men　and　a　magic　sword。〃
　Jaime's　hands　wrapped　around　the　chain　that　bound　his　wrists；　and　he　twisted　it　taut；　wishing　for　the　strength　to　snap　it　in　two。　Then　I'd　show　Stannis　where　to　sheathe　his　magic　sword。
　〃I'd　stay　well　clear　of　that　kingsroad；　if　I　were　you；〃　the　man　went　on。　〃it's　worse　than　bad；　I　hear。　Wolves　and　lions　both；　and　bands　of　broken　men　preying　on　anyone　they　can　catch。〃
　〃Vermin；〃　declared　Ser　Cleos　with　contempt。　〃Such　would　never　dare　to　trouble　armed　men。〃
　〃Begging　your　pardon；　ser；　but　I　see　one　armed　man；　traveling　with　a　woman　and　a　prisoner　in　chains。〃
　Brienne　gave　the　cook　a　dark　look。　The　wench　does　hate　being　reminded　that　she's　a　wench；　Jaime　reflected；　twisting　at　the　chains　again。　The　links　were　cold　and　hard　against　his　flesh；　the　iron　implacable。　The　manacles　had　chafed　his　wrists　raw。
　〃I　mean　to　follow　the　Trident　to　the　sea；〃　the　wench　told　their　host。　〃We'll　find　mounts　at　Maidenpool　and　ride　by　way　of　Duskendale　and　Rosby。　That　should　keep　us　well　away　from　the　worst　of　the　fighting。〃
　Their　host　shook　his　head。　〃You'll　never　reach　Maidenpool　by　river。　Not　thirty　miles　from　here　a　couple　boats　burned　and　sank；　and　the　channel's　been　silting　up　around　them。　There's　a　nest　of　outlaws　there　preying　on　anyone　tries　to　e　by；　and　more　of　the　same　downriver　around　the　Skipping　Stones　and　Red　Deer　Island。　And　the　lightning　lord's　been　seen　in　these　parts　as　well。　He　crosses　the　river　wherever　he　likes；　riding　this　way　and　that　way；　never　still。〃
　〃And　who　is　this　lightning　lord？〃　demanded　Ser　Cleos　Frey。
　〃Lord　Beric；　as　it　please　you；　ser。　They　call　him　that　'cause　he　strikes　so　sudden；　like　lightning　from　a　clear　sky。　It's　said　he　cannot　die。〃
　They　all　die　when　you　shove　a　sword　through　them；　Jaime　thought。　〃Does　Thoros　of　Myr　still　ride　with　him？〃
　〃Aye。　The　red　wizard。　I've　heard　tell　he　has　strange　powers。〃
　Well；　he　had　the　power　to　match　Robert　Baratheon　drink　for　drink；　and　there　were　few　enough　who　could　say　that。　Jaime　had　once　heard　Thoros　tell　the　king　that　he　became　a　red　priest　because　the　robes　hid　the　winestains　so　well。　Robert　had　laughed　so　hard　he'd　spit　ale　all　over　Cersei's　silken　mantle。　〃Far　be　it　from　me　to　make　objection；〃　he　said；　〃but　perhaps　the　Trident　is　not　our　safest　course。〃
　〃I'd　say　that's　so；〃　their　cook　agreed。　〃Even　if　you　get　past　Red　Deer　island　and　don't　meet　up　with　Lord　Beric　and　the　red　wizard；　there's　still　the　ruby　ford　before　you。　Last　I　heard；　it　was　the　Leech　Lord's　wolves　held　the　ford；　but　that　was　some　time　past。　By　now　it　could　be　lions　again；　or　Lord　Beric；　or　anyone。〃
　〃Or　no　one；〃　Brienne　suggested。
　〃If　m'lady　cares　to　wager　her　skin　on　that　I　won't　stop　her　。　。　。　but　if　I　was　you；　I'd　leave　this　here　river；　cut　overland。　If　you　stay　off　the　main　roads　and　shelter　under　the　trees　of　a　night；　hidden　as　it　were　。　。　。　well；　I　still　wouldn't　want　to　go　with　you；　but　you　might　stand　a　mummer's　chance。〃
　The　big　wench　was　looking　doubtful。　〃We　would　need　horses。〃
　〃There　are　horses　here；〃　Jaime　pointed　out。　〃I　heard　one　in　the　stable。〃
　〃Aye；　there　are；〃　said　the　innkeep；　who　wasn't　an　innkeep。　〃Three　of　them；　as　it　happens；　but　they're　not　for　sale。〃
　Jaime　had　to　laugh。　〃Of　course　not。　But　you'll　show　them　to　us　anyway。〃
