grrm.astormofswords-第237节

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as　largely　gone；　and　his　face　was　deeply　lined；　it　was　true。　Yet　he　still　had　grace　in　his　movements　and　teeth　in　his　mouth；　and　the　years　had　dimmed　neither　his　blue…grey　eyes　nor　his　courtesy。
　〃My　lord　of　Tarly；〃　he　said；　when　his　steward　brought　Sam　to　him　in　the　Lance；　where　the　Shadow　Tower　men　were　staying。　〃I　am　pleased　to　see　that　you've　recovered　from　your　ordeal。　Might　I　offer　you　a　cup　of　wine？　Your　lady　mother　is　a　Florent；　I　recall。　One　day　I　must　tell　you　about　the　time　I　unhorsed　both　of　your　grandfathers　in　the　same　tourney。　Not　today；　though；　I　know　we　have　more　pressing　concerns。　You　e　from　Maester　Aemon；　to　be　sure。　Does　he　have　counsel　to　offer　me？〃
　Sam　took　a　sip　of　wine；　and　chose　his　words　with　care。　〃A　maester　chained　and　sworn　。　。　。　it　would　not　be　proper　for　him　to　be　seen　as　having　influenced　the　choice　of　Lord　mander　。　。　。〃
　The　old　knight　smiled。　〃Which　is　why　he　has　not　e　to　me　himself。　Yes；　I　quite　understand；　Samwell。　Aemon　and　I　are　both　old　men；　and　wise　in　such　matters。　Say　what　you　came　to　say。〃
　The　wine　was　sweet；　and　Ser　Denys　listened　to　Sam's　plea　with　grave　courtesy；　unlike　Cotter　Pyke。　But　when　he　was　done；　the　old　knight　shook　his　head。　〃I　agree　that　it　would　be　a　dark　day　in　our　history　if　a　king　were　to　name　our　Lord　mander。　This　king　especially。　He　is　not　like　to　keep　his　crown　for　long。　But　truly；　Samwell；　it　ought　to　be　Pyke　who　withdraws。　I　have　more　support　than　he　does；　and　I　am　better　suited　to　the　office。〃
　〃You　are；〃　Sam　agreed；　〃but　Cotter　Pyke　might　serve。　It's　said　he　has　oft　proved　himself　in　battle。〃　He　did　not　mean　to　offend　Ser　Denys　by　praising　his　rival；　but　how　else　could　he　convince　him　to　withdraw？
　〃Many　of　my　brothers　have　proved　themselves　in　battle。　It　is　not　enough。　Some　matters　cannot　be　settled　with　a　battleaxe。　Maester　Aemon　will　understand　that；　though　Cotter　Pyke　does　not。　The　Lord　mander　of　the　Night's　Watch　is　a　lord；　first　and　foremost。　He　must　be　able　to　treat　with　other　lords　。　。　。　and　with　kings　as　well。　He　must　be　a　man　worthy　of　respect。〃　Ser　Denys　leaned　forward。　〃We　are　the　sons　of　great　lords；　you　and　I。　We　know　the　importance　of　birth；　blood；　and　that　early　training　that　can　ne'er　be　replaced。　I　was　a　squire　at　twelve；　a　knight　at　eighteen；　a　champion　at　two…and…twenty。　I　have　been　the　mander　at　the　Shadow　Tower　for　thirty…three　years。　Blood；　birth；　and　training　have　fitted　me　to　deal　with　kings。　Pyke　。　。　。　well；　did　you　hear　him　this　morning；　asking　if　His　Grace　would　wipe　his　bottom？　Samwell；　it　is　not　my　habit　to　speak　unkindly　of　my　brothers；　but　let　us　be　frank　。　。　。　the　ironborn　are　a　race　of　pirates　and　thieves；　and　Cotter　Pyke　was　raping　and　murdering　when　he　was　still　half　a　boy。　Maester　Harmune　reads　and　writes　his　letters；　and　has　for　years。　No；　loath　as　I　am　to　disappoint　Maester　Aemon；　I　could　not　in　honor　stand　aside　for　Pyke　of　Eastwatch。〃
　This　time　Sam　was　ready。　〃Might　you　for　someone　else？　If　it　was　someone　more　suitable？〃
