grrm.astormofswords-第40部分

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t　myself。〃　He　sighed。　〃I　will　find　some　duty　for　Ser　Rolph；　some　pretext　to　send　him　away。　Not　because　of　his　smell；　but　to　ease　your　mind。　You　have　suffered　enough。〃
　Relieved；　Catelyn　kissed　him　lightly　on　the　cheek　before　the　others　could　e　around　the　turn　of　the　stair；　and　for　a　moment　he　was　her　boy　again；　and　not　her　king。
　Lord　Hoster's　private　audience　chamber　was　a　small　room　above　the　Great　Hall；　better　suited　to　intimate　discussions。　Robb　took　the　high　seat；　removed　his　crown；　and　set　it　on　the　floor　beside　him　as　Catelyn　rang　for　wine。　Edmure　was　filling　his　uncle's　ear　with　the　whole　story　of　the　fight　at　the　Stone　Mill。　it　was　only　after　the　servants　had　e　and　gone　that　the　Blackfish　cleared　his　throat　and　said；　〃I　think　we've　all　heard　sufficient　of　your　boasting；　Nephew。〃
　Edmure　was　taken　aback。　〃Boasting？　What　do　you　mean？〃
　〃I　mean；〃　said　the　Blackfish；　〃that　you　owe　His　Grace　your　thanks　for　his　forbearance。　He　played　out　that　mummer's　farce　in　the　Great　Hall　so　as　not　to　shame　you　before　your　own　people。　Had　it　been　me　I　would　have　flayed　you　for　your　stupidity　rather　than　praising　this　folly　of　the　fords。〃
　〃Good　men　died　to　defend　those　fords；　Uncle。〃　Edmure　sounded　outraged。　〃What；　is　no　one　to　win　victories　but　the　Young　Wolf？　Did　I　steal　some　glory　meant　for　you；　Robb？〃
　〃Your　Grace；〃　Robb　corrected；　icy。　〃You　took　me　for　your　king；　Uncle。　or　have　you　forgotten　that　as　well？〃
　The　Blackfish　said；　〃You　were　manded　to　hold　Riverrun；　Edmure；　no　more。〃
　〃I　held　Riverrun；　and　I　bloodied　Lord　Tywin's　nose　。　。　。〃
　〃So　you　did；〃　said　Robb。　〃But　a　bloody　nose　won't　win　the　war；　will　it？　Did　you　ever　think　to　ask　yourself　why　we　remained　in　the　west　so　long　after　Oxcross？　You　knew　I　did　not　have　enough　men　to　threaten　Lannisport　or　Casterly　Rock。〃
　〃Why　。　。　。　there　were　other　castles　。　。　。　gold；　cattle　。　。　。〃
　〃You　think　we　stayed　for　plunder？〃　Robb　was　incredulous。　〃Uncle；　I　wanted　Lord　Tywin　to　e　west。〃
　〃We　were　all　horsed；〃　Ser　Brynden　said。　〃The　Lannister　host　was　mainly　foot。　We　planned　to　run　Lord　Tywin　a　merry　chase　up　and　down　the　coast；　then　slip　behind　him　to　take　up　a　strong　defensive　position　athwart　the　gold　road；　at　a　place　my　scouts　had　found　where　the　ground　would　have　been　greatly　in　our　favor。　If　he　had　e　at　us　there；　he　would　have　paid　a　grievous　price。　But　if　he　did　not　attack；　he　would　have　been　trapped　in　the　west；　a　thousand　leagues　from　where　he　needed　to　be。　All　the　while　we　would　have　lived　off　his　land；　instead　of　him　living　off　ours。〃
　〃Lord　Stannis　was　about　to　fall　upon　King's　Landing；〃　Robb　said。　〃He　might　have　rid　us　of　Joffrey；　the　queen；　and　the　Imp　in　one　red　stroke。　Then　we　might　have　been　able　to　make　a　peace。〃
　Edmure　looked　from　uncle　to　nephew。　〃You　never　told　me。〃
　〃I　told　you　to　hold　Riverrun；　〃　said　Robb。　〃What　part　of　that　mand　did　you　fail　to　prehend？〃
　〃When　you　stopped　Lord　Tywin　on　the　Red　Fork；〃　said　the　Blackfish；　liyou　delayed　him　just　long　enough　for　riders　out　of　Bitterbridge　to　reach　him　with　word　of　what　was　happening　to　the　east。　Lord　Tywin　turned　his　host　at　once；　joined　up　with　Matthis　Rowan　and　Randyll　Tarly　near　the　headwaters　of　the　Blackwater；　and　made　a　forced　march　to　Tumbler's　Falls；　where　he　found　Mace　Tyrell　and　two　of　his　sons　waiting　with　a　huge　host　and　a　fleet　of　barges。　They　floated　down　the　river；　disembarked　half　a　day's　ride　from　the　city；　and　took　Stannis　in　the　rear。〃
