grrm.astormofswords-第143部分

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　〃More？〃　Stannis　looked　as　though　he　would　gladly　have　throttled　her。　〃More　usurpers？　More　traitors？〃
　〃I　have　seen　it　in　the　flames。〃
　Queen　Selyse　went　to　the　king's　side。　〃The　Lord　of　Light　sent　Melisandre　to　guide　you　to　your　glory。　Heed　her；　I　beg　you。　R'hllor's　holy　flames　do　not　lie。〃
　〃There　are　lies　and　lies；　woman。　Even　when　these　flames　speak　truly；　they　are　full　of　tricks；　it　seems　to　me。〃
　〃An　ant　who　hears　the　words　of　a　king　may　not　prehend　what　he　is　saying；〃　Melisandre　said；　〃and　all　men　are　ants　before　the　fiery　face　of　god。　If　sometimes　I　have　mistaken　a　warning　for　a　prophecy　or　a　prophecy　for　a　warning；　the　fault　lies　in　the　reader；　not　the　book。　But　this　I　know　for　a　certainty…envoys　and　pardons　will　not　serve　you　now；　no　more　than　leeches。　You　must　show　the　realm　a　sign。　A　sign　that　proves　your　power！〃
　〃Power？〃　The　king　snorted。　〃I　have　thirteen　hundred　men　on　Dragonstone；　another　three　hundred　at　Storm's　End。〃　His　hand　swept　over　the　Painted　Table。　〃The　rest　of　Westeros　is　in　the　hands　of　my　foes。　I　have　no　fleet　but　Salladhor　Saan's。　No　coin　to　hire　sellswords。　No　prospect　of　plunder　or　glory　to　lure　freeriders　to　my　cause。〃
　〃Lord　husband；〃　said　Queen　Selyse；　〃you　have　more　men　than　Aegon　did　three　hundred　years　ago。　All　you　lack　are　dragons。〃
　The　look　Stannis　gave　her　was　dark。　〃Nine　mages　crossed　the　sea　to　hatch　Aegon　the　Third's　cache　of　eggs。　Baelor　the　Blessed　prayed　over　his　for　half　a　year。　Aegon　the　Fourth　built　dragons　of　wood　and　iron。　Aerion　Brightflame　drank　wildfire　to　transform　himself。　The　mages　failed；　King　Baelor's　prayers　went　unanswered；　the　wooden　dragons　burned；　and　Prince　Aerion　died　screaming。〃
　Queen　Selyse　was　adamant。　〃None　of　these　was　the　chosen　of　R'hllor。　No　red　et　blazed　across　the　heavens　to　herald　their　ing。　None　wielded　Lightbringer；　the　red　sword　of　heroes。　And　none　of　them　paid　the　price。　Lady　Melisandre　will　tell　you；　my　lord。　Only　death　can　pay　for　life。〃
　〃The　boy？〃　The　king　almost　spat　the　words。
　〃The　boy；〃　agreed　the　queen。
　〃The　boy；〃　Ser　Axell　echoed。
　〃I　was　sick　unto　death　of　this　wretched　boy　before　he　was　even　born；　the　king　plained。　〃His　very　name　is　a　roaring　in　my　ears　and　a　dark　cloud　upon　my　soul。〃
　〃Give　the　boy　to　me　and　you　need　never　hear　his　name　spoken　again；〃　Melisandre　promised。
　No；　but　you'll　hear　him　screaming　when　she　burns　him。　Davos　held　his　tongue。　It　was　wiser　not　to　speak　until　the　king　manded　it。
　〃Give　me　the　boy　for　R'hllor；〃　the　red　woman　said；　〃and　the　ancient　prophecy　shall　be　fulfilled。　Your　dragon　shall　awaken　and　spread　his　stony　wings。　The　kingdom　shall　be　yours。〃
　Ser　Axell　went　to　one　knee。　〃On　bended　knee　I　beg　you；　sire。　Wake　the　stone　dragon　and　let　the　traitors　tremble。　Like　Aegon　you　begin　as　Lord　of　Dragonstone。　Like　Aegon　you　shall　conquer。　Let　the　false　and　the　fickle　feel　your　flames。〃
　〃Your　own　wife　begs　as　well；　lord　husband。〃　Queen　Selyse　went　down　on　both　knees　before　the　king；　hands　clasped　as　if　in　prayer。　〃Robert　and　Delena　defiled　our　bed　and　laid　a　curse　upon　our　union。　This　boy　is　the　foul　fruit　of　their　fomications。　Lift　his　shadow　from　my　womb　and　I　will　bear　you　many　trueborn　sons；　I　know　it。〃　She　threw　her　arms　around　his　legs。　〃He　is　only　one　boy；　born　of　your　brother's　lust　and　my　cousin's　shame。〃