　Ser　Denys　considered　a　moment。　〃I　have　never　desired　the　honor　for　its　own　sake。　At　the　last　choosing；　I　stepped　aside　gratefully　when　Lord　Mormont's　name　was　offered；　just　as　I　had　for　Lord　Qorgyle　at　the　choosing　before　that。　So　long　as　the　Night's　Watch　remains　in　good　hands；　I　am　content。　But　Bowen　Marsh　is　not　equal　to　the　task；　no　more　than　Othell　Yarwyck。　And　this　so…called　Lord　of　Harrenhal　is　a　butcher's　whelp　upjumped　by　the　Lannisters。　Small　wonder　he　is　venal　and　corrupt。〃
　〃There's　another　man；〃　Sam　blurted　out。　〃Lord　mander　Mormont　trusted　him。　So　did　Donal　Noye　and　Qhorin　Halfhand。　Though　he's　not　as　highly　born　as　you；　he　es　from　old　blood。　He　was　castle…born　and　castle…raised；　and　he　learned　sword　and　lance　from　a　knight　and　letters　from　a　maester　of　the　Citadel。　His　father　was　a　lord；　and　his　brother　a　king。〃
　Ser　Denys　stroked　his　long　white　beard。　〃Mayhaps；〃　he　said；　after　a　long　moment。　〃He　is　very　young；　but　。　。　。　mayhaps。　He　might　serve；　I　grant　you；　though　I　would　be　more　suitable。　I　have　no　doubt　of　that。　I　would　be　the　wiser　choice。〃
　Jon　said　there　could　be　honor　in　a　lie；　if　it　were　told　for　the　right　reason。　Sam　said；　〃If　we　do　not　choose　a　Lord　mander　tonight；　King　Stannis　means　to　name　Cotter　Pyke。　He　said　as　much　to　Maester　Aemon　this　morning；　after　all　of　you　had　left。〃
　〃I　see。〃　Ser　Denys　rose。　〃I　must　think　on　this。　Thank　you；　Samwell。　And　give　my　thanks　to　Maester　Aemon　as　well。〃
　Sam　was　trembling　by　the　time　he　left　the　Lance。　What　have　I　done？　he　thought。　What　have　I　said？　If　they　caught　him　in　his　lie；　they　would　。　。　。　what？　Send　me　to　the　Wall？　Rip　my　entrails　out？　Turn　me　into　a　wight？　Suddenly　it　all　seemed　absurd。　How　could　he　be　so　frightened　of　Cotter　Pyke　and　Ser　Denys　Mallister；　when　he　had　seen　a　raven　eating　Small　Paul's　face？
　Pyke　was　not　pleased　by　his　return。　〃You　again？　Make　it　quick；　you　are　starting　to　annoy　me。〃
　〃I　only　need　a　moment　more；〃　Sam　promised。　〃You　won't　withdraw　for　Ser　Denys；　you　said；　but　you　might　for　someone　else。〃
　〃Who　is　it　this　time；　Slayer？　You？〃
　〃No。　A　fighter。　Donal　Noye　gave　him　the　Wall　when　the　wildlings　came；　and　he　was　the　Old　Bear's　squire。　The　only　thing　is；　he's　bastard…born。〃
　Cotter　Pyke　laughed。　〃Bloody　hell。　That　would　shove　a　spear　up　Mallister's　arse；　wouldn't　it？　Might　be　worth　it　just　for　that。　How　bad　could　the　boy　be？〃　He　snorted。　〃I'd　be　better；　though。　I'm　what's　needed；　any　fool　can　see　that。〃
　〃Any　fool；〃　Sam　agreed；　〃even　me。　But　。　。　。　well；　I　shouldn't　be　telling　you；　but　。　。　。　King　Stannis　means　to　force　Ser　Denys　on　us；　if　we　do　not　choose　a　man　tonight。　I　heard　him　tell　Maester　Aemon　that；　after　the　rest　of　you　were　sent　away。〃
　
　CHAPTER　79
　JON
　
　Iron　Emmett　was　a　long；　lanky　young　ranger　whose　endurance；　strength；　and　swordsmanship　were　the　pride　of　Eastwatch。　Jon　always　came　away　from　their　sessions　stiff　and　sore；　and　woke　the　next　day　covered　with　bruises；　which　was　just　the　way　he　wanted　it。　He　would　never　get　any　better　going　up　against　the　likes　of　Satin　and　Horse；　or　even　Grenn。
