grrm.thehedgeknight-第5部分

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　Ashford　Castle　was　a　stone　structure　built　in　the　shape　of　a　triangle；　with　round　towers　rising　thirty　feet　tall　at　each　point　and　thick　crenellated　walls　running　between。　Orange　banners　flew　from　its　battlements；　displaying　the　white　sun…and…chevron　sigil　of　its　lord。　Men…at…arms　in　orange…and…white　livery　stood　outside　the　gates　with　halberds；　watching　people　e　and　go；　seemingly　more　intent　on　joking　with　a　pretty　milkmaid　than　in　keeping　anyone　out。　Dunk　reined　up　in　front　of　the　short；　bearded　man　he　took　for　their　captain　and　asked　for　the　master　of　the　games。
　〃It's　Plummer　you　want；　he's　steward　here。　I'll　show　you。〃
　Inside　the　yard；　a　stableboy　took　Sweetfoot　for　him。　Dunk　slung　Ser　Arlan's　battered　shield　over　a　shoulder　and　followed　the　guards　captain　back　of　the　stables　to　a　turret　built　into　an　angle　of　the　curtain　wall。　Steep　stone　steps　led　up　to　the　wallwalk。　〃e　to　enter　your　master's　name　for　the　lists？〃　the　captain　asked　as　they　climbed。
　〃It's　my　own　name　I'll　be　putting　in。〃
　〃Is　it　now？〃　Was　the　man　smirking？　Dunk　was　not　certain。　〃That　door　there。　I'll　leave　you　to　it　and　get　back　to　my　post。〃
　When　Dunk　pushed　open　the　door；　the　steward　was　sitting　at　a　trestle　table；　scratching　on　a　piece　of　parchment　with　a　quill。　He　had　thinning　grey　hair　and　a　narrow　pinched　face。　〃Yes？〃　he　said；　looking　up。　〃What　do　you　want；　man？〃
　Dunk　pulled　shut　the　door。　〃Are　you　Plummer　the　steward？　I　came　for　the　tourney。　To　enter　the　lists。〃
　Plummer　pursed　his　lips。　〃My　lord's　tourney　is　a　contest　for　knights。　Are　you　a　knight？〃
　He　nodded；　wondering　if　his　ears　were　red。
　〃A　knight　with　a　name；　mayhaps？〃
　〃Dunk。〃　Why　had　he　said　that？　〃Ser　Duncan。　The　Tall。〃
　〃And　where　might　you　be　from；　Ser　Duncan　the　Tall？〃
　〃Everyplace。　I　was　squire　to　Ser　Arlan　of　Pennytree　since　I　was　five　or　six。　This　is　his　shield。〃　He　showed　it　to　the　steward。　〃He　was　ing　to　the　tourney；　but　he　caught　a　chill　and　died；　so　I　came　in　his　stead。　He　knighted　me　before　he　passed；　with　his　own　sword。〃　Dunk　drew　the　longsword　and　laid　it　on　the　scarred　wooden　table　between　them。
　The　master　of　the　lists　gave　the　blade　no　more　than　a　glance。　〃A　sword　it　is；　for　a　certainty。　I　have　never　heard　of　this　Arlan　of　Pennytree；　however。　You　were　his　squire；　you　say？〃
　〃He　always　said　he　meant　for　me　to　be　a　knight；　as　he　was。　When　he　was　dying　he　called　for　his　longsword　and　bade　me　kneel。　He　touched　me　once　on　my　right　shoulder　and　once　on　my　left；　and　said　some　words；　and　when　I　got　up　he　said　I　was　a　knight。〃
　〃Hmpf。〃　The　man　Plummer　rubbed　his　nose。　〃Any　knight　can　make　a　knight；　it　is　true；　though　it　is　more　customary　to　stand　a　vigil　and　be　anointed　by　a　septon　before　taking　your　vows。　Were　there　any　witnesses　to　your　dubbing？〃
　〃Only　a　robin；　up　in　a　thorn　tree。　I　heard　it　as　the　old　man　was　saying　the　words。　He　charged　me　to　be　a　good　knight　and　true；　to　obey　the　seven　gods；　defend　the　weak　and　innocent；　serve　my　lord　faithfully　and　defend　the　realm　with　all　my　might；　and　I　swore　that　I　would。〃
　〃No　doubt。〃　Plummer　did　not　deign　to　call　him　ser；　Dunk　could　not　help　but　notice。　〃I　shall　need　to　consult　with　Lord　Ashford。　Will　you　or　your　late　master　be　known　to　any　of　the　good　knights　here　assembled？〃
　Dunk　thought　a　moment。　〃There　was　a　pavilion　flying　the　banner　of　House　Dondarrion？　The　black；　with　purple　lightning？〃
　〃That　would　be　Ser　Manfred；　of　that　House。〃
　〃Ser　Arlan　served　his　lord　father　in　Dorne；　three　years　past。　Ser　Manfred　might　remember　me。〃
　〃I　would　advise　you　to　speak　to　him。　If　he　will　vouch　for　you；　bring　him　here　with　you　on　the　morrow；　at　this　same　time。
　〃As　you　say；　m'lord。〃　He　started　for　the　door。
　〃Ser　Duncan；〃　the　steward　called　after　him。
　Dunk　turned　back。
　〃You　are　aware；〃　the　man　said；　〃that　those　vanquished　in　tourney　forfeit　their　arms；　armor；　and　horse　to　the　victors；　and　must　needs　ransom　them　back？〃
　〃I　know。〃
　〃And　do　you　have　the　coin　to　pay　such　ransom？〃
　Now　he　knew　his　ears　were　red。　〃I　won't　have　need　of　coin；〃　he　said；　praying　it　was　true。　All　I　need　is　one　victory。　If　I　win　my　first　tilt；　I'll　have　the　loser's　armor　and　horse；　or　his　gold；　and　I　can　stand　a　loss　myself
