grrm.astormofswords-第166章

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　Robb　looked　more　amused　than　afraid。　〃I　have　an　army　to　protect　me；　Mother；　I　don't　need　to　trust　in　bread　and　salt。　But　if　it　pleases　Lord　Walder　to　serve　me　stewed　crow　smothered　in　maggots；　I'll　eat　it　and　ask　for　a　second　bowl。〃
　Four　Freys　rode　out　from　the　western　gatehouse；　wrapped　in　heavy　cloaks　of　thick　grey　wool。　Catelyn　recognized　Ser　Ryman；　son　of　the　late　Ser　Stevron；　Lord　Walder's　firstborn。　With　his　father　dead；　Ryman　was　heir　to　the　Twins。　The　face　she　saw　beneath　his　hood　was　fleshy；　broad；　and　stupid。　The　other　three　were　likely　his　own　sons；　Lord　Walder's　great　grandsons。
　Edmure　confirmed　as　much。　〃Edwyn　is　eldest；　the　pale　slender　man　with　the　constipated　look。　The　wiry　one　with　the　beard　is　Black　Walder；　a　nasty　bit　of　business。　Petyr　is　on　the　bay；　the　lad　with　the　unfortunate　face。　Petyr　Pimple；　his　brothers　call　him。　Only　a　year　or　two　older　than　Robb；　but　Lord　Walder　married　him　off　at　ten　to　a　woman　thrice　his　age。　Gods；　I　hope　Roslin　doesn't　take　after　him。〃
　They　halted　to　let　their　hosts　e　to　them。　Robb's　banner　drooped　on　its　staff；　and　the　steady　sound　of　rainfall　mingled　with　the　rush　of　the　swollen　Green　Fork　on　their　right。　Grey　Wind　edged　forward；　tail　stiff；　watching　through　slitted　eyes　of　dark　gold。　When　the　Freys　were　a　halfdozen　yards　away　Catelyn　heard　him　growl；　a　deep　rumble　that　seemed　almost　one　with　rush　of　the　river。　Robb　looked　startled。　〃Grey　Wind；　to　me。　To　me！〃
　Instead　the　direwolf　leapt　forward；　snarling。
　Ser　Ryman's　palfrey　shied　off　with　a　whinny　of　fear；　and　Petyr　Pimple's　reared　and　threw　him。　Only　Black　Walder　kept　his　mount　in　hand。　He　reached　for　the　hilt　of　his　sword。　〃No！〃　Robb　was　shouting。　〃Grey　Wind；　here。　Here。〃　Catelyn　spurred　between　the　direwolf　and　the　horses。　Mud　spattered　from　the　hooves　of　her　mare　as　she　cut　in　front　of　Grey　Wind。　The　wolf　veered　away；　and　only　then　seemed　to　hear　Robb　calling。
　〃Is　this　how　a　Stark　makes　amends？〃　Black　Walder　shouted；　with　naked　steel　in　hand。　〃A　poor　greeting　I　call　it；　to　set　your　wolf　upon　us。　Is　this　why　you've　e？〃
　Ser　Ryman　had　dismounted　to　help　Petyr　Pimple　back　to　his　feet。　The　lad　was　muddy；　but　unhurt。
　〃I've　e　to　make　my　apology　for　the　wrong　I　did　your　House；　and　to　see　my　uncle　wed。〃　Robb　swung　down　from　the　saddle。　〃Petyr；　take　my　horse。　Yours　is　almost　back　to　the　stable。〃
　Petyr　looked　to　his　father　and　said；　〃I　can　ride　behind　one　of　my　brothers。〃
　The　Freys　made　no　sign　of　obeisance。　〃You　e　late；〃　Ser　Ryman　declared。
　〃The　rains　delayed　us；〃　said　Robb。　〃I　sent　a　bird。〃
　〃I　do　not　see　the　woman。〃
　By　the　woman　Ser　Ryman　meant　Jeyne　Westerling；　all　knew。　Lady　Catelyn　smiled　apologetically。　〃Queen　Jeyne　was　weary　after　so　much　travel；　sers。　No　doubt　she　will　be　pleased　to　visit　when　times　are　more　settled。〃
