grrm.astormofswords-第38部分

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anyone。〃
　〃Or　no　one；〃　Brienne　suggested。
　〃If　m'lady　cares　to　wager　her　skin　on　that　I　won't　stop　her　。　。　。　but　if　I　was　you；　I'd　leave　this　here　river；　cut　overland。　If　you　stay　off　the　main　roads　and　shelter　under　the　trees　of　a　night；　hidden　as　it　were　。　。　。　well；　I　still　wouldn't　want　to　go　with　you；　but　you　might　stand　a　mummer's　chance。〃
　The　big　wench　was　looking　doubtful。　〃We　would　need　horses。〃
　〃There　are　horses　here；〃　Jaime　pointed　out。　〃I　heard　one　in　the　stable。〃
　〃Aye；　there　are；〃　said　the　innkeep；　who　wasn't　an　innkeep。　〃Three　of　them；　as　it　happens；　but　they're　not　for　sale。〃
　Jaime　had　to　laugh。　〃Of　course　not。　But　you'll　show　them　to　us　anyway。〃
　Brienne　scowled；　but　the　man　who　wasn't　an　innkeep　met　her　eyes　without　blinking；　and　after　a　moment；　reluctantly；　she　said；　〃Show　me；〃　and　they　all　rose　from　the　table。
　The　stables　had　not　been　mucked　out　in　a　long　while；　from　the　smell　of　them。　Hundreds　of　fat　black　flies　swarmed　amongst　the　straw；　buzzing　from　stall　to　stall　and　crawling　over　the　mounds　of　horse　dung　that　lay　everywhere；　but　there　were　only　the　three　horses　to　be　seen。　They　made　an　unlikely　trio；　a　lumbering　brown　plow　horse；　an　ancient　white　gelding　blind　in　one　eye；　and　a　knight's　palfrey；　dapple　grey　and　spirited。　〃They're　not　for　sale　at　any　price；〃　their　alleged　owner　announced。
　〃How　did　you　e　by　these　horses？〃　Brienne　wanted　to　know。
　〃The　dray　was　stabled　here　when　the　wife　and　me　e　on　the　inn；〃　the　man　said；　〃along　with　the　one　you　just　ate。　The　gelding　e　wandering　up　one　night；　and　the　boy　caught　the　palfrey　running　free；　still　saddled　and　bridled。　Here；　I'll　show　you。〃
　The　saddle　he　showed　them　was　decorated　with　silver　inlay。　The　saddlecloth　had　originally　been　checkered　pink　and　black；　but　now　it　was　mostly　brown。　Jaime　did　not　recognize　the　original　colors；　but　he　recognized　bloodstains　easily　enough。　〃Well；　her　owner　won't　be　ing　to　claim　her　anytime　soon。〃　He　examined　the　palfrey's　legs；　counted　the　gelding's　teeth。　〃Give　him　a　gold　piece　for　the　grey；　if　he'll　include　the　saddle；〃　he　advised　Brienne。　〃A　silver　for　the　plow　horse。　He　ought　to　pay　us　for　taking　the　white　off　his　hands。〃
　〃Don't　speak　discourteously　of　your　horse；　ser。〃　The　wench　opened　the　purse　Lady　Catelyn　had　given　her　and　took　out　three　golden　coins。　〃I　will　pay　you　a　dragon　for　each。〃
　He　blinked　and　reached　for　the　gold；　then　hesitated　and　drew　his　hand　back。　〃I　don't　know。　I　can't　ride　no　golden　dragon　if　I　need　to　get　away。　Nor　eat　one　if　I'm　hungry。〃
　〃You　can　have　our　skiff　as　well；〃　she　said。　〃Sail　up　the　river　or　down；　as　you　like。〃
　〃Let　me　have　a　taste　ol　that　gold。〃　The　man　took　one　of　the　coins　from　her　palm　and　bit　it。　〃Hm。　Real　enough；　I'd　say。　Three　dragons　and　the　skiff？〃
　〃He's　robbing　you　blind；　wench；〃　Jaime　said　amiably。
　〃I'll　want　provisions　too；〃　Brienne　told　their　host；　ignoring　Jaime。　〃Whatever　you　have　that　you　can　spare。〃
　〃There's　more　oatcakes。〃　The　man　scooped　the　other　two　dragons　from　her　palm　and　jingled　them　in　his　fist；　smiling　at　the　sound　they　made。　〃Aye；　and　smoked　salt　fish；　but　that　will　cost　you　silver。　My　beds　will　be　costing　as　well。　You'll　be　wanting　to　stay　the　night。〃
　〃No；〃　Brienne　said　at　once。
　The　man　frowned　at　her。　〃Woman；　you　don't　want　to　go　riding　at　night　through　strange　country　on　horses　you　don't　know。　You're　like　to　blunder　into　some　bog　or　break　your　horse's　leg。〃
　〃The　moon　will　be　bright　tonight；〃　Brienne　said。　〃We'll　have　no　trouble　finding　our　way。〃
　Their　host　chewed　on　that。　〃If　you　don't　have　the　silver；　might　be　some　coppers　would　buy　you　them　beds；　and　a　coverlet　or　two　to　keep　you　warm。　It's　not　like　I'm　turning　travelers　away；　if　you　get　my　meaning。〃
　〃That　sounds　more　than　fair；〃　said　Ser　Cleos。
　〃The　coverlets　is　fresh　washed；　too。　My　wife　saw　to　that　before　she　had　to　go　off。　Not　a　flea　to　be　found　neither；　you　have　my　word　on　that。〃　He　jingled　the　coins　again；　smiling。
　Ser　Cleos　was　plainly　tempted。　〃A　proper　bed　would　do　us　all　good；　my　lady；〃　he　said　to　Brienne。　〃We'd　make　better　time　on　the　morrow　once　refreshed。〃　He　looked　to　his　cousin　for　support。