　Brienne　scowled；　but　the　man　who　wasn't　an　innkeep　met　her　eyes　without　blinking；　and　after　a　moment；　reluctantly；　she　said；　〃Show　me；〃　and　they　all　rose　from　the　table。
　The　stables　had　not　been　mucked　out　in　a　long　while；　from　the　smell　of　them。　Hundreds　of　fat　black　flies　swarmed　amongst　the　straw；　buzzing　from　stall　to　stall　and　crawling　over　the　mounds　of　horse　dung　that　lay　everywhere；　but　there　were　only　the　three　horses　to　be　seen。　They　made　an　unlikely　trio；　a　lumbering　brown　plow　horse；　an　ancient　white　gelding　blind　in　one　eye；　and　a　knight's　palfrey；　dapple　grey　and　spirited。　〃They're　not　for　sale　at　any　price；〃　their　alleged　owner　announced。
　〃How　did　you　e　by　these　horses？〃　Brienne　wanted　to　know。
　〃The　dray　was　stabled　here　when　the　wife　and　me　e　on　the　inn；〃　the　man　said；　〃along　with　the　one　you　just　ate。　The　gelding　e　wandering　up　one　night；　and　the　boy　caught　the　palfrey　running　free；　still　saddled　and　bridled。　Here；　I'll　show　you。〃
　The　saddle　he　showed　them　was　decorated　with　silver　inlay。　The　saddlecloth　had　originally　been　checkered　pink　and　black；　but　now　it　was　mostly　brown。　Jaime　did　not　recognize　the　original　colors；　but　he　recognized　bloodstains　easily　enough。　〃Well；　her　owner　won't　be　ing　to　claim　her　anytime　soon。〃　He　examined　the　palfrey's　legs；　counted　the　gelding's　teeth。　〃Give　him　a　gold　piece　for　the　grey；　if　he'll　include　the　saddle；〃　he　advised　Brienne。　〃A　silver　for　the　plow　horse。　He　ought　to　pay　us　for　taking　the　white　off　his　hands。〃
　〃Don't　speak　discourteously　of　your　horse；　ser。〃　The　wench　opened　the　purse　Lady　Catelyn　had　given　her　and　took　out　three　golden　coins。　〃I　will　pay　you　a　dragon　for　each。〃
　He　blinked　and　reached　for　the　gold；　then　hesitated　and　drew　his　hand　back。　〃I　don't　know。　I　can't　ride　no　golden　dragon　if　I　need　to　get　away。　Nor　eat　one　if　I'm　hungry。〃
　〃You　can　have　our　skiff　as　well；〃　she　said。　〃Sail　up　the　river　or　down；　as　you　like。〃
　〃Let　me　have　a　taste　ol　that　gold。〃　The　man　took　one　of　the　coins　from　her　palm　and　bit　it。　〃Hm。　Real　enough；　I'd　say。　Three　dragons　and　the　skiff？〃
　〃He's　robbing　you　blind；　wench；〃　Jaime　said　amiably。
　〃I'll　want　provisions　too；〃　Brienne　told　their　host；　ignoring　Jaime。　〃Whatever　you　have　that　you　can　spare。〃
　〃There's　more　oatcakes。〃　The　man　scooped　the　other　two　dragons　from　her　palm　and　jingled　them　in　his　fist；　smiling　at　the　sound　they　made。　〃Aye；　and　smoked　salt　fish；　but　that　will　cost　you　silver。　My　beds　will　be　costing　as　well。　You'll　be　wanting　to　stay　the　night。〃
　〃No；〃　Brienne　said　at　once。
　The　man　frowned　at　her。　〃Woman；　you　don't　want　to　go　riding　at　night　through　strange　country　on　horses　you　don't　know。　You're　like　to　blunder　into　some　bog　or　break　your　horse's　leg。〃
　〃The　moon　will　be　bright　tonight；〃　Brienne　said。　〃We'll　have　no　trouble　finding　our　way。〃
　Their　host　chewed　on　that。　〃If　you　don't　have　the　silver；　might　be　some　coppers　would　buy　you　them　beds；　and　a　coverlet　or　two　to　keep　you　warm。　It's　not　like　I'm　turning　travelers　away；　if　you　get　my　meaning。〃
　〃That　sounds　more　than　fair；〃　said　Ser　Cleos。
　〃The　coverlets　is　fresh　washed；　too。　My　wife　saw　to　that　before　she　had　to　go　off。　Not　a　flea　to　be　found　neither；　you　have　my　word　on　that。〃　He　jingled　the　coins　again；　smiling。
　Ser　Cleos　was　plainly　tempted。　〃A　proper　bed　would　do　us　all　good；　my　lady；〃　he　said　to　Brienne。　〃We'd　make　better　time　on　the　morrow　once　refreshed。〃　He　looked　t