　〃My　grandfather　will　be　displeased。〃　Though　Black　Walder　had　sheathed　his　sword；　his　tone　was　no　friendlier。　〃I've　told　him　much　of　the　lady；　and　he　wished　to　behold　her　with　his　own　eyes。〃
　Edwyn　cleared　his　throat。　〃We　have　chambers　prepared　for　you　in　the　Water　Tower；　Your　Grace；〃　he　told　Robb　with　careful　courtesy；　〃as　well　as　for　Lord　Tully　and　Lady　Stark。　Your　lords　bannermen　are　also　wele　to　shelter　under　our　roof　and　partake　of　the　wedding　feast。〃
　〃And　my　men？〃　asked　Robb。
　〃My　lord　grandfather　regrets　that　he　cannot　feed　nor　house　so　large　a　host。　We　have　been　sore　pressed　to　find　fodder　and　provender　for　our　own　levies。　Nonetheless；　your　men　shall　not　be　neglected。　If　they　will　cross　and　set　up　their　camp　beside　our　own；　we　will　bring　out　enough　casks　of　wine　and　ale　for　all　to　drink　the　health　of　Lord　Edmure　and　his　bride。　We　have　thrown　up　three　great　feast　tents　on　the　far　bank；　to　provide　them　with　some　shelter　from　the　rains。〃
　〃Your　lord　father　is　most　kind。　My　men　will　thank　him。　They　have　had　a　long　wet　ride。〃
　Edmure　Tully　edged　his　horse　forward。　〃When　shall　I　meet　my　betrothed？〃
　〃She　waits　for　you　within；〃　promised　Edwyn　Frey。　〃You　will　forgive　her　if　she　seems　shy；　I　know。　She　has　been　awaiting　this　day　most　anxiously；　poor　maid。　But　perhaps　we　might　continue　this　out　of　the　rain？〃
　〃Truly。〃　Ser　Ryman　mounted　up　again；　pulling　Petyr　Pimple　up　behind　him。　〃If　you　would　follow　me；　my　father　awaits。〃　He　turned　the　palfrey's　head　back　toward　the　Twins。
　Edmure　fell　in　beside　Catelyn。　〃The　Late　Lord　Frey　might　have　seen　fit　to　wele　us　in　person；〃　he　plained。　〃I　am　his　liege　lord　as　well　as　his　son…to…be；　and　Robb's　his　king。〃
　〃When　you　are　one…and…ninety；　Brother；　see　how　eager　you　are　to　go　riding　in　the　rain。〃　Yet　she　wondered　if　that　was　the　whole　truth　of　it。　Lord　Walder　normally　went　about　in　a　covered　litter；　which　would　have　kept　the　worst　of　the　rain　off　him。　A　deliberate　slight？　If　so；　it　might　be　the　first　of　many　yet　to　e。
　There　was　more　trouble　at　the　gatehouse。　Grey　Wind　balked　in　the　middle　of　the　drawbridge；　shook　the　rain　off；　and　howled　at　the　portcullis。　Robb　whistled　impatiently。　〃Grey　Wind。　What　is　it？　Grey　Wind；　with　me。〃　But　the　direwolf　only　bared　his　teeth。　He　does　not　like　this　place；　Catelyn　thought。　Robb　had　to　squat　and　speak　softly　to　the　wolf　before　he　would　consent　to　pass　beneath　the　portcullis。　By　then　Lame　Lothar　and　Walder　Rivers　had　e　up。　〃It's　the　sound　of　the　water　he　fears；〃　Rivers　said。　〃Beasts　know　to　avoid　the　river　in　flood。〃
　〃A　dry　kennel　and　a　leg　of　mutton　will　see　him　right　again；〃　said　Lothar　cheerfully。　〃Shall　I　summon　our　master　of　hounds？〃
　〃He's　a　direwolf；　not　a　dog；〃　said　Robb；　〃and　dangerous　to　men　he　does　not　trust。　Ser　Raynald；　stay　with　him。　I　won't　take　him　into　Lord　Walder's　hall　like　this。〃
　Deftly　done；　Catelyn　decided。　Robb　keeps　the　Westerling　out　of　Lord　Walder's　sight　as　well。
　Gout　and　brittle　bones　had　taken　their　toll　of　old　Walder　Frey。　They　found　him　propped　up　in　his　high　seat　with　a　cushion　beneath　him　and　an　ermine　robe　across　his　lap。　His　chair　was　black　oak；　its　back　carved　into　the　semblance　of　two　stout　towers　joined　by　an　arched　bridge；　so　massive　that　its　embrace　turned　the　old　man　into　a　grotesque　child。　There　was　something　of　the　vulture　about　Lord　Walder；　and　rather　more　of　the　weasel。　His　bald　head；　spotted　with　age；　thrust　out　from　his　scrawny　shoulders　on　a　long　pink　neck。　Loose　skin　dangled　beneath　his　receding　chin；　his　eyes　were　runny　and　clouded；　and　his　toothless　mouth　moved　constantly；　sucking　at　the　empty　air　as　a　babe　sucks　at　his　mother's　breast。
　The　eighth　Lady　Frey　stood　beside　Lord　Walder's　high　seat。　At　his　feet　sat　a　somewhat　younger　version　of　himself；　a　stooped　thin　man　of　fifty　whose　costly　garb　of　blue　wool　and　grey　satin　was　strangely　accented　by　a　crown　and　collar　ornamented　with　tiny　brass　bells。　The　likeness　between　him　and　his　lord　was　striking；　save　for　their　eyes；　Lord　Frey's　small；　dim；　and　suspicious；　the　other's　large；　amiable；　and　vacant。　Catelyn　recalled　that　one　of　Lord　Walder's　brood　had　fathered　a　halfwit　long　years　ago。　During　past　visits；　the　Lord　of　the　Crossing　had　always　taken　care　to　hide　this　one　away。　Did　he　always　wear　a　fool's　crown；　or　is　that　meant　as　mockery　of　Robb？　It　was　a　question　she　dare　not　ask。
　Frey　sons；　daughters；　children；　grandchildren；　husbands；　wives；　and　servants　crowded　the　rest　of　the　hall。　But　it　was　the　old　man　who　spoke。　〃You　will　forgive　me　if　I　do　not　kneel；　I　know。　My　legs　no　longer　work　as　they　did；　though　that　which　hangs　between'em　serves　well　enough；　heh。〃　His　mouth　split　in　a　toothless　smile　as　he　eyed　Robb's　crown。　〃Some　would　say　it's　a　poor　king　who　crowns　himself　with　bronze；　Your　Grace。〃
　〃Bronze　and　iron　are　stronger　than　gold　and　silver；〃　Robb　answered。　〃The　old　Kings　of　Winter　wore　such　a　sword…crown。〃
　〃Small　good　it　did　them　when　the　dragons　came。　Heh。〃　That　heh　seemed　to　please　the　lackwit；　who　bobbed　his　head　from　side　to　side；　jingling　crown　and　collar。　〃Sire；〃　Lord　Walder　said；　〃forgive　my　Aegon　the　noise。　He　has　less　wits　than　a　crannogman；　and　he's　never　met　a　king　before。　One　of　Stevron's　boys。　We　call　him　Jinglebell。〃
　〃Ser　Stevron　mentioned　him；　my　lord。〃　Robb　smiled　at　the　lackwit。　〃Well　met；　Aegon。　Your　father　was　a　brave　man。〃
　Jinglebell　jingled　his　bells。　A　thin　line　of　spit　ran　from　one　corner　of　his　mouth　when　he　smiled。
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