　〃No；　coz；　the　wench　is　right。　We　have　promises　to　keep；　and　long　leagues　before　us。　We　ought　ride　on。〃
　〃But；〃　said　Cleos；　〃you　said　yourself　…
　〃Then。〃　When　I　thought　the　inn　deserted。　〃Now　I　have　a　full　belly；　and　a　moonlight　ride　will　be　just　the　thing。〃　He　smiled　for　the　wench。　〃But　unless　you　mean　to　throw　me　over　the　back　of　that　plow　horse　like　a　sack　of　flour；　someone　had　best　do　something　about　these　irons。　It's　difficult　to　ride　with　your　ankles　chained　together。〃
　Brienne　frowned　at　the　chain。　The　man　who　wasn't　an　innkeep　rubbed　his　jaw。　〃There's　a　smithy　round　back　of　the　stable。〃
　〃Show　me；〃　Brienne　said。
　〃Yes；〃　said　Jaime；　〃and　the　sooner　the　better。　There's　far　too　much　horse　shit　about　here　for　my　taste。　I　would　hate　to　step　in　it。〃　He　gave　the　wench　a　sharp　look；　wondering　if　she　was　bright　enough　to　take　his　meaning。
　He　hoped　she　might　strike　the　irons　off　his　wrists　as　well；　but　Brienne　was　still　suspicious。　She　split　the　ankle　chain　in　the　center　with　a　halfdozen　sharp　blows　from　the　smith's　hammer　delivered　to　the　blunt　end　of　a　steel　chisel。　When　he　suggested　that　she　break　the　wrist　chain　as　well；　she　ignored　him。
　〃Six　miles　downriver　you'll　see　a　burned　village；〃　their　host　said　as　he　was　helping　them　saddle　the　horses　and　load　their　packs。　This　time　he　directed　his　counsel　at　Brienne。　〃The　road　splits　there。　If　you　turn　south；　you'll　e　on　Ser　Warren's　stone　towerhouse。　Ser　Warren　went　off　and　died；　so　I　couldn't　say　who　holds　it　now；　but　it's　a　place　best　shunned。　You'd　do　better　to　follow　the　track　through　the　woods；　south　by　east。〃
　〃We　shall；〃　she　answered。　〃You　have　my　thanks。〃
　More　to　the　point；　he　has　your　gold。　Jaime　kept　the　thought　to　himself。　He　was　tired　of　being　disregarded　by　this　huge　ugly　cow　of　a　woman。
　She　took　the　plow　horse　for　herself　and　assigned　the　palfrey　to　Ser　Cleos。　As　threatened；　Jaime　drew　the　one…eyed　gelding；　which　put　an　end　to　any　thoughts　he　might　have　had　of　giving　his　horse　a　kick　and　leaving　the　wench　in　his　dust。
　The　man　and　the　boy　came　out　to　watch　them　leave。　The　man　wished　them　luck　and　told　them　to　e　back　in　better　times；　while　the　lad　stood　silent；　his　crossbow　under　his　arm。　〃Take　up　the　spear　or　maul；〃　Jaime　told　him；　〃they'll　serve　you　better。〃　The　boy　stared　at　him　distrustfully。　So　much　for　friendly　advice。　He　shrugged；　turned　his　horse；　and　never　looked　back。
　Ser　Cleos　was　all　plaints　as　they　rode　out；　still　in　mouming　for　his　lost　featherbed。　They　rode　east；　along　the　bank　of　the　moonlit　river。　The　Red　Fork　was　very　broad　here；　but　shallow；　its　banks　all　mud　and　reeds。　Jaime's　mount　plodded　along　placidly；　though　the　poor　old　thing　had　a　tendency　to　want　to　drift　off　to　the　side　of　his　good　eye。　It　felt　good　to　be　mounted　once　more。　He　had　not　been　on　a　horse　since　Robb　Stark's　archers　had　killed　his　destrier　under　him　in　the　Whispering　Wood。
　When　they　reached　the　burned　village；　a　choice　of　equally　unpromising　roads　confronted　them；　narrow　tracks；　deeply　rutted　by　the　carts　of　farmers　hauling　their　grain　to　the　river。　One　wandered　off　toward　the　southeast　and　soon　vanished　amidst　the　trees　they　could　see　in　the　distance；　while　the　other；　straighter　and　stonier；　arrowed　due　south。　Brienne　considered　them　briefly；　and　then　swung　her　horse　onto　the　southern　road。　Jaime　was　pleasantly　surprised；　it　was　the　same　choice　he　would　have　made。
　〃But　this　is　the　road　the　innkeep　warned　us　against；〃　Ser　Cleos　objected。
　〃He　was　no　innkeep。〃　She　hunched　gracelessly　in　the　saddle；　but　seemed　to　have　a　sure　seat　nonetheless。　〃The　man　took　too　great　an　interest　in　our　choice　of　route；　and　those　woods　。　。　。　such　places　are　notorious　haunts　of　outlaws。　He　may　have　been　urging　us　into　a　trap。〃
　〃Clever　wench。〃　Jaime　smiled　at　his　cousin。　〃Our　host　has　friends　down　that　road；　I　would　venture。　The　ones　whose　mounts　gave　that　stable　such　a　memorable　aroma。〃
　〃He　may　have　been　lying　about　the　river　as　well；　to　put　us　on　these　horses；〃　the　wench　said；　〃but　I　could　not　take　the　risk。　There　will　be　soldiers　at　the　ruby　ford　and　the　crossroads。〃
　W