Chapter 64 Chapter 63: Tyrion
On a hill overlooking the King's Road, a long folding table of raw pine was erected, covered with a golden tablecloth.By the table was Lord Tywin's big tent, with the red and gold banner flying on the pole, and it was here that he dined with his important knights and lords.
Tyrion was a little late, aching from a long day's riding, and staggering up the gentle slope toward his father, knowing full well how ridiculous he looked.The day's march was long and exhausting.He's going to get really drunk tonight.It was dusk, and the sky was full of fireflies, as if they were alive.
The cook was serving the evening's main course: five suckling pigs, roasted golden and crisp, with different fruits in their mouths.He smelled the fragrance, and his saliva flowed out. "Sorry, I'm late." He said as he sat down on the bench next to his uncle.
"Tyrion, I think it's better for you to bury the dead." Lord Tywin said, "If you go to the battlefield as slowly as you go to the dining table, by the time you come, the battle will be over."
"Hey, father, leave me a farmer or two to deal with the head office?" Tyrion replied, "It doesn't take much, I've never been greedy." He filled the wine and watched the servants cut the pork , the crispy skin crackled under the knife, and the hot oil dripped down.It had been a long time since Tyrion had seen such a beautiful sight.
"Ser Adam's scouts have reported that the Starks have come down from the Twins," my father said, watching the servant put the meat into his wooden tray. "Lord Frey's troops have joined them. It's just up north, about a day's journey from us."
"Father, if you do me good," said Tyrion, "I am just beginning to eat."
"Tyrion, are you so frightened at the thought of facing that kid from the Stark family? If it were your brother James, he might be impatient to show his skills."
"I'd rather have my hand on the pig. Robb Stark is neither so tender nor so fragrant."
Earl Lefford, who was in charge of supplies—a boring guy—leaved forward: "I hope your group of barbarians are not as useless as you, otherwise our excellent equipment will be wasted."
"My lord, I promise my barbarians will make the most of your gear," Tyrion replied.Earlier, when he told Lefford that he needed weapons and armor to equip the three hundred men Ulf brought from the mountain, Lefford looked as if he was being asked to hand over his daughter.
Lord Lefford frowned. "I met that tall, hairy guy today who insisted on two battle axes. The ones he picked were all made of heavy black steel with two moon blades."
"Shagga likes to fuck guys with both hands," Tyrion said, watching the waiter set a plate of smoking pork roast in front of him.
"His own wooden ax still hangs behind his back."
"I think Shagga meant that three axes are better than two." Tyrion reached into the salt dish with his thumb and forefinger, and sprinkled a generous handful over the meat.
Then Ser Kevan leaned forward. "We have an idea. When the battle starts, we plan to put you and your wildlings at the forefront."
Ser Kevan's "ideas" were usually Lord Tywin's.Tyrion had already stabbed a piece of meat with his dagger and was putting it to his mouth, but he put it down immediately after hearing this. "Forward?" he repeated suspiciously.If it wasn't for his father's sudden respect for his ability, he was planning to completely get rid of this son who always made him embarrass himself.As for the former or the latter, Tyrion had an ominous premonition.
"They look mighty," Ser Kevan said.
"Mighty?" Tyrion suddenly found himself repeating his uncle's words like a well-trained bird.My father watched, scrutinizing, weighing every word he said. "Let me tell you how strong they are. Last night, a Luna guy stabbed a Stone Crow man for a sausage. So, when we camped today, three Stone Crows The men caught the murderer and slit his throat to avenge their companions. Maybe they wanted to get the sausage back, I'm not sure. It was a blessing in misfortune that Bronn managed to stop Shagga from chopping off the dead man's dick. Even so, Ulf also insisted on asking the other party to pay compensation for this blood debt, but Kang En and Shaga refused."
"The lack of discipline in the soldiers shows that the commanders are not leading well," said the father.
Brother James always has a way to make people follow him loyally, even at the cost of his life, but Tyrion doesn't have this ability.He traded gold for loyalty and his name for obedience. "You mean, if you are a taller person, you can be more majestic and scare them from messing around, right, my lord?"
Lord Tywin Lannister turned to his brother. "If my son's men are unwilling to obey his orders, then the forward is obviously not suitable for him. There is no doubt that he should be the rear guard to protect the delivery truck."
"Father, you don't need to think about me so much." He said angrily, "If you have no other place for me to command, let me lead the striker."
Lord Tywin eyed his dwarf son. "I didn't tell you to command, you are Ser Gregor's subordinate."
Tyrion took a bite of the pork, chewed it twice, and spat it out angrily. "I realize I'm not hungry at all," he said, climbing off the bench awkwardly. "My lords, I will take my leave first."
