Two days ride from Riverrun, a
scout1 spied them watering their horses beside a muddy steam. Catelyn had never been so glad to see the twin tower badge of House Frey. When she asked him to lead them to her uncle, he said, “The Blackfish is gone west with the king, my lady. Martyn Rivers commands the outriders in his stead.” “I see.” She had met Rivers at the Twins; a baseborn son of Lord Walder Frey, half brother to Ser Perwyn. It did not surprise her to learn that Robb had struck at the heart of Lannister power; clearly he had been
contemplating2 just that when he sent her away to treat with Renly. “Where is Rivers now?” “His camp is two hours ride, my lady.” “Take us to him,” she commanded. Brienne helped her back into her saddle, and they set out at once. “Have you come from Bitterbridge, my lady?” the scout asked. “No.” She had not dared. With Renly dead, Catelyn had been uncertain of the reception she might receive from his young widow and her protectors. Instead she had ridden through the heart of the war, through fertile riverlands turned to blackened desert by the fury of the Lannisters, and each night her
scouts4 brought back tales that made her ill. “Lord Renly is slain,” she added. “We’d hoped that tale was some Lannister lie, or-” “Would that it were. My brother commands in Riverrun?” “Yes, my lady. His Grace left Ser Edmure to hold Riverrun and guard his rear.” Gods grant him the strength to do so, Catelyn thought. And the wisdom as well. “Is there word from Robb in the west?” “You have not heard?” The man seemed surprised. “His Grace won a great victory at Oxcross. Ser Stafford Lannister is dead, his host
scattered5.” Ser Wendel Manderly gave a
whoop6 of pleasure, but Catelyn only nodded. Tomorrow’s trials concerned her more than yesterday’s triumphs. Martyn Rivers had made his camp in the shell of a shattered holdfast, beside a roofless stable and a hundred fresh graves. He went to one knee when Catelyn dismounted. “Well met, my lady. Your brother charged us to keep an eye out for your party, and escort you back to Riverrun in all haste should we come upon you.” Catelyn scarce liked the sound of that. “Is it my father?” “No, my lady. Lord Hoster is unchanged.” Rivers was a ruddy man with
scant7 resemblance to his half brothers. “It is only that we feared you might chance upon Lannister scouts. Lord Tywin has left Harrenhal and marches west with all his power.” “Rise,” she told Rivers, frowning. Stannis Baratheon would soon be on the march as well, gods help them all. “How long until Lord Tywin is upon us?” “Three days, perhaps four, it is hard to know. We have eyes out along all the roads, but it would be best not to linger.” Nor did they. Rivers broke his camp quickly and saddled up beside her, and they set off again, near fifty strong now, flying beneath the direwolf, the leaping
trout8, the twin towers. Her men wanted to hear more of Robb’s victory at Oxcross, and Rivers obliged. “There’s a singer come to Riverrun, calls himself Rymund the Rhymer, he’s made a song of the fight. Doubtless you’ll hear it sung tonight, my lady. ‘Wolf in the Night’ this Rymund calls it.” He went on to tell how the remnants of Ser Stafford’s host had fallen back on Lannisport. Without siege engines there was no way to storm Casterly Rock, so the Young Wolf was paying the Lannisters back in kind for the
devastation9 they’d
inflicted10 on the riverlands. Lords Karstark and Glover were raiding along the coast, Lady Mormont had captured thousands of cattle and was driving them back toward Riverrun, while the Greatjon had seized the gold mines at Castamere, Nunn’s Deep, and the Pendric Hills. Ser Wendel laughed. “Nothing’s more like to bring a Lannister running than a threat to his gold.” “How did the king ever take the Tooth?” Ser Perwyn Frey asked his
bastard12 brother. “That’s a hard strong keep, and it commands the hill road. “ “He never took it. He slipped around it in the night. It’s said the direwolf showed him the way, that Grey Wind of his. The beast
sniffed13 out a goat track that wound down a
defile14 and up along beneath a
ridge3, a
crooked15 and
