grrm.astormofswords-第259章

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hundred　votes。　The　brothers　will　e　to　a　decision　in　their　own　time。〃
　Yes；　Sam　thought；　but　what　decision？
　Later；　over　cups　of　watered　wine　in　the　privacy　of　Pyp's　cell；　Sam's　tongue　loosened　and　he　found　himself　thinking　aloud。　〃Cotter　Pyke　and　Ser　Denys　Mallister　have　been　losing　ground；　but　between　them　they　still　have　almost　two…thirds；〃　he　told　Pyp　and　Grenn。　〃Either　one　would　be　fine　as　Lord　mander。　Someone　needs　to　convince　one　of　them　to　withdraw　and　support　the　other。〃
　〃Someone？〃　said　Grenn；　doubtfully。　〃What　someone？〃
　〃Grenn　is　so　dumb　he　thinks　someone　might　be　him；〃　said　Pyp。　〃Maybe　when　someone　is　done　with　Pyke　and　Mallister；　he　should　convince　King　Stannis　to　marry　Queen　Cersei　too。〃
　〃King　Stannis　is　married；〃　Grenn　objected。
　〃What　am　I　going　to　do　with　him；　Sam？〃　sighed　Pyp。
　〃Cotter　Pyke　and　Ser　Denys　don't　like　each　other　much；〃　Grenn　argued　stubbornly。　〃They　fight　about　everything。〃
　〃Yes；　but　only　because　they　have　different　ideas　about　what's　best　for　the　Watch；〃　said　Sam。　〃If　we　explained…〃
　〃We？〃　said　Pyp。　〃How　did　someone　change　to　we？　I'm　the　mummer's　monkey；　remember？　And　Grenn　is；　well；　Grenn。　〃　He　smiled　at　Sam；　and　wiggled　his　ears。　〃You；　now　。　。　。　you're　a　lord's　son；　and　the　maester's　steward。　。。〃
　〃And　Sam　the　Slayer；〃　said　Grenn。　〃You　slew　an　Other。〃
　〃It　was　the　dragonglass　that　killed　it；〃　Sam　told　him　for　the　hundredth　time。
　〃A　lord's　son；　the　maester's　steward；　and　Sam　the　Slayer；〃　Pyp　mused。　〃You　could　talk　to　them；　might　be　。　。　。〃
　〃I　could；〃　said　Sam；　sounding　as　gloomy　as　Dolorous　Edd；　〃if　I　wasn't　too　craven　to　face　them。〃
　
　CHAPTER　76
　JON
　
　Jon　prowled　around　Satin　in　a　slow　circle；　sword　in　hand；　forcing　him　to　turn。　〃Get　your　shield　up；〃　he　said。
　〃It's　too　heavy；〃　the　Oldtown　boy　plained。　　
　〃It's　as　heavy　as　it　needs　to　be　to　stop　a　sword；〃　Jon　said。　〃Now　get　it　up。〃　He　stepped　forward；　slashing。　Satin　jerked　the　shield　up　in　time　to　catch　the　sword　on　its　rim；　and　swung　his　own　blade　at　Jon's　ribs。　〃Good；〃　Jon　said；　when　he　felt　the　impact　on　his　own　shield。　〃That　was　good。　But　you　need　to　put　your　body　into　it。　Get　your　weight　behind　the　steel　and　you'll　do　more　damage　than　with　arm　strength　alone。　e；　try　it　again；　drive　at　me；　but　keep　the　shield　up　or　I'll　ring　your　head　like　a　bell　。　。　。〃
　Instead　Satin　took　a　step　backward　and　raised　his　visor。　〃Jon；〃　he　said；　in　an　anxious　voice。
　When　he　turned；　she　was　standing　behind　him；　with　half　a　dozen　queen's　men　around　her。　Small　wonder　the　yard　grew　so　quiet。　He　had　glimpsed　Melisandre　at　her　nightfires；　and　ing　and　going　about　the　castle；　but　never　so　close。　She's　beautiful；　he　thought　。　。　。　but　there　was　something　more　than　a　little　unsettling　about　red　eyes。　〃my　lady。〃