Lord Tywin nodded in agreement.Tyrion turned and limped down the hill, knowing all the eyes behind him.There was a burst of laughter, but he didn't look back, but secretly hoped that they would all be choked to death by the suckling pig.
Night had fallen, dyeing all the flags black.The Lannister camp stretched for miles between the river and the Kingsroad.It is very easy to get lost in the crowd of people and trees.Sure enough, Tyrion walked blankly past a dozen large tents and more than a hundred campfires, and suddenly lost his way.Fireflies scurry among the tents like wandering stars.He smelled the aroma of garlic sausage, spicy and delicious, making his empty stomach hungry.He heard someone singing an erotic ditty in the distance, a woman giggling and running past, covered only by a dark cloak, a drunk man chased after her, and tripped over a tree root within two steps.Farther away, across the creek, under the fading light of the sky, two spearmen practiced their parrying and stabbing skills, sweating profusely on their bare chests.
No one looked at him, no one talked to him, no one noticed him.Around him were all subordinates who swore allegiance to the Lannister family, a huge army of up to 20,000 people.However, he is alone.
Later, he finally heard Xia Ga's deep and deep laughter rumbling through the night, and following the laughter, he found the small corner where the Stone Crow Department spent the night.Conn, son of Corat, waved him a mug of ale. "Half Tyrion! Come here and sit by our fire and eat meat with the Rock Crows, and we've got a cow."
"I saw it, Conn, the son of Korat." The huge blood-red bull carcass was placed on top of the raging campfire, and skewered with a barbecue fork as thick as a small tree--I am afraid that the fork was originally a small tree stop.Blood and oil dripped into the flames, and the two Stone Crows turned the ox together. "Thank you, call me when the cow is roasted." Judging from the current situation, it might be possible to eat it before the war begins.He kept going.
Each tribe made its own campfire; the Black Ears did not eat with the Stonecrows, the Stonecrows did not eat with the Moonmen, and none of the tribes shared with the Scorchers.The tent he had managed to get from Lord Lefford stood between the four campfires.Arriving at the tent, Tyrion found Bronn drinking with his new servants.Duke Tywin sent a groom and a personal servant to take care of him, and even insisted that he should take a squire.They were sitting around the ashes of the small campfire, and there was a girl; slender, dark-haired, no older than eighteen.Tyrion studied her for a moment before he caught sight of a fishbone in the embers. "What did you eat?"
"It's a trout, my lord," said his groom. "Bron's caught it."
Trout, he thought, suckling pig.Father be damned.He looked at the fishbone sadly, his stomach growling.
His squire swallowed what he was going to say. The boy was unfortunately named Payne, Podrick Payne, a distant relative of Lord Lawrence Ser Ilyn Payne...almost as taciturn as he was, though Not without tongue.One day, Tyrion told him to stick his tongue out, just to be sure. "Tongue, indeed," he remarked, "you'll have to learn to use it someday."
At a time like today, he didn't have the patience to talk to the kid.He even suspected that his father's sending this kid as a servant was simply a malicious joke.So Tyrion turned his attention to the girl. "That's her?" he asked Bronn.
She stood up gracefully and looked down at him from a height of more than five feet. "Yes, my lord, and she can talk herself, if it pleases you."
He tilted his head. "I'm Tyrion of the Lannister family, and I'm called a little devil."
"My mother named me Shae, and that's what people call me..."
Bronn laughed, and Tyrion lifted the corners of his mouth. "Then please come in, Shae." He raised the curtain for her, and after entering, lit a candle.
Military life somewhat compensates, and no matter where you camp, someone will follow you.At the end of the day's march, Tyrion told Bronn to find him a decent camp whore. "Preferably younger, of course, and the prettier the better," he said, "if she has had a bath this year, then better, if not, wash her first. Be sure to tell her who I am and what I am Virtue." Jack used to be too lazy to explain, so when many girls saw the noble young master they were hired to serve for the first time, the look in their eyes spontaneously appeared... It was a kind of Tyrion Lannister that he could not bear in his life look.
He took the candle and looked her over carefully.Bronn had good eyesight: she had the eyes of a doe, was slender, had small, firm breasts, and smiled by turns shy, haughty, and evil.He is quite satisfied. "My lord, do you want me to undress?" she asked.
"Wait a minute, Shae, are you a virgin?"
"Think so, my lord, if it pleases you," she said with affected solemnity.
"Little sister, I will be happy only if I know the truth."
"Really? Then you'll have to pay double."
Tyrion thought they were a perfect match. "I'm a Lannister, plenty of gold, and you'll find me a very generous man...but I don't want just what's between your legs - of course I want that. I want you with me Come on, pour me wine, laugh with me, massage my feet every day after I run around... And, no matter if I keep you for a day or a year, as long as we are together, you are not allowed to sleep with other men."