stony16 way, yet wide enough for men riding single file. The Lannisters in their watchtowers got not so much a glimpse of them.” Rivers lowered his voice. “There’s some say that after the battle, the king cut out Stafford Lannister’s heart and fed it to the wolf.” “I would not believe such tales,” Catelyn said sharply. “My son is no
savage17.” “As you say, my lady. Still, it’s no more than the beast deserved. That is no common wolf, that one. The Greatjon’s been heard to say that the old gods of the north sent those direwolves to your children.” Catelyn remembered the day when her boys had found the pups in the late summer snows. There had been five, three male and two female for the five trueborn children of House
Stark11... and a sixth, white of fur and red of eye, for Ned’s bastard son Jon Snow. No common wolves, she thought. No indeed. That night as they made their camp, Brienne sought out her tent. “My lady, you are safely back among your own now, a day’s ride from your brother’s castle. Give me leave to go.” Catelyn should not have been surprised. The
homely18 young woman had kept to herself all through their journey, spending most of her time with the horses, brushing out their coats and pulling stones from their shoes. She had helped Shadd cook and clean game as well, and soon proved that she could hunt as well as any. Any task Catelyn asked her to turn her hand to, Brienne had performed
deftly19 and without complaint, and when she was spoken to she answered politely, but she never
chattered20, nor wept, nor laughed. She had ridden with them every day and slept among them every night without ever truly becoming one of them. It was the same when she was with Renly, Catelyn thought. At the feast, in the
melee21, even in Renly’s pavilion with her brothers of the Rainbow Guard. There are walls around this one higher than Winterfell’s. “If you left us, where would you go?” Catelyn asked her. “Back,” Brienne said. “To Storm’s End.” “Alone.” It was not a question. The broad face was a pool of still water, giving no hint of what might live in the depths below. “Yes.” “You mean to kill Stannis.” Brienne closed her thick callused fingers around the hilt of her sword. The sword that had been his. “I swore a
vow22. Three times I swore. You heard me.” “I did,” Catelyn admitted. The girl had kept the rainbow cloak when she discarded the rest of her bloodstained clothing, she knew. Brienne’s own things had been left behind during their flight, and she had been forced to clothe herself in odd bits of Ser Wendel’s spare
garb23, since no one else in their party had garments large enough to fit her. “Vows should be kept, I agree, but Stannis has a great host around him, and his own guards sworn to keep him safe.” “I am not afraid of his guards. I am as good as any of them. I should never have fled.” “Is that what troubles you, that some fool might call you craven?” She sighed. “Renly’s death was no fault of yours. You served him
valiantly24, but when you seek to follow him into the earth, you serve no one.” She stretched out a hand, to give what comfort a touch could give.
点击
收听单词发音
|
1
scout
|
|
| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 |
参考例句： |
- He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵，受了重伤。
- The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。
|
|
2
contemplating
|
|
| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 |
参考例句： |
- You're too young to be contemplating retirement. 你考虑退休还太年轻。
- She stood contemplating the painting. 她站在那儿凝视那幅图画。
|
|
3
ridge
|
|
| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 |
参考例句： |
- We clambered up the hillside to the ridge above.我们沿着山坡费力地爬上了山脊。
- The infantry were advancing to attack the ridge.步兵部队正在向前挺进攻打山脊。
|
|
4
scouts
|
|
| 侦察员[机，舰]( scout的名词复数 )； 童子军； 搜索； 童子军成员 |
参考例句： |
- to join the Scouts 参加童子军
- The scouts paired off and began to patrol the area. 巡逻人员两个一组，然后开始巡逻这个地区。
|
|
5
scattered
|
|
| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 |
参考例句： |
- Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。
|
|
6
whoop
|
|
| n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息 |
参考例句： |
- He gave a whoop of joy when he saw his new bicycle.他看到自己的新自行车时，高兴得叫了起来。