　〃The　king　would　speak　with　you；　Jon　Snow。〃
　Jon　thrust　the　practice　sword　into　the　earth。　〃Might　I　be　allowed　to　change？　I　am　in　no　fit　state　to　stand　before　a　king。〃
　〃We　shall　await　you　atop　the　Wall；〃　said　Melisandre。　We；　Jon　heard；　not　he。　It's　as　they　say。　This　is　his　true　queen；　not　the　one　he　left　at　Eastwatch。
　He　hung　his　mail　and　plate　inside　the　armory；　returned　to　his　own　cell；　discarded　his　sweat…stained　clothes；　and　donned　a　fresh　set　of　blacks。　It　would　be　cold　and　windy　in　the　cage；　he　knew；　and　colder　and　windier　still　on　top　of　the　ice；　so　he　chose　a　heavy　hooded　cloak。　Last　of　all　he　collected　Longclaw；　and　slung　the　bastard　sword　across　his　back。
　Melisandre　was　waiting　for　him　at　the　base　of　the　Wall。　She　had　sent　her　queen's　men　away。　〃What　does　His　Grace　want　of　me？〃　Jon　asked　her　as　they　entered　the　cage。
　〃All　you　have　to　give；　Jon　Snow。　He　is　a　king。〃
　He　shut　the　door　and　pulled　the　bell　cord。　The　winch　began　to　turn。　They　rose。　The　day　was　bright　and　the　Wall　was　weeping；　long　fingers　of　water　trickling　down　its　face　and　glinting　in　the　sun。　In　the　close　confines　of　the　iron　cage；　he　was　acutely　aware　of　the　red　woman's　presence。　She　even　smells　red。　The　scent　reminded　him　of　Mikken's　forge；　of　the　way　iron　smelled　when　red…hot；　the　scent　was　smoke　and　blood。　Kissed　by　fire；　he　thought；　remembering　Ygritte。　The　wind　got　in　amongst　Melisandre's　long　red　robes　and　sent　them　flapping　against　Jon's　legs　as　he　stood　beside　her。　〃You　are　not　cold；　my　lady？〃　he　asked　her。
　She　laughed。　〃Never。〃　The　ruby　at　her　throat　seemed　to　pulse；　in　time　with　the　beating　of　her　heart。　〃The　Lord's　fire　lives　within　me；　Jon　Snow。　Feel。〃　She　put　her　hand　on　his　cheek；　and　held　it　there　while　he　felt　how　warm　she　was。　〃That　is　how　life　should　feel；〃　she　told　him。　〃Only　death　is　cold。〃
　They　found　Stannis　Baratheon　standing　alone　at　the　edge　of　the　Wall；　brooding　over　the　field　where　he　had　won　his　battle；　and　the　great　green　forest　beyond。　He　was　dressed　in　the　same　black　breeches；　tunic；　and　boots　that　a　brother　of　the　Night's　Watch　might　wear。　Only　his　cloak　set　him　apart；　a　heavy　golden　cloak　trimmed　in　black　fur；　and　pinned　with　a　brooch　in　the　shape　of　a　flaming　heart。　〃I　have　brought　you　the　Bastard　of　Winterfell；　Your　Grace；〃　said　Melisandre。
　Stannis　turned　to　study　him。　Beneath　his　heavy　brow　were　eyes　like　bottomless　blue　pools。　His　hollow　cheeks　and　strong　jaw　were　covered　with　a　short…cropped　blue…black　beard　that　did　little　to　conceal　the　gauntness　of　his　face；　and　his　teeth　were　clenched。　His　neck　and　shoulders　were　clenched　as　well；　and　his　right　hand。　Jon　found　himself　remembering　something　Donal　Noye　once　said　about　the　Baratheon　brothers。　Robert　was　the　true　steel。　Stannis　is　pure　iron；　black　and　hard　and　strong；　but　brittle；　the　way　iron　gets。　He'll　break　before　he　bends。　Uneasily；　he　knelt；　wondering　why　this　brittle　king　had　need　of　him。
