"Martin, George R.R. - Song Of Ice and Fire 03 - A Storm Of Swords" - читать интересную книгу автора (Martin George R R)

The forks of the Trident were the easiest way to move goods or men across the riverlands. In times of peace, they would have encountered fisherfolk in their skiffs, grain barges being poled downstream, merchants selling needles and bolts of cloth from floating shops, perhaps even a gaily painted mummerТs boat with quilted sails of half a hundred colors, making its way upriver from village to village and castle to castle.
But the war had taken its toll. They sailed past villages, but saw no villagers. An empty net, slashed and torn and hanging from some trees, was the only sign of fisherfolk. A young girl watering her horse rode off as soon as she glimpsed their sail. Later they passed a dozen peasants digging in a field beneath the shell of a burnt towerhouse. The men gazed at them with dull eyes, and went back to their labors once they decided the skiff was no threat.
The Red Fork was wide and slow, a meandering river of loops and bends dotted with tiny wooded islets and frequently choked by sandbars and snags that lurked just below the waterТs surface. Brienne seemed to have a keen eye for the dangers, though, and always seemed to find the channel. When Jaime complimented her on her knowledge of the river, she looked at him suspiciously and said, УI do not know the river. Tarth is an island. I learned to manage oars and sail before I ever sat a horse.Ф
Ser Cleos sat up and rubbed at his eyes. УGods, my arms are sore. I hope the wind lasts.Ф He sniffed at it. УI smell rain.Ф
Jaime would welcome a good rain. The dungeons of Riverrun were not the cleanest place in the Seven Kingdoms. By now he must smell like an overripe cheese.
Cleos squinted downriver. УSmoke.Ф
A thin grey finger crooked them on. It was rising from the south bank several miles on, twisting and curling. Below, Jaime made out the smouldering remains of a large building, and a live oak full of dead women.
The crows had scarcely started on their corpses. The thin ropes cut deeply into the soft flesh of their throats, and when the wind blew they twisted and swayed. УThis was not chivalrously done,Ф said Brienne when they were close enough to see it clearly. УNo true knight would condone such wanton butchery.Ф
УTrue knights see worse every time they ride to war, wench,Ф said Jaime. УAnd do worse, yes.Ф
Brienne turned the rudder toward the shore. УIТll leave no innocents to be food for crows.Ф
УA heartless wench. Crows need to eat as well. Stay to the river and leave the dead alone, woman.Ф
They landed upstream of where the great oak leaned out over the water. As Brienne lowered the sail, Jaime climbed out, clumsy in his chains. The Red Fork filled his boots and soaked through the ragged breeches. Laughing, he dropped to his knees, plunged his head under the water, and came up drenched and dripping. His hands were caked with dirt, and when he rubbed them clean in the current they seemed thinner and paler than he remembered. His legs were stiff as well, and unsteady when he put his weight upon them. I was too bloody long in Hoster TullyТs dungeon.
Brienne and Cleos dragged the skiff onto the bank. The corpses hung above their heads, ripening in death like foul fruit. УOne of us will need to cut them down,Ф the wench said.
УIТll climb.Ф Jaime waded ashore, clanking. УJust get these chains off.Ф
The wench was staring up at one of the dead women. Jaime shuffled closer with small stutter steps, the only kind the foot-long chain permitted. When he saw the crude sign hung about the neck of the highest corpse, he smiled. УThey Lay With Lions,Ф he read. УOh, yes, woman, this was most unchivalrously done . . . but by your side, not mine. I wonder who they were, these women?Ф
УTavern wenches,Ф said Ser Cleos Frey. УThis was an inn, I remember it now. Some men of my escort spent the night here when we last returned to Riverrun.Ф Nothing remained of the building but the stone foundation and a tangle of collapsed beams, charred black. Smoke still rose from the ashes.
Jaime left brothels and whores to his brother Tyrion; Cersei was the only woman he had ever wanted. УThe girls pleasured some of my lord fatherТs soldiers, it would seem. Perhaps served them food and drink.
ThatТs how they earned their traitorsТ collars, with a kiss and a cup of ale.Ф He glanced up and down the river, to make certain they were quite alone. УThis is Bracken land. Lord Jonos might have ordered them killed. My father burned his castle, I fear he loves us not.Ф
УIt might be Marq PiperТs work,Ф said Ser Cleos. УOr that wisp oТ the wood Beric Dondarrion, though IТd heard he kills only soldiers. Perhaps a band of Roose BoltonТs northmen?Ф
УBolton was defeated by my father on the Green Fork.Ф
УBut not broken,Ф said Ser Cleos. УHe came south again when Lord Tywin marched against the fords. The word at Riverrun was that heТd taken Harrenhal from Ser Amory Lorch.Ф
Jaime liked the sound of that not at all. УBrienne,Ф he said, granting her the courtesy of the name in the hopes that she might listen, Уif Lord Bolton holds Harrenhal, both the Trident and the kingsroad are likely watched.Ф
He thought he saw a touch of uncertainty in her big blue eyes. УYou are under my protection. TheyТd need to kill me.Ф
УI shouldnТt think that would trouble them.Ф
УI am as good a fighter as you,Ф she said defensively. УI was one of King RenlyТs chosen seven. With his own hands, he cloaked me with the striped silk of the Rainbow Guard.Ф
УThe Rainbow Guard? You and six other girls, was it? A singer once said that all maids are fair in silk . . . but he never met you, did he?Ф
The woman turned red. УWe have graves to dig.Ф She went to climb the tree.
