She feared for her lord father, and wondered at his ominous5 silence. She feared for her brotherEdmure, and prayed that the gods would watch over him if he must face the Kingslayer in battle. Shefeared for Ned and her girls, and for the sweet sons she had left behind at Winterfell. And yet therewas nothing she could do for any of them, and so she made herself put all thought of them aside. Youmust save your strength for Robb, she told herself. He is the only one you can help. You must be asfierce and hard as the north, Catelyn Tully. You must be a Stark7 for true now, like your son.
Robb rode at the front of the column, beneath the flapping white banner of Winterfell. Each day hewould ask one of his lords to join him, so they might confer as they marched; he honored every manin turn, showing no favorites, listening as his lord father had listened, weighing the words of oneagainst the other. He has learned so much from Ned, she thought as she watched him, but has helearned enough?
The Blackfish had taken a hundred picked men and a hundred swift horses and raced ahead toscreen their movements and scout8 the way. The reports Ser Brynden’s riders brought back did little toreassure her. Lord Tywin’s host was still many days to the south … but Walder Frey, Lord of theCrossing, had assembled a force of near four thousand men at his castles on the Green Fork.
“Late again,” Catelyn murmured when she heard. It was the Trident all over, damn the man. Herbrother Edmure had called the banners; by rights, Lord Frey should have gone to join the Tully host atRiverrun, yet here he sat.
“Four thousand men,” Robb repeated, more perplexed9 than angry. “Lord Frey cannot hope to fightthe Lannisters by himself. Surely he means to join his power to ours.”
“Does he?” Catelyn asked. She had ridden forward to join Robb and Robett Glover, hiscompanion of the day. The vanguard spread out behind them, a slow-moving forest of lances andbanners and spears. “I wonder. Expect nothing of Walder Frey, and you will never be surprised.”
“He’s your father’s bannerman.”
“Some men take their oaths more seriously than others, Robb. And Lord Walder was alwaysfriendlier with Casterly Rock than my father would have liked. One of his sons is wed11 to TywinLannister’s sister. That means little of itself, to be sure. Lord Walder has sired a great many childrenover the years, and they must needs marry someone. Still …”
“Do you think he means to betray us to the Lannisters, my lady?” Robett Glover asked gravely.
Catelyn sighed. “If truth be told, I doubt even Lord Frey knows what Lord Frey intends to do. Hehas an old man’s caution and a young man’s ambition, and has never lacked for cunning.”
“We must have the Twins, Mother,” Robb said heatedly. “There is no other way across the river.
You know that.”
“Yes. And so does Walder Frey, you can be sure of that.”
That night they made camp on the southern edge of the bogs, halfway12 between the kingsroad andthe river. It was there Theon Greyjoy brought them further word from her uncle. “Ser Brynden says totell you he’s crossed swords with the Lannisters. There are a dozen scouts13 who won’t be reporting back to Lord Tywin anytime soon. Or ever.” He grinned. “Ser Addam Marbrand commands theiroutriders, and he’s pulling back south, burning as he goes. He knows where we are, more or less, butthe Blackfish vows14 he will not know when we split.”
ack to Lord Tywin anytime soon. Or ever.” He grinned. “Ser Addam Marbrand commands theiroutriders, and he’s pulling back south, burning as he goes. He knows where we are, more or less, butthe Blackfish vows he will not know when we split.”
“Unless Lord Frey tells him,” Catelyn said sharply. “Theon, when you return to my uncle, tell himhe is to place his best bowmen around the Twins, day and night, with orders to bring down any raventhey see leaving the battlements. I want no birds bringing word of my son’s movements to LordTywin.”
“Ser Brynden has seen to it already, my lady,” Theon replied with a cocky smile. “A few moreblackbirds, and we should have enough to bake a pie. I’ll save you their feathers for a hat.”
She ought to have known that Brynden Blackfish would be well ahead of her. “What have theFreys been doing while the Lannisters burn their fields and plunder15 their holdfasts?”
“There’s been some fighting between Ser Addam’s men and Lord Walder’s,” Theon answered.
“Not a day’s ride from here, we found two Lannister scouts feeding the crows where the Freys hadstrung them up. Most of Lord Walder’s strength remains16 massed at the Twins, though.”
That bore Walder Frey’s seal beyond a doubt, Catelyn thought bitterly; hold back, wait, watch, takeno risk unless forced to it.