"It's fair." She stretched her hand down, grabbed the skirt of her coarse cloth and thin shirt, pulled it up smoothly over her head, and threw it aside.There was nothing underneath but the naked body. "Your Excellency, if you don't put the candle down, you'll burn your hands."
Tyrion put down the candle, took her hand, and drew her gently.She leaned over and kissed him, the taste of honey and clover in her mouth, her fingers deftly finding the knots in his clothes.
She greeted him with whispered intimate words and quivering gasps of joy as he entered her.Tyrion suspects that her pleasure is fake, but because she is so realistic, he doesn't care, after all, he doesn't want to know the truth behind it.
When it was over, when she lay still in his arms, Tyrion knew that he really needed her, or someone like her.It had been almost a year since he had slept with a woman since he had gone to Winterfell with his brother and King Robert.And tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, he might die in battle, and if so, he would rather die thinking of Shae than of his lord father, Lysa Arryn, or Lady Catelyn Stark.
He felt her soft breasts against his arms, it was a wonderful feeling, and the song suddenly appeared in his mind.Quietly, softly, he hummed.
"My lord, what are you singing?" Xue Yi murmured leaning against him.
"It's nothing," he told her. "It's just a song I learned when I was a kid. Go to sleep, sweetie."
When she closed her eyes and her breathing became deep and regular, Tyrion pulled away from her gently, not to disturb her sweet dreams.He got out of bed naked, stepped over his attendants, and went behind the tent to pee.
Bronn sat cross-legged under a chestnut tree near the tie-down, sharpening his sword sleeplessly; the mercenary didn't seem to need sleep like the others. "Where did you find her?" Tyrion asked him as he peed.
"It was snatched from a knight, that guy was unwilling to give her up at all, it was your name that made him change his mind... Of course, there is also the dagger I put on his neck."
"Fine," said Tyrion bitterly, shaking off the last few drops of urine. "I remember saying 'find me a whore', not 'make me an enemy'."
"The beautiful ones have already been sold out," Bronn said. "If you want to change to a toothless ugly woman, I will be more than happy to help you send her back."
Tyrion limped over to sit beside him. "If you want my dad to hear this, you will definitely be charged with being rude and presumptuous, and sent to mine."
"It's a good thing you're not your father," Bronn replied, "and one with a blistered nose, either?"
"Wouldn't that break your heart?" Tyrion shot back. "I'll keep Shae. You don't happen to notice the knight's name, do you? I don't want him around me when we fight. "
Bolonghuo stood up quickly and gracefully like a civet, with the sword twirling in his palm. "Dwarf, I'll be by your side in war."
Tyrion nodded, the night air warm to his bare skin. "Guarantee me to survive this battle, you can choose any reward you want."
Bronn tossed the longsword from his right hand to his left, and tried to swing it. "Who wants to kill someone like you?"
"My dad was one. He put me in forward."
"That's what I would do. The dwarves hold up a big shield and teach their archers a headache."
"It lifts my spirits to hear you say that," said Tyrion. "I must be mad."
Bronn sheathed his sword. "no doubt."
When Tyrion returned to the tent, he found that Shae had rolled over and put her elbows on her face, muttering sleepily, "My lord will be gone when I wake up."
"My lord will be back soon." He got into bed and lay down beside her.
She reached between his misshapen legs and found him hard. "It is indeed back," she whispered, fondling him at the same time.
He asked from whom Bronn had brought her, and she named the entourage of a minor nobleman. "My lord, you needn't worry about him," said the girl, fidgeting with her fingers. "He's a humble little fellow."
"Then tell me, what am I?" Tyrion asked her. "Could I be a giant?"
"Ouch, isn't it," she said cheerfully, "my Lannister giant." And then she mounted him, almost making him believe her for a moment.Tyrion smiled and fell asleep...
…until Shae shakes him by the shoulder when awakened by the deafening sound of a horn in the dark. "My lord," she whispered, "My lord, please wake up, I'm so scared."
He sat up feebly, threw off the blanket, and the trumpet sounded through the night sky, wild and hasty, as if shouting: Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up.He heard people shouting, spears clashing, horses neighing, but luckily there was no fighting. "It's my father's trumpet," he said. "It's the Battle Rally. Aren't the Starks still a day away?"
Shae shook her head, her eyes wide open and her face pale.
Tyrion got out of bed with a groan, and groped his way outside the tent, calling to his squire.Pale mists floated from the night like long white fingers on the river.Men and horses staggered in the pre-dawn chill as they saddled, loaded wagons, and extinguished campfires.The horn blows again: Quick, quick, quick.The knights jumped on their breathless horses, and the infantry buckled their sword belts as they ran.When he found Pod, the boy was snoring softly.Tyrion kicked him hard in the ribs with his leg. "Bring me my armor," he said, "quickly." Bronn came running out of the mist, fully armed, on horseback, with his battered half-helm. "What happened?" Tyrion asked.
