grrm.astormofswords-第31部分

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er　time　on　the　morrow　once　refreshed。〃　He　looked　to　his　cousin　for　support。
　〃No；　coz；　the　wench　is　right。　We　have　promises　to　keep；　and　long　leagues　before　us。　We　ought　ride　on。〃
　〃But；〃　said　Cleos；　〃you　said　yourself　…
　〃Then。〃　When　I　thought　the　inn　deserted。　〃Now　I　have　a　full　belly；　and　a　moonlight　ride　will　be　just　the　thing。〃　He　smiled　for　the　wench。　〃But　unless　you　mean　to　throw　me　over　the　back　of　that　plow　horse　like　a　sack　of　flour；　someone　had　best　do　something　about　these　irons。　It's　difficult　to　ride　with　your　ankles　chained　together。〃
　Brienne　frowned　at　the　chain。　The　man　who　wasn't　an　innkeep　rubbed　his　jaw。　〃There's　a　smithy　round　back　of　the　stable。〃
　〃Show　me；〃　Brienne　said。
　〃Yes；〃　said　Jaime；　〃and　the　sooner　the　better。　There's　far　too　much　horse　shit　about　here　for　my　taste。　I　would　hate　to　step　in　it。〃　He　gave　the　wench　a　sharp　look；　wondering　if　she　was　bright　enough　to　take　his　meaning。
　He　hoped　she　might　strike　the　irons　off　his　wrists　as　well；　but　Brienne　was　still　suspicious。　She　split　the　ankle　chain　in　the　center　with　a　halfdozen　sharp　blows　from　the　smith's　hammer　delivered　to　the　blunt　end　of　a　steel　chisel。　When　he　suggested　that　she　break　the　wrist　chain　as　well；　she　ignored　him。
　〃Six　miles　downriver　you'll　see　a　burned　village；〃　their　host　said　as　he　was　helping　them　saddle　the　horses　and　load　their　packs。　This　time　he　directed　his　counsel　at　Brienne。　〃The　road　splits　there。　If　you　turn　south；　you'll　e　on　Ser　Warren's　stone　towerhouse。　Ser　Warren　went　off　and　died；　so　I　couldn't　say　who　holds　it　now；　but　it's　a　place　best　shunned。　You'd　do　better　to　follow　the　track　through　the　woods；　south　by　east。〃
　〃We　shall；〃　she　answered。　〃You　have　my　thanks。〃
　More　to　the　point；　he　has　your　gold。　Jaime　kept　the　thought　to　himself。　He　was　tired　of　being　disregarded　by　this　huge　ugly　cow　of　a　woman。
　She　took　the　plow　horse　for　herself　and　assigned　the　palfrey　to　Ser　Cleos。　As　threatened；　Jaime　drew　the　one…eyed　gelding；　which　put　an　end　to　any　thoughts　he　might　have　had　of　giving　his　horse　a　kick　and　leaving　the　wench　in　his　dust。
　The　man　and　the　boy　came　out　to　watch　them　leave。　The　man　wished　them　luck　and　told　them　to　e　back　in　better　times；　while　the　lad　stood　silent；　his　crossbow　under　his　arm。　〃Take　up　the　spear　or　maul；〃　Jaime　told　him；　〃they'll　serve　you　better。〃　The　boy　stared　at　him　distrustfully。　So　much　for　friendly　advice。　He　shrugged；　turned　his　horse；　and　never　looked　back。
　Ser　Cleos　was　all　plaints　as　they　rode　out；　still　in　mouming　for　his　lost　featherbed。　They　rode　east；　along　the　bank　of　the　moonlit　river。　The　Red　Fork　was　very　broad　here；　but　shallow；　its　banks　all　mud　and　reeds。　Jaime's　mount　plodded　along　placidly；　though　the　poor　old　thing　had　a　tendency　to　want　to　drift　off　to　the　side　of　his　good　eye。　It　felt　good　to　be　mounted　once　more。　He　had　not　been　on　a　horse　since　Robb　Stark's　archers　had　killed　his　destrier　under　him　in　the　Whispering　Wood。
　When　they　reached　the　burned　village；　a　choice　of　equally　unpromising　roads　confronted　them；　narrow　tracks；　deeply　rutted　by　the　carts　of　farmers　hauling　their　grain　to　the　river。　One　wandered　off　toward　the　southeast　and　soon　vanished　amidst　the　trees　they　could　see　in　the　distance；　while　the　other；　straighter　and　stonier；　arrowed　due　south。　Brienne　considered　them　briefly；　and　then　swung　her　horse　onto　the　southern　road。　Jaime　was　pleasantly　surprised；　it　was　the　same　choice　he　would　have　made。