“If he’s been fighting the Lannisters, perhaps he does mean to hold to his vows,” Robb said.
Catelyn was less encouraged. “Defending his own lands is one thing, open battle against LordTywin quite another.”
Robb turned back to Theon Greyjoy. “Has the Blackfish found any other way across the GreenFork?”
Theon shook his head. “The river’s running high and fast. Ser Brynden says it can’t be forded, notthis far north.”
“I must have that crossing!” Robb declared, fuming17. “Oh, our horses might be able to swim theriver, I suppose, but not with armored men on their backs. We’d need to build rafts to pole our steelacross, helms and mail and lances, and we don’t have the trees for that. Or the time. Lord Tywin ismarching north …” He balled his hand into a fist.
“Lord Frey would be a fool to try and bar our way,” Theon Greyjoy said with his customary easyconfidence. “We have five times his numbers. You can take the Twins if you need to, Robb.”
“Not easily,” Catelyn warned them, “and not in time. While you were mounting your siege,Tywin Lannister would bring up his host and assault you from the rear.”
Robb glanced from her to Greyjoy, searching for an answer and finding none. For a moment helooked even younger than his fifteen years, despite his mail and sword and the stubble on his cheeks.
“What would my lord father do?” he asked her.
“Find a way across,” she told him. “Whatever it took.”
The next morning it was Ser Brynden Tully himself who rode back to them. He had put aside theheavy plate and helm he’d worn as the Knight18 of the Gate for the lighter19 leather-and-mail of anoutrider, but his obsidian20 fish still fastened his cloak.
Her uncle’s face was grave as he swung down off his horse. “There has been a battle under thewalls of Riverrun,” he said, his mouth grim. “We had it from a Lannister outrider we took captive.
The Kingslayer has destroyed Edmure’s host and sent the lords of the Trident reeling in flight.”
A cold hand clutched at Catelyn’s heart. “And my brother?”
“Wounded and taken prisoner,” Ser Brynden said. “Lord Blackwood and the other survivors21 areunder siege inside Riverrun, surrounded by Jaime’s host.”
Robb looked fretful. “We must get across this accursed river if we’re to have any hope of relievingthem in time.”
“That will not be easily done,” her uncle cautioned. “Lord Frey has pulled his whole strength backinside his castles, and his gates are closed and barred.”
“Damn the man,” Robb swore. “If the old fool does not relent and let me cross, he’ll leave me nochoice but to storm his walls. I’ll pull the Twins down around his ears if I have to, we’ll see how wellhe likes that!”
“You sound like a sulky boy, Robb,” Catelyn said sharply. “A child sees an obstacle, and his firstthought is to run around it or knock it down. A lord must learn that sometimes words can accomplishwhat swords cannot.”
Robb’s neck reddened at the rebuke22. “Tell me what you mean, Mother,” he said meekly23.
“The Freys have held the crossing for six hundred years, and for six hundred years they havenever failed to exact their toll24.”
“What toll? What does he want?”
She smiled. “That is what we must discover.”
“And what if I do not choose to pay this toll?”
“Then you had best retreat back to Moat Cailin, deploy25 to meet Lord Tywin in battle … or growwings. I see no other choices.” Catelyn put her heels to her horse and rode off, leaving her son toponder her words. It would not do to make him feel as if his mother were usurping26 his place. Did youteach him wisdom as well as valor27, Ned? she wondered. Did you teach him how to kneel? Thegraveyards of the Seven Kingdoms were full of brave men who had never learned that lesson.
It was near midday when their vanguard came in sight of the Twins, where the Lords of theCrossing had their seat.
The Green Fork ran swift and deep here, but the Freys had spanned it many centuries past andgrown rich off the coin men paid them to cross. Their bridge was a massive arch of smooth grey rock,wide enough for two wagons28 to pass abreast29; the Water Tower rose from the center of the span,commanding both road and river with its arrow slits30, murder holes, and portcullises. It had taken theFreys three generations to complete their bridge; when they were done they’d thrown up stout32 timberkeeps on either bank, so no one might cross without their leave.
The timber had long since given way to stone. The Twins—two squat33, ugly, formidable castles,identical in every respect, with the bridge arching between—had guarded the crossing for centuries.
High curtain walls, deep moats, and heavy oak-and-iron gates protected the approaches, the bridgefootings rose from within stout inner keeps, there was a barbican and portcullis on either bank, andthe Water Tower defended the span itself.
