grrm.astormofswords-第69章

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　〃Squires　die　in　every　battle。〃
　〃Die　fighting；　yes。　Tion　Frey　and　Willem　Lannister　gave　up　their　swords　in　the　Whispering　Wood。　They　were　captives；　locked　in　a　cell；　asleep；　unarmed　。　。　。　boys。　Look　at　them！〃
　Lord　Karstark　looked　instead　at　Catelyn。　〃Tell　your　mother　to　look　at　them；〃　he　said。　〃She　slew　them；　as　much　as　L〃
　Catelyn　put　a　hand　on　the　back　of　Robb's　seat。　The　hall　seemed　to　spin　about　her。　She　felt　as　though　she　might　retch。
　〃My　mother　had　naught　to　do　with　this；〃　Robb　said　angrily。　〃This　was　your　work。　Your　murder。　Your　treason。〃
　〃How　can　it　be　treason　to　kill　Lannisters；　when　it　is　not　treason　to　free　them？〃　asked　Karstark　harshly。　〃Has　Your　Grace　forgotten　that　we　are　at　war　with　Casterly　Rock？　In　war　you　kill　your　enemies。　Didn't　your　father　teach　you　that；　boy？〃
　〃Boy？〃　The　Greatjon　dealt　Rickard　Karstark　a　buffet　with　a　mailed　fist　that　sent　the　other　lord　to　his　knees。
　〃Leave　him！〃　Robb's　voice　rang　with　mand。　Umber　stepped　back　away　from　the　captive。
　Lord　Karstark　spit　out　a　broken　tooth。　〃Yes；　Lord　Umber；　leave　me　to　the　king。　He　means　to　give　me　a　scolding　before　he　forgives　me。　That's　how　he　deals　with　treason；　our　King　in　the　North。〃　He　smiled　a　wet　red　smile。　〃or　should　I　call　you　the　King　Who　Lost　the　North；　Your　Grace？〃
　The　Greatjon　snatched　a　spear　from　the　man　beside　him　and　jerked　it　to　his　shoulder。　〃Let　me　spit　him；　sire。　Let　me　open　his　belly　so　we　can　see　the　color　of　his　guts。〃
　The　doors　of　the　hall　crashed　open；　and　the　Blackfish　entered　with　water　running　from　his　cloak　and　helm。　Tully　men…at…arms　followed　him　in；　while　outside　lightning　cracked　across　the　sky　and　a　hard　black　rain　pounded　against　the　stones　of　Riverrun。　Ser　Brynden　removed　his　helm　and　went　to　one　knee。　〃Your　Grace；〃　was　all　he　said；　but　the　grimness　of　his　tone　spoke　volumes。
　〃I　will　hear　Ser　Brynden　privily；　in　the　audience　chamber。〃　Robb　rose　to　his　feet。　〃Greatjon；　keep　Lord　Karstark　here　till　I　return；　and　hang　the　other　seven。〃
　The　Greatjon　lowered　the　spear。　〃Even　the　dead　ones？〃
　〃Yes。　I　will　not　have　such　fouling　my　lord　uncle's　rivers。　Let　them　feed　the　crows。〃
　One　of　the　captives　dropped　to　his　knees。　〃Mercy；　sire。　I　killed　no　one；　I　only　stood　at　the　door　to　watch　for　guards。〃
　Robb　considered　that　a　moment。　〃Did　you　know　what　Lord　Rickard　intended？　Did　you　see　the　knives　drawn？　Did　you　hear　the　shouts；　the　screams；　the　cries　for　mercy？〃
　〃Aye；　I　did；　but　I　took　no　part。　I　was　only　the　watcher；　I　swear　it　。　。　。〃