　〃But　this　is　the　road　the　innkeep　warned　us　against；〃　Ser　Cleos　objected。
　〃He　was　no　innkeep。〃　She　hunched　gracelessly　in　the　saddle；　but　seemed　to　have　a　sure　seat　nonetheless。　〃The　man　took　too　great　an　interest　in　our　choice　of　route；　and　those　woods　。　。　。　such　places　are　notorious　haunts　of　outlaws。　He　may　have　been　urging　us　into　a　trap。〃
　〃Clever　wench。〃　Jaime　smiled　at　his　cousin。　〃Our　host　has　friends　down　that　road；　I　would　venture。　The　ones　whose　mounts　gave　that　stable　such　a　memorable　aroma。〃
　〃He　may　have　been　lying　about　the　river　as　well；　to　put　us　on　these　horses；〃　the　wench　said；　〃but　I　could　not　take　the　risk。　There　will　be　soldiers　at　the　ruby　ford　and　the　crossroads。〃
　Well；　she　may　be　ugly　but　she's　not　entirely　stupid。　Jaime　gave　her　a　grudging　smile。
　The　ruddy　light　from　the　upper　windows　of　the　stone　towerhouse　gave　them　warning　of　its　presence　a　long　way　off；　and　Brienne　led　them　off　into　the　fields。　Only　when　the　stronghold　was　well　to　the　rear　did　they　angle　back　and　find　the　road　again。
　Half　the　night　passed　before　the　wench　allowed　that　it　might　be　safe　to　stop。　By　then　all　three　of　them　were　drooping　in　their　saddles。　They　sheltered　in　a　small　grove　of　oak　and　ash　beside　a　sluggish　stream。　The　wench　would　allow　no　fire；　so　they　shared　a　midnight　supper　of　stale　oatcakes　and　salt　fish。　The　night　was　strangely　peaceful。　The　half…moon　sat　overhead　in　a　black　felt　sky；　surrounded　by　stars。　Off　in　the　distance；　some　wolves　were　howling。　One　of　their　horses　whickered　nervously。　There　was　no　other　sound。　The　war　has　not　touched　this　place；　Jaime　thought。　He　was　glad　to　be　here；　glad　to　be　alive；　glad　to　be　on　his　way　back　to　Cersei。
　〃I'll　take　the　first　watch；〃　Brienne　told　Ser　Cleos；　and　Frey　was　soon　snoring　softly。
　Jaime　sat　against　the　bole　of　an　oak　and　wondered　what　Cersei　and　Tyrion　were　doing　just　now。　〃Do　you　have　any　siblings；　my　lady？　〃　he　asked。
　Brienne　squinted　at　him　suspiciously。　〃No。　I　was　my　father's　only　s　child。〃
　Jaime　chuckled。　〃Son；　you　meant　to　say。　Does　he　think　of　you　as　a　son？　You　make　a　queer　sort　of　daughter；　to　be　sure。〃
　Wordless；　she　turned　away　from　him；　her　knuckles　tight　on　her　sword　hilt。　What　a　wretched　creature　this　one　is。　She　reminded　him　of　Tyrion　in　some　queer　way；　though　at　first　blush　two　people　could　scarcely　be　any　more　dissimilar。　Perhaps　it　was　that　thought　of　his　brother　that　made　him　say；　〃I　did　not　intend　to'give　offense；　Brienne。　Forgive　me。〃
　〃Your　crimes　are　past　forgiving；　Kingslayer。〃
　〃That　name　again。〃　Jaime　twisted　idly　at　his　chains。　〃Why　do　I　enrage　you　so？　I've　never　done　you　harm　that　I　know　of。〃
　〃You've　harmed　others。　Those　you　were　sworn　to　protect。　The　weak；　the　innocent　。　。　。〃
　〃　。　。　。　the　king？〃　It　always　came　back　to　Aerys。　〃Don't　presume　to　judge　what　you　do　not　understand；　wench。〃
　〃My　name　is…〃
　〃…Brienne；　yes。　Has　anyone　ever　told　you　that　you're　as　tedious　as　you　are　ugly？〃
　〃You　will　not　provoke　me　to　anger；　Kingslayer。〃
　〃Oh；　I　might；　if　I　cared　enough　to　try。〃
　〃Why　did　you　take　the　oath？〃　she　demanded。　〃Why　don　the　white　cloak　if　you　meant　to　betray　all　it　stood　for？〃
　Why？　What　could　he　say　that　she　might　possibly　understand？　〃I　was　a　boy。　Fifteen。　It　was　a　great　honor　for　one　so　young。〃
　〃That　is　no　answer；〃　she　said　scornfully。
　You　would　not　like　the　truth。　He　had　joined　the　Kingsguard　for　love；　of　course。