"That Stark boy was the first," Bronn said. "He came down the Kingsroad in the dark, and he was less than a mile north of us, all in battle formation."
Quick, the horn seemed to be calling, quick, quick, quick.
"Tell the natives to prepare." Tyrion retreated into the tent. "Where are my clothes?" he called to Shae. "Just that one, no, that leather jacket, damn it, yes, bring me my boots."
By the time he was dressed, the squires had lined up his armor.This armor is really unremarkable.Tyrion originally had a good set of heavy armor, specially crafted to suit his deformed body, but it is a pity that it is now in Casterly Rock City, thousands of miles away from him.He had to make do with it, scraping together from Lord Lefford's baggage cart: mail and hood, the gorge of a fallen knight, disc knee pads, iron gloves and pointed steel boots.Some of them were decorated, others were of ordinary style, and all of them did not fit well and did not fit.His breastplate had been intended for a larger man; to counteract his disproportionate head, they found a large bucket-shaped helmet topped with a foot-long triangular spike.
Shae assisted Pod in buckling and lacing him. "If I die, remember to shed tears for me," Tyrion told the whore.
"You are all dead, how do you know?"
"I just know it."
"I'm sure you will." Shae put the great helmet on for him, and Pod connected it to the gorget.Tyrion buckled his belt, and hung his short sword and dagger, heavy.At this time the groom brought his mount, a strong brown horse with as thick armor as himself.He had to be helped by others to get on the horse, and he felt as if he was as heavy as a thousand stones.Pod handed over his great ironwood and steel-rimmed shield, then his battleaxe.Shae stepped back and looked him up and down. "My lord, you look mighty."
"I look like a dwarf in funny armor, my lord," said Tyrion sourly. "But I thank you for your kindness. If the battle turns against us, Podrick, escort this lady home safely." ’” He saluted her with his tomahawk, then turned his horse and galloped away.There seemed to be a knot in his stomach, which was tightly twisted and painful.Behind him, his servants hastened to break camp.The morning sun rose from the horizon, and pink fingers stretched out from the east.The western sky was a deep purple, dotted with a few stars.Tyrion wondered if this would be the last sunrise he'd ever see...or if it was cowardly to think about such things.Did brother James think about death before going into battle?
Bugles sounded in the distance, and the low-pitched mourning made the soul shudder.The aborigines, several of them visibly drunk, climbed onto scrawny mountain mounts, swearing and taunting each other.When Tyrion led the army to set off, the mist drifting in the air was gradually being evaporated by the rising sun in the east, and the grass left by the horses was covered with dew, as if a god happened to pass by and sprinkled a whole bag of diamonds.The Gaoshan clan followed closely behind him, and the people of each tribe followed their leader.
In the morning light, Lord Tywin Lannister's army was like a steel rose slowly opening, its spikes gleaming.
The center is commanded by my uncle, and Ser Kevan has raised his banners on the Kingsroad.The foot archers lined up in three rows, separated the road from east to west, calmly adjusted the bowstring, and the arrow branches dangled at their waists.The pikemen in phalanx stood among the archers, and behind them were rows of infantry armed with spears, swords, and axes.Three hundred heavy cavalry surrounded Sir Kevan, the Earls of Lefford, Leighton, and Saliott and their entourage.
The right wing is all cavalry, with a total of about 4,000 men, heavily armored.More than three quarters of the knights gathered here, like a giant steel fist.The team is commanded by Sir Adam Marbrand.Tyrion saw his standard-bearer unfurl the banner, and the house sigil was immediately revealed: a burning tree, orange and soot.Behind him came the purple unicorn of Ser Fremont, the dappled boar of House Crakeher, and the bantam of House Swyfer.
Father is sitting on the hill where the big tent is located, surrounded by a reserve team, half cavalry and half infantry, as many as 5,000 people.Duke Tywin has always commanded the reserve team. He was on a high ground where he could have a panoramic view of the battle situation, and depending on the situation, he sent troops to where they were most needed.
Even from a distance, my father still shines brilliantly.Tywin Lannister's battle armor paled even in comparison with the gilded suit of his son Jaime, and his great cloak was woven of untold numbers of gold threads so heavy that it seldom floated when charged. , Once on the horse, the hind legs of the mount are almost completely covered.Ordinary cloak hooks can't bear such a weight. Instead, a pair of lionesses are lying on their shoulders, corresponding to each other, as if ready to jump out at any time.Their mate was a lion with a majestic mane, standing on the top of Lord Tywin's great helmet, with one paw piercing the sky and roaring with his mouth open.The three lions were all made of pure gold, with eyes set with rubies.His armor was heavy steel plate, enamelled dark red, and his knee pads and gauntlets were intricately decorated with gold scrolls.The gauntlet discs are golden sunburst, and each clasp is plated with gold.The red steel armor has been polished repeatedly, and it is as bright as fire in the sun's rays.