　〃Lord　Umber；〃　said　Robb；　〃this　one　was　only　the　watcher。　Hang　him　last；　so　he　may　watch　the　others　die。　Mother；　Uncle；　with　me；　if　you　please。〃　He　turned　away　as　the　Greatjon's　men　closed　upon　the　prisoners　and　drove　them　from　the　hall　at　spearpoint。　Outside　the　thunder　crashed　and　boomed；　so　loud　it　sounded　as　if　the　castle　were　ing　down　about　their　ears。　Is　this　the　sound　of　a　kingdom　falling？　Catelyn　wondered。
　It　was　dark　within　the　audience　chamber；　but　at　least　the　sound　of　the　thunder　was　muffled　by　another　thickness　of　wall。　A　servant　entered　with　an　oil　lamp　to　light　the　fire；　but　Robb　sent　him　away　and　kept　the　lamp。　There　were　tables　and　chairs；　but　only　Edmure　sat；　and　he　rose　again　when　he　realized　that　the　others　had　remainded　standing。　Robb　took　off　his　crown　and　placed　it　on　the　table　before　him。
　The　Blackfish　shut　the　door。　〃The　Karstarks　are　gone。〃
　〃All？〃　Was　it　anger　or　despair　that　thickened　Robb's　voice　like　that？　Even　Catelyn　was　not　certain。
　〃All　the　fighting　men；〃　Ser　Brynden　replied。　〃A　few　camp　followers　and　serving　men　were　left　with　their　wounded。　We　questioned　as　many　as　we　needed；　to　be　certain　of　the　truth。　They　started　leaving　at　nightfall；　stealing　off　in　ones　and　twos　at　first；　and　then　in　larger　groups。　The　wounded　men　and　servants　were　told　to　keep　the　campfires　lit　so　no　one　would　know　they'd　gone；　but　once　the　rains　began　it　didn't　matter。〃
　〃Will　they　re…form；　away　from　Riverrun？〃　asked　Robb。
　〃No。　They've　scattered；　hunting。　Lord　Karstark　has　sworn　to　give　the　hand　of　his　maiden　daughter　to　any　man　highborn　or　low　who　brings　him　the　head　of　the　Kingslayer。〃
　Gods　be　good。　Catelyn　felt　ill　again。
　〃Near　three　hundred　riders　and　twice　as　many　mounts；　melted　away　in　the　night。〃　Robb　rubbed　his　temples；　where　the　crown　had　left　its　mark　in　the　soft　skin　above　his　ears。　〃All　the　mounted　strength　of　Karhold；　lost。〃
　Lost　by　me。　By　me；　may　the　gods　forgive　me。　Catelyn　did　not　need　to　be　a　soldier　to　grasp　the　trap　Robb　was　in。　For　the　moment　he　held　the　riverlands；　but　his　kingdom　was　surrounded　by　enemies　to　every　side　but　east；　where　Lysa　sat　aloof　on　her　mountaintop。　Even　the　Trident　was　scarce　secure　so　long　as　the　Lord　of　the　Crossing　withheld　his　allegiance。　And　now　to　lose　the　Karstarks　as　well　。　。　。
　〃No　word　of　this　must　leave　Riverrun；〃　her　brother　Edmure　said。　〃Lord　Tywin　would　。　。　。　the　Lannisters　pay　their　debts；　they　are　always　saying　that。　Mother　have　mercy；　when　he　hears。〃
　Sansa。　Catelyn's　nails　dug　into　the　soft　flesh　of　her　palms；　so　hard　did　she　close　her　hand。
　Robb　gave　Edmure　a　look　that　chilled。　〃Would　you　make　me　a　liar　as　well　as　a　murderer；　Uncle？〃
　〃We　need　speak　no　falsehood。　Only　say　nothing。　Bury　the　boys　and　hold　our　tongues　till　the　war's　done。　Willem　was　son　to　Ser　Kevan　Lannister；　and　Lord　Tywin's　nephew。　Tion　was　Lady　Genna's；　and　a　Frey。　We　must　keep　the　news　from　the　Twins　as　well；　until　。　。　。〃
