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！
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 to be？〃
〃The Hand's daughter。〃 Harwin went to one knee before her。 〃Arya Stark； of Winterfell。〃
CHAPTER 14
CATELYN
Robb； she knew； the moment she heard the kennels erupt。
Her son had returned to Riverrun； and Grey Wind with him。 Only the scent of the great grey direwolf could send the hounds into such a frenzy of baying and barking。 He will e to me； she knew。 Edmure had not returned after his first visit； preferring to spend his days with Marq Piper and Patrek Mallister； listening to Rymund the Rhymer's verses about the battle at the Stone Mill。 Robb is not Edmure； though。 Robb will see me。
It had been raining for days now； a cold grey downpour that well suited Catelyn's mood。 Her father was growing weaker and more delirious with every passing day； waking only to mutter； 〃Tansy；〃 and beg forgiveness。 Edmure shunned her； and Ser Desmond Grell still denied her freedom of the castle； however unhappy it seemed to make him。 Only the return of Ser Robin Ryger and his men； footweary and drenched to the bone； served to lighten her spirits。 They had walked back； it seemed。 Somehow the Kingslayer had contrived to sink their galley and escape； Maester Vyman confided。 Catelyn asked if she might speak with Ser Robin to learn more of what had happened； but that was refused her。
Something else was wrong as well。 On the day her brother returned； a few hours after their argument； she had heard angry voices from the yard below。 When she climbed to the roof to see； there were knots of men gathered across the castle beside the main gate。 Horses were being led from the stables； saddled and bridled； and there was shouting； though Catelyn was too far away to make out the words。 one of Robb's white banners lay on the ground； and one of the knights turned his horse and trampled over the direwolf as he spurred toward the gate。 Several others did the same。 Those are men who fought with Edmure on the fords； she thought。 What could have made them so angry？ Has my brother slighted them somehow； given them some insult？ She thought she recognized Se