grrm.astormofswords-第51部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



　〃Obsidian。〃　Sam　struggled　to　his　knees。　〃Dragonglass；　they　call　it。　Dragonglass。　Dragon　glass。〃　He　giggled；　and　cried；　and　doubled　over　to　heave　his　courage　out　onto　the　snow。
　Grenn　pulled　Sam　to　his　feet；　checked　Small　Paul　for　a　pulse　and　closed　his　eyes；　then　snatched　up　the　dagger　again。　This　time　he　was　able　to　hold　it。
　〃You　keep　it；〃　Sam　said。　〃You're　not　craven　like　me。〃
　〃So　craven　you　killed　an　Other。〃　Grenn　pointed　with　the　knife。　〃Look　there；　through　the　trees。　Pink　light。　Dawn；　Sam。　Dawn。　That　must　be　east。　If　we　head　that　way；　we　should　catch　Mormont。〃
　〃If　you　say。〃　Sam　kicked　his　left　foot　against　a　tree；　to　knock　off　all　the　snow。　Then　the　right。　〃I'll　try。〃　Grimacing；　he　took　a　step。　〃I'll　try　hard。〃　And　then　another。
　
　CHAPTER　19
　TYRION
　
　Lord　Tywin's　chain　of　hands　made　a　golden　glitter　against　the　deep　wine　velvet　of　his　tunic。　The　Lords　Tyrell；　Redwyne；　and　Rowan　gathered　round　him　as　he　entered。　He　greeted　each　in　turn；　spoke　a　quiet　word　to　Varys；　kissed　the　High　Septon's　ring　and　Cersei's　cheek；　clasped　the　hand　of　Grand　Maester　Pycelle；　and　seated　himself　in　the　king's　place　at　the　head　of　the　long　table；　between　his　daughter　and　his　brother。
　Tyrion　had　claimed　Pycelle's　old　place　at　the　foot；　propped　up　by　cushions　so　he　could　gaze　down　the　length　of　the　table。　Dispossessed；　Pycelle　had　moved　up　next　to　Cersei；　about　as　far　from　the　dwarf　as　he　could　get　without　claiming　the　king's　seat。　The　Grand　Maester　was　a　shambling　skeleton；　leaning　heavily　on　a　twisted　cane　and　shaking　as　he　walked；　a　few　white　hairs　sprouting　from　his　long　chicken's　neck　in　place　of　his　once…luxuriant　white　beard。　Tyrion　gazed　at　him　without　remorse。
　The　others　had　to　scramble　for　seats：　Lord　Mace　Tyrell；　a　heavy；　robust　man　with　curling　brown　hair　and　a　spadeshaped　beard　well　salted　with　white；　Paxter　Redwyne　of　the　Arbor；　stoop…shouldered　and　thin；　his　bald　head　fringed　by　tufts　of　orange　hair；　Mathis　Rowan；　Lord　of　Goldengrove；　clean…shaven；　stout；　and　sweating；　the　High　Septon；　a　frail　man　with　wispy　white　chin　hair。　Too　many　strange　faces；　Tyrion　thought；　too　many　new　players。　The　game　changed　while　I　lay　rotting　in　my　bed；　and　no　one　will　tell　me　the　rules。
　Oh；　the　lords　had　been　courteous　enough；　though　he　could　tell　how　unfortable　it　made　them　to　look　at　him。　〃That　chain　of　yours；　that　was　cunning；〃　Mace　Tyrell　had　said　in　a　jolly　tone；　and　Lord　Redwyne　nodded　and　said；　〃Quite　so；　quite　so；　my　lord　of　Highgarden　speaks　for　all　of　us；〃　and　very　cheerfully　too。
　Tell　it　to　the　people　of　this　city；　Tyrion　thought　bitterly。　Tell　it　to　the　bloody　singers；　with　their　songs　of　Renly's　ghost。
　His　uncle　Kevan　had　been　the　warmest；　going　so　far　as　to　kiss　his　cheek　and　say；　〃Lancel　has　told　me　how　brave　you　were；　Tyrion。　He　speaks　very　highly　of　you。〃
　He'd　better；　or　I'll　have　a　few　things　to　say　of　him。　He　made　himself　smile　and　say；　〃My　good　cousin　is　too　kind。　His　wound　is　healing；　I　trust？〃
　Ser　Kevan　frowned。　〃One　day　he　seems　stronger；　the　next　。　。　。　it　is　worrisome。　Your　sister　often　visits　his　sickbed；　to　lift　his　spirits　and　pray　for　him。〃
