“Tell Father I have gone to make him proud.” Her brother swung up into his saddle, every inch the lord in his bright mail and flowing mud-and-water cloak. A silver
trout1 ornamented2 the
crest3 of his greathelm, twin to the one painted on his shield. “He was always proud of you, Edmure. And he loves you fiercely. Believe that.” “I mean to give him better reason than
mere4 birth.” He wheeled his warhorse about and raised a hand.
Trumpets5 sounded, a drum began to boom, the drawbridge
descended6 in fits and starts, and Ser Edmure Tully led his men out from Riverrun with lances raised and banners streaming. I have a greater host than yours, brother, Catelyn thought as she watched them go. A host of doubts and fears. Beside her, Brienne’s
misery7 was almost palpable. Catelyn had ordered garments sewn to her measure, handsome gowns to suit her birth and sex, yet still she preferred to dress in oddments of mail and boiled leather, a swordbelt cinched around her waist. She would have been happier riding to war with Edmure, no doubt, but even walls as strong as Riverrun’s required swords to hold them. Her brother had taken every able-bodied man for the fords, leaving Ser Desmond Grell to command a
garrison8 made up of the wounded, the old, and the sick, along with a few
squires10 and some untrained peasant boys still shy of manhood. This, to defend a castle
crammed11 full of women and children. When the last of Edmure’s foot had
shuffled12 under the portcullis, Brienne asked, “What shall we do now, my lady?” “Our duty.” Catelyn’s face was
drawn13 as she started across the yard. I have always done my duty, she thought. Perhaps that was why her lord father had always cherished her best of all his children. Her two older brothers had both died in
infancy14, so she had been son as well as daughter to Lord Hoster until Edmure was born. Then her mother had died and her father had told her that she must be the lady of Riverrun now, and she had done that too. And when Lord Hoster promised her to Brandon
Stark15, she had thanked him for making her such a splendid match. I gave Brandon my favor to wear, and never comforted Petyr once after he was wounded, nor bid him farewell when Father sent him off. And when Brandon was murdered and Father told me I must
wed16 his brother, I did so gladly, though I never saw Ned’s face until our wedding day. I gave my
maidenhood17 to this solemn stranger and sent him off to his war and his king and the woman who bore him his
bastard18, because I always did my duty. Her steps took her to the sept, a seven-sided sandstone temple set amidst her mother’s gardens and filled with rainbow light. It was crowded when they entered; Catelyn was not alone in her need for prayer. She knelt before the painted marble image of the
Warrior19 and lit a
scented20 candle for Edmure and another for Robb off beyond the hills. Keep them safe and help them to victory, she prayed, and bring peace to the souls of the
slain21 and comfort to those they leave behind. The septon entered with his censer and crystal while she was at her prayers, so Catelyn lingered for the celebration. She did not know this septon, an earnest young man close to Edmure’s age. He performed his office well enough, and his voice was rich and pleasant when he sang the praises to the Seven, but Catelyn found herself
yearning22 for the thin quavering tones of Septon Osmynd, long dead. Osmynd would have listened patiently to the tale of what she had seen and felt in Renly’s pavilion, and he might have known what it meant as well, and what she must do to lay to rest the shadows that stalked her dreams. Osmynd, my father, Uncle Brynden, old Maester Kym, they always seemed to know everything, but now there is only me, and it seems I know nothing, not even my duty. How can I do my duty if I do not know where it lies? Catelyn’s knees were stiff by the time she rose, though she felt no wiser. Perhaps she would go to the godswood tonight, and pray to Ned’s gods as well. They were older than the Seven. Outside, she found song of a very different sort. Rymund the Rhymer sat by the brewhouse amidst a circle of listeners, his deep voice ringing as he sang of Lord Deremond at the
Bloody23 Meadow. And there he stood with sword in hand, the last of Darry’s ten... Brienne paused to listen for a moment, broad shoulders
hunched24 and thick arms crossed against her chest. A mob of
ragged25 boys raced by,
screeching26 and
flailing27 at each other with sticks. Why do boys so love to play at war? Catelyn wondered if Rymund was the answer. The singer’s voice
swelled28 as he neared the end of his song. And red the grass beneath his feet, and red his banners bright, and red the glow of setting sun that bathed him in its light. “Come on, come on,” the great lord called, “my sword is hungry still. And with a cry of
savage29 rage, They
