grrm.astormofswords-第41节

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　Husband　came　bustling　in　through　the　front　door；　with　an　apron　full　of　washed　vegetables。　〃There's　strange　horses　in　the　stable；〃　he　announced；　as　if　they　hadn't　known。
　〃Aye；〃　said　Tom；　setting　the　woodharp　aside；　〃and　better　horses　than　the　three　you　gave　away。〃
　Husband　dropped　the　vegetables　on　a　table；　annoyed。　〃I　never　gave　them　away。　I　sold　them　for　a　good　price；　and　got　us　a　skiff　as　well。　Anyways；　you　lot　were　supposed　to　get　them　back。〃
　I　knew　they　were　outlaws；　Arya　thought；　listening。　Her　hand　went　under　the　table　to　touch　the　hilt　of　her　dagger；　and　make　sure　it　was　still　there。　If　they　try　to　rob　us；　they'll　be　sorry。
　〃They　never　came　our　way；〃　said　Lem。
　〃Well；　I　sent　them。　You　must　have　been　drunk；　or　asleep。〃
　〃Us？　Drunk？〃　Tom　drank　a　long　draught　of　ale。　〃Never。〃
　〃You　could　have　taken　them　yourself；〃　Lem　told　Husband。
　〃What；　with　only　the　boy　here？　I　told　you　twice；　the　old　woman　was　up　to　Lambswold　helping　that　Fem　birth　her　babe。　And　like　as　not　it　was　one　o'　you　planted　the　bastard　in　the　poor　girl's　belly。〃　He　gave　Tom　a　sour　look。　〃You；　I'd　wager；　with　that　harp　o'　yours；　singing　all　them　sad　songs　just　to　get　poor　Fem　out　of　her　smallclothes。〃
　〃If　a　song　makes　a　maid　want　to　slip　off　her　clothes　and　feel　the　good　warm　sun　kiss　her　skin；　why；　is　that　the　singer's　fault？〃　asked　Tom。　〃And　'twas　Anguy　she　fancied；　besides。　'Can　I　touch　your　bow？'　I　heard　her　ask　him。　'Ooohh；　it　feels　so　smooth　and　hard。　Could　I　give　it　a　little　pull；　do　you　think？〃'
　Husband　snorted。　〃You　and　Anguy；　makes　no　matter　which。　You're　as　much　to　blame　as　me　for　them　horses。　They　was　three；　you　know。　What　can　one　man　do　against　three？〃
　〃Three；〃　said　Lem　scornfully；　〃but　one　a　woman　and　Vother　in　chains；　you　said　so　yourself。〃
　Husband　made　a　face。　〃A　big　woman；　dressed　like　a　man。　And　the　one　in　chains　。　。　。　I　didn't　fancy　the　look　of　his　eyes。〃
　Anguy　smiled　over　his　ale。　〃When　I　don't　fancy　a　man's　eyes；　I　put　an　arrow　through　one。〃
　Arya　remembered　the　shaft　that　had　brushed　by　her　ear。　She　wished　she　knew　how　to　shoot　arrows。
　Husband　was　not　impressed。　〃You　be　quiet　when　your　elders　are　talking。　Drink　your　ale　and　mind　your　tongue；　or　I'll　have　the　old　woman　take　a　spoon　to　you。〃
　〃My　elders　talk　too　much；　and　I　don't　need　you　to　tell　me　to　drink　my　ale。〃　He　took　a　big　swallow；　to　show　that　it　was　so。
　Arya　did　the　same。　After　days　of　drinking　from　brooks　and　puddles；　and　then　the　muddy　Trident；　the　ale　tasted　as　good　as　the　little　sips　of　wine　her　father　used　to　allow　her。　A　smell　was　drifting　out　from　the　kitchen　that　made　her　mouth　water；　but　her　thoughts　were　still　full　of　that　boat。　Sailing　it　will　be　harder　than　stealing　it。　If　we　wait　until　they're　all　asleep　。　。　。
　The　serving　boy　reappeared　with　big　round　loaves　of　bread。　Arya　broke　off　a　chunk　hungrily　and　tore　into　it。　It　was　hard　to　chew；　though；　sort　of　thick　and　lumpy；　and　burned　on　the　bottom。
　Hot　Pie　made　a　face　as　soon　as　he　tasted　it。　〃That's　bad　bread；〃　he　said。　〃It's　burned；　and　tough　besides。〃