One glance was sufficient to tell Catelyn that the castle would not be taken by storm. Thebattlements bristled34 with spears and swords and scorpions35, there was an archer36 at every crenel andarrow slit31, the drawbridge was up, the portcullis down, the gates closed and barred.
The Greatjon began to curse and swear as soon as he saw what awaited them. Lord RickardKarstark glowered37 in silence. “That cannot be assaulted, my lords,” Roose Bolton announced.
“Nor can we take it by siege, without an army on the far bank to invest the other castle,” HelmanTallhart said gloomily. Across the deep-running green waters, the western twin stood like a reflectionof its eastern brother. “Even if we had the time. Which, to be sure, we do not.”
As the northern lords studied the castle, a sally port opened, a plank38 bridge slid across the moat,and a dozen knights39 rode forth40 to confront them, led by four of Lord Walder’s many sons. Theirbanner bore twin towers, dark blue on a field of pale silver-grey. Ser Stevron Frey, Lord Walder’sheir, spoke41 for them. The Freys all looked like weasels; Ser Stevron, past sixty with grandchildren ofhis own, looked like an especially old and tired weasel, yet he was polite enough. “My lord father hassent me to greet you, and inquire as to who leads this mighty42 host.”
“I do.” Robb spurred his horse forward. He was in his armor, with the direwolf shield ofWinterfell strapped43 to his saddle and Grey Wind padding by his side.
The old knight looked at her son with a faint flicker45 of amusement in his watery46 grey eyes, thoughhis gelding whickered uneasily and sidled away from the direwolf. “My lord father would be mosthonored if you would share meat and mead47 with him in the castle and explain your purpose here.”
His words crashed among the lords bannermen like a great stone from a catapult. Not one of themapproved. They cursed, argued, shouted down each other.
“You must not do this, my lord,” Galbart Glover pleaded with Robb. “Lord Walder is not to betrusted.”
Roose Bolton nodded. “Go in there alone and you’re his. He can sell you to the Lannisters, throwyou in a dungeon48, or slit your throat, as he likes.”
“If he wants to talk to us, let him open his gates, and we will all share his meat and mead,”
declared Ser Wendel Manderly.
“Or let him come out and treat with Robb here, in plain sight of his men and ours,” suggested hisbrother, Ser Wylis.
Catelyn Stark shared all their doubts, but she had only to glance at Ser Stevron to see that he wasnot pleased by what he was hearing. A few more words and the chance would be lost. She had to act, and quickly. “I will go,” she said loudly. I will go,” she said loudly.
“You, my lady?” The Greatjon furrowed49 his brow.
“Mother, are you certain?” Clearly, Robb was not.
“Never more,” Catelyn lied glibly50. “Lord Walder is my father’s bannerman. I have known himsince I was a girl. He would never offer me any harm.” Unless he saw some profit in it, she addedsilently, but some truths did not bear saying, and some lies were necessary.
“I am certain my lord father would be pleased to speak to the Lady Catelyn,” Ser Stevron said.
“To vouchsafe51 for our good intentions, my brother Ser Perwyn will remain here until she is safelyreturned to you.”
“He shall be our honored guest,” said Robb. Ser Perwyn, the youngest of the four Freys in theparty, dismounted and handed the reins52 of his horse to a brother. “I require my lady mother’s returnby evenfall, Ser Stevron,” Robb went on. “It is not my intent to linger here long.”
Ser Stevron Frey gave a polite nod. “As you say, my lord.” Catelyn spurred her horse forward anddid not look back. Lord Walder’s sons and envoys53 fell in around her.
Her father had once said of Walder Frey that he was the only lord in the Seven Kingdoms whocould field an army out of his breeches. When the Lord of the Crossing welcomed Catelyn in the greathall of the east castle, surrounded by twenty living sons (minus Ser Perwyn, who would have madetwenty-one), thirty-six grandsons, nineteen great-grandsons, and numerous daughters,granddaughters, bastards54, and grandbastards, she understood just what he had meant.
Lord Walder was ninety, a wizened56 pink weasel with a bald spotted57 head, too gouty to standunassisted. His newest wife, a pale frail58 girl of sixteen years, walked beside his litter when theycarried him in. She was the eighth Lady Frey.
“It is a great pleasure to see you again after so many years, my lord,” Catelyn said.
