grrm.astormofswords-第96部分

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　〃I　don't　know。　Have　you？〃
　Catelyn　had　never　struck　her　children　in　anger；　but　she　almost　struck　Robb　then。　It　was　an　effort　to　remind　herself　how　frightened　and　alone　he　must　feel。　〃You　are　King　in　the　North；　the　choice　is　yours。　I　only　ask　that　you　think　on　what　I've　said。　The　singers　make　much　of　kings　who　die　valiantly　in　battle；　but　your　life　is　worth　more　than　a　song。　To　me　at　least；　who　gave　it　to　you。〃　She　lowered　her　head。　〃Do　I　have　your　leave　to　go？〃
　〃Yes。〃　He　turned　away　and　drew　his　sword。　What　he　meant　to　do　with　it；　she　could　not　say。　There　was　no　enemy　there；　no　one　to　fight。　Only　her　and　him；　amongst　tall　trees　and　fallen　leaves。　There　are　fights　no　sword　can　win；　Catelyn　wanted　to　tell　him；　but　she　feared　the　king　was　deaf　to　such　words。
　Hours　later；　she　was　sewing　in　her　bedchamber　when　young　Rollarn　Westerling　came　running　with　the　summons　to　supper。　Good；　Catelyn　thought；　relieved。　She　had　not　been　certain　that　her　son　would　want　her　there；　after　their　quarrel。　〃A　dutiful　squire；〃　she　said　to　Rollam　gravely。　Bran　would　have　been　the　same。
　If　Robb　seemed　cool　at　table　and　Edmure　surly；　Lame　Lothar　made　up　for　them　both。　He　was　the　model　of　courtesy；　reminiscing　warmly　about　Lord　Hoster；　offering　Catelyn　gentle　condolences　on　the　loss　of　Bran　and　Rickon；　praising　Edmure　for　the　victory　at　Stone　Mill；　and　thanking　Robb　for　the　〃swift　sure　justice〃　he　had　meted　out　to　Rickard　Karstark。　Lothar's　bastard　brother　Walder　Rivers　was　another　matter；　a　harsh　sour　man　with　old　Lord　Walder's　suspicious　face；　he　spoke　but　seldom　and　devoted　most　of　his　attention　to　the　meat　and　mead　that　was　set　before　him。
　When　all　the　empty　words　were　said；　the　queen　and　the　other　Westerlings　excused　themselves；　the　remains　of　the　meal　were　cleared　away；　and　Lothar　Frey　cleared　his　throat。　〃Before　we　turn　to　the　business　that　brings　us　here；　there　is　another　matter；〃　he　said　solemnly。　〃A　grave　matter；　I　fear。　I　had　hoped　it　would　not　fall　to　me　to　bring　you　these　tidings；　but　it　seems　I　must。　My　lord　father　has　had　a　letter　from　his　grandsons。〃
　Catelyn　had　been　so　lost　in　grief　for　her　own　that　she　had　almost　forgotten　the　two　Freys　she　had　agreed　to　foster。　No　more；　she　thought。　Mother　have　mercy；　how　many　more　blows　can　we　bear？　Somehow　she　knew　the　next　words　she　heard　would　plunge　yet　another　blade　into　her　heart。　〃The　grandsons　at　Winterfell？　〃　she　made　herself　ask。　〃My　wards？〃
　〃Walder　and　WaIder；　yes。　But　they　are　presently　at　the　Dreadfort；　my　lady。　I　grieve　to　tell　you　this；　but　there　has　been　a　battle。　Winterfell　is　burned。〃
　〃Burned？〃　Robb's　voice　was　incredulous。
　〃Your　northern　lords　tried　to　retake　it　from　the　ironmen。　When　Theon　Greyjoy　saw　that　his　prize　was　lost；　he　put　the　castle　to　the　torch。〃
　〃We　have　heard　naught　of　any　battle；〃　said　Ser　Brynden。
　〃My　nephews　are　young；　I　grant　you；　but　they　were　there。　Big　Walder　wrote　the　letter；　though　his　cousin　signed　as　well。　It　was　a　bloody　bit　of　business；　by　their　account。　Your　castellan　was　slain。　Ser　Rodrik；　was　that　his　name？〃
　〃Ser　Rodrik　Cassel；〃　said　Catelyn　numbly。　That　dear　brave　loyal　old　soul。　She　could　almost　see　him；　tugging　on　his　fierce　white　whiskers。　〃What　of　our　other　people？〃
　〃The　ironmen　put　many　of　them　to　the　sword；　I　fear。〃
　Wordless　with　rage；　Robb　slammed　a　fist　down　on　the　table　and　turned　his　face　away；　so　the　Freys　would　not　see　his　tears。