swarmed30 across the rill... “ “Fighting is better than this waiting,” Brienne said. “You don’t feel so helpless when you fight. You have a sword and a horse, sometimes an
axe31. When you’re armored it’s hard for anyone to hurt you.” “Knights die in battle,” Catelyn reminded her. Brienne looked at her with those blue and beautiful eyes. “As ladies die in childbed. No one sings songs about them.” “Children are a battle of a different sort.” Catelyn started across the yard. “A battle without banners or warhorns, but no less fierce. Carrying a child, bringing it into the world... your mother will have told you of the pain...” “I never knew my mother,” Brienne said. “My father had ladies... a different lady every year, but...” “Those were no ladies,” Catelyn said. “As hard as birth can be, Brienne, what comes after is even harder. At times I feel as though I am being torn apart. Would that there were five of me, one for each child, so I might keep them all safe.” “And who would keep you safe, my lady?” Her smile was
wan32 and tired. “Why, the men of my House. Or so my lady mother taught me. My lord father, my brother, my uncle, my husband, they will keep me safe... but while they are away from me, I suppose you must fill their place, Brienne.” Brienne bowed her head. “I shall try, my lady.” Later that day, Maester Vyman brought a letter. She saw him at once, hoping for some word from Robb, or from Ser Rodrik in Winterfell, but the message proved to be from one Lord Meadows, who named himself castellan of Storm’s End. it was addressed to her father, her brother, her son, “or whoever now holds Riverrun.” Ser Cortnay Penrose was dead, the man wrote, and Storm’s End had opened its gate to Stannis Baratheon, the trueborn and rightful heir. The castle garrison had sworn their swords to his cause, one and all, and no man of them had suffered harm. “Save Cortnay Penrose,” Catelyn murmured. She had never met the man, yet she grieved to hear of his passing. “Robb should know of this at once,” she said. “Do we know where he is?” “At last word he was marching toward the Crag, the seat of House Westerling,” said Maester Vyman. “If I dispatched a
raven33 to Ashemark, it may be that they could send a rider after him.” “Do so.” Catelyn read the letter again after the maester was gone. “Lord Meadows says nothing of Robert’s bastard,” she
confided34 to Brienne. “I suppose he yielded the boy with the rest, though I confess, I do not understand why Stannis wanted him so badly.” “Perhaps he fears the boy’s claim.” “A bastard’s claim? No, it’s something else... what does this child look like?” “He is seven or eight,
comely35, with black hair and bright blue eyes. Visitors oft thought him Lord Renly’s own son.” “And Renly favored Robert.” Catelyn had a
glimmer36 of understanding. “Stannis means to parade his brother’s bastard before the realm, so men might see Robert in his face and wonder why there is no such
likeness37 in Joffrey. “ “Would that mean so much?” “Those who favor Stannis will call it proof. Those who support Joffrey will say it means nothing.” Her own children had more Tully about them than Stark. Arya was the only one to show much of Ned in her features. And Jon Snow, but he was never mine. She found herself thinking of Jon’s mother, that shadowy secret love her husband would never speak of. Does she grieve for Ned as I do? Or did she hate him for leaving her bed for mine? Does she pray for her son as I have prayed for mine? They were uncomfortable thoughts, and
futile38. If Jon had been born of Ashara Dayne of Starfall, as some whispered, the lady was long dead; if not, Catelyn had no clue who or where his mother might be. And it made no matter. Ned was gone now, and his loves and his secrets had all died with him. Still, she was struck again by how strangely men behaved when it came to their
bastards39. Ned had always been fiercely protective of Jon, and Ser Cortnay Penrose had given up his life for this Edric Storm, yet Roose Bolton’s bastard had meant less to him than one of his dogs, to judge from the tone of the queer cold letter Edmure had gotten from him not three days past. He had crossed the Trident and was marching on Harrenhal as commanded, he wrote. “A strong castle, and well
garrisoned40, but His Grace shall have it, if I must kill every living soul within to make it so.” He hoped His Grace would weigh that against the crimes of his bastard son, whom Ser Rodrik Cassel had put to death. “A fate he no doubt earned,” Bolton had written. “Tainted blood is ever
treacherous41, and Ramsay’s nature was sly, greedy, and cruel. I count myself well rid of him. The trueborn sons my young wife has promised me would never have been safe while he lived.” The sound of hurrying footsteps drove the
morbid42 thoughts from her head. Ser Desmond’s
squire9 dashed panting into the room and knelt. “My lady... Lannisters... across the river.” “Take a long breath, lad, and tell it slowly.” He did as she bid him. “A column of armored men,” he reported.