　Catelyn　remembered　King　Renly's　court；　as　she　had　seen　it　at　Bitterbridge。　A　thousand　golden　roses　streaming　in　the　wind；　Queen　Man　gaery's　shy　smile　and　soft　words；　her　brother　the　Knight　of　Flowers　with　the　bloody　linen　around　his　temples。　If　you　had　to　fall　into　a　woman's　arms；　my　son；　why　couldn't　they　have　been　Margaery　Tyrell's？　The　wealth　and　power　of　Highgarden　could　have　made　all　the　difference　in　the　fighting　yet　to　e。　And　perhaps　Grey　Wind　would　have　liked　the　smell　of　her　as　well。
　Edmure　looked　ill。　〃I　never　meant　。　。　。　never；　Robb；　you　must　let　me　make　amends。　I　will　lead　the　van　in　the　next　battle！〃
　For　amends；　Brother？　Or　for　glory？　Catelyn　wondered。
　〃The　next　battle；〃　Robb　said。　〃Well；　that　will　be　soon　enough。　Once　Joffrey　is　wed；　the　Lannisters　will　take　the　fleld　against　me　once　more；　I　don't　doubt；　and　this　time　the　Tyrells　will　march　beside　them。　And　I　may　need　to　fight　the　Freys　as　well；　if　Black　Walder　has　his　way　。　。　。　…
　〃So　long　as　Theon　Greyjoy　sits　in　your　father's　seat　with　your　brothers'　blood　on　his　hands；　these　other　foes　must　wait；〃　Catelyn　told　her　son。　〃Your　first　duty　is　to　defend　your　own　people；　win　back　Winterfell；　and　hang　Theon　in　a　crow's　cage　to　die　slowly。　Or　else　put　off　that　crown　for　good；　Robb；　for　men　will　know　that　you　are　no　true　king　at　all。〃
　From　the　way　Robb　looked　at　her；　she　could　tell　that　it　had　been　a　long　while　since　anyone　had　dared　speak　to　him　so　bluntly。　〃When　they　told　me　Winterfell　had　fallen；　I　wanted　to　go　north　at　once；〃　he　said；　with　a　hint　of　defensiveness。　〃I　wanted　to　free　Bran　and　Rickon；　but　I　thought　。　。　。　I　never　dreamed　that　Theon　could　harm　them；　truly。　If　I　had　。　。　。〃
　〃It　is　too　late　for　ifs；　and　too　late　for　rescues；〃　Catelyn　said。　〃All　that　remains　is　vengeance。〃
　〃The　last　word　we　had　from　the　north；　Ser　Rodrik　had　defeated　a　force　of　ironmen　near　Torrhen's　Square；　and　was　assembling　a　host　at　Castle　Cerwyn　to　retake　Winterfell　'　〃　said　Robb。　〃By　now　he　may　have　done　it。　There　has　been　no　news　for　a　long　while。　And　what　of　the　Trident；　if　I　turn　north？　I　can't　ask　the　river　lords　to　abandon　their　own　people。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Catelyn。　〃Leave　them　to　guard　their　own；　and　win　back　the　north　with　northmen。〃
　〃How　will　you　get　the　northmen　to　the　north？〃　her　brother　Edmure　asked。　〃The　ironmen　control　the　sunset　sea。　The　Greyjoys　hold　Moat　Cailin　as　well。　No　army　has　ever　taken　Moat　Cailin　from　the　south。　Even　to　march　against　it　is　madness。　We　could　be　trapped　on　the　causeway；　with　the　ironborn　before　us　and　angry　Freys　at　our　backs。〃
　〃We　must　win　back　the　Freys；〃　said　Robb。　〃With　them；　we　still　have　some　chance　of　success；　however　small。　Without　them；　I　see　no　hope。　I　am　willing　to　give　Lord　Walder　whatever　he　requires　。　。　。　apologies；　honors；　lands；　gold　。　。　。　there　must　be　something　that　would　soothe　his　pride　。　。　。〃
　〃Not　something；〃　said　Catelyn。　〃Someone。〃
　
　CHAPTER　15
　JON
　
　〃Big　enough　for　you？〃　Snowflakes　speckled　Tormund's　broad　face；　melting　in　his　hair　and　beard。
　The　giants　swayed　slowly　atop　the　mammoths　as　they　rode　past　two　by　two。　Jon's　garron　shied；　frightened　by　such　strangeness；　but　whether　it　was　the　mammoths　or　their　riders　that　scared　him　it　was　hard　to　say。　Even　Ghost　backed　off　a　step；　baring　his　teeth　in　a　silent　snarl。　The　direwolf　was　big；　but　the　mammoths　were　a　deal　bigger；　and　there　were　many　and　more　of　them。