　Their　father　had　summoned　Cersei　to　court　when　she　was　twelve；　hoping　to　make　her　a　royal　marriage。　He　refused　every　offer　for　her　hand；　preferring　to　keep　her　with　him　in　the　Tower　of　the　Hand　while　she　grew　older　and　more　womanly　and　ever　more　beautiful。　No　doubt　he　was　waiting　for　Prince　Viserys　to　mature；　or　perhaps　for　Rhaegar's　wife　to　die　in　childbed。　Elia　of　Dome　was　never　the　healthiest　of　women。
　Jaime；　meantime；　had　spent　four　years　as　squire　to　Ser　Sumner　Crakehall　and　earned　his　spurs　against　the　Kingswood　Brotherhood。　But　when　he　made　a　brief　call　at　King's　Landing　on　his　way　back　to　Casterly　Rock；　chiefly　to　see　his　sister；　Cersei　took　him　aside　and　whispered　that　Lord　Tywin　meant　to　marry　him　to　Lysa　Tully；　had　gone　so　far　as　to　invite　Lord　Hoster　to　the　city　to　discuss　dower。　But　if　Jaime　took　the　white；　he　could　be　near　her　always。　Old　Ser　Harlan　Grandison　had　died　in　his　sleep；　as　was　only　appropriate　for　one　whose　sigil　was　a　sleeping　lion。　Aerys　would　want　a　young　man　to　take　his　place；　so　why　not　a　roaring　lion　in　place　of　a　sleepy　one？
　〃Father　will　never　consent；〃　Jaime　objected。
　〃The　king　won't　ask　him。　And　once　it's　done；　Father　can't　object；　not　openly。　Aerys　had　Ser　Ilyn　Payne's　tongue　tom　out　just　for　boasting　that　it　was　the　Hand　who　truly　ruled　the　Seven　Kingdoms。　The　captain　of　the　Hand's　guard；　and　yet　Father　dared　not　try　and　stop　it！　He　won't　stop　this；　either。〃
　〃But；〃　Jaime　said；　〃there's　Casterly　Rock　。　。　。〃
　〃Is　it　a　rock　you　want？　Or　me？〃
　He　remembered　that　night　as　if　it　were　yesterday。　They　spent　it　in　an　old　inn　on　Eel　Alley；　well　away　from　watchful　eyes。　Cersei　had　e　to　him　dressed　as　a　simple　serving　wench；　which　somehow　excited　him　all　the　more。　Jaime　had　never　seen　her　more　passionate。　Every　time　he　went　to　sleep；　she　woke　him　again。　By　morning　Casterly　Rock　seemed　a　small　price　to　pay　to　be　near　her　always。　He　gave　his　consent；　and　Cersei　promised　to　do　the　rest。
　A　moon's　turn　later；　a　royal　raven　arrived　at　Casterly　Rock　to　inform　him　that　he　had　been　chosen　for　the　Kingsguard。　He　was　manded　to　present　himself　to　the　king　during　the　great　tourney　at　Harrenhal　to　say　his　vows　and　don　his　cloak。
　Jaime's　investiture　freed　him　from　Lysa　Tully。　Elsewise；　nothing　went　as　planned。　His　father　had　never　been　more　furious。　He　could　not　object　openly…Cersei　had　judged　that　correctly…but　he　resigned　the　Handship　on　some　thin　pretext　and　returned　to　Casterly　Rock；　taking　his　daughter　with　him。　Instead　of　being　together；　Cersei　and　Jaime　just　changed　places；　and　he　found　himself　alone　at　court；　guarding　a　mad　king　while　four　lesser　men　took　their　turns　dancing　on　knives　in　his　father's　ill…fitting　shoes。　So　swiftly　did　the　Hands　rise　and　fall　that　Jaime　remembered　their　heraldry　better　than　their　faces。　The　horn…of…plenty　Hand　and　the　dancing　griffins　Hand　had　both　been　exiled；　the　mace…and…dagger　Hand　dipped　in　wildfire　and　burned　alive。　Lord　Rossart　had　been　the　last。　His　sigil　had　been　a　burning　torch；　an　unfortunate　choice；　given　the　fate　of　his　predecessor；　but　the　alchemist　had　been　elevated　largely　because　he　shared　the　king's　passion　for　fire。　I　ought　to　have　drowned　Rossart　instead　of　gutting　him。
　Brienne　was　still　awaiting　his　answer。　Jaime　said；　〃You　are　not　old　enough　to　have　known　Aerys　Targaryen　。　。　。〃
　She　would　not　hear　it。　〃Aerys　was　mad　and　cruel；　no　one　has　ever　denied　that。　He　was　stil