grrm.thehedgeknight-第12部分

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　Aerion　bore　a　three…headed　dragon　on　his　shield；　but　it　was　rendered　in　colors　much　more　vivid　than　Valarr's；　one　head　was　orange；　one　yellow；　one　red；　and　the　flames　they　breathed　had　the　sheen　of　gold　leaf。　His　surcoat　was　a　swirl　of　smoke　and　fire　woven　together；　and　his　blackened　helm　was　surmounted　by　a　crest　of　red　enamel　flames。
　After　a　pause　to　dip　his　lance　to　Prince　Baelor；　a　pause　so　brief　that　was　almost　perfunctory；　he　galloped　to　the　north　end　of　the　field；　past　Lord　Leo's　pavilion　and　the　Laughing　Storm's；　slowing　only　when　he　approached　Prince　Valarr's　tent。　The　Young　Prince　rose　and　stood　stiffly　beside　his　shield；　and　for　a　moment　Dunk　was　certain　that　Aerion　meant　to　strike　it　。　。　。　but　then　he　laughed　and　trotted　past；　and　banged　his　point　hard　against　Ser　Humfrey　Hardyng's　diamonds。　〃e　out；　e　out；　little　knight；〃　he　sang　in　a　loud　clear　voice；　〃it's　time　you　faced　the　dragon。〃
　Ser　Humfrey　inclined　his　head　stiffly　to　his　foe　as　his　destrier　was　brought　out；　and　then　ignored　him　while　he　mounted；　fastened　his　helm；　and　took　up　lance　and　shield。　The　spectators　grew　quiet　as　the　two　knights　took　their　places。　Dunk　heard　the　clang　of　Prince　Aerion　dropping　his　visor。　The　horn　blew。
　Ser　Humfrey　broke　slowly；　building　speed；　but　his　foe　raked　the　red　charger　hard　with　both　spurs；　ing　hard。　Egg's　legs　tightened　again。　〃Kill　him！〃　he　shouted　suddenly。　〃Kill　him；　he's　right　there；　kill　him；　kill　him；　kill　him！〃　Dunk　was　not　certain　which　of　the　knights　he　was　shouting　to。
　Prince　Aerion's　lance；　gold…tipped　and　painted　in　stripes　of　red；　orange；　and　yellow；　swung　down　across　the　barrier。　Low；　too　low；　thought　Dunk　the　moment　he　saw　it。　He'll　miss　the　rider　and　strike　Ser　Humfrey's　horse；　he　needs　to　bring　it　up。　Then；　with　dawning　horror；　he　began　to　suspect　that　Aerion　intended　no　such　thing。　He　cannot　mean　to　。　。　。
　At　the　last　possible　instant；　Ser　Humfrey's　stallion　reared　away　from　the　oning　point；　eyes　rolling　in　terror；　but　too　late；　Aerion's　lance　took　the　animal　just　above　the　armor　that　protected　his　breastbone；　and　exploded　out　of　the　back　of　his　neck　in　a　gout　of　bright　blood。　Screaming；　the　horse　crashed　sideways；　knocking　the　wooden　barrier　to　pieces　as　he　fell。　Ser　Humfrey　tried　to　leap　free；　but　a　foot　caught　in　a　stirrup　and　they　heard　his　shriek　as　his　leg　was　crushed　between　the　splintered　fence　and　falling　horse。