　〃Until　we　can　bring　the　murdered　dead　back　to　life？〃　said　Brynden　Blackfish　sharply。　〃The　truth　escaped　with　the　Karstarks；　Edmure。　It　is　too　late　for　such　games。〃
　〃I　owe　their　fathers　truth；〃　said　Robb。　〃And　justice。　I　owe　them　that　as　well。〃　He　gazed　at　his　crown；　the　dark　gleam　of　bronze；　the　circle　of　iron　swords。　〃Lord　Rickard　defied　me。　Betrayed　me。　I　have　no　choice　but　to　condemn　him。　Gods　know　what　the　Karstark　foot　with　Roose　Bolton　will　do　when　they　hear　I've　executed　their　liege　for　a　traitor。　Bolton　must　be　warned。〃
　〃Lord　Karstark's　heir　was　at　Harrenhal　as　well；〃　Ser　Brynden　reminded　him。　〃The　eldest　son；　the　one　the　Lannisters　took　captive　on　the　Green　Fork。〃
　〃Harrion。　His　name　is　Harrion。〃　Robb　laughed　bitterly。　〃A　king　had　best　know　the　names　of　his　enemies；　don't　you　think？〃
　The　Blackfish　looked　at　him　shrewdly。　〃You　know　that　for　a　certainty？　That　this　will　make　young　Karstark　your　enemy？〃
　〃What　else　would　he　be？　I　am　about　to　kill　his　father；　he's　not　like　to　thank　me。〃
　〃He　might。　There　are　sons　who　hate　their　fathers；　and　in　a　stroke　you　will　make　him　Lord　of　Karhold。〃
　Robb　shook　his　head。　〃Even　if　Harrion　were　that　sort；　he　could　never　openly　forgive　his　father's　killer。　His　own　men　would　turn　on　him。　These　are　northmen；　Uncle。　The　north　remembers。〃
　〃Pardon　him；　then；〃　urged　Edmure　Tully。
　Robb　stared　at　him　in　frank　disbelief。
　Under　that　gaze；　Edmure's　face　reddened。　〃Spare　his　life；　I　mean。　I　don't　like　the　taste　of　it　any　more　than　you；　sire。　He　slew　my　men　as　well。　Poor　Delp　had　only　just　recovered　from　the　wound　Ser　Jaime　gave　him。　Karstark　must　be　punished；　certainly。　Keep　him　in　chains；　say。〃
　〃A　hostage？〃　said　Catelyn。　It　might　be　best　。　。　。
　〃Yes；　a　hostage！〃　Her　brother　seized　on　her　musing　as　agreement。　〃Tell　the　son　that　so　long　as　he　remains　loyal；　his　father　will　not　be　harmed。　Otherwise　。　。　。　we　have　no　hope　of　the　Freys　now；　not　if　I　offered　to　marry　all　Lord　Walder's　daughters　and　carry　his　litter　besides。　If　we　should　lose　the　Karstarks　as　well；　what　hope　is　there？〃
　〃What　hope　。　。　。〃　Robb　let　out　a　breath；　pushed　his　hair　back　from　his　eyes；　and　said；　〃We've　had　naught　from　Ser　Rodrik　in　the　north；　no　response　from　Walder　Frey　to　our　new　offer；　only　silence　from　the　Eyrie。〃　He　appealed　to　his　mother。　〃Will　your　sister　never　answer　us？　How　many　times　must　I　write　her？　I　will　not　believe　that　none　of　the　birds　have　reached　her。〃
　Her　son　wanted　fort；　Catelyn　realized；　he　wanted　to　hear　that　it　would　be　all　right。　But　her　king　needed　truth。　〃The　birds　have　reached　her。　Though　she　may　tell　you　they　did　not；　if　it　ever　es　to　that。　Expect　no　help　from　that　quarter；　Robb。
　〃Lysa　was　never　brave。　When　we　were　girls　together；　she　would　run　and　hide　whenever　she'd　done　something　wrong。　Perhaps　she　thoug