By this time Tyrion could hear the rumble of the enemy's war drums.He remembered the last time he had seen Robb Stark in the great halls of Winterfell, seated in his father's high place, the sword gleaming unsheathed in his hand.He remembered the sight of the direwolves attacking from the shadows, and suddenly he seemed to see them growling and rushing at him again, their teeth bared in a grin.Will the kid lead the wolf into battle?The thought disturbed him greatly.
The northerners must be exhausted by now after marching all night without rest.Tyrion didn't understand what the kid was up to, did he want to catch him off guard while he was asleep?Such a chance is really not great. Putting other aspects aside, Tywin Lannister is extremely shrewd about war.
The vanguard assembled on the left.First came the three black dogs on a yellow field, and under it Ser Gregor was riding the biggest horse Tyrion had ever seen.Bronn glanced at him and said with a grin, "When fighting, remember to follow the big man."
Tyrion gave him a stern look. "Why is that?"
"They're the best targets. Look at that guy. He'll catch the attention of archers all over the field."
Tyrion smiled, and looked at the Mountain from a new perspective. "I have to admit, I've never thought about it that way."
Clegane's equipment was anything but ornate: the armor was heavy dark gray steel plate bearing the marks of long and strenuous use, without any heraldry or ornamentation.His sword was a great two-handed sword, yet Ser Gregor carried it with one hand as easily as a man would hold a dagger.At this moment, he was poking his finger with the tip of his sword, ordering everyone to take their positions. "I'll kill anyone who runs away!" he growled, turning to see Tyrion. "Little devil! You keep to the left and see if you have the ability to hold the river."
That was the leftmost flank of the left army, and as long as it held it, the Starks could not flank it—unless their horses could run on water.Tyrion led the army toward the river bank. "Look!" he cried, pointing his ax at the river. "It's this river." A layer of white mist still covered the water like a blanket, and the dark green river flowed below.The shallows are covered with mud and reeds. "It is our charge to defend this place. Whatever happens, stay close to the river, never let it out of sight, never let any enemy come between the river and us. They will defile our river, we will cut off their life, Throw it into the river and feed the fish."
Xia Ga held an ax in each hand, and at this moment he struck hard with the two axes, making a loud noise. "Long live the Halfman!" he cried.The members of the Stone Crow Department immediately followed up, and the Black Ear Department and the Moon People Department also shouted.Although the Burning Man didn't call out, they picked up their spears and swords and struck at each other. "Long live the half man! Long live the half man!"
Tyrion rode around, surveying the field.The surrounding land was rough: slippery mud on the shore, low slopes up the King's Road, and rocky broken terrain further east.The hills are dotted with some trees, but most of the trees here have been cut down and turned into farmland.He listened to the war drum, his heart was beating in rhythm with his chest, and under the layers of leather and steel armor, cold sweat flowed from his brow.He watched Ser Gregor the Mountain ride up and down the line.Shout out loud and point fingers.The composition of the left army is also mostly cavalry, but it is not like the steel fist composed of knights and heavy cavalry like the right wing, but the miscellaneous troops of the western border: archers wearing only leather armor, a large number of undisciplined free riders And wandering warriors, peasants on plow horses with scythes and rusty swords from their grandfathers, boys from Lannisport's alleys who hadn't finished their training . . . and Tyrion and his mountain clan.
"Wait until you feed the crows," whispered Bronn beside him, saying what Tyrion hadn't said, and he nodded in agreement.Has Father lost his mind?Not only are there no spearmen on the left wing, there are very few archers, and knights are even rarer. They are all poorly equipped and unprotected people, and they are led by a brutal and rough man who acts without thinking and acting on his will... so ridiculous An army that my father expected them to hold the left flank?
He didn't have time to think carefully, the drum sound was getting closer, thump, thump, thump, creeping under his skin, making his hands twitch.Bronn drew his sword, and in an instant the enemy was ahead, emerging from the tops of the hills, marching in unison behind a barrier of shields and spears.