The old man squinted59 at her suspiciously. “Is it? I doubt that. Spare me your sweet words, LadyCatelyn, I am too old. Why are you here? Is your boy too proud to come before me himself? What amI to do with you?”
Catelyn had been a girl the last time she had visited the Twins, but even then Lord Walder had beenirascible, sharp of tongue, and blunt of manner. Age had made him worse than ever, it would seem.
She would need to choose her words with care, and do her best to take no offense60 from his.
“Father,” Ser Stevron said reproachfully, “you forget yourself. Lady Stark is here at yourinvitation.”
“Did I ask you? You are not Lord Frey yet, not until I die. Do I look dead? I’ll hear noinstructions from you.”
“This is no way to speak in front of our noble guest, Father,” one of his younger sons said.
“Now my bastards presume to teach me courtesy,” Lord Walder complained. “I’ll speak any wayI like, damn you. I’ve had three kings to guest in my life, and queens as well, do you think I requirelessons from the likes of you, Ryger? Your mother was milking goats the first time I gave her myseed.” He dismissed the red-faced youth with a flick44 of his fingers and gestured to two of his othersons. “Danwell, Whalen, help me to my chair.”
They shifted Lord Walder from his litter and carried him to the high seat of the Freys, a tall chair ofblack oak whose back was carved in the shape of two towers linked by a bridge. His young wife creptup timidly and covered his legs with a blanket. When he was settled, the old man beckoned61 Catelynforward and planted a papery dry kiss on her hand. “There,” he announced. “Now that I haveobserved the courtesies, my lady, perhaps my sons will do me the honor of shutting their mouths.
Why are you here?”
“To ask you to open your gates, my lord,” Catelyn replied politely. “My son and his lordsbannermen are most anxious to cross the river and be on their way.”
“To Riverrun?” He sniggered. “Oh, no need to tell me, no need. I’m not blind yet. The old mancan still read a map.”
“To Riverrun,” Catelyn confirmed. She saw no reason to deny it. “Where I might have expectedto find you, my lord. You are still my father’s bannerman, are you not?”
“Heh,” said Lord Walder, a noise halfway between a laugh and a grunt62. “I called my swords, yes Idid, here they are, you saw them on the walls. It was my intent to march as soon as all my strengthwas assembled. Well, to send my sons. I am well past marching myself, Lady Catelyn.” He looked around for likely confirmation63 and pointed64 to a tall, stooped man of fifty years. “Tell her, Jared.
Tell her that was my intent.”
“It was, my lady,” said Ser Jared Frey, one of his sons by his second wife. “On my honor.”
“Is it my fault that your fool brother lost his battle before we could march?” He leaned backagainst his cushions and scowled65 at her, as if challenging her to dispute his version of events. “I amtold the Kingslayer went through him like an axe66 through ripe cheese. Why should my boys hurrysouth to die? All those who did go south are running north again.”
Catelyn would gladly have spitted the querulous old man and roasted him over a fire, but she hadonly till evenfall to open the bridge. Calmly, she said, “All the more reason that we must reachRiverrun, and soon. Where can we go to talk, my lord?”
“We’re talking now,” Lord Frey complained. The spotted pink head snapped around. “What areyou all looking at?” he shouted at his kin6. “Get out of here. Lady Stark wants to speak to me inprivate. Might be she has designs on my fidelity67, heh. Go, all of you, find something useful to do.
Yes, you too, woman. Out, out, out.” As his sons and grandsons and daughters and bastards andnieces and nephews streamed from the hall, he leaned close to Catelyn and confessed, “They’re allwaiting for me to die. Stevron’s been waiting for forty years, but I keep disappointing him. Heh. Whyshould I die just so he can be a lord? I ask you. I won’t do it.”
“I have every hope that you will live to be a hundred.”
“That would boil them, to be sure. Oh, to be sure. Now, what do you want to say?”
“We want to cross,” Catelyn told him.
“Oh, do you? That’s blunt. Why should I let you?”
For a moment her anger flared68. “If you were strong enough to climb your own battlements, LordFrey, you would see that my son has twenty thousand men outside your walls.”
“They’ll be twenty thousand fresh corpses69 when Lord Tywin gets here,” the old man shot back.
