grrm.astormofswords-第225部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　He　looked　about　the　Round　Room　once　more。　White　wool　hangings　covered　the　walls；　and　there　was　a　white　shield　and　two　crossed　longswords　mounted　above　the　hearth。　The　chair　behind　the　table　was　old　black　oak；　with　cushions　of　blanched　cowhide；　the　leather　worn　thin。　Worn　by　the　bony　arse　of　Barristan　the　Bold　and　Ser　Gerold　Hightower　before　him；　by　Prince　Aemon　the　Dragonknight；　Ser　Ryam　Redwyne；　and　the　Demon　of　Darry；　by　Ser　Duncan　the　Tall　and　the　Pale　Griffin　Alyn　Connington。　How　could　the　Kingslayer　belong　in　such　exalted　pany？
　Yet　here　he　was。
　The　table　itself　was　old　weirwood；　pale　as　bone；　carved　in　the　shape　of　a　huge　shield　supported　by　three　white　stallions。　By　tradition　the　Lord　mander　sat　at　the　top　of　the　shield；　and　the　brothers　three　to　a　side；　on　the　rare　occasions　when　all　seven　were　assembled。　The　book　that　rested　by　his　elbow　was　massive；　two　feet　tall　and　a　foot　and　a　half　wide；　a　thousand　pages　thick；　fine　white　vellum　bound　between　covers　of　bleached　white　leather　with　gold　hinges　and　fastenings。　The　Book　of　the　Brothers　was　its　formal　name；　but　more　often　it　was　simply　called　the　White　Book。
　Within　the　White　Book　was　the　history　of　the　Kingsguard。　Every　knight　who'd　ever　served　had　a　page；　to　record　his　name　and　deeds　for　all　time。　On　the　top　left…hand　corner　of　each　page　was　drawn　the　shield　the　man　had　carried　at　the　time　he　was　chosen；　inked　in　rich　colors。　Down　in　the　bottom　right　corner　was　the　shield　of　the　Kingsguard；　snow…white；　empty；　pure。　The　upper　shields　were　all　different；　the　lower　shields　were　all　the　same。　in　the　space　between　were　written　the　facts　of　each　man's　life　and　service。　The　heraldic　drawings　and　illuminations　were　done　by　septons　sent　from　the　Great　Sept　of　Baelor　three　times　a　year；　but　it　was　the　duty　of　the　Lord　mander　to　keep　the　entries　up　to　date。
　My　duty；　now　Once　he　learned　to　write　with　his　left　hand；　that　is。　The　White　Book　was　well　behind。　The　deaths　of　Ser　Mandon　Moore　and　Ser　Preston　Greenfield　needed　to　be　entered；　and　the　brief　bloody　Kingsguard　service　of　Sandor　Clegane　as　well。　New　pages　must　be　started　for　Ser　Balon　Swann；　Ser　Osmund　Kettleblack；　and　the　Knight　of　Flowers。　I　will　need　to　summon　a　septon　to　draw　their　shields。
　Ser　Barristan　Selmy　had　preceded　Jaime　as　Lord　mander。　The　shield　atop　his　page　showed　the　arms　of　House　Selmy：　three　stalks　of　wheat；　yellow；　on　a　brown　field。　Jaime　was　amused；　though　unsurprised；　to　find　that　Ser　Barristan　had　taken　the　time　to　record　his　own　dismissal　before　leaving　the　castle。
　Ser　Barristan　of　House　Selmy。　Firstborn　son　of　Ser　Lyonel　Selmy　of　Harvest　Hall。　Served　as　squire　to　Ser　Manfred　Swann。　Named　〃the　Bold〃　in　his　10th　year；　when　he　donned　borrowed　armor　to　appear　as　a　mystery　knight　in　the　tourney　at　Blackhaven；　where　he　was　defeated　and　unmasked　by　Duncan；　Prince　of　Dragonflies。　Knighted　in　his　16th　year　by　King　Aegon　V　Targaryen；　after　performing　great　feats　of　prowess　as　a　mystery　knight　in　the　winter　tourney　at　King's　Landing；　defeating　Prince　Duncan　the　Small　and　Ser　Duncan　the　Tall；　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard。　Slew　Maelys　the　Monstrous；　last　of　the　Blackfyre　Pretenders；　in　single　bat　during　the　War　of　the　Ninepenny　Kings。　Defeated　Lormelle　Long　Lance　and　Cedrik　Storm；　the　Bastard　of　Bronzegate。　Named　to　the　Kingsguard　in　his　23rd　year；　by　Lord　mander　Ser　Gerold　Hightower。　Defended　the　passage　against　all　challengers　in　the　tourney　of　the　Silver　Bridge。　Victor　in　the　m6l6e　at　Maidenpool。　Brought　King　Aerys　II　to　safety　during　the　Defiance　of　Duskendale；　despite　an　arrow　wound　in　the　chest。　Avenged　the　murder　of　his　Sworn　Brother；　Ser　Gwayne　Gaunt。　Rescued　Lady　feyne　Swann　and　her　septa　from　the　Kingswood　Brotherhood；　defeating　Simon　Toyne　and　the　Smiling　Knight；　and　slaying　the　former。　In　the　Oldtown　tourney；　defeated　and　unmasked　the　mystery　knight　Blackshield；　revealing　him　as　the　Bastard　of　Uplands。　Sole　champion　of　Lord　Steffon's　tourney　at　Storm's　End；　whereat　he　unhorsed　Lord　Robert　Baratheon；　Prince　Oberyn　Martell；　Lord　Leyton　Hightower；　Lord　Jon　Connington；　Lord　Jason　Mallister；　and　Prince　Rhaegar　Targaryen。　Wounded　by　arrow；　spear；　and　sword　at　the　Battle　of　the　Trident　whilst　fighting　beside　his　Sworn　Brothers　and　Rhaegar　Prince　of　Dragonstone。　Pardoned；　and　named　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard；　by　King　Robert　I　Baratheon。　Served　in　the　honor　guard　that　brought　Lady　Cersei　of　House　Lannister　to　King's　Landing　to　wed　King　Robert。　Led　the　attack　on　Old　Wyk　during　Balon　Greyjoy's　Rebellion。　Champion　of　the　tourney　at　King's　Landing；　in　his　57th　year。　Dismissed　from　service　by　King　Joffrey　I　Baratheon　in　his　61st　year；　for　reasons　of　advanced　age。
