grrm.astormofswords-第115部分

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　Dany　pushed　open　the　lid　of　the　chest　with　a　small　slippered　foot。　It　was　full　of　gold　coins；　just　as　the　envoy　said。　She　grabbed　a　handful　and　let　them　run　through　her　fingers。　They　shone　brightly　as　they　tumbled　and　fell；　new　minted；　most　of　them；　stamped　with　a　stepped　pyramid　on　one　face　and　the　harpy　of　Ghis　on　the　other。　〃Very　pretty。　I　wonder　how　many　chests　like　this　I　shall　find　when　I　take　your　city？〃
　He　chuckled。　〃None；　for　that　you　shall　never　do。〃
　〃I　have　a　gift　for　you　as　well。〃　She　slammed　the　chest　shut。　〃Three　days。　On　the　morning　of　the　third　day；　send　out　your　slaves。　All　of　them。　Every　man；　woman；　and　child　shall　be　given　a　weapon；　and　as　much　food；　clothing；　coin；　and　goods　as　he　or　she　can　carry。　These　they　shall　be　allowed　to　choose　freely　from　among　their　masters'　possessions；　as　payment　for　their　years　of　servitude。　When　all　the　slaves　have　departed；　you　will　open　your　gates　and　allow　my　Unsullied　to　enter　and　search　your　city；　to　make　certain　none　remain　in　bondage。　If　you　do　this；　Yunkai　will　not　be　burned　or　plundered；　and　none　of　your　people　shall　be　molested。　The　Wise　Masters　will　have　the　peace　they　desire；　and　will　have　proved　themselves　wise　indeed。　What　say　you？〃
　〃I　say；　you　are　mad。〃
　〃Am　I？〃　Dany　shrugged；　and　said；　〃Dracarys。〃
　The　dragons　answered。　Rhaegal　hissed　and　smoked；　Viserion　snapped；　and　Drogon　spat　swirling　red…black　flame。　It　touched　the　drape　of　Grazdan's　tokar；　and　the　silk　caught　in　half　a　heartbeat。　Golden　marks　spilled　across　the　carpets　as　the　envoy　stumbled　over　the　chest；　shouting　curses　and　beating　at　his　arm　until　Whitebeard　flung　a　flagon　of　water　over　him　to　douse　the　flames。　〃You　swore　I　should　have　safe　conduct！　〃　the　Yunkish　envoy　wailed。
　〃Do　all　the　Yunkai'i　whine　so　over　a　singed　tokar？　I　shall　buy　you　a　new　one　。　。　。　if　you　deliver　up　your　slaves　within　three　days。　Elsewise；　Drogon　shall　give　you　a　warmer　kiss。〃　She　wrinkled　her　nose。　〃You've　soiled　yourself。　Take　your　gold　and　go；　and　see　that　the　Wise　Masters　hear　my　message。〃
　Grazdan　mo　Eraz　pointed　a　finger。　〃You　shall　rue　this　arrogance；　whore。　These　little　lizards　will　not　keep　you　safe；　I　promise　you。　We　will　fill　the　air　with　arrows　if　they　e　within　a　league　of　Yunkai。　Do　you　think　it　is　so　hard　to　kill　a　dragon？〃
　〃Harder　than　to　kill　a　slaver。　Three　days；　Grazdan。　Tell　them。　By　the　end　of　the　third　day；　I　will　be　in　Yunkai；　whether　you　open　your　gates　for　me　or　no。〃
　Full　dark　had　fallen　by　the　time　the　Yunkai'i　departed　from　her　camp。　It　promised　to　be　a　gloomy　night；　moonless；　starless；　with　a　chill　wet　wind　blowing　from　the　west。　A　fine　black　night；　thought　Dany。　The　fires　burned　all　around　her；　small　orange　stars　strewn　across　hill　and　field。　〃Ser　Jorah；〃　she　said；　〃summon　my　bloodriders。〃　Dany　seated　herself　on　a　mound　of　cushions　to　await　them；　her　dragons　all　about　her。　When　they　were　assembled；　she　said；　〃An　hour　past　midnight　should　be　time　enough。〃
　〃Yes；　Khaleesi；〃　said　Rakharo。　〃Time　for　what？〃
　〃To　mount　our　attack。〃
　Ser　Jorah　Mormont　scowled。　〃You　told　the　sellswords　…
　〃…that　I　wanted　their　answers　on　the　morrow。　I　made　no　promises　about　tonight。　The　Stormcrows　will　be　arguing　about　my　offer。　The　Second　Sons　will　be　drunk　on　the　wine　I　gave　Mero。　And　the　Yunkai'i　believe　they　have　three　days。　We　will　take　them　under　cover　of　this　darkness。〃