Damn the gods, look how many they have, Tyrion thought, though he knew his father had more troops in total.The leaders of the enemy army rode armored horses and led the soldiers forward, and the standard bearers raised the family banners and walked shoulder to shoulder with them.He caught glimpses of the moose banner of House Hornwood, the sunburst banner of House Karstark, the battleaxe banner of Lord Seven, the armored fist of House Glover... and among them the twin tower banners of House Frey, blue on grey. A few days ago, my father also swore that Lord Walder would not send troops.The white banners of House Stark could be seen everywhere. The banners fluttered in the wind and fluttered on the poles. The gray direwolves seemed to be running on the banners.Where is that kid?Tyrion wondered.
The bugle sounded, woo woo woo woo blah blah blah blah blah blah blah, low and long, like a cold wind from the north, chilling people.Lannister's horn immediately responded, Dudu, Dudie, Dudu, Dudu -Dudu Dudid Dudu, Hongliang and not tame, but it felt whispered in the heart of Tilang, and Some uneasy.There was a churn in his guts, a nausea, a dizziness; he wished he didn't die of nausea.
As the trumpets died down, the hiss filled the void.To his right, the archers on either side of the road let out a hail of arrows, and the northerners galloped and roared as they ran.Lannister bows and arrows greeted them like a hailstorm, a hundred, a thousand, too many to count in an instant.Many people fell to the ground with arrows, and their shouts turned into wailing.At this time, the second wave of attacks had fallen from the sky, and the archers put the third arrows on the bowstrings one after another.
The horn sounded again, beep-beep, beep-beep, beep-beep, beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep-beep.Ser Gregor swung his greatsword and bellowed an order, and thousands of voices answered.Tyrion kicked his horse's belly and joined the raucous chorus, and the vanguard charged forward. "River bank!" he yelled at the natives as they galloped off, "Remember! Hold the river bank!" He was still leading the charge as they began to gallop, but Zira let out a blood-curdling cry from beside him. Running forward, Shagga roared and followed, and the natives followed one after another, leaving Tyrion in the smoke they raised.
Directly ahead, a group of enemy spearmen formed a half-moon formation, like a double-faced steel hedgehog, hiding behind a tall oaken shield painted with the sunburst of the Karstark family, waiting for the battle.Gregor Clegane led a detachment of elite heavy cavalry, formed a wedge formation, and was the first to engage them.Facing the long line of spears, half of the horses stopped sprinting at the last moment and dodged away.Others went on a rampage, gunpoints protruding through their chests, killing them instantly, and Tyrion saw a dozen men fall to the ground.A barbed lance point scraped across the neck of the Mountain's mount, and it reared up, kicking out with its outstretched, hoofed feet.The frenzied steed leaped into the enemy line, spears jabbed at it from all sides, but the shield wall crumbled under its weight, and the northerner staggered to dodge the animal's dying struggles.The war horse fell down and vomited blood to death, but Moshan got up unscathed, raised his two-handed giant sword, and launched a frenzied attack.
Taking advantage of the crack in the enemy's shield wall before it could close, Xia Ga also rushed in, followed closely by the people from the Stone Crow Department.Tyrion yelled, "Scorching Men! Moon Men! Come with me!" But most of them were already ahead of him.He caught glimpses of Timett's son Timett's horse falling dead and men jumping free; one month the tribesmen were crucified on the spears of the Karstarks; Conn's horses kicked their enemies to pieces ribs.At this time, a shower of arrows fell on their heads. He couldn't tell where it came from, but they treated the Starks and Lannisters equally.They either bounce off armor or find exposed flesh.Tyrion raised his shield and ducked beneath it.
Under the impact of the cavalry, the hedgehog gradually disintegrated, and the northerners retreated one after another.Tyrion saw a spearman charge foolishly at Shagar, only to be killed instantly by Shagar's blow of the ax in the chest, piercing armor, hide, flesh, and lungs.The ax blade was lodged in the opponent's chest, but Shagga didn't stop, and with the battle ax in his left hand, he split another enemy's shield in half, while the corpse in his right hand bounced limply with the horse.In the end, the dead body slid down to the ground, and Xia Ga held up the two axes, striking each other, and let out a frightening cry.
At this time, he himself rushed into the enemy's formation, and the battlefield instantly shrank to a few feet around the mount.A footman thrust a spear at his chest, and he parried it with a swing of his axe. The man jumped back to try again, but Tyrion turned his horse and stomped him under his horse.Bronn was surrounded by three enemy regiments, but he cut off the first spearhead that was thrown at him, and hit another in the face with his backhand sword.
A flying spear shot at Tyrion from the left, thumping into the wooden shield.He turned and gave chase to the spear-thrower, but the shield was raised above his head, and Tyrion rode his horse around him, his ax raining down on the shield.Oak splinters flew everywhere, and at last the northerner slipped on the soles of his feet and fell on his back, with his shield just covering his body.Tyrion's tomahawk couldn't reach him, and dismounting was too much trouble, so he left the man and rode at another target.This time he succeeded in sneak attacking from the opponent's back. He swung the battle ax down and hit the enemy, but it also made his arm numb from the shock.At this time, he got a short respite, and reined in, looking for the river bank, and suddenly found that the river was on his right hand. It seemed that he had unknowingly turned his direction in the chaos.