“Don’t you try and frighten me, my lady. Your husband’s in some traitor’s cell under the Red Keep,your father’s sick, might be dying, and Jaime Lannister’s got your brother in chains. What do youhave that I should fear? That son of yours? I’ll match you son for son, and I’ll still have eighteenwhen yours are all dead.”
“You swore an oath to my father,” Catelyn reminded him.
He bobbed his head side to side, smiling. “Oh, yes, I said some words, but I swore oaths to thecrown too, it seems to me. Joffrey’s the king now, and that makes you and your boy and all thosefools out there no better than rebels. If I had the sense the gods gave a fish, I’d help the Lannistersboil you all.”
“Why don’t you?” she challenged him.
Lord Walder snorted with disdain70. “Lord Tywin the proud and splendid, Warden71 of the West, Handof the King, oh, what a great man that one is, him and his gold this and gold that and lions here andlions there. I’ll wager72 you, he eats too many beans, he breaks wind just like me, but you’ll never hearhim admit it, oh, no. What’s he got to be so puffed73 up about anyway? Only two sons, and one ofthem’s a twisted little monster. I’ll match him son for son, and I’ll still have nineteen and a half leftwhen all of his are dead!” He cackled. “If Lord Tywin wants my help, he can bloody74 well ask for it.”
That was all Catelyn needed to hear. “I am asking for your help, my lord,” she said humbly75. “Andmy father and my brother and my lord husband and my sons are asking with my voice.”
Lord Walder jabbed a bony finger at her face. “Save your sweet words, my lady. Sweet words I getfrom my wife. Did you see her? Sixteen she is, a little flower, and her honey’s only for me. I wagershe gives me a son by this time next year. Perhaps I’ll make him heir, wouldn’t that boil the rest ofthem?”
“I’m certain she will give you many sons.”
His head bobbed up and down. “Your lord father did not come to the wedding. An insult, as I see it.
Even if he is dying. He never came to my last wedding either. He calls me the Late Lord Frey, youknow. Does he think I’m dead? I’m not dead, and I promise you, I’ll outlive him as I outlived hisfather. Your family has always pissed on me, don’t deny it, don’t lie, you know it’s true. Years ago, Iwent to your father and suggested a match between his son and my daughter. Why not? I had adaughter in mind, sweet girl, only a few years older than Edmure, but if your brother didn’t warm toher, I had others he might have had, young ones, old ones, virgins76, widows, whatever he wanted. No,Lord Hoster would not hear of it. Sweet words he gave me, excuses, but what I wanted was to get rid of a daughter.
“And your sister, that one, she’s full as bad. It was, oh, a year ago, no more, Jon Arryn was stillthe King’s Hand, and I went to the city to see my sons ride in the tourney. Stevron and Jared are tooold for the lists now, but Danwell and Hosteen rode, Perwyn as well, and a couple of my bastardstried the melee77. If I’d known how they’d shame me, I would never have troubled myself to make thejourney. Why did I need to ride all that way to see Hosteen knocked off his horse by that Tyrellwhelp? I ask you. The boy’s half his age, Ser Daisy they call him, something like that. And Danwellwas unhorsed by a hedge knight! Some days I wonder if those two are truly mine. My third wife wasa Crakehall, all of the Crakehall women are sluts. Well, never mind about that, she died before youwere born, what do you care?
“I was speaking of your sister. I proposed that Lord and Lady Arryn foster two of my grandsons atcourt, and offered to take their own son to ward10 here at the Twins. Are my grandsons unworthy to beseen at the king’s court? They are sweet boys, quiet and mannerly. Walder is Merrett’s son, namedafter me, and the other one … heh, I don’t recall … he might have been another Walder, they’realways naming them Walder so I’ll favor them, but his father … which one was his father now?” Hisface wrinkled up. “Well, whoever he was, Lord Arryn wouldn’t have him, or the other one, and Iblame your lady sister for that. She frosted up as if I’d suggested selling her boy to a mummer’s showor making a eunuch out of him, and when Lord Arryn said the child was going to Dragonstone tofoster with Stannis Baratheon, she stormed off without a word of regrets and all the Hand could giveme was apologies. What good are apologies? I ask you.”
Catelyn frowned, disquieted78. “I had understood that Lysa’s boy was to be fostered with Lord Tywinat Casterly Rock.”