　The　earlier　part　of　Ser　Barristan's　storied　career　had　been　entered　by　Ser　Gerold　Hightower　in　a　big　forceful　hand。　Selmy's　own　smaller　and　more　elegant　writing　took　over　with　the　account　of　his　wounding　on　the　Trident。
　Jaime's　own　page　was　scant　by　parison。
　　Ser　Jaime　of　House　Lannister。　Firstborn　son　of　Lord　Tywin　and　Lady　Joanna　of　Casterly　Rock。　Served　against　the　Kingswood　Brotherhood　as　squire　to　Lord　Sumner　Crakehall。　Knighted　in　his　15th　year　by　Ser　Arthur　Dayne　of　the　Kingsguard；　for　valor　in　the　field。　Chosen　for　the　Kingsguard　in　his　15th　year　by　King　Aerys　II　Targaryen。　During　the　Sack　of　King's　Landing；　slew　King　Aerys　II　at　the　foot　of　the　Iron　Throne。　Thereafter　known　as　the　〃Kingslayer。〃　
　Pardoned　for　his　crime　by　King　Robert　I　Baratheon。　Served　in　the　honor　guard　that　brought　his　sister　the　Lady　Cersei　Lannister　to　King's　Landing　to　wed　King　Robert。　Champion　in　the　tourney　held　at　King's　Landing　on　the　occasion　of　their　wedding。
　Summed　up　like　that；　his　life　seemed　a　rather　scant　and　mingy　thing。　Ser　Barristan　could　have　recorded　a　few　of　his　other　tourney　victories；　at　least。　And　Ser　Gerold　might　have　written　a　few　more　words　about　the　deeds　he'd　performed　when　Ser　Arthur　Dayne　broke　the　Kingswood　Brotherhood。　He　had　saved　Lord　Sumner's　life　as　Big　Belly　Ben　was　about　to　smash　his　head　in；　though　the　outlaw　had　escaped　him。　And　he'd　held　his　own　against　the　Smiling　Knight；　though　it　was　Ser　Arthur　who　slew　him。　What　a　fight　that　was；　and　what　a　foe。　The　Smiling　Knight　was　a　madman；　cruelty　and　chivalry　all　jumbled　up　together；　but　he　did　not　know　the　meaning　of　fear。　And　Dayne；　with　Dawn　in　hand　。　。　。　The　outlaw's　longsword　had　so　many　notches　by　the　end　that　Ser　Arthur　had　stopped　to　let　him　fetch　a　new　one。　〃It's　that　white　sword　of　yours　I　want；〃　the　robber　knight　told　him　as　they　resumed；　though　he　was　bleeding　from　a　dozen　wounds　by　then。　〃Then　you　shall　have　it；　ser；〃　the　Sword　of　the　Morning　replied；　and　made　an　end　of　it。
　The　world　was　simpler　in　those　days；　Jaime　thought；　and　men　as　well　as　swords　were　made　of　finer　steel。　Or　was　it　only　that　he　had　been　fifteen？　They　were　all　in　their　graves　now；　the　Sword　of　the　Morning　and　the　Smiling　Knight；　the　White　Bull　and　Prince　Lewyn；　Ser　Oswell　Whent　with　his　black　humor；　earnest　Jon　Darry；　Simon　Toyne　and　his　Kingswood　Brotherhood；　bluff　old　Sumner　Crakehall。　And　me；　that　boy　I　was　。　。　。　when　did　he　die；　I　wonder？　When　I　donned　the　white　cloak？　When　I　opened　Aerys's　throat？　That　boy　had　wanted　to　be　Ser　Arthur　Dayne；　but　someplace　along　the　way　he　had　bee　the　Smiling　Knight　instead。
　When　he　heard　the　door　open；　he　closed　the　White　Book　and　stood　to　receive　his　Sworn　Brothers。　Ser　Osmund　Kettleblack　was　the　first　to　arrive。　He　gave　Jaime　a　grin；　as　if　they　were　old　brothers…in…arms。　〃Ser　Jaime；〃　he　said；　〃had　you　looked　like　this　t'other　night；　I'd　have　known　you　at　once。〃
　〃Would　you　indeed？〃　Jaime　doubted　that。　The　servants　had　bathed　him；　shaved　him；　and　washed　and　brushed　his　hair。　When　he　looked　in　a　glass；　he　no　longer　saw　the　man　who　had　crossed　the　riverlands　with　Brienne　。　。　。　but　he　did　not　see　himself　either。　His　face　was　thin　and　hollow；　and　he　had　lines　under　his　eyes。　I　look　like　some　old　man。　〃Stand　by　your　seat；　ser。〃
　Kettleblack　plied。　The　other　Sworn　Brothers　filed　in　one　by　one。　〃Sers；〃　Jaime　said　in　a　formal　tone　when　all　five　had　assembled；　〃who　guards　the　king？〃
　〃My　brothers　Ser　Osney　and　Ser　Osfryd；〃　Ser　Osmund　replied。
　〃And　my　brother　Ser　Garlan；〃　said　the　Knight　of　Flowers。
　〃Will　they　keep　him　safe？〃
　〃They　wil