A scorching man ran past him on horseback, lying limply on the horse's neck, with a spear pierced into the belly and out from behind.Although the man was hopeless, when Tyrion saw a northern soldier running to grab the rein of the horse, he also charged.
The opponent fought with a sword. He was tall and thin, wearing a long shirt and chain mail and lobster gauntlets, but he lost his helmet, and blood flowed into his eyes from the wound on his forehead.Tyrion took aim at his face and slashed at it, but the tall man parried him with his sword. "Dwarf!" he screamed. "Die!" Tyrion rode round him, and he spun around, chopping at his head and shoulders with his sword.As the sword struck, Tyrion knew at once that the tall man was not only faster than him, but also much stronger.God damn seven hells, where did Bronn go? "Die!" the man muttered, attacking violently.Tyrion barely raised his shield just in time to take the blow, and the shield seemed about to burst inward, splinters of wood falling from his hands. "Die!" growled the swordsman and charged again, slashing across the head with his sword, knocking Tyrion dizzy.The man withdrew his long sword and pulled out a terrible metal friction on his helmet. The tall man couldn't help but chuckle...Unexpectedly, Tyrion's steed opened its mouth suddenly, and it bit off one side of his cheek as quickly as a snake. .The man screamed, and Tyrion slammed his ax into his head. "It's you who is going to die!" He told him that the other party was indeed dead.
He was about to draw back his tomahawk when he heard someone shout. “为艾德大人而战！”对方声音宏亮，“为临冬城的艾德大人而战！”这名骑士马蹄奔腾，朝他冲来，带刺的流星锤在他头顶挥舞。提利昂还来不及叫唤波隆，两匹战马便轰地撞在一起，流星锤的尖刺穿透右手肘关节处薄弱的金属防护，一阵剧痛顿时炸裂开来，斧头也立刻脱手。他伸手想拔剑，但流星锤呼啦啦转了个圈，又朝他迎面扑来。一声令人作呕的碰撞，他从马上摔了下去。他不记得自己撞到地面，然而待他抬头，上方只有天空。他连忙翻身，想要站起，却痛得浑身发抖，仿佛整个世界都在颤动。将他击落的骑士靠过来，高高在上。 “小恶魔提利昂，”他声如洪钟地向下喊，“你是我的俘虏了。投不投降，兰尼斯特？”
我投降，提利昂心想，但话却卡在喉咙里。他发出沙哑的声音，挣扎着跪起来，胡乱地摸索武器：剑、匕首、什么都好……
“投不投降？”骑士高高地坐在披甲的战马上，人和马都活像庞然大物。带刺流星锤慵懒地转着圈。提利昂双手麻木，视觉模糊，剑鞘竟是空的。“不投降就得死。”骑士高声宣布，链锤越转越快。
