grrm.astormofswords-第152章

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he　asked　Qyburn。
　The　man's　face　grew　strange。　〃Once；　at　the　Citadel；　I　came　into　an　empty　room　and　saw　an　empty　chair。　Yet　I　knew　a　woman　had　been　there；　only　a　moment　before。　The　cushion　was　dented　where　she'd　sat；　the　cloth　was　still　warm；　and　her　scent　lingered　in　the　air。　If　we　leave　our　smells　behind　us　when　we　leave　a　room；　surely　something　of　our　souls　must　remain　when　we　leave　this　life？〃　Qyburn　spread　his　hands。　〃The　archmaesters　did　not　like　my　thinking；　though。　Well；　Marwyn　did；　but　he　was　the　only　one。〃
　Jaime　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　〃Walton；〃　he　said；　〃saddle　the　horses。　I　want　to　go　back。〃
　〃Back？〃　Steelshanks　regarded　him　dubiously。
　He　thinks　I've　gone　mad。　And　perhaps　I　have。　〃I　left　something　at　Harrenhal。〃
　〃Lord　Vargo　holds　it　now。　Him　and　his　Bloody　Mummers。〃
　〃You　have　twice　the　men　he　does。〃
　〃If　I　don't　serve　you　up　to　your　father　as　manded；　Lord　Bolton　will　have　my　hide。　We　press　on　to　King's　Landing。〃
　Once　Jaime　might　have　countered　with　a　smile　and　a　threat；　but　onehanded　cripples　do　not　inspire　much　fear。　He　wondered　what　his　brother　would　do。　Tyrion　would　find　a　way。　〃Lannisters　lie；　Steelshanks。　Didn't　Lord　Bolton　tell　you　that？〃
　The　man　frowned　suspiciously。　〃What　if　he　did？〃
　〃Unless　you　take　me　back　to　Harrenhal；　the　song　I　sing　my　father　may　not　be　one　the　Lord　of　the　Dreadfort　would　wish　to　hear。　I　might　even　say　it　was　Bolton　ordered　my　hand　cut　off；　and　Steelshanks　Walton　who　swung　the　blade。〃
　Walton　gaped　at　him。　〃That　isn't　so。〃
　〃No；　but　who　will　my　father　believe？〃　Jaime　made　himself　smile；　the　way　he　used　to　smile　when　nothing　in　the　world　could　frighten　him。　〃It　will　be　so　much　easier　if　we　just　go　back。　We'd　be　on　our　way　again　soon　enough；　and　I'd　sing　such　a　sweet　song　in　King's　Landing　you'll　never　believe　your　ears。　You'd　get　the　girl；　and　a　nice　fat　purse　of　gold　as　thanks。〃
　〃Gold？〃　Walton　liked　that　well　enough。　〃How　much　gold？〃
　I　have　him。　〃Why；　how　much　would　you　want？〃
　And　by　the　time　the　sun　came　up；　they　were　halfway　back　to　Harrenhal。
　Jaime　pushed　his　horse　much　harder　than　he　had　the　day　before；　and　Steelshanks　and　the　northmen　were　forced　to　match　his　pace。　Even　so；　it　was　midday　before　they　reached　the　castle　on　the　lake。　Beneath　a　darkening　sky　that　threatened　rain；　the　immense　walls　and　five　great　towers　stood　black　and　ominous。　It　looks　so　dead。　The　walls　were　empty；　the　gates　closed　and　barred。　But　high　above　the　barbican；　a　single　banner　hung　limp。　The　black　goat　of　Qohor；　he　knew。　Jaime　cupped　his　hands　to　shout。　〃You　in　there！　Open　your　gates；　or　I'll　kick　them　down！〃
　It　was　not　until　Qyburn　and　Steelshanks　added　their　voices　that　a　head　finally　appeared　on　the　battlements　above　them。　He　goggled　down　at　them；　then　vanished。　A　short　time　later；　they　heard　the　portcullis　being　drawn　upward。　The　gates　swung　open；　and　Jaime　Lannister　spurred　his　horse　through　the　walls；　scarcely　glancing　at　the　murder　holes　as　he　passed　beneath　them。　He　had　been　worried　that　the　goat　might　not　admit　them；　but　it　seemed　as　if　the　Brave　panions　still　thought　of　them　as　allies。　Fools。
　The　outer　ward　was　deserted；　only　the　long　slate…roofed　stables　showed　any　signs　of　life；　and　it　was　not　horses　that　interested　Jaime　just　then。　He　reined　up　and　looked　about。　He　could　hear　sounds　from　somewhere　behind　the　Tower　of　Ghosts；　and　men　shouting　in　half　a　dozen　tongues。　Steelshanks　and　Qyburn　rode　up　on　either　side。　〃Get　what　you　came　back　for；　and　we'll　be　gone　again；〃　said　Walton。　〃I　want　no　trouble　with　the　Mummers。〃
　〃Tell　your　men　to　keep　their　hands　on　their　sword　hilts；　and　the　Mummers　will　want　no　trouble　with　you。　Two　to　one；　remember？〃　Jaime's　head　jerked　round　at　the　sound　of　a　distant　roar；　faint　but　ferocious。　It　echoed　off　the　walls　of　Harrenhal；　and　the　laughter　swelled　up　like　the　sea。　All　of　a　sudden；　he　knew　what　was　happening。　Have　we　e　too　late？　His　stomach　did　a　lurch；　and　he　slammed　his　spurs　into　his　horse；　galloping　across　the　outer　ward；　beneath　an　arched　stone　bridge；　around　the　Wailing　Tower；　and　through　the　Flowstone　Yard。