　〃It's　better　when　there's　stew　to　sop　up；〃　said　Lem。
　〃No；　it　isn't；〃　said　Anguy；　〃but　you're　less　like　to　break　your　teeth。〃
　〃You　can　eat　it　or　go　hungry；〃　said　Husband。　〃Do　I　look　like　some　bloody　baker？　I'd　like　to　see　you　make　better。〃
　〃I　could；〃　said　Hot　Pie。　〃It's　easy。　You　kneaded　the　dough　too　much；　that's　why　it's　so　hard　to　chew。〃　He　took　another　sip　of　ale；　and　began　talking　lovingly　of　breads　and　pies　and　tarts；　all　the　things　he　loved。　Arya　rolled　her　eyes。
　Tom　sat　down　across　from　her。　〃Squab；〃　he　said；　〃or　Arry；　or　whatever　your　true　name　might　be；　this　is　for　you。〃　He　placed　a　dirty　scrap　of　parchment　on　the　wooden　tabletop　between　them。
　She　looked　at　it　suspiciously。　〃What　is　it？〃
　〃Three　golden　dragons。　We　need　to　buy　those　horses。〃
　Arya　looked　at　him　warily。　〃They're　our　horses。〃
　〃Meaning　you　stole　them　yourselves；　is　that　it？　No　shame　in　that；　girl。　War　makes　thieves　of　many　honest　folk。〃　Tom　tapped　the　folded　parchment　with　his　finger。　〃I'm　paying　you　a　handsome　price。　More　than　any　horse　is　worth；　if　truth　be　told。…
　Hot　Pie　grabbed　the　parchment　and　unfolded　it。　〃There's　no　gold；〃　he　plained　loudly。　〃It's　only　writing。〃
　〃Aye；〃　said　Tom；　〃and　I'm　sorry　for　that。　But　after　the　war；　we　mean　to　make　that　good；　you　have　my　word　as　a　king's　man。〃
　Arya　pushed　back　from　the　table　and　got　to　her　feet。　〃You're　no　king's　men；　you're　robbers。〃
　〃If　you'd　ever　met　a　true　robber；　you'd　know　they　do　not　pay；　not　even　in　paper。　It's　not　for　us　we　take　your　horses；　child；　it's　for　the　good　of　the　realm；　so　we　can　get　about　more　quickly　and　fight　the　fights　that　need　fighting。　The　king's　fights。　Would　you　deny　the　king？〃
　They　were　all　watching　her；　the　Archer；　big　Lem；　Husband　with　his　sallow　face　and　shifty　eyes。　Even　Shama；　who　stood　in　the　door　to　the　kitchen　squinting。　They　are　going　to　take　our　horses　no　matter　what　I　say；　she　realized。　We'll　need　to　walk　to　Riverrun；　unless　。　。　。　〃We　don't　want　paper。〃　Arya　slapped　the　parchment　out　of　Hot　Pie's　hand。　〃You　can　have　our　horses　for　that　boat　outside。　But　only　if　you　show　us　how　to　work　it。〃
　Tom　Sevenstrings　stared　at　her　a　moment；　and　then　his　wide　homely　mouth　quirked　into　a　rueful　grin。　He　laughed　aloud。　Anguy　joined　in；　and　then　they　were　all　laughing；　Lem　Lemoncloak；　Shama　and　Husband；　even　the　serving　boy；　who　had　stepped　out　from　behind　the　casks　with　a　crossbow　under　one　arm。　Arya　wanted　to　scream　at　them；　but　instead　she　started　to　smile　。　。　。
　〃Riders！〃　Gendry's　shout　was　shrill　with　alarm。　The　door　burst　open　and　there　he　was。　〃Soldiers；〃　he　panted。　〃ing　down　the　river　road；　a　dozen　of　them。〃
　Hot　Pie　leapt　up；　knocking　over　his　tankard；　but　Tom　and　the　others　were　unpertubed。　〃There's　no　cause　for　spilling　good　ale　on　my　floor；〃　said　Shama。　〃Sit　back　down　and　calm　yourself；　boy；　there's　rabbit　ing。　You　too；　girl。　Whatever　harm's　been　done　you；　it's　over　and　it's　done　and　you're　with　king's　men　now。　We'll　keep　you　safe　as　best　we　can。〃
