grrm.thehedgeknight-第10部分
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Dunk sat the boy on his shoulders。 Across the field； the viewing stand was filling up with highborn lords and ladies； a few rich townfolk； and a score of knights who had decided not to pete today。 Of Prince Maekar he saw no sign； but he recognized Prince Baelor at Lord Ashford's side。 Sunlight flashed golden off the shoulder clasp that held his cloak and the slim coronet about his temples； but otherwise he dressed far more simply than most of the other lords。 He does not look a Targaryen in truth； with that dark hair。 Dunk said as much to Egg。
〃It's said he favors his mother；〃 the boy reminded him。 〃She was a Dornish princess。〃
The five champions had raised their pavilions at the north end of the lists with the river behind them。 The smallest two were orange； and the shields hung outside their doors displayed the white sun…and…chevron。 Those would be Lord Ashford's Sons Androw and Robert； brothers to the fair maid。 Dunk had never heard other knights speak of their prowess； which meant they would likely be the first to fall。
Beside the orange pavilions stood one of deep…dyed green； much larger。 The golden rose of Highgarden flapped above it； and the saffie device was emblazoned on the great green shield outside the door。 〃That's Leo Tyrell； Lord of Highgarden；〃 said Egg。
〃I knew that；〃 said Dunk； irritated。 〃The old man and I served at Highgarden before you were ever born。〃 He hardly remembered that year himself； but Ser Arlan had often spoken of Leo Longthorn； as he was sometimes called； a peerless jouster； for all the silver in his hair。 〃That must be Lord Leo beside the tent； the slender greybeard in green and gold。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Egg。 〃I saw him at King's Landing once。 He's not one you'll want to challenge； ser。〃
〃Boy； I do not require your counsel on who to challenge。〃
The fourth pavilion was sewn together from diamond…shaped pieces of cloth； alternating red and white。 Dunk did not know the colors； but Egg said they belonged to a knight from the Vale of Arryn named Ser Humfrey Hardyng。 〃He won a great melee at Maidenpool last year； ser； and overthrew Ser Donnel of Duskendale and the Lords Arryn and Royce in the lists。〃
The last pavilion was Prince Valarr's。 Of black silk it was； with a line of pointed scarlet pennons hanging from its roof like long red flames。 The shield on its stand was glossy black； emblazoned with the three…headed dragon of House Targaryen。 One of the Kingsguard knights stood beside it； his shining white armor stark against the black of the tentcloth。 Seeing him there； Dunk wondered whether any of the challengers would dare to touch the dragon shield。 Valarr was the king's grandson； after all； and son to Baelor Breakspear。
He need not have worried。 When the horns blew to summon the challengers； all five of the maid's champions were called forth to defend her。 Dunk could hear the murmur of excitement in the crowd as the challengers appeared one by one at the south end of the lists。 Heralds boomed out the name of each knight in turn。 They paused before the viewing stand to dip their lances in salute to Lord Ashford； Prince Baelor； and the fair maid； then circled to the north end of the field to select their opponents。 The Grey Lion of Casterly Rock struck the shield of Lord Tyrell； while his golden…haired heir Ser Tybolt Lannister challenged Lord Ashford's eldest son。 Lord Tully of Riverrun tapped the diamond…patterned shield of Ser Humfrey Hardyng； Ser Abelar Hightower knocked upon Valarr's； and the younger Ashford was called out by Ser Lyonel Baratheon； the knight they called the Laughing Storm。
The challengers trotted back to the south end of the lists to await their foes： Ser Abelar in silver and smoke colors； a stone watchtower on his shield； crowned with fire； the two Lannisters all crimson； bearing the golden lion of Casterly Rock； the Laughing Storm shining in cloth…of…gold； with a black stag on breast and shield and a rack of iron antlers on his helm； Lord Tully wearing a striped blue…and…red cloak clasped with a silver trout at each shoulder。 They pointed their twelve…foot lances skyward； the gusty winds snapping and tugging at the pennons。
At the north end of the field； squires held brightly barded destriers for the champions to mount。 They donned their helms and took up lance and shield； in splendor the equal of their foes： the Ashfords' billowing orange silks； Ser Humfrey's red…and…white diamonds； Lord Leo on his white charger with green satin trappings patterned with golden roses； and of course Valarr Targaryen。 The Young Prince's horse was black as night； to match the color of his armor； lance； shield； and trappings。 Atop his helm was a gleaming three…headed dragon； wings spread； enameled in a rich red； its twin was painted upon the glossy black surface of his shield。 Each of the defenders had a wisp of orange silk knotted about an arm； a favor bestowed by the fair maid。
As the champions trotted into position Ashford Meadow grew almost still。 Then a horn sounded； and stillness turned to tumult in half a heartbeat。 Ten pairs of gilded spurs drove into the flanks of ten great warhorses； a thousand voices began to scream and shout； forty iron…shod hooves pounded and tore the grass； ten lances dipped and steadied； the field seemed almost to shake； and champions and challengers came together in a rending crash of wood and steel。 In an instant； the riders were beyond each other； wheeling about for another pass。 Lord Tully reeled in his saddle but managed to keep his seat。 When the mons realized that all ten of the lances had broken； a great roar of approval went up。 It was a splendid omen for the success of the tourney； and a testament to the skill of the petitors。
Squires handed fresh lances to the jousters to replace the broken ones they cast aside； and once more the spurs dug deep。 Dunk could feel the earth trembling beneath the soles of his feet。 Atop his shoulders； Egg shouted happily and waved his pipestem arms。 The Young Prince passed nearest to them。 Dunk saw the point of his black lance kiss the watchtower on his foe's shield and slide off to slam into his chest； even as Ser Abelar' s own lance burst into splinters against Valarr' s breastplate。 The grey stallion in the silver…and…smoke trappings reared with the force of the impact； and Ser Abelar Hightower was lifted from his stirrups and dashed violently to the ground。
Lord Tully was down as well； unhorsed by Ser Humfrey Hardyng； but he sprang up at once and drew his longsword； and Ser Humfrey cast aside his lance … unbroken … and dismounted to continue their fight afoot。 Ser Abelar was not so sprightly。 His squire ran out； loosened his helm； and called for help； and two servingmen lifted the dazed knight by the arms to help him back to his pavilion。 Elsewhere on the field； the six knights who had remained ahorse were riding their third course。 More lances shattered； and this time Lord Leo Tyrell aimed his point so expertly he ripped the Grey Lion's helm cleanly off his head。 Barefaced； the Lord of Casterly Rock raised his hand in salute and dismounted； yielding the match。 By then Ser Humfrey had beaten Lord Tully into surrender； showing himself as skilled with a sword as he was with a lance。
Tybolt Lannister and Androw Ashford rode against each other thrice more before Ser Androw finally lost shield； seat； and match all at once。 The younger Ashford lasted even longer； breaking no less than nine lances against Ser Lyonel Baratheon； the Laughing Storm。 Champion and challenger both lost their saddles on their tenth course； only to rise together to fight on； sword against mace。 Finally a battered Ser Robert Ashford admitted defeat； but on the viewing stand his father looked anything but dejected。 Both Lord Ashford's Sons had been ushered from the ranks of the champions； it was true； but they had acquitted themselves nobly against two of the finest knights in the Seven Kingdoms。
I must do even better； though； Dunk thought as he watched victor and vanquished embrace and walk together from the field。 It is not enough for me to fight well and lose。 I must win at least the first challenge； or I lose all。
Ser Tybolt Lannister and the Laughing Storm would now take their places among the champions； replaci