　〃He　is　mine　own　blood。　Stop　clutching　me；　woman。〃　King　Stannis　put　a　hand　on　her　shoulder；　awkwardly　untangling　himself　from　her　grasp。　〃Perhaps　Robert　did　curse　our　marriage　bed。　He　swore　to　me　that　he　never　meant　to　shame　me；　that　he　was　drunk　and　never　knew　which　bedchamber　he　entered　that　night。　But　does　it　matter？　The　boy　was　not　at　fault；　whatever　the　truth。〃
　Melisandre　put　her　hand　on　the　king's　arm。　〃The　Lord　of　Light　cherishes　the　innocent。　There　is　no　sacrifice　more　precious。　From　his　king's　blood　and　his　untainted　fire；　a　dragon　shall　be　born。〃
　Stannis　did　not　pull　away　from　Melisandre's　touch　as　he　had　from　his　queen's。　The　red　woman　was　all　Selyse　was　not；　young；　full…bodied；　and　strangely　beautiful；　with　her　heart…shaped　face；　coppery　hair；　and　unearthly　red　eyes。　〃It　would　be　a　wondrous　thing　to　see　stone　e　to　life；〃　he　admitted；　grudging。　〃And　to　mount　a　dragon　。　。　。　I　remember　the　first　time　my　father　took　me　to　court；　Robert　had　to　hold　my　hand。　I　could　not　have　been　older　than　four；　which　would　have　made　him　five　or　six。　We　agreed　afterward　that　the　king　had　been　as　noble　as　the　dragons　were　fearsome。〃　Stannis　snorted。　〃Years　later；　our　father　told　us　that　Aerys　had　cut　himself　on　the　throne　that　morning；　so　his　Hand　had　taken　his　place。　It　was　Tywin　Lannister　who'd　so　impressed　us。〃　His　fingers　touched　the　surface　of　the　table；　tracing　a　path　lightly　across　the　varnished　hills。　〃Robert　took　the　skulls　down　when　he　donned　the　crown；　but　he　could　not　bear　to　have　them　destroyed。　Dragon　wings　over　Westeros　。　。　。　there　would　be　such　a　。　。　。
　〃Your　Grace！〃　Davos　edged　forward。　〃Might　I　speak？〃
　Stannis　closed　his　mouth　so　hard　his　teeth　snapped。　〃My　lord　of　the　Rainwood。　Why　do　you　think　I　made　you　Hand；　if　not　to　speak？〃　The　king　waved　a　hand。　〃Say　what　you　will。〃
　Warrior；　make　me　brave。　〃I　know　little　of　dragons　and　less　of　gods　。　。　。　but　the　queen　spoke　of　curses。　No　man　is　as　cursed　as　the　kinslayer；　in　the　eyes　of　gods　and　men。〃
　〃There　are　no　gods　save　R'hllor　and　the　Other；　whose　name　must　not　be　spoken。〃　Melisandre's　mouth　made　a　hard　red　line。　〃And　small　men　curse　what　they　cannot　understand。〃
　〃I　am　a　small　man；〃　Davos　admitted；　〃so　tell　me　why　you　need　this　boy　Edric　Storm　to　wake　your　great　stone　dragon；　my　lady。〃　He　was　determined　to　say　the　boy's　name　as　often　as　he　could。
　〃Only　death　can　pay　for　life；　my　lord。　A　great　gift　requires　a　great　sacrifice。〃
　〃Where　is　the　greatness　in　a　baseborn　child？〃
　〃He　has　kings'　blood　in　his　veins。　You　have　seen　what　even　a　little　of　that　blood　could　do…〃
　〃I　saw　you　burn　some　leeches。〃
　〃And　two　false　kings　are　dead。〃
　〃Robb　Stark　was　murdered　by　Lord　Walder　of　the　Crossing；　and　we　have　heard　that　Balon　Greyjoy　fell　from　a　bridge。　Who　did　your　leeches　kill？〃
　〃Do　you　doubt　the　power　of　R'hllor？〃
　No。　Davos　remembered　too　well　the　living　shadow　that　had　squirmed　from　out　her　womb　that　night　beneath　Storm's　End；　its　black　hands　pressing　at　her　thighs。　I　must　go　carefully　here；　or　some　shadow　may　e　seeking　me　as　well。　〃Even　an　onion　smuggler　knows　two　onions　from　three。　You　are　short　a　king；　my　lady。〃
　Stannis　gave　a　snort　of　laughter。　〃He　has　you　there；　my　lady。　Two　is　not　three。〃
　〃To　be　sure；　Your　Grace。　One　king　might　die　by　chance；　even　two　。　。　。　but　three？　if　Joffrey　should　die　in　the　midst　of　all　his　power；　surrounded　by　his　armies　and　his　Kingsguard；　would　not　that　show　the　power　of　the　Lord　at　work？〃
　〃It　might。〃　The　king　spoke　as　if　he　grudged　each　word。