　But　his　mother　saw　them。　The　world　grows　a　little　darker　every　day。　Catelyn's　thoughts　went　to　Ser　Rodrik's　little　daughter　Beth；　to　tireless　Maester　Luwin　and　cheerful　Septon　Chayle；　Mikken　at　the　forge；　Farlen　and　Palla　in　the　kennels；　Old　Nan　and　simple　Hodor。　Her　heart　was　sick。　〃Please；　not　all。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Lame　Lothar。　〃The　women　and　children　hid；　my　nephews　Walder　and　Walder　among　them。　With　Winterfell　in　ruins；　the　survivors　were　carried　back　to　the　Dreadfort　by　this　son　of　Lord　Bolton's。…
　〃Bolton's　son？〃　Robb's　voice　was　strained。
　Walder　Rivers　spoke　up。　〃A　bastard　son；　I　believe。〃
　〃Not　Ramsay　Snow？　Does　Lord　Roose　have　another　bastard？〃　Robb　scowled。　〃This　Ramsay　was　a　monster　and　a　murderer；　and　he　died　a　coward。　Or　so　I　was　told。〃
　〃I　cannot　speak　to　that。　There　is　much　confusion　in　any　war。　Many　false　reports。　All　I　can　tell　you　is　that　my　nephews　claim　it　was　this　bastard　son　of　Bolton's　who　saved　the　women　of　Winterfell；　and　the　little　ones。　They　are　safe　at　the　Dreadfort　now；　all　those　who　remain。〃
　〃Theon；〃　Robb　said　suddenly。　〃What　happened　to　Theon　Greyjoy？　Was　he　slain？〃
　Lame　Lothar　spread　his　hands。　〃That　I　cannot　say；　Your　Grace。　Walder　and　Walder　made　no　mention　of　his　fate。　Perhaps　Lord　Bolton　might　know；　if　he　has　had　word　from　this　son　of　his。〃
　Ser　Brynden　said；　〃We　will　be　certain　to　ask　him。〃
　〃You　are　all　distraught；　I　see。　I　am　sorry　to　have　brought　you　such　fresh　grief。　Perhaps　we　should　adjourn　until　the　morrow。　Our　business　can　wait　until　you　have　posed　yourselves　。　。　。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Robb；　〃I　want　the　matter　settled。〃
　Her　brother　Edmure　nodded。　〃Me　as　well。　Do　you　have　an　answer　to　our　offer；　my　lord？〃
　〃I　do。〃　Lothar　smiled。　〃My　lord　father　bids　me　tell　Your　Grace　that　he　will　agree　to　this　new　marriage　alliance　between　our　houses　and　renew　his　fealty　to　the　King　in　the　North；　upon　the　condition　that　the　King's　Grace　apologize　for　the　insult　done　to　House　Frey；　in　his　royal　person；　face　to　face。〃
　An　apology　was　a　small　enough　price　to　pay；　but　Catelyn　misliked　this　petty　condition　of　Lord　Walder's　at　once。
　〃I　am　pleased；〃　Robb　said　cautiously。　〃It　was　never　my　wish　to　cause　this　rift　between　us；　Lothar。　The　Freys　have　fought　valiantly　for　my　cause。　I　would　have　them　at　my　side　once　more。〃
　〃You　are　too　kind；　Your　Grace。　As　you　accept　these　terms；　I　am　then　instructed　to　offer　Lord　Tully　the　hand　of　my　sister；　the　Lady　Roslin；　a　maid　of　sixteen　years。　Roslin　is　my　lord　father's　youngest　daughter　by　Lady　Bethany　of　House　Rosby；　his　sixth　wife。　She　has　a　gentle　nature　and　a　gift　for　music。〃
　Edmure　shifted　in　his　seat。　〃Might　not　it　be　better　if　I　first　met　…
　〃You'll　meet　when　you're　wed；〃　said　Walder　Rivers　curtly。　〃Unless　Lord　Tully　feels　a　need　to　count　her　teeth　first？〃
　Edmure　kept　his　temper。　〃I　will　take　your　word　so　far　as　her　teeth　are　concerned；　but　it　would　be　pleasant　if　I　might　gaze　upon　her　face　before　I　espoused　her。〃
　〃You　must　accept　her　now；　my　lord；〃　said　Walder　Rivers。　〃Else　my　father's　offer　is　withdrawn。〃
　Lame　Lothar　spread　his　hands。　〃My　brother　has　a　soldier's　bluntness；　but　what　he　says　is　true。　It　is　my　lord　father's　wish　that　this　marriage　take　place　at　once。〃
　〃At　once？〃　Edmure　sounded　so　unhappy　that　Catelyn　had　the　unworthy　thought　that　perhaps　he　had　been　entertaining　notions　of　breaking　the　betrothal　after　the　fighting　was　done。