“No, it was Lord Stannis,” Walder Frey said irritably79. “Do you think I can’t tell Lord Stannis fromLord Tywin? They’re both bungholes who think they’re too noble to shit, but never mind about that, Iknow the difference. Or do you think I’m so old I can’t remember? I’m ninety and I remember verywell. I remember what to do with a woman too. That wife of mine will give me a son before this timenext year, I’ll wager. Or a daughter, that can’t be helped. Boy or girl, it will be red, wrinkled, andsqualling, and like as not she’ll want to name it Walder or Walda.”
Catelyn was not concerned with what Lady Frey might choose to name her child. “Jon Arryn wasgoing to foster his son with Lord Stannis, you are quite certain of that?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” the old man said. “Only he died, so what does it matter? You say you want tocross the river?”
“We do.”
“Well, you can’t!” Lord Walder announced crisply. “Not unless I allow it, and why should I? TheTullys and the Starks have never been friends of mine.” He pushed himself back in his chair andcrossed his arms, smirking80, waiting for her answer.
The rest was only haggling81.
A swollen82 red sun hung low against the western hills when the gates of the castle opened. Thedrawbridge creaked down, the portcullis winched up, and Lady Catelyn Stark rode forth to rejoin herson and his lords bannermen. Behind her came Ser Jared Frey, Ser Hosteen Frey, Ser Danwell Frey,and Lord Walder’s bastard55 son Ronel Rivers, leading a long column of pikemen, rank on rank ofshuffling men in blue steel ringmail and silvery grey cloaks.
Robb galloped83 out to meet her, with Grey Wind racing84 beside his stallion. “It’s done,” she told him.
“Lord Walder will grant you your crossing. His swords are yours as well, less four hundred hemeans to keep back to hold the Twins. I suggest that you leave four hundred of your own, a mixedforce of archers85 and swordsmen. He can scarcely object to an offer to augment86 his garrison87 … butmake certain you give the command to a man you can trust. Lord Walder may need help keepingfaith.”
“As you say, Mother,” Robb answered, gazing at the ranks of pikemen. “Perhaps … Ser HelmanTallhart, do you think?”
“A fine choice.”
“What … what did he want of us?”
“If you can spare a few of your swords, I need some men to escort two of Lord Frey’s grandsonsnorth to Winterfell,” she told him. “I have agreed to take them as wards88. They are young boys, agedeight years and seven. It would seem they are both named Walder. Your brother Bran will welcome the companionship of lads near his own age, I should think.”
“Is that all? Two fosterlings? That’s a small enough price to—”
“Lord Frey’s son Olyvar will be coming with us,” she went on. “He is to serve as your personalsquire. His father would like to see him knighted, in good time.”
“A squire89.” He shrugged90. “Fine, that’s fine, if he’s—”
“Also, if your sister Arya is returned to us safely, it is agreed that she will marry Lord Walder’syoungest son, Elmar, when the two of them come of age.”
Robb looked nonplussed91. “Arya won’t like that one bit.”
“And you are to wed one of his daughters, once the fighting is done,” she finished. “His lordshiphas graciously consented to allow you to choose whichever girl you prefer. He has a number he thinksmight be suitable.”
To his credit, Robb did not flinch92. “I see.”
“Do you consent?”
“Can I refuse?”
“Not if you wish to cross.”
“I consent,” Robb said solemnly. He had never seemed more manly93 to her than he did in thatmoment. Boys might play with swords, but it took a lord to make a marriage pact94, knowing what itmeant.
They crossed at evenfall as a horned moon floated upon the river. The double column wound itsway through the gate of the eastern twin like a great steel snake, slithering across the courtyard, intothe keep and over the bridge, to issue forth once more from the second castle on the west bank.
Catelyn rode at the head of the serpent, with her son and her uncle Ser Brynden and Ser StevronFrey. Behind followed nine tenths of their horse; knights, lancers, freeriders, and mounted bowmen. Ittook hours for them all to cross. Afterward95, Catelyn would remember the clatter96 of countless97 hooveson the drawbridge, the sight of Lord Walder Frey in his litter watching them pass, the glitter of eyespeering down through the slats of the murder holes in the ceiling as they rode through the WaterTower.
The larger part of the northern host, pikes and archers and great masses of men-at-arms on foot,remained upon the east bank under the command of Roose Bolton. Robb had commanded him tocontinue the march south, to confront the huge Lannister army coming north under Lord Tywin.