- Everybody is planning to whoop it up this weekend.大家都打算在这个周末好好欢闹一番。
|
|
7
scant
|
|
| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 |
参考例句： |
- Don't scant the butter when you make a cake.做糕饼时不要吝惜奶油。
- Many mothers pay scant attention to their own needs when their children are small.孩子们小的时候，许多母亲都忽视自己的需求。
|
|
8
trout
|
|
| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) |
参考例句： |
- Thousands of young salmon and trout have been killed by the pollution.成千上万的鲑鱼和鳟鱼的鱼苗因污染而死亡。
- We hooked a trout and had it for breakfast.我们钓了一条鳟鱼，早饭时吃了。
|
|
9
devastation
|
|
| n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤 |
参考例句： |
- The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
- There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
|
10
inflicted
|
|
| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- They inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team. 他们使主队吃了一场很没面子的败仗。
- Zoya heroically bore the torture that the Fascists inflicted upon her. 卓娅英勇地承受法西斯匪徒加在她身上的酷刑。
|
|
11
stark
|
|
| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 |
参考例句： |
- The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
- He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。
|
|
12
bastard
|
|
| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 |
参考例句： |
- He was never concerned about being born a bastard.他从不介意自己是私生子。
- There was supposed to be no way to get at the bastard.据说没有办法买通那个混蛋。
|
|
13
sniffed
|
|
| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 |
参考例句： |
- When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
|
14
defile
|
|
| v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道 |
参考例句： |
- Don't defile the land of our ancestors!再不要污染我们先祖们的大地！
- We respect the faith of Islam, even as we fight those whose actions defile that faith.我们尊重伊斯兰教的信仰，并与玷污伊斯兰教的信仰的行为作斗争。
|
|
15
crooked
|
|
| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 |
参考例句： |
- He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.他弯了弯手指，示意我们到他那儿去。
- You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。
|
|
16
stony
|
|
| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 |
参考例句： |
- The ground is too dry and stony.这块地太干，而且布满了石头。
- He listened to her story with a stony expression.他带着冷漠的表情听她讲经历。
|
|
17
savage
|
|
| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 |
参考例句： |
- The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
- He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。
|
|
18
homely
|
|
| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 |
参考例句： |
- We had a homely meal of bread and cheese.我们吃了一顿面包加乳酪的家常便餐。
- Come and have a homely meal with us,will you?来和我们一起吃顿家常便饭，好吗？
|
|
19
deftly
|
|
| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 |
参考例句： |
- He deftly folded the typed sheets and replaced them in the envelope. 他灵巧地将打有字的纸折好重新放回信封。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- At last he had a clew to her interest, and followed it deftly. 这一下终于让他发现了她的兴趣所在，于是他熟练地继续谈这个话题。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
|
|
20
chattered
|
|
| （人）喋喋不休( chatter的过去式 )； 唠叨； （牙齿）打战； （机器）震颤 |
参考例句： |
- They chattered away happily for a while. 他们高兴地闲扯了一会儿。
- We chattered like two teenagers. 我们聊着天，像两个十多岁的孩子。
|
|
21
melee
|
|
| n.混战；混战的人群 |
参考例句： |
- There was a scuffle and I lost my hat in the melee.因发生一场斗殴，我的帽子也在混乱中丢失了。
- In the melee that followed they trampled their mother a couple of times.他们打在一团，七手八脚的又踩了他们的母亲几下。
|
|
22
vow
|
|
| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 |
参考例句： |
- My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
- I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。
|
|
23
garb
|
|
| n.服装，装束 |
参考例句： |
- He wore the garb of a general.他身着将军的制服。
- Certain political,social,and legal forms reappear in seemingly different garb.一些政治、社会和法律的形式在表面不同的外衣下重复出现。
|
|
24
valiantly
|
|
| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 |
参考例句： |
- He faced the enemy valiantly, shuned no difficulties and dangers and would not hesitate to lay down his life if need be. 他英勇对敌，不避艰险，赴汤蹈火在所不计。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Murcertach strove valiantly to meet the new order of things. 面对这个新事态，默克塔克英勇奋斗。 来自辞典例句
|