　〃Or　not。〃　Davos　did　his　best　to　hide　his　fear。
　〃Joffrey　shall　die；〃　Queen　Selyse　declared；　serene　in　her　confidence。
　〃It　may　be　that　he　is　dead　already；〃　Ser　Axell　added。
　Stannis　looked　at　them　with　annoyance。　〃Are　you　trained　crows；　to　croak　at　me　in　turns？　Enough。〃
　〃Husband；　hear　me…〃　the　queen　entreated。
　〃Why？　Two　is　not　three。　Kings　can　count　as　well　as　smugglers。　You　may　go。〃　Stannis　turned　his　back　on　them。
　Melisandre　helped　the　queen　to　her　feet。　Selyse　swept　stiffly　from　the　chamber；　the　red　woman　trailing　behind。　Ser　Axell　lingered　long　enough　to　give　Davos　one　last　look。　An　ugly　look　on　an　ugly　face；　he　thought　as　he　met　the　stare。
　After　the　others　had　gone；　Davos　cleared　his　throat。　The　king　looked　up。　〃Why　are　you　still　here？〃
　〃Sire；　about　Edric　Storm　。　。　。〃
　Stannis　made　a　sharp　gesture。　〃Spare　me。〃
　Davos　persisted。　〃Your　daughter　takes　her　lessons　with　him；　and　plays　with　him　every　day　in　Aegon's　Garden。〃
　〃I　know　that。〃
　〃Her　heart　would　break　if　anything　ill　should　…
　〃I　know　that　as　well。〃
　〃If　you　would　only　see　him　…
　〃I　have　seen　him。　He　looks　like　Robert。　Aye；　and　worships　him。　Shall　I　tell　him　how　often　his　beloved　father　ever　gave　him　a　thought？　My　brother　liked　the　making　of　children　well　enough；　but　after　birth　they　were　a　bother。〃
　〃He　asks　after　you　every　day；　he　…
　〃You　are　making　me　angry；　Davos。　I　will　hear　no　more　of　this　bastard　boy。〃
　〃His　name　is　Edric　Storm；　sire。〃
　〃I　know　his　name。　Was　there　ever　a　name　so　apt？　It　proclaims　his　bastardy；　his　high　birth；　and　the　turmoil　he　brings　with　him。　Edric　Storm。　There；　I　have　said　it。　Are　you　satisfied；　my　lord　Hand？〃
　〃Edric…〃　he　started。
　〃…is　one　boy！　He　may　be　the　best　boy　who　ever　drew　breath　and　it　would　not　matter。　My　duty　is　to　the　realm。〃　His　hand　swept　across　the　Painted　Table。　〃How　many　boys　dwell　in　Westeros？　How　many　girls？　How　many　men；　how　many　women？　The　darkness　will　devour　them　all；　she　says。　The　night　that　never　ends。　She　talks　of　prophecies　。　。　。　a　hero　reborn　in　the　sea；　living　dragons　hatched　from　dead　stone　。　。　。　she　speaks　of　signs　and　swears　they　point　to　me。　I　never　asked　for　this；　no　more　than　I　asked　to　be　king。　Yet　dare　I　disregard　her？〃　He　ground　his　teeth。　〃We　do　not　choose　our　destinies。　Yet　we　must　。　。　。　we　must　do　our　duty；　no？　Great　or　small；　we　must　do　our　duty。　Melisandre　swears　that　she　has　seen　me　in　her　flames；　facing　the　dark　with　Lightbringer　raised　on　high。　Lighthringer！〃　Stannis　gave　a　derisive　snort。　〃It　glimmers　prettily。〃
　I'll　grant　you；　but　on　the　Blackwater　this　magic　sword　served　me　no　better　than　any　mon　steel。　A　dragon　would　have　turned　that　battle。　Aegon　once　stood　here　as　I　do；　looking　down　on　this　table。　Do　you　think　we　would　name　him　Aegon　the　Conqueror　today　if　he　had　not　had　dragons？〃
　〃Your　Grace；〃　said　Davos；　〃the　cost。　。
　〃I　know　the　cost！　Last　night；　gazing　into　that　hearth；　I　saw　things　in　the　flames　as　well。　I　saw　a　king；　a　crown　of　fire　on　his　brows；　burning　。　。　。　burning；　Davos。　His　own　crown　consumed　his　flesh　and　turned　him　into　ash。　Do　you　think　I　need　Melisandre　to　tell　me　what　that　means？　Or　you？〃　The　king　moved；　so　his　shadow　fell　upon　King's　Landing。　〃If　Joffrey　should　die　。　。　。　what　is　the　life　of　one　bastard　boy　against　a　kingdom？〃
　〃Everything；〃　said　Davos；　softly。
　Stannis　looked　at　him；　jaw　clenched。　〃Go；〃　the　king　said　at　last；　〃before　you　talk　yourself　back　into　the　dungeon。〃
　Sometimes　the　storm