点击
收听单词发音
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1
trout
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| 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。
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2
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- The desk was ornamented with many carvings. 这桌子装饰有很多雕刻物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She ornamented her dress with lace. 她用花边装饰衣服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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3
crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 |
参考例句： |
- The rooster bristled his crest.公鸡竖起了鸡冠。
- He reached the crest of the hill before dawn.他于黎明前到达山顶。
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4
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 |
参考例句： |
- That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
- It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
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5
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 |
参考例句： |
- A wreath was laid on the monument to a fanfare of trumpets. 在响亮的号角声中花圈被献在纪念碑前。
- A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King. 嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。
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6
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 |
参考例句： |
- A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
- The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。
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7
misery
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| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 |
参考例句： |
- Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
- He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
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8
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 |
参考例句： |
- The troops came to the relief of the besieged garrison.军队来援救被围的守备军。
- The German was moving to stiffen up the garrison in Sicily.德军正在加强西西里守军之力量。
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9
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 |
参考例句： |
- I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
- The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。
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10
squires
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| n.地主，乡绅( squire的名词复数 ) |
参考例句： |
- The family history was typical of the Catholic squires of England. 这个家族的历史，在英格兰信天主教的乡绅中是很典型的。 来自辞典例句
- By 1696, with Tory squires and Amsterdam burghers complaining about excessive taxes. 到1696年，托利党的乡绅们和阿姆斯特丹的市民都对苛捐杂税怨声载道。 来自辞典例句
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11
crammed
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| adj.塞满的，挤满的；大口地吃；快速贪婪地吃v.把…塞满；填入；临时抱佛脚( cram的过去式) |
参考例句： |
- He crammed eight people into his car. 他往他的车里硬塞进八个人。
- All the shelves were crammed with books. 所有的架子上都堆满了书。
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12
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 |
参考例句： |
- He shuffled across the room to the window. 他拖着脚走到房间那头的窗户跟前。
- Simon shuffled awkwardly towards them. 西蒙笨拙地拖着脚朝他们走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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13
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 |
参考例句： |
- All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
- Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 |
参考例句： |
- He came to England in his infancy.他幼年时期来到英国。
- Their research is only in its infancy.他们的研究处于初级阶段。
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15
stark
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| 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。
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16
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 |
参考例句： |
- The couple eventually wed after three year engagement.这对夫妇在订婚三年后终于结婚了。
- The prince was very determined to wed one of the king's daughters.王子下定决心要娶国王的其中一位女儿。
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18
bastard
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| 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。
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warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 |
参考例句： |
- The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
- A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。
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20
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) |
参考例句： |
- I let my lungs fill with the scented air. 我呼吸着芬芳的空气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The police dog scented about till he found the trail. 警犬嗅来嗅去，终于找到了踪迹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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21
slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) |
参考例句： |
- The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
- His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。
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22
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 |
参考例句： |
- a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
- He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。
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23
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 |
参考例句： |
- He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