　He　walked　slowly　down　the　steps；　reluctant　to　get　on　with　what　he　must　do　next。　In　the　yard；　he　collared　one　of　the　stableboys。　〃I　must　speak　with　Lord　Ashford's　master　of　horse。〃
　〃I'll　find　him　for　you。〃
　It　was　cool　and　dim　in　the　stables。　An　unruly　grey　stallion　snapped　at　him　as　he　passed；　but　Sweetfoot　only　whickered　softly　and　nuzzled　his　hand　when　he　raised　it　to　her　nose。　〃You're　a　good　girl；　aren't　you？〃　he　murmured。　The　old　man　always　said　that　a　knight　should　never　love　a　horse；　since　more　than　a　few　were　like　to　die　under　him；　but　he　never　heeded　his　own　counsel　either。　Dunk　had　often　seen　him　spend　his　last　copper　on　an　apple　for　old　Chestnut　or　some　oats　for　Sweetfoot　and　Thunder。　The　palfrey　had　been　Ser　Arlan's　riding　horse；　and　she　had　borne　him　tirelessly　over　thousands　of　miles；　all　up　and　down　the　Seven　Kingdoms。　Dunk　felt　as　though　he　were　betraying　an　old　friend；　but　what　choice　did　he　have？　Chestnut　was　too　old　to　be　worth　much　of　anything；　and　Thunder　must　carry　him　in　the　lists。
　Some　time　passed　before　the　master　of　horse　deigned　to　appear。　As　he　waited；　Dunk　heard　a　blare　of　trumpets　from　the　walls；　and　a　voice　in　the　yard。　Curious；　he　led　Sweetfoot　to　the　stable　door　to　see　what　was　happening。　A　large　party　of　knights　and　mounted　archers　poured　through　the　gates；　a　hundred　men　at　least；　riding　some　of　the　most　splendid　horses　that　Dunk　had　ever　seen。　Some　great　lord　has　e。　He　grabbed　the　arm　of　a　stableboy　as　he　ran　past。　〃Who　are　they？〃
　The　boy　looked　at　him　queerly。　〃Can't　you　see　the　banners？〃　He　wrenched　free　and　hurried　off。
　The　banners。。。　As　Dunk　turned　his　head；　a　gust　of　wind　lifted　the　black　silk　pennon　atop　the　tall　staff；　and　the　fierce　three…headed　dragon　of　House　Targaryen　seemed　to　spread　its　wings；　breathing　scarlet　fire。　The　banner…bearer　was　a　tall　knight　in　white　scale　armor　chased　with　gold；　a　pure　white　cloak　streaming　from　his　shoulders。　Two　of　the　other　riders　were　armored　in　white　from　head　to　heel　as　well。　Kingsguard　knights　with　the　royal　banner。　Small　wonder　Lord　Ashford　and　his　sons　came　hurrying　out　the　doors　of　the　keep；　and　the　fair　maid　too；　a　short　girl　with　yellow　hair　and　a　round　pink　face。　She　does　not　seem　so　fair　to　me；　Dunk　thought。　The　puppet　girl　was　prettier。
　〃Boy；　let　go　of　that　nag　and　see　to　my　horse。〃
　A　rider　had　dismounted　in　front　of　the　stables。　He　is　talking　to　me；　Dunk　realized。　〃I　am　not　a　stableboy；　m'lord。〃
　〃Not　clever　enough？〃　The　speaker　wore　a　black　cloak　bordered　in　scarlet　satin；　but　underneath　was　raiment　bright　as　flame；　all　reds　and　yellows　and　golds。　Slim　and　straight　as　a　dirk；　though　only　of　middling　height；　he　was　near　Dunk's　own　age。　Curls　of　silver…gold　hair　framed　a　face　sculpted　and　imperious；　high　brow　and　sharp　cheekbones；　straight　nose；　pale　smooth　skin　without　blemish。　His　eyes　were　a　deep　violet　color。　〃If　you　cannot　manage　a　horse；　fetch　me　some　wine　and　a　pretty　wench。〃
　〃I。　。　。　m'lord；　pardons；　I'm　no　serving　man　either。　I　have　the　honor　to　be　a　knight。〃
　〃Knighthood　has　fallen　on　sad　days；〃　said　the　princeling；　but　then　one　of　the　stableboys　came　rushing　up；　and　he　turned　away　to　hand　him　the　reins　of　his　palfrey；　a　splendid　blood　bay。　Dunk　was　forgotten　in　an　instant。　Relieved；　he　slunk　back　inside　the　stables　to　wait　for　the　master　of　horse。　He　felt　ill…at…ease　enough　around　the　lords　in　their　pavilions；　he　had　no　business　speaking　to　princes。
　That　the　beautiful　stripling　was　a　prince　he　had　no　doubt。　The　Targaryens　were　the　blood　of　lost　Valyria　across　the　seas；　and　their　silver…gold　hair　and　violet　eyes　set　them　apart　from　mon　men。　Dunk　knew　Prince　Baelor　was　older；　but　the　youth　might　well　have　been　one　of　his　sons：　Valarr；　who　was　often　called　〃the　Young　Prince〃　to　set　him　apart　from　his　father；　or　Matarys；　〃the　Even　Younger　Prince；〃　as　old　Lord　Swann's　fool　had　named　him　once。　There　were　other　princelings　as　well；　cousins　to　Valarr　and　Matarys。　Good　King　Daeron　had　four　grown　sons；　three　with　sons　of　their　own。　The　line　of　the　dragonkings　had　almost　died　o