　〃They　will　have　scouts　watching　for　us。〃
　〃And　in　the　dark；　they　will　see　hundreds　of　campfires　burning；〃　said　Dany。　〃If　they　see　anything　at　all。〃
　〃Khaleesi；〃　said　Jhogo；　〃I　will　deal　with　these　scouts。　They　are　no　riders；　only　slavers　on　horses。〃
　〃Just　so；〃　she　agreed。　〃I　think　we　should　attack　from　three　sides。　Grey　Worm；　your　Unsullied　shall　strike　at　them　from　right　and　left；　while　my　kos　lead　my　horse　in　wedge　for　a　thrust　through　their　center。　Slave　soldiers　will　never　stand　before　mounted　Dothraki。〃　She　smiled。　〃To　be　sure；　I　am　only　a　young　girl　and　know　little　of　war。　What　do　you　think；　my　lords？〃
　〃I　think　you　are　Rhaegar　Targaryen's　sister；〃　Ser　Jorah　said　with　a　rueful　half　smile。
　〃Aye；〃　said　Arstan　Whitebeard；　〃and　a　queen　as　well。〃
　It　took　an　hour　to　work　out　all　the　details。　Now　begins　the　most　dangerous　time；　Dany　thought　as　her　captains　departed　to　their　mands。　She　could　only　pray　that　the　gloom　of　the　night　would　hide　her　preparations　from　the　foe。
　Near　midnight；　she　got　a　scare　when　Ser　Jorah　bulled　his　way　past　Strong　Belwas。　〃The　Unsullied　caught　one　of　the　sellswords　trying　to　sneak　into　the　camp。〃
　〃A　spy？〃　That　frightened　her。　If　they'd　caught　one；　how　many　others　might　have　gotten　away？
　〃He　claims　to　e　bearing　gifts。　it's　the　yellow　fool　with　the　blue　hair。〃
　Daario　Naharis。　〃That　one。　I'll　hear　him；　then。〃
　When　the　exile　knight　delivered　him；　she　asked　herself　whether　two　men　had　ever　been　so　different。　The　Tyroshi　was　fair　where　Ser　Jorah　was　swarthy；　lithe　where　the　knight　was　brawny；　graced　with　flowing　locks　where　the　other　was　balding；　yet　smooth…skinned　where　Mormont　was　hairy。　And　her　knight　dressed　plainly　while　this　other　made　a　peacock　look　drab；　though　he　had　thrown　a　heavy　black　cloak　over　his　bright　yellow　finery　for　this　visit。　He　carried　a　heavy　canvas　sack　slung　over　one　shoulder。
　〃Khaleesi；〃　he　cried；　〃I　bring　gifts　and　glad　tidings。　The　Stormcrows　are　yours。〃　A　golden　tooth　gleamed　in　his　mouth　when　he　smiled。　〃And　so　is　Daario　Naharis！〃
　Dany　was　dubious。　If　this　Tyroshi　had　e　to　spy；　this　declaration　might　be　no　more　than　a　desperate　plot　to　save　his　head。　〃What　do　Prendahl　na　Ghezn　and　Sallor　say　of　this？〃
　〃Little。〃　Daario　upended　the　sack；　and　the　heads　of　Sallor　the　Bald　and　Prendahl　na　Ghezn　spilled　out　upon　her　carpets。　〃My　gifts　to　the　dragon　queen。〃
　Viserion　sniffed　the　blood　leaking　from　Prendahl's　neck；　and　let　loose　a　gout　of　flame　that　took　the　dead　man　full　in　the　face；　blackening　and　blistering　his　bloodless　cheeks。　Drogon　and　Rhaegal　stirred　at　the　smell　of　roasted　meat。
　〃You　did　this？〃　Dany　asked　queasily。
　〃None　other。〃　If　her　dragons　disfited　Daario　Naharis；　he　hid　it　well。　For　all　the　mind　he　paid　them；　they　might　have　been　three　kittens　playing　with　a　mouse。
　〃Why？〃　
　〃Because　you　are　so　beautiful。〃　His　hands　were　large　and　strong；　and　there　was　something　in　his　hard　blue　eyes　and　great　curving　nose　that　suggested　the　fierceness　of　some　splendid　bird　of　prey。　〃Prendahl　talked　too　much　and　said　too　little。〃　His　garb；　rich　as　it　was；　had　seen　hard　wear；　salt　stains　patterned　his　boots；　the　enamel　of　his　nails　was　chipped；　his　lace　was　soiled　by　sweat；　and　she　could　see　where　the　end　of　his　cloak　was　fraying。　〃And　Sallor　picked　his　nose　as　if　his　snot　was　gold。〃　He　stood　with　his　hands　crossed　at　the　wrists；　his　palms　resting　on　the　pornmels　of　his　blades；　a　curving　Dothraki　arakh　on　his　left　hip；　a　Myrish　stiletto　on　his　right。　Their　hilts　were　a　matched　pair　of　golden　women；　naked　and　wanton。