　All　of　Ashford　Meadow　was　shouting。　Men　ran　onto　the　field　to　extricate　Ser　Humfrey；　but　the　stallion；　dying　in　agony；　kicked　at　them　as　they　approached。　Aerion；　having　raced　blithely　around　the　carnage　to　the　end　of　the　lists；　wheeled　his　horse　and　came　galloping　back。　He　was　shouting　too；　though　Dunk　could　not　make　out　the　words　over　the　almost　human　screams　of　the　dying　horse。　Vaulting　from　the　saddle；　Aerion　drew　his　sword　and　advanced　on　his　fallen　foe。　His　own　squires　and　one　of　Ser　Humfrey's　had　to　pull　him　back。　Egg　squirmed　on　Dunk's　shoulders。　〃Let　me　down；〃　the　boy　said。　〃The　poor　horse；　let　me　down。〃
　Dunk　felt　sick　himself。　What　would　I　do　if　such　a　fate　befell　Thunder？　A　man…at…arms　with　a　pole…axe　dispatched　Ser　Humfrey's　stallion；　ending　the　hideous　screams。　Dunk　turned　and　forced　his　way　through　the　press。　When　he　came　to　open　ground；　he　lifted　Egg　off　his　shoulders。　The　boy's　hood　had　fallen　back　and　his　eyes　were　red。　〃A　terrible　sight；　aye；〃　he　told　the　lad；　〃but　a　squire　must　needs　be　strong。　You'll　see　worse　mishaps　at　other　tourneys；　I　fear。〃
　〃It　was　no　mishap；〃　Egg　said；　mouth　trembling。　〃Aerion　meant　to　do　it。　You　saw。〃
　Dunk　frowned。　It　had　looked　that　way　to　him　as　well；　but　it　was　hard　to　accept　that　any　knight　could　be　so　unchivalrous；　least　of　all　one　who　was　blood　of　the　dragon。　〃I　saw　a　knight　green　as　summer　grass　lose　control　of　his　lance；〃　he　said　stubbornly；　〃and　I'll　hear　no　more　of　it。　The　jousting　is　done　for　the　day；　I　think。　e；　lad。〃
　
　He　was　right　about　the　end　of　the　day's　contests。　By　the　time　the　chaos　had　been　set　to　rights；　the　sun　was　low　in　the　west；　and　Lord　Ashford　had　called　a　halt。
　As　the　shadows　of　evening　crept　across　the　meadow；　a　hundred　torches　were　lit　along　the　merchant's　row。　Dunk　bought　a　horn　of　ale　for　himself　and　half　a　horn　for　the　boy；　to　cheer　him。　They　wandered　for　a　time；　listening　to　a　sprightly　air　on　pipes　and　drums　and　watching　a　puppet　show　about　Nymeria；　the　warrior　queen　with　the　ten　thousand　ships。　The　puppeteers　had　only　two　ships；　but　managed　a　rousing　sea　battle　all　the　same。　Dunk　wanted　to　ask　the　girl　Tanselle　if　she　had　finished　painting　his　shield；　but　he　could　see　that　she　was　busy。　I'll　wait　until　she　is　done　for　the　night；　he　resolved。　Perhaps　she'll　have　a　thirst　then。
　〃Ser　Duncan；〃　a　voice　called　behind　him。　And　then　again；　〃Ser　Duncan。〃　Suddenly　Dunk　remembered　that　was　him。　〃I　saw　you　among　the　smallfolk　today；　with　this　boy　on　your　shoulders；〃　said　Raymun　Fossoway　as　he　came　up；　smiling。　〃Indeed；　the　two　of　you　were　hard　to　miss。〃
　〃The　boy　is　my　squire。　Egg；　this　is　Raymun　Fossoway。〃　Dunk　had　to　pull　the　boy　forward；　and　even　then　Egg　lowered　his　head　and　stared　at　Raymun's　boots　as　he　mumbled　a　greeting。
　〃Well　met；　lad；〃　Raymun　said　easily。　〃Ser　Duncan；　why　not　watch　from　the　viewing　gallery？　All　knights　are　wele　there。〃
　Dunk　was　at　ease　among　smallfolk　and　servants；　the　idea　of　claiming　a　place　among　the　lords；　ladies；　and　landed　knights　made　him　unfortable。　〃I　would　not　have　wanted　any　closer　view　of　that　last　tilt。〃