　〃Has　Lord　Walder　forgotten　that　we　are　fighting　a　war？〃　Brynden　Blackfish　asked　sharply。
　〃Scarcely；〃　said　Lothar。　〃That　is　why　he　insists　that　the　marriage　take　place　now；　ser。　Men　die　in　war；　even　men　who　are　young　and　strong。　What　would　bee　of　our　alliance　should　Lord　Edmure　fall　before　he　took　Roslin　to　bride？　And　there　is　my　father's　age　to　consider　as　well。　He　is　past　ninety　and　not　like　to　see　the　end　of　this　struggle。　It　would　put　his　noble　heart　at　peace　if　he　could　see　his　dear　Roslin　safely　wed　before　the　gods　take　him；　so　he　might　die　with　the　knowledge　that　the　girl　had　a　strong　husband　to　cherish　and　protect　her。〃
　We　all　want　Lord　Walder　to　die　happy。　Catelyn　was　growing　less　and　less　fortable　with　this　arrangement。　〃My　brother　has　just　lost　his　own　father。　He　needs　time　to　mourn。〃
　〃Roslin　is　a　cheerful　girl；〃　said　Lothar。　〃She　may　be　the　very　thing　Lord　Edmure　needs　to　help　him　through　his　grief。〃
　〃And　my　grandfather　has　e　to　mislike　lengthy　betrothals；〃　the　bastard　Walder　Rivers　added。　〃I　cannot　imagine　why。〃
　Robb　gave　him　a　chilly　look。　〃I　take　your　meaning；　Rivers。　Pray　excuse　us。〃
　〃As　Your　Grace　mands。〃　Lame　Lothar　rose；　and　his　bastard　brother　helped　him　hobble　from　the　room。
　Edmure　was　seething。　〃They're　as　much　as　saying　that　my　promise　is　worthless。　Why　should　I　let　that　old　weasel　choose　my　bride？　Lord　Walder　has　other　daughters　besides　this　Roslin。　Granddaughters　as　well。　I　should　be　offered　the　same　choice　you　were。　I'm　his　liege　lord；　he　should　be　overjoyed　that　I'm　willing　to　wed　any　of　them。〃
　〃He　is　a　proud　man；　and　we've　wounded　him；〃　said　Catelyn。
　〃The　Others　take　his　pride！　I　will　not　be　shamed　in　my　own　hall。　My　answer　is　no。〃
　Robb　gave　him　a　weary　look。　〃I　will　not　mand　you。　Not　in　this。　But　if　you　refuse；　Lord　Frey　will　take　it　for　another　slight；　and　any　hope　of　putting　this　arights　will　be　gone。〃
　〃You　cannot　know　that；〃　Edmure　insisted。　〃Frey　has　wanted　me　for　one　of　his　daughters　since　the　day　I　was　born。　He　will　not　let　a　chance　like　this　slip　between　those　grasping　fingers　of　his。　When　Lothar　brings　him　our　answer；　he'll　e　wheedling　back　and　accept　a　betrothal　。　。　。　and　to　a　daughter　of　my　choosing。〃
　〃Perhaps；　in　time；〃　said　Brynden　Blackfish。　〃But　can　we　wait；　while　Lothar　rides　back　and　forth　with　offers　and　counters？〃
　Robb's　hands　curled　into　fists。　〃I　must　get　back　to　the　north。　My　brothers　dead；　Winterfell　burned；　my　smallfolk　put　to　the　sword　。　。　。　the　gods　only　know　what　this　bastard　of　Bolton's　is　about；　or　whether　Theon　is　still　alive　and　on　the　loose。　I　can't　sit　here　waiting　for　a　wedding　that　might　or　might　not　happen。〃
　〃It　must　happen；〃　said　Catelyn；　though　not　gladly。　〃I　have　no　more　wish　to　suffer　Walder　Frey's　insults　and　plaints　than　you　do；　Brother；　but　I　see　little　choice　here。　Without　this　wedding；　Robb's　cause　is　lost。　Edmure；　we　must　accept。〃
　〃We　must　accept？〃　he　echoed　peevishly。　〃I　don't　see　you　offering　to　bee　the　ninth　Lady　Frey；　Cat。〃
　〃The　eighth　Lady　Frey　is　still　alive　and　well；　so　far　as　I　know；〃　she　replied。　Thankfully。　Otherwise　it　might　well　have　e　to　that；　knowing　Lord　Walder。
　The　Blackfish　said；　〃I　am　the　last　man　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms　to　tell　anyone　who　they　must　wed；　Nephew。　Nonetheless；　you　did　say　something　of　making　amends　for　your　Battle　of　the　Fords。〃
　〃I　had　in　mind　a　different　sort　of　amends。　Single　bat　with　the　Kingslayer。　Seven　years　of　penace　as　a　begging　brother。　Swimming　the　sunset　sea　with　my　legs　tied。〃　Wh