　Arya's　only　answer　was　to　reach　over　her　shoulder　for　her　sword；　but　before　she　had　it　halfway　drawn　Lem　grabbed　her　wrist。　〃We'll　have　no　more　of　that；　now。〃　He　twisted　her　arm　until　her　hand　opened。　His　fingers　were　hard　with　callus　and　fearsomely　strong。　Again！　Arya　thought。　It's　happening　again；　like　it　happened　in　the　village；　with　Chiswyck　and　Raff　and　the　Mountain　That　Rides。　They　were　going　to　steal　her　sword　and　turn　her　back　into　a　mouse。　Her　free　hand　closed　around　her　tankard；　and　she　swung　it　at　Lem's　face。　The　ale　sloshed　over　the　rim　and　splashed　into　his　eyes；　and　she　heard　his　nose　break　and　saw　the　spurt　of　blood。　When　he　roared　his　hands　went　to　his　face；　and　she　was　free。　〃Run！〃　she　screamed；　bolting。
　But　Lem　was　on　her　again　at　once；　with　his　long　legs　that　made　one　of　his　steps　equal　to　three　of　hers。　She　twisted　and　kicked；　but　he　yanked　her　off　her　feet　effortlessly　and　held　her　dangling　while　the　blood　ran　down　his　face。
　〃Stop　it；　you　little　fool；〃　he　shouted；　shaking　her　back　and　forth。　〃Stop　it　now！〃　Gendry　moved　to　help　her；　until　Tom　Sevenstrings　stepped　in　front　of　him　with　a　dagger。
　By　then　it　was　too　late　to　flee。　She　could　hear　horses　outside；　and　the　sound　of　men's　voices。　A　moment　later　a　man　came　swaggering　through　the　open　door；　a　Tyroshi　even　bigger　than　Lem　with　a　great　thick　beard；　bright　green　at　the　ends　but　growing　out　grey。　Behind　came　a　pair　of　crossbowmen　helping　a　wounded　man　between　them；　and　then　others　。　。　。
　A　more　ragged　band　Arya　had　never　seen；　but　there　was　nothing　ragged　about　the　swords；　axes；　and　bows　they　carried。　One　or　two　gave　her　curious　glances　as　they　entered；　but　no　one　said　a　word。　A　one…eyed　man　in　a　rusty　pothelm　sniffed　the　air　and　grinned；　while　an　archer　with　a　head　of　stiff　yellow　hair　was　shouting　for　ale。　After　them　came　a　spearman　in　a　lioncrested　helm；　an　older　man　with　a　limp；　a　Braavosi　sellsword；　a　。　。　。
　〃Harwin？〃　Arya　whispered。　It　was！　Under　the　beard　and　the　tangled　hair　was　the　face　of　Hullen's　son；　who　used　to　lead　her　pony　around　the　yard；　ride　at　quintain　with　Jon　and　Robb；　and　drink　too　much　on　feast　days。　He　was　thinner；　harder　somehow；　and　at　Winterfell　he　had　never　worn　a　beard；　but　it　was　him…her　father's　man。　〃Harwin！〃　Squirming；　she　threw　herself　forward；　trying　to　wrench　free　of　Lem's　iron　grip。　〃It's　me；〃　she　shouted；　〃Harwin；　it's　me；　don't　you　know　me；　don't　you？〃　The　tears　came；　and　she　found　herself　weeping　like　a　baby；　just　like　some　stupid　little　girl。　〃Harwin；　it's　me！〃
　Harwin's　eyes　went　from　her　face　to　the　flayed　man　on　her　doublet。　〃How　do　you　know　me？〃　he　said；　frowning　suspiciously。　〃The　flayed　man　。　。　。　who　are　you；　some　serving　boy　to　Lord　Leech？〃
　For　a　moment　she　did　not　know　how　to　answer。　She'd　had　so　many　names。　Had　she　only　dreamed　Arya　Stark？　〃I'm　a　girl；〃　she　sniffed。　〃I　was　Lord　Bolton's　cupbearer　but　he　was　going　to　leave　me　for　the　goat；　so　I　ran　off　with　Gendry　and　Hot　Pie。　You　have　to　know　me！　You　used　to　lead　my　pony；　when　I　was　little。〃
　His　eyes　went　wide。　〃Gods　be　good；〃　he　said　in　a　choked　voice。　〃Arya　Underfoot？　Lem；　let　go　of　her。〃
　〃She　broke　my　nose。〃　Lem　dumped　her　unceremoniously　to　the　floor。　〃Who　in　seven　hells　is　she　supposed