　But　is　she　praying　that　he　lives；　or　dies？　Cersei　had　made　shameless　use　of　their　cousin；　both　in　and　out　of　bed；　a　little　secret　she　no　doubt　hoped　Lancel　would　carry　to　his　grave　now　that　Father　was　here　and　she　no　longer　had　need　of　him。　Would　she　go　so　far　as　to　murder　him；　though？　To　look　at　her　today；　you　would　never　suspect　Cersei　was　capable　of　such　ruthlessness。　She　was　all　charm；　flirting　with　Lord　Tyrell　as　they　spoke　of　Joffrey's　wedding　feast；　plimenting　Lord　Redwyne　on　the　valor　of　his　twins；　softening　gruff　Lord　Rowan　with　jests　and　smiles；　making　pious　noises　at　the　High　Septon。　〃Shall　we　begin　with　the　wedding　arrangements？〃　she　asked　as　Lord　Tywin　took　his　seat。
　〃No；〃　their　father　said。　〃With　the　war。　Varys。〃
　The　eunuch　smiled　a　silken　smile。　〃I　have　such　delicious　tidings　for　you　all；　my　lords。　Yesterday　at　dawn　our　brave　Lord　Randyll　caught　Robett　Glover　outside　Duskendale　and　trapped　him　against　the　sea。　Losses　were　heavy　on　both　sides；　but　in　the　end　our　loyal　men　prevailed。　Ser　Helman　Tallhart　is　reported　dead；　with　a　thousand　others。　Robett　Glover　leads　the　survivors　back　toward　Harrenhal　in　bloody　disarray；　little　dreaming　he　will　find　valiant　Ser　Gregor　and　his　stalwarts　athwart　his　path。〃
　〃Gods　be　praised！〃　said　Paxter　Redwyne。　〃A　great　victory　for　King　Joffrey！〃
　What　did　Joffrey　have　to　do　with　it？　thought　Tyrion。
　〃And　a　terrible　defeat　for　the　north；　certainly；〃　observed　Littlefinger；　〃yet　one　in　which　Robb　Stark　played　no　part。　The　Young　Wolf　remains　unbeaten　in　the　field。〃
　〃What　do　we　know　of　Stark's　plans　and　movements？〃　asked　Mathis　Rowan；　ever　blunt　and　to　the　point。
　〃He　has　run　back　to　Riverrun　with　his　plunder；　abandoning　the　castles　he　took　in　the　west；〃　announced　Lord　Tywin。　〃Our　cousin　Ser　Daven　is　reforming　the　remnants　of　his　late　father's　army　at　Lannisport。　When　they　are　ready　he　shall　join　Ser　Forley　Prester　at　the　Golden　Tooth。　As　soon　as　the　Stark　boy　starts　north；　Ser　Forley　and　Ser　Daven　will　descend　on　Riverrun。〃
　〃You　are　certain　Lord　Stark　means　to　go　north？〃　Lord　Rowan　asked。　〃Even　with　the　ironmen　at　Moat　Cailin？〃
　Mace　Tyrell　spoke　up。　〃Is　there　anything　as　pointless　as　a　king　without　a　kingdom？　No；　it's　plain；　the　boy　must　abandon　the　riverlands；　join　his　forces　to　Roose　Bolton's　once　more；　and　throw　all　his　strength　against　Moat　Cailin。　That　is　what　I　would　do。〃
　Tyrion　had　to　bite　his　tongue　at　that。　Robb　Stark　had　won　more　battles　in　a　year　than　the　Lord　of　Highgarden　had　in　twenty。　Tyrell's　reputation　rested　on　one　indecisive　victory　over　Robert　Baratheon　at　Ashford；　in　a　battle　largely　won　by　Lord　Tarly's　van　before　the　main　host　had　even　arrived。　The　siege　of　Storm's　End；　where　Mace　Tyrell　actually　did　hold　the　mand；　had　dragged　on　a　year　to　no　result；　and　after　the　Trident　was　fought；　the　Lord　of　Highgarden　had　meekly　dipped　his　banners　to　Eddard　Stark。
　〃I　ought　to　write　Robb　Stark　a　stern　letter；〃　Littlefinger　was　saying。　〃I　understand　his　man　Bolton　is　stabling　goats　in　my　high　hall；　it's　really　quite　unconscionable。〃
　Ser　Kevan　Lannister　cleared　his　throat。　〃As　regards　the　Starks　。　。　。　Balon　Greyjoy；　who　now　styles　himself　King　of　the　Isles　and　the　North；　has　written　to　us　offering　terms　of　alliance。〃
　〃He　ought　to　be　offering　fealty；〃　snapped　Cersei。　〃By　what　right　does　he　call　himself　king？〃
　〃By　right　of　conquest；〃　Lord　Tywin　said。　〃King　Balon　has　strangler's　fingers　round　the　Neck。　Robb　Stark's　heirs　are　dead；　Winterfell　is　fallen；　and　the　ironmen　hold　Moat　Cailin；　Deepwood　Motte；　and　most　of　the　Stony　Shore。　King　Balon's　longships　mand　the　sunset　sea；　and　are　well　placed　to　menace　Lannisport；　Fair　Isle；　and　even　Highgarden；　should　we　provoke　him。〃