- He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。
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24
hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 |
参考例句： |
- He sat with his shoulders hunched up. 他耸起双肩坐着。
- Stephen hunched down to light a cigarette. 斯蒂芬弓着身子点燃一支烟。
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25
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 |
参考例句： |
- A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
- Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
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26
screeching
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| v.发出尖叫声( screech的现在分词 )；发出粗而刺耳的声音；高叫 |
参考例句： |
- Monkeys were screeching in the trees. 猴子在树上吱吱地叫着。
- the unedifying sight of the two party leaders screeching at each other 两党党魁狺狺对吠的讨厌情景
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27
flailing
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| v.鞭打( flail的现在分词 )；用连枷脱粒；（臂或腿）无法控制地乱动；扫雷坦克 |
参考例句： |
- He became moody and unreasonable, flailing out at Katherine at the slightest excuse. 他变得喜怒无常、不可理喻，为点鸡毛蒜皮的小事就殴打凯瑟琳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- His arms were flailing in all directions. 他的手臂胡乱挥舞着。 来自辞典例句
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28
swelled
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| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） |
参考例句： |
- The infection swelled his hand. 由于感染，他的手肿了起来。
- After the heavy rain the river swelled. 大雨过后，河水猛涨。
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29
savage
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| 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。
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30
swarmed
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| 密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 |
参考例句： |
- When the bell rang, the children swarmed out of the school. 铃声一响，孩子们蜂拥而出离开了学校。
- When the rain started the crowd swarmed back into the hotel. 雨一开始下，人群就蜂拥回了旅社。
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31
axe
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| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 |
参考例句： |
- Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利，你要当心。
- The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。
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32
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 |
参考例句： |
- The shared connection can be an Ethernet,wireless LAN,or wireless WAN connection.提供共享的网络连接可以是以太网、无线局域网或无线广域网。
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33
raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 |
参考例句： |
- We know the raven will never leave the man's room.我们知道了乌鸦再也不会离开那个男人的房间。
- Her charming face was framed with raven hair.她迷人的脸上垂落着乌亮的黑发。
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34
confided
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| v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） |
参考例句： |
- She confided all her secrets to her best friend. 她向她最要好的朋友倾吐了自己所有的秘密。
- He confided to me that he had spent five years in prison. 他私下向我透露，他蹲过五年监狱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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35
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 |
参考例句： |
- His wife is a comely young woman.他的妻子是一个美丽的少妇。
- A nervous,comely-dressed little girl stepped out.一个紧张不安、衣着漂亮的小姑娘站了出来。
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36
glimmer
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| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 |
参考例句： |
- I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.我注视她，感到了一线希望。
- A glimmer of amusement showed in her eyes.她的眼中露出一丝笑意。
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37
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） |
参考例句： |
- I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
- She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。
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38
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 |
参考例句： |
- They were killed,to the last man,in a futile attack.因为进攻失败，他们全部被杀，无一幸免。
- Their efforts to revive him were futile.他们对他抢救无效。
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39
bastards
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| 私生子( bastard的名词复数 )； 坏蛋； 讨厌的事物； 麻烦事 （认为别人走运或不幸时说）家伙 |
参考例句： |
- Those bastards don't care a damn about the welfare of the factory! 这批狗养的，不顾大局！ 来自子夜部分
- Let the first bastards to find out be the goddam Germans. 就让那些混账的德国佬去做最先发现的倒霉鬼吧。 来自演讲部分
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40
garrisoned
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| 卫戍部队守备( garrison的过去式和过去分词 )； 派部队驻防 |
参考例句： |
- The town was garrisoned with two regiments. 该镇有两团士兵驻守。
- A hundred soldiers were garrisoned in the town. 派了一百名士兵在城里驻防。
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41
treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 |
参考例句： |
- The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
- The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。
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42
morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 |
参考例句： |
- Some people have a morbid fascination with crime.一些人对犯罪有一种病态的痴迷。
- It's morbid to dwell on cemeteries and such like.不厌其烦地谈论墓地以及诸如此类的事是一种病态。
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