　Most　days　he　gave　as　good　as　he　got；　Jon　liked　to　think；　but　not　today。　He　had　hardly　slept　last　night；　and　after　an　hour　of　restless　tossing　he　had　given　up　even　the　attempt；　dressed；　and　walked　the　top　of　the　Wall　till　the　sun　came　up；　wrestling　with　Stannis　Baratheon's　offer。　The　lack　of　sleep　was　catching　up　with　him　now；　and　Emmett　was　hammering　him　mercilessly　across　the　yard；　driving　him　back　on　his　heels　with　one　long　looping　cut　after　another；　and　slamming　him　with　his　shield　from　time　to　time　for　good　measure。　Jon's　arm　had　gone　numb　from　the　shock　of　impact；　and　the　edgeless　practice　sword　seemed　to　be　growing　heavier　with　every　passing　moment。
　He　was　almost　ready　to　lower　his　blade　and　call　a　halt　when　Emmett　feinted　low　and　came　in　over　his　shield　with　a　savage　forehand　slash　that　caught　Jon　on　the　temple。　He　staggered；　his　helm　and　head　both　ringing　from　the　force　of　the　blow。　For　half　a　heartbeat　the　world　beyond　his　eyeslit　was　a　blur。
　And　then　the　years　were　gone；　and　he　was　back　at　Winterfell　once　more；　wearing　a　quilted　leather　coat　in　place　of　mail　and　plate。　His　sword　was　made　of　wood；　and　it　was　Robb　who　stood　facing　him；　not　iron　Emmett。
　Every　morning　they　had　trained　together；　since　they　were　big　enough　to　walk；　Snow　and　Stark；　spinning　and　slashing　about　the　wards　of　Winterfell；　shouting　and　laughing；　sometimes　crying　when　there　was　no　one　else　to　see。　They　were　not　little　boys　when　they　fought；　but　knights　and　mighty　heroes。　〃I'm　Prince　Aemon　the　Dragonknight；〃　Jon　would　call　out；　and　Robb　would　shout　back；　〃Well；　I'm　Florian　the　Fool。〃　Or　Robb　would　say；　〃I'm　the　Young　Dragon；〃　and　Jon　would　reply；　〃I'm　Ser　Ryam　Redwyne。〃
　That　morning　he　called　it　first。　〃I'm　Lord　of　Winterfell！〃　he　cried；　as　he　had　a　hundred　times　before。　only　this　time；　this　time；　Robb　had　answered；　〃You　can't　be　Lord　of　Winterfell；　you're　bastard…born。　My　lady　mother　says　you　can't　ever　be　the　Lord　of　Winterfell。〃
　I　thought　I　had　forgotten　that。　Jon　could　taste　blood　in　his　mouth；　from　the　blow　he'd　taken。
　In　the　end　Halder　and　Horse　had　to　pull　him　away　from　Iron　Emmett；　one　man　on　either　arm。　The　ranger　sat　on　the　ground　dazed；　his　shield　half　in　splinters；　the　visor　of　his　helm　knocked　askew；　and　his　sword　six　yards　away。　〃Jon；　enough；〃　Halder　was　shouting；　〃he's　down；　you　disarmed　him。　Enough！〃
　No。　Not　enough。　Never　enough。　Jon　let　his　sword　drop。　〃I'm　sorry；〃　he　muttered。　〃Emmett；　are　you　hurt？〃
　Iron　Emmett　pulled　his　battered　helm　off。　〃Was　there　some　part　of　yield　you　could　not　prehend；　Lord　Snow？〃　It　was　said　amiably；　though。　Emmett　was　an　amiable　man；　and　he　loved　the　song　of　swords。　〃Warrior　defend　me；〃　he　groaned；　〃now　I　know　how　Qhorin　Halfhand　must　have　felt。〃
　That　was　too　much。　Jon　wrenched　free　of　his　friends　and　retreated　to　the　armory；　alone。　His　ears　were　still　ringing　from　the　blow　Emmett　had　dealt　him。　He　sat　on　the　bench　and　buried　his　head　in　his　hands。　Why　am　I　so　angry？　he　asked　himself；　but　it　was　a　stupid　question。　Lord　of　Winterfell。　I　could　be　the　Lord　of　Winterfell。　My　father's　heir。
　It　was　not　Lord　Eddard's　face　he　saw　floating　before　him；　though；　it　was　Lady　Catelyn's。　With　her　deep　blue　eyes　and　hard　cold　mouth