　〃Rise。　I　have　heard　much　and　more　of　you；　Lord　Snow。〃
　〃I　am　no　lord；　sire。〃　Jon　rose。　〃I　know　what　you　have　heard。　That　I　am　a　tumcloak；　and　craven。　That　I　slew　my　brother　Qhorin　Halfhand　so　the　wildlings　would　spare　my　life。　That　I　rode　with　Mance　Rayder；　and　took　a　wildling　wife。〃
　〃Aye。　All　that；　and　more。　You　are　a　warg　too；　they　say；　a　skinchanger　who　walks　at　night　as　a　wolf。〃　King　Stannis　had　a　hard　smile。　〃How　much　of　it　is　true？〃
　〃I　had　a　direwolf；　Ghost。　I　left　him　when　I　climbed　the　Wall　near　Greyguard；　and　have　not　seen　him　since。　Qhorin　Halfhand　manded　me　to　join　the　wildlings。　He　knew　they　would　make　me　kill　him　to　prove　myself；　and　told　me　to　do　whatever　they　asked　of　me。　The　woman　was　named　Ygritte。　I　broke　my　vows　with　her；　but　I　swear　to　you　on　my　father's　name　that　I　never　turned　my　cloak。〃
　〃I　believe　you；〃　the　king　said。
　That　startled　him。　〃Why？〃
　Stannis　snorted。　〃I　know　Janos　Slynt。　And　I　knew　Ned　Stark　as　well。　Your　father　was　no　friend　of　mine；　but　only　a　fool　would　doubt　his　honor　or　his　honesty。　You　have　his　look。〃　A　big　man；　Stannis　Baratheon　towered　over　Jon；　but　he　was　so　gaunt　that　he　looked　ten　years　older　than　he　was。　〃I　know　more　than　you　might　think；　Jon　Snow。　I　know　it　was　you　who　found　the　dragonglass　dagger　that　Randyll　Tarly's　son　used　to　slay　the　Other。〃
　〃Ghost　found　it。　The　blade　was　wrapped　in　a　ranger's　cloak　and　buried　beneath　the　Fist　of　the　First　Men。　There　were　other　blades　as　well　。　。　。　spearheads；　arrowheads；　all　dragonglass。〃
　〃I　know　you　held　the　gate　here；〃　King　Stannis　said。　〃If　not；　I　would　have　e　too　late。〃
　〃Donal　Noye　held　the　gate。　He　died　below　in　the　tunnel；　fighting　the　king　of　the　giants。〃
　Stannis　grimaced。　〃Noye　made　my　first　sword　for　me；　and　Robert's　warharnmer　as　well。　Had　the　god　seen　fit　to　spare　him；　he　would　have　made　a　better　Lord　mander　for　your　order　than　any　of　these　fools　who　are　squabbling　over　it　now。〃
　〃Cotter　Pyke　and　Ser　Denys　Mallister　are　no　fools；　sire；〃　Jon　said。　〃They're　good　men；　and　capable。　Othell　Yarwyck　as　well；　in　his　own　way。　Lord　Mormont　trusted　each　of　them。〃
　〃Your　Lord　Mormont　trusted　too　easily。　Else　he　would　not　have　died　as　he　did。　But　we　were　speaking　of　you。　I　have　not　forgotten　that　it　was　you　who　brought　us　this　magic　horn；　and　captured　Mance　Rayder's　wife　and　son。〃
　〃Dalla　died。〃　Jon　was　saddened　by　that　still。　〃Val　is　her　sister。　She　and　the　babe　did　not　require　much　capturing；　Your　Grace。　You　had　put　the　wildlings；　to　flight；　and　the　skinchanger　Mance　had　left　to　guard　his　queen　went　mad　when　the　eagle