　They　had　her　in　the　bear　pit。
　King　Harren　the　Black　had　wished　to　do　even　his　bear…baiting　in　lavish　style。　The　pit　was　ten　yards　across　and　five　yards　deep；　walled　in　stone；　floored　with　sand；　and　encircled　by　six　tiers　of　marble　benches。　The　Brave　panions　filled　only　a　quarter　of　the　seats；　Jaime　saw　as　he　swung　down　clumsily　from　his　horse。　The　sellswords　were　so　fixed　on　the　spectacle　beneath　that　only　those　across　the　pit　noticed　their　arrival。
　Brienne　wore　the　same　ill…fitting　gown　she'd　worn　to　supper　with　Roose　Bolton。　No　shield；　no　breastplate；　no　chainmail；　not　even　boiled　leather；　only　pink　satin　and　Myrish　lace。　Maybe　the　goat　thought　she　was　more　amusing　when　dressed　as　a　woman。　Half　her　gown　was　hanging　off　in　tatters；　and　her　left　arm　dripped　blood　where　the　bear　had　raked　her。
　At　least　they　gave　her　a　sword。　The　wench　held　it　one…handed；　moving　sideways；　trying　to　put　some　distance　between　her　and　the　bear。　That's　no　good；　the　ring's　too　small。　She　needed　to　attack；　to　make　a　quick　end　to　it。　Good　steel　was　a　match　for　any　bear。　But　the　wench　seemed　afraid　to　close。　The　Mummers　showered　her　with　insults　and　obscene　suggestions。
　〃This　is　none　of　our　concern；〃　Steelshanks　warned　Jaime。　〃Lord　Bolton　said　the　wench　was　theirs；　to　do　with　as　they　liked。〃
　〃Her　name's　Brienne。〃　Jaime　descended　the　steps；　past　a　dozen　startled　sellswords。　Vargo　Hoat　had　taken　the　lord's　box　in　the　lowest　tier。　〃Lord　Vargo；〃　he　called　over　the　shouts。
　The　Qohorik　almost　spilt　his　wine。　〃Kingthlayer？〃　The　left　side　of　his　face　was　bandaged　clumsily；　the　linen　over　his　ear　spotted　with　blood。
　〃Pull　her　out　of　there。〃
　〃Thay　out　of　thith；　Kingthlayer；　unleth　you'd　like　another　thump。〃
　He　waved　a　wine　cup。　〃Your　thee…mooth　bit　oth　my　ear。　Thmall　wonder　her　father　will　not　ranthom　thuch　a　freak。〃
　A　roar　turned　Jaime　back　around。　The　bear　was　eight　feet　tall。　Gregor　Clegane　with　a　pelt；　he　thought；　though　likely　smarter。　The　beast　did　not　have　the　reach　the　Mountain　had　with　that　monster　greatsword　of　his；　though。
　Bellowing　in　fury；　the　bear　showed　a　mouth　full　of　great　yellow　teeth；　then　fell　back　to　all　fours　and　went　straight　at　Brienne。　There's　your　chance；　Jaime　thought。　Strike！　Now！
　Instead；　she　poked　out　ineffectually　with　the　point　of　her　blade。　The　bear　recoiled；　then　came　on；　rumbling。　Brienne　slid　to　her　left　and　poked　again　at　the　bear's　face。　This　time　he　lifted　a　paw　to　swat　the　sword　aside。
　He's　wary；　Jaime　realized。　He's　gone　up　against　other　men。　He　knows　swords　and　spears　can　hurt　him。　But　that　won't　keep　him　off　her　long。　〃Kill　him！〃　he　shouted；　but　his　voice　was　lost　amongst　all　the　other　shouts。　If　Brienne　heard；　she　gave　no　sign。　She　moved　around　the　pit；　keeping　the　wall　at　her　back。　Too　close。　If　the　bear　pins　her　by　the　wall　。　。　。
　The　beast　turned　clumsily；　too　far　and　too　fast。　Quick　as　a　cat；　Brienne　changed　direction。　There's　the　wench　I　remember。　She　leapt　in　to　land　a　cut　across　the　bear's　back。　Roaring；　the　beast　went　up　on　his　hind　legs　again。　Brienne　scrambled　back　away。　Where's　the　blood？　Then　suddenly　he　understood。　Jaime　rounded　on　Hoat。　〃You　gave　her　a　tourney　sword。〃
　The　goat　brayed　laughter；　spraying　him　with　wine　and　spittle。　〃of　courth。〃
　〃I'll　pay　her　bloody　ransom。　Gold；　sapphires；　whatever　you　want。　Pull　her　out　of　there。〃
　〃You　want　her？　Go　get　her。〃
　So　he　did。
　He　put　his　good　hand　on　the　marble　rail　and　vaulted　over；　rolling　as　he　hit　the　sand。　The　bear　turned　at　the　thump；　sniffing；　watching　this　new　intruder　warily。　Jaime　scrambled　to　one　knee。　Well；　what　in　seven　hells　do　I　do　now？　He　filled　his　fist　with　sand。　〃Kingslayer？〃　he　heard　Brienne　say；　astonished。
　〃Jaime。〃　He　uncoiled；　flinging　the　sand　at　the　bear's　face。　The　bear　mauled　the　air　and　roared　like　blazes。
　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃
　〃Something　stupid。　Get　behind　me。〃　He　circled　toward　her；　putting　himself　between　Brienne　and　the　bear。
　〃You　get　behind。　I　have　the　sword。〃
　〃A　swordwith　no　point　and　no　edge。　Get　behindme！〃　He　saw　something　half…buried　in　the　sand；　and　snatched　it　up　with　his　good　hand。　It　proved　to　be　a　human　jawbone；　with　so