　〃Are　you　skilled　in　the　use　of　those　handsome　blades？〃　Dany　asked　him。
　〃Prendahl　and　Sallor　would　tell　you　so；　if　dead　men　could　talk。　I　count　no　day　as　lived　unless　I　have　loved　a　woman；　slain　a　foeman；　and　eaten　a　fine　meal　。　。　。　and　the　days　that　I　have　lived　are　as　numberless　as　the　stars　in　the　sky。　I　make　of　slaughter　a　thing　of　beauty；　and　many　a　tumbler　and　fire　dancer　has　wept　to　the　gods　that　they　might　be　half　so　quick；　a　quarter　so　graceful。　I　would　tell　you　the　names　of　all　the　men　I　have　slain；　but　before　I　could　finish　your　dragons　would　grow　large　as　castles；　the　walls　of　Yunkai　would　crumble　into　yellow　dust；　and　winter　would　e　and　go　and　e　again。〃
　Dany　laughed。　She　liked　the　swagger　she　saw　in　this　Daario　Naharis。　〃Draw　your　sword　and　swear　it　to　my　service。〃
　In　a　blink；　Daario's　arakh　was　free　of　its　sheath。　His　submission　was　as　outrageous　as　the　rest　of　him；　a　great　swoop　that　brought　his　face　down　to　her　toes。　〃My　sword　is　yours。　My　life　is　yours。　My　love　is　yours。　My　blood；　my　body；　my　songs；　you　own　them　all。　I　live　and　die　at　your　mand；　fair　queen。〃
　〃Then　live；〃　Dany　said；　〃and　fight　for　me　tonight。〃
　〃That　would　not　be　wise；　my　queen。〃　Ser　Jorah　gave　Daario　a　cold；　hard　stare。　〃Keep　this　one　here　under　guard　until　the　battle's　fought　and　won。〃
　She　considered　a　moment；　then　shook　her　head。　〃If　he　can　give　us　the　Stormcrows；　surprise　is　certain。〃
　〃And　if　he　betrays　you；　surprise　is　lost。〃
　Dany　looked　down　at　the　sellsword　again。　He　gave　her　such　a　smile　that　she　flushed　and　turned　away。　〃He　won't。〃
　〃How　can　you　know　that？〃
　She　pointed　to　the　lumps　of　blackened　flesh　the　dragons　were　consuming；　bite　by　bloody　bite。　〃I　would　call　that　proof　of　his　sincerity。　Daario　Naharis；　have　your　Stormcrows　ready　to　strike　the　Yunkish　rear　when　my　attack　begins。　Can　you　get　back　safely？〃
　〃If　they　stop　me；　I　will　say　I　have　been　scouting；　and　saw　nothing。〃　The　Tyroshi　rose　to　his　feet；　bowed；　and　swept　out。
　Ser　Jorah　Mormont　lingered。　〃Your　Grace；〃　he　said；　too　bluntly；　〃that　was　a　mistake。　We　know　nothing　of　this　man　…
　〃We　know　that　he　is　a　great　fighter。〃
　〃A　great　talker；　you　mean。〃
　〃He　brings　us　the　Stormcrows。〃　And　he　has　blue　eyes。
　〃Five　hundred　sellswords　of　uncertain　loyalty。〃
　〃All　loyalties　are　uncertain　in　such　times　as　these；〃　Dany　reminded　him。　And　I　shall　be　betrayed　twice　more；　once　for　gold　and　once　for　love。
　〃Dacnerys；　I　am　thrice　your　age；〃　Ser　Jorah　said。　〃I　have　seen　how　false　men　are。　Very　few　are　worthy　of　trust；　and　Daario　Naharis　is　not　one　of　them。　Even　his　beard　wears　false　colors。〃
　That　angered　her。　〃Whilst　you　have　an　honest　beard；　is　that　what　you　are　telling　me？　You　are　the　only　man　I　should　ever　trust？〃
　He　stiffened。　〃I　did　not　say　that。〃
　〃You　say　it　every　day。　Pyat　Pree's　a　liar；　Xaro's　a　schemer；　Belwas　a　braggart；　Arstan　an　assassin　。　。　。　do　you　think　I'm　still　some　virgin　girl；　that　I　cannot　hear　the　words　behind　the　words？〃
　〃Your　Grace…〃
　She　bulled　over　him。　〃You　have　been　a　better　friend　to　me　than　any　I　have　known；　a　better　brother　than　Viserys　ever　was。　You　are　the　first　of　my　Queensguard；　the　mander　of　my　army；　my　most　valued　counselor；　my　good　right　hand。　I　honor　and　respect　and　cherish　you…but　I　do　not　desire　you；　Jorah　Mormont；　and　I　am　weary　of　your　trying　to　push　every　other　man　in　the　world　away　from　me；　so　I