　Jon　took　the　horse　in　hand　and　held　him　still；　so　he　could　count　the　giants　emerging　from　the　blowing　snow　and　pale　mists　that　swirled　along　the　Milkwater。　He　was　well　beyond　fifty　when　Tormund　said　something　and　he　lost　the　count。　There　must　be　hundreds。　No　matter　how　many　went　past；　they　just　seemed　to　keep　ing。
　In　Old　Nan's　stories；　giants　were　outsized　men　who　lived　in　colossal　castles；　fought　with　huge　swords；　and　walked　about　in　boots　a　boy　could　hide　in。　These　were　something　else；　more　bearlike　than　human；　and　as　wooly　as　the　mammoths　they　rode。　Seated；　it　was　hard　to　say　how　big　they　truly　were；　Ten　feet　tall　maybe；　or　twelve；　Jon　thought。　Maybe　fourteen；　but　no　taller。　Their　sloping　chests　might　have　passed　for　those　of　men；　but　their　arms　hung　down　too　far；　and　their　lower　torsos　looked　half　again　as　wide　as　their　upper。　Their　legs　were　shorter　than　their　arms；　but　very　thick；　and　they　wore　no　boots　at　all；　their　feet　were　broad　splayed　things；　hard　and　horny　and　black。　Neckless；　their　huge　heavy　heads　thrust　forward　from　between　their　shoulder　blades；　and　their　faces　were　squashed　and　brutal。　Rats'　eyes　no　larger　than　beads　were　almost　lost　within　folds　of　horny　flesh；　but　they　snuffled　constantly；　smelling　as　much　as　they　saw。
　They're　not　wearing　skins；　Jon　realized。　That's　hair。　Shaggy　pelts　covered　their　bodies；　thick　below　the　waist；　sparser　above。　The　stink　that　came　off　them　was　choking；　but　perhaps　that　was　the　mammoths。　And　foramun　blew　the　Horn　of　Winter；　and　woke　giants　from　the　earth。　He　looked　for　great　swords　ten　feet　long；　but　saw　only　clubs。　Most　were　just　the　limbs　of　dead　trees；　some　still　trailing　shattered　branches。　A　few　had　stone　balls　lashed　to　the　ends　to　make　colossal　mauls。　The　song　never　says　if　the　horn　can　put　them　back　to　sleep。
　One　of　the　giants　ing　up　on　them　looked　older　than　the　rest。　His　pelt　was　grey　and　streaked　with　white；　and　the　mammoth　he　rode；　larger　than　any　of　the　others；　was　grey　and　white　as　well。　Tormund　shouted　something　up　to　him　as　he　passed；　harsh　clanging　words　in　a　tongue　that　Jon　did　not　prehend。　The　giant's　lips　split　apart　to　reveal　a　mouth　full　of　huge　square　teeth；　and　he　made　a　sound　half　belch　and　half　rumble。　After　a　moment　Jon　realized　he　was　laughing。　The　mammoth　turned　its　massive　head　to　regard　the　two　of　them　briefly；　one　huge　tusk　passing　over　the　top　of　Jon's　head　as　the　beast　lumbered　by；　leaving　huge　footprints　in　the　soft　mud　and　fresh　snow　along　the　river。　The　giant　shouted　down　something　in　the　same　coarse　tongue　that　Tormund　had　used。
　〃Was　that　their　king？〃　asked　Jon。
　〃Giants　have　no　kings；　no　more'n　mammoths　do；　nor　snow　bears；　nor　the　great　whales　o'　the　grey　sea。　That　was　Mag　Mar　Tun　Doh　Weg。　Mag　the　Mighty。　You　can　kneel　to　him　if　you　like；　he　won't　mind。　I　know　your　kneeler's　knees　must　be　itching；　for　want　of　some　king　to　bend　to。　Watch　out　he　don't　step　on　you；　though。　Giants　have　bad　eyes；　and　might　be　he　wouldn't　see　some　little　crow　all　the　way　down　there　by　his　feet。〃
　〃What　did　you　say　to　him？　Was　that　the　Old　Tongue？〃
　〃Aye。　I　asked　him　if　that　was　his　father　he　was　forking；　they　looked　so　much　alike；　except　his　father　had　a　better　smell。〃
　〃And　what　did　he　say　to　you？〃
　Tormund　Thunderfist　cracked　a　gap…toothed　smile。　〃He　asked　me　if　that　was　my　daughter　riding　there　beside　me；　with　her　smooth　pink　cheeks。〃　The　wildling　shook　snow　from　his　arm　and　turned　his　horse　about。　〃it　may　b