　Raymun　grimaced。　〃Nor　I。　Lord　Ashford　declared　Ser　Humfrey　the　victor　and　awarded　him　Prince　Aerion's　courser；　but　even　so；　he　will　not　be　able　to　continue。　His　leg　was　broken　in　two　places。　Prince　Baelor　sent　his　own　maester　to　tend　him。〃
　〃Will　there　be　another　champion　in　Ser　Humfrey's　place？〃
　〃Lord　Ashford　had　a　mind　to　grant　the　place　to　Lord　Caron；　or　perhaps　the　other　Ser　Humfrey；　the　one　who　gave　Hardyng　such　a　splendid　match；　but　Prince　Baelor　told　him　that　it　would　not　be　seemly　to　remove　Ser　Humfrey's　shield　and　pavilion　under　the　circumstances。　I　believe　they　will　continue　with　four　champions　in　place　of　five。〃
　Four　champions；　Dunk　thought。　Leo　Tyrell；　Lyonel　Baratheon；　Tybolt　Lannister；　and　Prince　Valarr。　He　had　seen　enough　this　first　day　to　know　how　little　chance　he　would　stand　against　the　first　three。　Which　left　only。。。
　A　hedge　knight　cannot　challenge　a　prince。　Valarr　is　second　in　line　to　the　Iron　Throne。　He　is　Baelor　Breakspear's　son；　and　his　blood　is　the　blood　of　Aegon　the　Conqueror　and　the　Young　Dragon　and　Prince　Aemon　the　Dragonknight；　and　I　am　some　boy　the　old　man　found　behind　a　pot　shop　in　Flea　Bottom。
　His　head　hurt　just　thinking　about　it。　〃Who　does　your　cousin　mean　to　challenge？〃　he　asked　Raymun。
　〃Ser　Tybolt；　all　things　being　equal。　They　are　well　matched。　My　cousin　keeps　a　sharp　watch　on　every　tilt；　though。　Should　any　man　be　wounded　on　the　morrow；　or　show　signs　of　exhaustion　or　weakness；　Steffon　will　be　quick　to　knock　on　his　shield；　you　may　count　on　it。　No　one　has　ever　accused　him　of　an　excess　of　chivalry。〃　He　laughed；　as　if　to　take　the　sting　from　his　words。　〃Ser　Duncan；　will　you　join　me　for　a　cup　of　wine？〃
　〃I　have　a　matter　I　must　attend　to；〃　said　Dunk；　unfortable　with　the　notion　of　accepting　hospitality　he　could　not　return。
　〃I　could　wait　here　and　bring　your　shield　when　the　puppet　show　is　over；　ser；〃　said　Egg。　〃They're　going　to　do　Symeon　Star…Eyes　later；　and　make　the　dragon　fight　again　as　well。〃
　〃There；　you　see；　your　matter　is　attended　to；　and　the　wine　awaits；〃　said　Raymun。　〃It's　an　Arbor　vintage；　too。　How　can　you　refuse　me？〃
　Bereft　of　excuses；　Dunk　had　no　choice　but　to　follow；　leaving　Egg　at　the　puppet　show。　The　apple　of　House　Fossoway　flew　above　a　gold…colored　pavilion　where　Raymun　attended　his　cousin。　Behind　it；　two　servants　were　basting　a　goat　with　honey　and　herbs　over　a　small　cookfire。　〃There's　food　as　well；　if　you're　hungry；〃　Raymun　said　negligently　as　he　held　the　flap　for　Dunk。　A　brazier　of　coals　lit　the　interior　and　made　the　air　pleasantly　warm。　Raymun　filled　two　cups　with　wine。　〃They　say　Aerion　is　in　a　rage　at　Lord　Ashford　for　awarding　his　charger　to　Ser　Humfrey；〃　he　mented　as　he　poured；　〃but　I'll　wager　it　was　his　uncle　who　counseled　it。〃　He　handed　Dunk　a　wine　cup。
　〃Prince　Baelo