For good or ill, her son had thrown the dice98.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
bogs
|
|
| n.沼泽，泥塘( bog的名词复数 )；厕所v.（使）陷入泥沼， （使）陷入困境( bog的第三人称单数 )；妨碍，阻碍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
apprehensions
|
|
| 疑惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
raven
|
|
| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
clench
|
|
| vt.捏紧（拳头等），咬紧（牙齿等），紧紧握住 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
ominous
|
|
| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
kin
|
|
| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
stark
|
|
| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
scout
|
|
| n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
perplexed
|
|
| adj.不知所措的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
ward
|
|
| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
wed
|
|
| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
halfway
|
|
| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
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： |
|
|
|
|
14
vows
|
|
| 誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
plunder
|
|
| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
fuming
|
|
| 愤怒( fume的现在分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
knight
|
|
| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
lighter
|
|
| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
obsidian
|
|
| n.黑曜石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
survivors
|
|
| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
rebuke
|
|
| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
meekly
|
|
| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
toll
|
|
| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
deploy
|
|
| v.（军）散开成战斗队形，布置，展开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
usurping
|
|
| 篡夺，霸占( usurp的现在分词 )； 盗用； 篡夺，篡权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
valor
|
|
| n.勇气，英勇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
wagons
|
|
| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
abreast
|
|
| adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
slits
|
|
| n.狭长的口子，裂缝( slit的名词复数 )v.切开，撕开( slit的第三人称单数 )；在…上开狭长口子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
slit
|
|
| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
squat
|
|
| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
bristled
|
|
| adj. 直立的，多刺毛的 动词bristle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
scorpions
|
|
| n.蝎子( scorpion的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
archer
|
|
| n.射手，弓箭手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
glowered
|
|
| v.怒视( glower的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
plank
|
|
| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
knights
|
|
| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
mighty
|
|
| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
strapped
|
|
| adj.用皮带捆住的，用皮带装饰的；身无分文的；缺钱；手头紧v.用皮带捆扎(strap的过去式和过去分词)；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
flick
|
|
| n.快速的轻打，轻打声，弹开；v.轻弹，轻轻拂去，忽然摇动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
flicker
|
|
| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
watery
|
|
| adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
mead
|
|
| n.蜂蜜酒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
dungeon
|
|
| n.地牢，土牢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
furrowed
|
|
| v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
glibly
|
|
| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
vouchsafe
|
|
| v.惠予，准许 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
reins
|
|
| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
envoys
|
|
| 使节( envoy的名词复数 )； 公使； 谈判代表； 使节身份 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
bastards
|
|
| 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： |
|
|
|
|
55
bastard
|
|
| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
wizened
|
|
| adj.凋谢的；枯槁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
spotted
|
|
| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
frail
|
|
| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
squinted
|
|
| 斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
offense
|
|
| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
beckoned
|
|
| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
grunt
|
|
| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
confirmation
|
|
| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
pointed
|
|
| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
scowled
|
|
| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
axe
|
|
| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
fidelity
|
|
| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
Flared
|
|
| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
corpses
|
|
| n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
disdain
|
|
| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
warden
|
|
| n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
wager
|
|
| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
puffed
|
|
| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
bloody
|
|
| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
humbly
|
|
| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
virgins
|
|
| 处女，童男( virgin的名词复数 )； 童贞玛利亚（耶稣之母） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
melee
|
|
| n.混战；混战的人群 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
disquieted
|
|
| v.使不安，使忧虑，使烦恼( disquiet的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
irritably
|
|
| ad.易生气地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
smirking
|
|
| v.傻笑( smirk的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
haggling
|
|
| v.讨价还价( haggle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
swollen
|
|
| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
galloped
|
|
| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
racing
|
|
| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
archers
|
|
| n.弓箭手，射箭运动员( archer的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
augment
|
|
| vt.(使)增大，增加，增长，扩张 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
garrison
|
|
| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
wards
|
|
| 区( ward的名词复数 )； 病房； 受监护的未成年者； 被人照顾或控制的状态 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
squire
|
|
| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
shrugged
|
|
| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
nonplussed
|
|
| adj.不知所措的，陷于窘境的v.使迷惑( nonplus的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
flinch
|
|
| v.畏缩，退缩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
manly
|
|
| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
pact
|
|
| n.合同，条约，公约，协定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
clatter
|
|
| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
countless
|
|
| adj.无数的，多得不计其数的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
dice
|
|
| n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |