grrm.astormofswords-第61部分

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way　fighting　in　the　retinue　of　his　master；　Lord　Vance；　the　castle　gates　closed　and　barred　in　his　absence。　But　his　lady　wife　was　an　old　friend　of　Tom　Sevenstrings；　and　Anguy　said　they'd　once　been　lovers。　Anguy　often　rode　beside　her；　he　was　closer　to　her　in　age　than　any　of　them　but　Gendry；　and　he　told　her　droll　tales　of　the　Dornish　Marches。　He　never　fooled　her；　though。　He's　not　my　friend。　He's　only　staying　close　to　watch　me　and　make　sure　I　don't　ride　off　again。　Well；　Arya　could　watch　as　well。　Syrio　Forel　had　taught　her　how。
　Lady　Smallwood　weled　the　outlaws　kindly　enough；　though　she　gave　them　a　tongue　lashing　for　dragging　a　young　girl　through　the　war。　She　became　even　more　wroth　when　Lem　let　slip　that　Arya　was　highborn。　〃Who　dressed　the　poor　child　in　those　Bolton　rags？〃　she　demanded　of　them。　〃That　badge　。　。　。　there's　many　a　man　who　would　hang　her　in　half　a　heartbeat　for　wearing　a　flayed　man　on　her　breast。〃　Arya　promptly　found　herself　marched　upstairs；　forced　into　a　tub；　and　doused　with　scalding　hot　water。　Lady　Smallwood's　maidservants　scrubbed　her　so　hard　it　felt　like　they　were　flaying　her　themselves。　They　even　dumped　in　some　stinkysweet　stuff　that　smelled　like　flowers。
　And　afterward；　they　insisted　she　dress　herself　in　girl's　things；　brown　woolen　stockings　and　a　light　linen　shift；　and　over　that　a　light　green　gown　with　acorns　embroidered　all　over　the　bodice　in　brown　thread；　and　more　acorns　bordering　the　hem。　〃My　great…aunt　is　a　septa　at　a　motherhouse　in　Oldtown；〃　Lady　Smallwood　said　as　the　women　laced　the　gown　up　Arya's　back。　〃I　sent　my　daughter　there　when　the　war　began。　She'll　have　outgrown　these　things　by　the　time　she　returns；　no　doubt。　Are　you　fond　of　dancing；　child？　My　Carellen's　a　lovely　dancer。　She　sings　beautifully　as　well。　What　do　you　like　to　do？〃
　She　scuffed　a　toe　amongst　the　rushes。　〃Needlework。〃
　〃Very　restful；　isn't　it？〃
　〃Well；〃　said　Arya；　〃not　the　way　I　do　it。〃
　〃No？　I　have　always　found　it　so。　The　gods　give　each　of　us　our　little　gifts　and　talents；　and　it　is　meant　for　us　to　use　them；　my　aunt　always　says。　Any　act　can　be　a　prayer；　if　done　as　well　as　we　are　able。　Isn't　that　a　lovely　thought？　Remember　that　the　next　time　you　do　your　needlework。　Do　you　work　at　it　every　day？〃
　〃I　did　till　I　lost　Needle。　My　new　one's　not　as　good。〃
　〃In　times　like　these；　we　all　must　make　do　as　best　we　can。〃　Lady　Smallwood　fussed　at　the　bodice　of　the　gown。　〃Now　you　look　a　proper　young　lady。〃
　I'm　not　a　lady；　Arya　wanted　to　tell　her；　I'm　a　wolf。
　〃I　do　not　know　who　you　are；　child；〃　the　woman　said；　〃and　it　may　be　that's　for　the　best。　Someone　important；　I　fear。〃　She　smoothed　down　Arya's　collar。　〃In　times　like　these；　it　is　better　to　be　insignificant。　Would　that　I　could　keep　you　here　with　me。　That　would　not　be　safe；　though。　I　have　walls；　but　too　few　men　to　hold　them。〃　She　sighed。
　Supper　was　being　served　in　the　hall　by　the　time　Arya　was　all　washed　and　bed　and　dressed。　Gendry　took　one　look　and　laughed　so　hard　that　wine　came　out　his　nose；　until　Harwin　gave　him　a　thwack　alongside　his　ear。　The　meal　was　plain　but　filling；　mutton　and　mushrooms；　brown　bread；　pease　pudding；　and　baked　apples　with　yellow　cheese。　When　the　food　had　been　cleared　and　the　servants　sent　away；　Greenbeard　lowered　his　voice　to　ask　if　her　ladyship　had　word　of　the　lightning　lord。
　〃Word？〃　She　smiled。　〃They　were　here　not　a　fortnight　past。　Them　and　a　dozen　more；　driving　sheep。　I　could　scarcely　believe　my　eyes。　Thoros　gave　me　three　as　thanks。　You've　eaten　one　tonight。〃
　〃Thoros　herding　sheep？〃　Anguy　laughed　aloud。
　〃I　grant　you　it　was　an　odd　sight；　but　Thoros　claimed　that　as　a　priest　he　knew　how　to　tend　a　flock。〃
　〃Aye；　and　shear　them　too；〃　chuckled　Lem　Lernoncloak。
　〃Someone　could　make　a　rare　fine　song　of　that。〃　Tom　plucked　a　string　on　his　woodharp。
　Lady　Smallwood　gave　him　a　withering　look。　〃Someone　who　doesn't　rhyme　carry　on　with　Dondarrion；　perhaps。　Or　play　'Oh；　Lay　My　Sweet　Lass　Down　in　the　Grass'　to　every　milkmaid　in　the　shire　and　leave　two　of　them　with　big　bellies。〃
　〃It　was　'Let　Me　Drink　Your　Beauty；〃'　said　Tom　defensively；　〃and　milkmaids　are　always　glad　to　hear　it。　As　was　a　certain　highborn　lady　I　do　recall。　I　play　to　please。〃
　Her　nostrils　flared。　〃The　riverlands　are　full　of　maids　you've　pleased；　all　drinking　tansy　tea。　You'd　think　a　man　as　old　as　you　would　know　to　spill　his　seed　on　their　bellies。　Men　will　be　calling　you　Tom　Sevensons　before　much　longer。〃
　〃As　it　happens；〃　said　Tom；　〃I　passed　seven　many　years　ago。　And　fine　boys　they　are　too；　with　voices　sweet　as　nightingales。〃　Plainly　he　did　not　care　for　the　subject。
　〃Did　his　lordship　say　where　he　was　bound；　milady？〃　asked　Harwin。
　〃Lord　Beric　never　shares　his　plans；　but　there's　hunger　down　near　Stoney　Sept　and　the　Threepenny　Wood。　I　should　look　for　him　there。〃　She　took　a　sip　of　wine。　〃You'd　best　know；　I've　had　less　pleasant　callers　as　well。　A　pack　of　wolves　came　howling　around　my　gates；　thinking　I　might　have　Jaime　Lannister　in　here。〃
　Tom　stopped　his　plucking。　〃Then　it's　true；　the　Kingslayer　is　loose　again？
　Lady　Smallwood　gave　him　a　scornful　look。　〃I　hardly　think　they'd　be　hunting　him　if　he　was　chained　up　under　Riverrun。〃
　〃What　did　m'lady　tell　them？〃　asked　Jack…Be…Lucky。
　〃Why；　that　I　had　Ser　Jaime　naked　in　my　bed；　but　I'd　left　him　much　too　exhausted　to　e　down。　One　of　them　had　the　effrontery　to　call　me　a　liar；　so　we　saw　them　off　with　a　few　quarrels。　I　believe　they　made　for　Blackbottom　Bend。〃
　Arya　squirmed　restlessly　in　her　seat。　〃What　northmen　was　it；　who　came　looking　after　the　Kingslayer？〃
　Lady　Smallwood　seemed　surprised　that　she'd　spoken。　〃They　did　not　give　their　names；　child；　but　they　wore　black；　with　the　badge　of　a　white　sun　on　the　breast。〃
　A　white　sun　on　black　was　the　sigil　of　Lord　Karstark；　Arya　thought。　Those　were　Robb's　men。　She　wondered　if　they　were　still　close。　If　she　could　give　the　outlaws　the　slip　and　find　them；　maybe　they　would　take　her　to　her　mother　at　Riverrun　。　。　。
　〃Did　they　say　how　Lannister　came　to　escape？〃　Lem　asked。
　〃They　did；〃　said　Lady　Smallwood。　〃Not　that　I　believe　a　word　of　it。　They　claimed　that　Lady　Catelyn　set　him　free。〃
　That　startled　Tom　so　badly　he　snapped　a　string。　〃Go　on　with　you；〃　he　said。　〃That's　madness。〃
　It's　not　true；　thought　Arya。　It　couldn't　be　true。
　〃I　thought　the　same；〃　said　Lady　Smallwood。
　That　was　when　Harwin　remembered　Arya。　〃Such　talk　is　not　for　your　ears；　milady。〃
　〃No；　I　want　to　hear。〃
　The　outlaws　were　adamant。　〃Go　on　with　you；　skinny　squirrel；〃　said　Greenbeard。　〃Be　a　good　little　lady　and　go　play　in　the　yard　while　we　talk；　now。〃
　Arya　stalked　away　angry；　and　would　have　slammed　the　door　if　it　hadn't　been　so　heavy。　Darkness　had　settled　over　Acorn　Hall。　A　few　torches　burned　along　the　walls；　but　that　was　all。　The　gates　of　the　little　castle　were　closed　and　barred。　She　had　promised　Harwin　that　she　would　not　try　and　run　away　again；　she　knew；　but　that　was　before　they　started　telling　lies　about　her　mother。
　〃Arya？〃　Gendry　had　followed　her　out。　〃Lady　Smallwood　said　there's　a　smithy。　Want　to　have　a　look？〃
　〃If　you　want。〃　She　had　nothing　else　to　do。
　〃This　Thoros；〃　Gendry　said　as　they　walked　past　the　kennels；　〃is　he　the　same　Thoros　who　lived　in　the　castle　at　King's　Landing？　A　red　priest；　fat；　with　a　shaved　head？〃
　〃I　think　so。〃　Arya　had　never　spoken　to　Thoros　at　King's　Landing　that　she　could　recall；　but　she　knew　who　he　was。　He　and　Jalabhar　Xho　had　been　the　most　colorful　figures　at　Robert's　court；　and　Thoros　was　a　great　friend　of　the　king　as　well。
　〃He　won't　remember　me；　but　he　used　to　e　to　our　forge。〃　The　Smallwood　forge　had　not　been　used　in　some　time；　though　the　smith　had　hung　his　tools　neatly　on　the　wall。　Gendry　lit　a　candle　and　set　it　on　the　anvil　while　he　took　down　a　pair　of　tongs。　〃My　master　always　scolded　him　about　his　flaming　swords。　It　was　no　way　to　treat　good　steel；　he'd　say；　but　this　Thoros　never　used　good　steel。　He'd　just　dip　some　cheap　sword　in　wildfire　and　set　it　alight。　It　was　only　an　alchemist's　trick；　my　master　said；　but　it　scared　the　horses　and　some　of　the　greener　knights。〃
　She　screwed　up　her　face；　trying　to　remember　if　her　father　had　ever　talked　about　Thoros。　〃He　isn't　very　priestly；　is　he？〃
　〃No；〃　Gendry　admitted。　〃Master　Mott　said　Thoros　could　outdrink　even　King　Robert。　They　were　pease　in　a　pod；　he　told　me；　both　gluttons　and　sots。〃
　〃You　shouldn't　call　the　king　a　sot。〃　Maybe　King　Robert　had　drunk　a　lot；　but　he'd　been　her　father's　friend。
　〃I　was　talking　about　Thoros。〃　Gendry　reached　out　with　the　tongs　as　if　to　pinch　her　face；　but　Arya　swatted　them　away。　〃He　liked　feasts　and　tourneys；　that　was　why　King　Robert　was　so　fond　of　him。　And　this　Thoros　was　brave。　When　the　walls　of　Pyke　crashed　down；　he　was　the　first　through　the　breach。　He　fought　with　one　of　his　flaming　swords；　setting　ironmen　afire　with　every　slash。〃
　〃I　wish　I　had　a　flaming　sword。〃　Arya　could　think　of　lots　of　people　she'd　like　to　set　on　fire。
　〃It's　only　a　trick；　I　told　you。　The　wildfire　ruins　the　steel。　My　master　sold　Thoros　a　new　sword　after　every　tourney。　Every　time　they　would　have　a　fight　about　the　price。〃　Gendry　hung　the　tongs　back　up　and　took　down　the　heavy　hammer。　〃Master　Mott　said　it　was　time　I　made　my　first　longsword。　He　gave　me　a　sweet　piece　of　steel；　and　I　knew　just　how　I　wanted　to　shape　the　blade。　Only　Yoren　came；　and　took　me　away　for　the　Night's　Watch。〃
　〃You　can　still　make　swords　if　you　want；〃　said　Arya。　〃You　can　make　them　for　my　brother　Robb　when　we　get　to　Riverrun。〃
　〃Riverrun。〃　Gendry　put　the　hammer　down　and　looked　at　her。　〃You　look　different　now。　Like　a　proper　little　girl。〃
　〃I　look　like　an　oak　tree；　with　all　these　stupid　acorns。〃
　〃Nice；　though。　A　nice　oak　tree。〃　He　stepped　closer；　and　sniffed　at　her。　〃You　even　smell　nice　for　a　change。〃
　〃You　don't。　You　stink。〃　Arya　shoved　him　back　against　the　anvil　and　made　to　run；　but　Gendry　caught　her　arm。　She　stuck　a　foot　between　his　legs　and　tripped　him；　but　he　yanked　her　down　with　him；　and　they　rolled　across　the　floor　of　the　smithy。　He　was　very　strong；　but　she　was　quicker。　Every　time　he　tried　to　hold　her　still　she　wriggled　free　and　punched　him。　Gendry　only　laughed　at　the　blows；　which　made　her　mad。　He　finally　caught　both　her　wrists　in　one　hand　and　started　to　tickle　her　with　the　other；　so　Arya　slammed　her　knee　between　his　legs；　and　wrenched　free。　Both　of　t