提利昂踉跄着起身，不觉一头撞上马肚子。马儿发出凄厉的嘶喊，前脚跃起，想要挣开剧痛。鲜血和肉块如雨般喷洒在提利昂脸上，接着，马儿以山崩之势轰然倒地。等他回过神来，面罩里已塞满了泥巴，有东西正在撞击他的脚。他挣脱开来，喉咙紧绷得几乎无法言语。“……投降……”他好不容易挤出声来。
“是，我投降。”一个人呻吟道，声音充满痛苦。
提利昂拨开头盔的泥土，发现那匹马朝另一方向倒下，正好压在骑士身上。骑士的一只脚被马困住，用来缓冲撞击的手则扭曲成怪异的角度。“我投降。”他继续说，同时用另一只没被折断的手在腰际摸索，抽出佩剑丢在提利昂脚下。“大人，我投降。”
侏儒头晕目眩地弯身拾起那把剑，手稍微一动，阵阵剧痛便自肘部直冲脑际。战事似乎已经转移到别的地方，他所在的位置除了大批尸体，没有活人留下来。乌鸦在上空盘旋、落地啄食。他看到凯冯爵士派出中军支援前锋，大批长枪兵将北方人逼回丘陵，两军正在缓坡上作殊死搏斗，长枪方阵碰上了又一堵由椭圆铁钉盾构成的墙垒。他一边看，只见空中又洒下一阵箭雨，盾墙后的士兵在无情的炮火下纷纷倒地。“爵士先生，我想你们快输了。”他对被马压住的骑士说。对方没有答话。
背后忽然传来蹄声，他急忙旋身，但由于手肘的剧痛，他已无法举剑作战。幸好来的是波隆，他勒住缰绳，往下看着他。
“看来，你还真帮不了什么忙。”提利昂告诉他。
“我看你靠自己也就够了。”波隆回答，“你只把头盔上的刺弄丢了。”
提利昂伸手一摸，巨盔上的尖剌已然整个儿折断。“我没弄丢，我知道它在哪里。看到我的马了吗？”
等他们找到马，喇叭又再度响起，泰温公爵的预备队倾巢而出，沿着河岸朝敌军冲去。提利昂看着父亲急驰而过，身边围绕着五百名骑士，阳光在枪尖闪耀，兰尼斯特家族的红金旗帜在头顶飞扬。史塔克家的残余部队在冲击下彻底溃散，有如被铁锤敲打的玻璃。
提利昂盔甲下的手肘又肿又痛，他也就没参加最后的屠杀，转而和波隆前去寻找他的手下。许多人都是在死人堆里找到的。乌玛尔之子乌尔夫倒在一滩渐渐凝固的血泊里，右手肘以下全部不见，身旁还倒卧了十几个月人部的同胞。夏嘎颓然靠坐在一棵树下，全身插满了箭，康恩的头枕在他膝上。提利昂本以为他俩都死了，但当他下马时，夏嘎却睁开了眼睛：“他们杀了科拉特之子康恩。”英俊的康恩身上没有任何伤痕，只有长枪贯穿胸膛的一个红点。波隆扶夏嘎站起来，大个子仿佛这才注意到身上的箭，便一枝枝拔出来，一边抱怨弓箭把他的盔甲和皮革插出一堆窟窿。有几枝箭射进体内，拔得他像个婴儿似喊痛。当他们为夏嘎拔箭时，齐克之女齐拉骑马过来，向他们展示她割取的四只耳朵。提魅则率领灼人部众掠夺被他们杀掉的死人。跟随提利昂·兰尼斯特上战场的三百名原住民，大约只有半数幸存。
他让生者打理死者，派波隆去处置被他俘虏的骑士，然后独自去找父亲。泰温公爵坐在河边，正拿一个镶珠宝的杯子喝酒，并让他的侍从为他解开战甲的环扣。“一场漂亮的胜仗。”凯冯爵士看到提利昂，便对他说，“你的野人打得很好。”
父亲那双淡绿金瞳看着他，冷酷得令他打颤。“父亲，是不是教您很吃惊啊？”他问，“有没有破坏您的计划啊？我们本该被敌人屠杀的，是不是这样？”
泰温公爵一饮而尽，脸上毫无表情。“是的，我把无纪律的部队安排在左翼，预期他们会溃败。罗柏·史塔克是个毛头小鬼，想必勇气多于睿智，我原本希望他一见我左军崩溃，便全力突进，企图侧面包抄。等他进了圈套，凯冯爵士的长枪兵便会转身攻他侧翼，把他逼进河里，这时我再派出预备队。”
“您把我丢进这场大屠杀，却不肯把计划告诉我。”
“佯攻难以让人信服，”父亲回答，“何况我不能把计划透漏给与雇佣兵和野蛮人为伍的人。”
“真可惜我的野蛮人坏了您的大好兴致。”提利昂脱下钢护手，任它落地，因手肘的剧痛皱起眉头。
“以史塔克那小鬼的年纪来说，他的用兵超乎预期地谨慎，”泰温公爵承认，“但胜利就是胜利。你似乎受伤了。”
提利昂的右臂染满鲜血。“父亲，谢谢您的关心，”他咬牙道，“可否麻烦你派个学士来帮我看看？莫非您觉得有个独臂的侏儒儿子也不赖……”
父亲还不及回答，只听一声急切的喊叫：“泰温大人！”，他便转过头去。亚当·马尔布兰爵士翻身下马，泰温公爵起立迎接。那匹马则口吐白沫，嘴流鲜血。亚当爵士生得高瘦，一头暗铜色及肩长发，穿着发亮的镀铜钢铠，胸甲中央有一棵象征家徽的燃烧之树。他在父亲面前单膝跪下，“公爵阁下，我们俘虏了部分敌方头目，包括赛文伯爵、威里斯·曼德勒爵士、哈利昂·卡史塔克和四个佛雷家的人。霍伍德伯爵战死。至于卢斯·波顿，恐怕已经逃了。”
“那小鬼呢？”泰温公爵问。
亚当爵士迟疑片刻。“大人，史塔克那小鬼没和他们一道，他们说他已从孪河城渡河，带着骑兵主力，赶赴奔流城。”
好个毛头小鬼，提利昂想起父亲刚才的话，想必勇气多于睿智。若不是手痛得厉害，他一定会哈哈大笑。
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①波德是波德瑞克的小名