　〃And　if　we　accept　this　alliance？〃　inquired　Lord　Mathis　Rowan。　〃What　terms　does　he　propose？〃
　〃That　we　recognize　his　kingship　and　grant　him　everything　north　of　the　Neck。〃
　Lord　Redwyne　laughed。　〃What　is　there　north　of　the　Neck　that　any　sane　man　would　want？　If　Greyjoy　will　trade　swords　and　sails　for　stone　and　snow；　I　say　do　it；　and　count　ourselves　lucky。〃
　〃Truly；〃　agreed　Mace　Tyrell。　〃That's　what　I　would　do。　Let　King　Balon　finish　the　northmen　whilst　we　finish　Stannis。〃
　Lord　Tywin's　face　gave　no　hint　as　to　his　feelings。　〃There　is　Lysa　Arryn　to　deal　with　as　well。　Jon　Arryn's　widow；　Hoster　Tully's　daughter；　Catelyn　Stark's　sister　。　。　。　whose　husband　was　conspiring　with　Stannis　Baratheon　at　the　time　of　his　death。〃
　〃Oh；〃　said　Mace　Tyrell　cheerfully；　〃women　have　no　stomach　for　war。　Let　her　be；　I　say；　she's　not　like　to　trouble　us。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　said　Redwyne。　〃The　Lady　Lysa　took　no　part　in　the　fighting；　nor　has　she　mitted　any　overt　acts　of　treason。〃
　Tyrionstirred。　〃She　did　throw　mein　a　cell　andputme　on　trial　for　mylife；〃　he　pointed　out；　with　a　certain　amount　of　rancor。　〃Nor　has　she　returned　to　King's　Landing　to　swear　fealty　to　Joff；　as　she　was　manded。　My　lords；　grant　me　the　men；　and　I　will　sort　out　Lysa　Arryn。〃　He　could　think　of　nothing　he　would　enjoy　more；　except　perhaps　strangling　Cersei。　Sometimes　he　still　dreamed　of　the　Eyrie's　sky　cells；　and　woke　drenched　in　cold　sweat。
　Mace　Tyrell's　smile　was　jovial；　but　behind　it　Tyrion　sensed　contempt。　〃Perhaps　you'd　best　leave　the　fighting　to　fighters；〃　said　the　Lord　of　Highgarden。　〃Better　men　than　you　have　lost　great　armies　in　the　Mountains　of　the　Moon；　or　shattered　them　against　the　Bloody　Gate。　We　know　your　worth；　my　lord；　no　need　to　tempt　fate。〃
　Tyrion　pushed　off　his　cushions；　bristling；　but　his　father　spoke　before　he　could　lash　back。　〃I　have　other　tasks　in　mind　for　Tyrion。　I　believe　Lord　Petyr　may　hold　the　key　to　the　Eyrie。〃
　〃Oh；　I　do；〃　said　Littleflnger；　〃I　have　it　here　between　my　legs。〃　There　was　mischief　in　his　grey…green　eyes。　〃My　lords；　with　your　leave；　I　propose　to　travel　to　the　Vale　and　there　woo　and　win　Lady　Lysa　Arryn。　Once　I　am　her　consort；　I　shall　deliver　you　the　Vale　of　Arryn　without　a　drop　of　blood　being　spilled。〃
　Lord　Rowan　looked　doubtful。　〃Would　Lady　Lysa　have　you？〃
　〃She's　had　me　a　few　times　before；　Lord　Mathis；　and　voiced　no　plaints。〃
　〃Bedding；〃　said　Cersei；　〃is　not　wedding。　Even　a　cow　like　Lysa　Arryn　might　be　able　to　grasp　the　difference。〃
　〃To　be　sure。　It　would　not　have　been　fitting　for　a　daughter　of　Riverrun　to　marry　one　so　far　below　her。〃　Littlefinger　spread　his　hands。　〃Now；　though　。　。　。　a　match　between　the　Lady　of　the　Eyrie　and　the　Lord　of　Harrenhal　is　not　so　unthinkable；　is　it？〃
　Tyrion　noted　the　look　that　passed　between　Paxter　Redwyne　and　Mace　Tyrell。　〃It　might　serve；〃　Lord　Rowan　said；　〃if　you　are　certain　that　you　can　keep　the　woman　loyal　to　the　King's　Grace。〃
　〃My　lords；〃　pronounced　the　High　Septon；　〃autumn　is　upon　us；　and　all　men　of　good　heart　are　weary　of　war。　If　Lord　Baelish　can　bring　the　Vale　back　into　the　king's　peace　without　more　shedding　of　blood；　the　gods　will　surely　bless　him。〃
　〃But　can　he？〃　asked　Lord　Redwyne。　〃Jon　Arryn's　son　is　Lord　of　the　Eyrie　now。　The　Lord　Robert。〃
　〃Only　a　boy；〃　said　Littleflnger。　〃I　will　see　that　he　grows　to　be　Joffrey's　most　loyal　subject；　and　a　fast　friend　to　us　all。〃
　Tyrion　studied　the　slender　man　with　the　pointed　beard　and　irreverent　grey…green　eyes。　Lord　o