The lower limbs of the oak were big enough for her to stand upon once sheТd gotten up the trunk. She walked amongst the leaves, dagger in hand, cutting down the corpses. Flies swarmed around the bodies as they fell, and the stench grew worse with each one she dropped. УThis is a deal of trouble to take for whores,Ф Ser Cleos complained. УWhat are we supposed to dig with? We have no spades, and I will not use my sword, IЧФ
Brienne gave a shout. She jumped down rather than climbing. УTo the boat. Be quick. ThereТs a sail.Ф
They made what haste they could, though Jaime could hardly run, and had to be pulled back up into the skiff by his cousin. Brienne shoved off with an oar and raised sail hurriedly. УSer Cleos, IТll need you to row as well.Ф
He did as she bid. The skiff began to cut the water a bit faster; current, wind, and oars all worked for them. Jaime sat chained, peering upriver. Only the top of the other sail was visible. With the way the Red Fork looped, it looked to be across the fields, moving north behind a screen of trees while they moved south, but he knew that was deceptive. He lifted both hands to shade his eyes. УMud red and watery blue,Ф he announced.
BrienneТs big mouth worked soundlessly, giving her the look of a cow chewing its cud. УFaster, ser.Ф
The inn soon vanished behind them, and they lost sight of the top of the sail as well, but that meant nothing. Once the pursuers swung around the loop they would become visible again. УWe can hope the noble Tullys will stop to bury the dead whores, I suppose.Ф The prospect of returning to his cell did not appeal to Jaime. Tyrion could think of something clever now, but all that occurs to me is to go at them with a sword.
For the good part of an hour they played peek-and-seek with the pursuers, sweeping around bends and between small wooded isles. just when they were starting to hope that somehow they might have left behind the pursuit, the distant sail became visible again. Ser Cleos paused in his stroke. УThe Others take them.Ф He wiped sweat from his brow.
УRow!Ф Brienne said.
УThat is a river galley coming after us,Ф Jaime announced after heТd watched for a while. With every stroke, it seemed to grow a little larger. УNine oars on each side, which means eighteen men. More, if they crowded on fighters as well as rowers. And larger sails than ours. We cannot outrun her.Ф
Ser Cleos froze at his oars. УEighteen, you said?Ф
УSix for each of us. IТd want eight, but these bracelets hinder me somewhat.Ф Jaime held up his wrists. УUnless the Lady Brienne would be so kind as to unshackle me?Ф
She ignored him, putting all her effort into her stroke.
УWe had half a nightТs start on them,Ф Jaime said. УTheyТve been rowing since dawn, resting two oars at a time. TheyТll be exhausted. just now the sight of our sail has given them a burst of strength, but that will not last. We ought to be able to kill a good many of them.Ф
Ser Cleos gaped. УBut . . . there are eighteen.Ф
УAt the least. More likely twenty or twenty-five.Ф
His cousin groaned. УWe canТt hope to defeat eighteen.Ф
УDid I say we could? The best we can hope for is to die with swords in our hands.Ф He was perfectly sincere. Jaime Lannister had never been afraid of death.
Brienne broke off rowing. Sweat had stuck strands of her flax-colored hair to her forehead, and her grimace made her look homelier than ever. УYou are under my protection,Ф she said, her voice so thick with anger that it was almost a growl.
He had to laugh at such fierceness. SheТs the Hound with teats, he thought. Or would be, if she had any teats to speak of. УThen protect me, wench. Or free me to protect myself.Ф
The galley was skimming downriver, a great wooden dragonfly. The water around her was churned white by the furious action of her oars. She was gaining visibly, the men on her deck crowding forward as she came on. Metal glinted in their hands, and Jaime could see bows as well. Archers. He hated archers.
At the prow of the onrushing galley stood a stocky man with a bald head, bushy grey eyebrows, and brawny arms. Over his mail he wore a soiled white surcoat with a weeping willow embroidered in pale green, but his cloak was fastened with a silver trout. RiverrunТs captain of guards. In his day Ser Robin Ryger had been a notably tenacious fighter, but his day was done; he was of an age with Hoster Tully, and had grown old with his lord.
When the boats were fifty yards apart, Jaime cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted back over the water. УCome to wish me godspeed, Ser Robin?Ф
УCome to take you back, Kingslayer,Ф Ser Robin Ryger bellowed. УHow is it that youТve lost your golden hair?Ф