grrm.astormofswords-第156部分

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　where　a　hundred　people　had　gathered　to　roast　the　carcass　of　a　horse。　She　could　smell　the　meat　and　hear　the　fat　sizzling　as　the　spit　boys　turned；　but　the　sight　only　made　her　frown。
　Children　ran　behind　their　horses；　skipping　and　laughing。　Instead　of　salutes；　voices　called　to　her　on　every　side　in　a　babble　of　tongues。　Some　of　the　freedmen　greeted　her　as　〃Mother；〃　while　others　begged　for　boons　or　favors。　Some　prayed　for　strange　gods　to　bless　her；　and　some　asked　her　to　bless　them　instead。　She　smiled　at　them；　turning　right　and　left；　touching　their　hands　when　they　raised　them；　letting　those　who　knelt　reach　up　to　touch　her　stirrup　or　her　leg。　Many　of　the　freedmen　believed　there　was　good　fortune　in　her　touch。　If　it　helps　give　them　courage；　let　them　touch　me；　she　thought。　There　are　hard　trials　yet　ahead　。　。　。
　Dany　had　stopped　to　speak　to　a　pregnant　woman　who　wanted　the　Mother　of　Dragons　to　name　her　baby　when　someone　reached　up　and　grabbed　her　left　wrist。　Turning；　she　glimpsed　a　tall　ragged　man　with　a　shaved　head　and　a　sunburnt　face。　〃Not　so　hard；〃　she　started　to　say；　but　before　she　could　finish　he'd　yanked　her　bodily　from　the　saddle。　The　ground　came　up　and　knocked　the　breath　from　her；　as　her　silver　whinnied　and　backed　away。　Stunned；　Dany　rolled　to　her　side　and　pushed　herself　onto　one　elbow　。　。　。
　　。　。　。　and　then　she　saw　the　sword。
　〃There's　the　treacherous　sow；〃　he　said。　〃I　knew　you'd　e　to　get　your　feet　kissed　one　day。〃　His　head　was　bald　as　a　melon；　his　nose　red　and　peeling；　but　she　knew　that　voice　and　those　pale　green　eyes。　〃I'm　going　to　start　by　cutting　off　your　teats。〃　Dany　was　dimly　aware　of　Missandei　shouting　for　help。　A　freedman　edged　forward；　but　only　a　step。　One　quick　slash；　and　he　was　on　his　knees；　blood　running　down　his　face。　Mero　wiped　his　sword　on　his　breeches。　〃Who's　next？〃
　〃I　am。〃　Arstan　Whitebeard　leapt　from　his　horse　and　stood　over　her；　the　salt　wind　riffling　through　his　snowy　hair；　both　hands　on　his　tall　hardwood　staff。
　〃Grandfather；〃　Mero　said；　〃run　off　before　I　break　your　stick　in　two　and　bugger　you　with…〃
　The　old　man　feinted　with　one　end　of　the　staff；　pulled　it　back；　and　whipped　the　other　end　about　faster　than　Dany　would　have　believed。　The　Titan's　Bastard　staggered　back　into　the　surf；　spitting　blood　and　broken　teeth　from　the　ruin　of　his　mouth。　Whitebeard　put　Dany　behind　him。　Mero　slashed　at　his　face。　The　old　man　jerked　back；　cat…quick。　The　staff　thumped　Mero's　ribs；　sending　him　reeling。　Arstan　splashed　sideways；　parried　a　looping　cut；　danced　away　from　a　second；　checked　a　third　mid…swing。　The　moves　were　so　fast　she　could　hardly　follow。　Missandei　was　pulling　Dany　to　her　feet　when　she　heard　a　crack。　She　thought　Arstan's　staff　had　snapped　until　she　saw　the　jagged　bone　jutting　from　Mero's　calf。　As　he　fell；　the　Titan's　Bastard　twisted　and　lunged；　sending　his　point　straight　at　the　old　man's　chest。　Whitebeard　swept　the　blade　aside　almost　contemptuously　and　smashed　the　other　end　of　his　staff　against　the　big　man's　temple。　Mero　went　sprawling；　blood　bubbling　from　his　mouth　as　the　waves　washed　over　him。　A　moment　later　the　freedmen　washed　over　him　too；　knives　and　stones　and　angry　fists　rising　and　falling　in　a　frenzy。
　Dany　turned　away；　sickened。　She　was　more　frightened　now　than　when　it　had　been　happening。　He　would　have　killed　me。
　〃Your　Grace。〃　Arstan　knelt。　〃I　am　an　old　man；　and　shamed。　He　should　never　have　gotten　close　enough　to　seize　you。　I　was　lax。　I　did　not　know　him　without　his　beard　and　hair。〃
　〃No　more　than　I　did。〃　Dany　took　a　deep　breath　to　stop　her　shaking。　Enemies　everywhere。　〃Take　me　back　to　my　tent。　Please。〃
　By　the　time　Mormont　arrived；　she　was　huddled　in　her　lion　pelt；　drinking　a　cup　of　spice　wine。　〃I　had　a　look　at　the　river　wall；〃　Ser　Jorah　started。　〃It's　a　few　feet　higher　than　the　others；　and　just　as　strong。　And　the　Meereenese　have　a　dozen　fire　hulks　tied　up　beneath　the　ramparts…〃
　She　cut　him　off。　〃You　might　have　warned　me　that　the　Titan's　Bastard　had　escaped。〃
　He　frowned。　〃I　saw　no　need　to　frighten　you；　Your　Grace。　I　have　offered　a　reward　for　his　head…〃
　〃Pay　it　to　Whitebeard。　Mero　has　been　with　us　all　the　way　from　Yunkai。　He　shaved　his　beard　off　and　lost　himself　amongst　the　freedmen；　waiting　for　a　chance　for　vengeance。　Arstan　killed　him。〃
　Ser　Jorah　gave　the　old　man　a　long　look。　〃A　squire　with　a　stick　slew　Mero　of　Braavos；　is　that　the　way　of　it？〃
　〃A　stick；〃　Dany　confirmed；　〃but　no　longer　a　squire。　Ser　Jorah；　it's　my　wish　that　Arstan　be　knighted。〃
　〃No。〃
　The　loud　refusal　was　surprise　enough。　Stranger　still；　it　came　from　both　men　at　once。
　Ser　Jorah　drew　his　sword。　〃The　Titan's　Bastard　was　a　nasty　piece　of　work。　And　good　at　killing。　Who　are　you；　old　man？〃
　〃A　better　knight　than　you；　ser；〃　Arstan　said　coldly。
　Knight？　Dany　was　confused。　〃You　said　you　were　a　squire。〃
　〃I　was；　Your　Grace。〃　He　dropped　to　one　knee。　〃I　squired　for　Lord　Swann　in　my　youth；　and　at　Magister　Illyrio's　behest　I　have　served　Strong　Belwas　as　well。　But　during　the　years　between；　I　was　a　knight　in　Westeros。　I　have　told　you　no　lies；　my　queen。　Yet　there　are　truths　I　have　withheld；　and　for　that　and　all　my　other　sins　I　can　only　beg　your　forgiveness。〃
　〃What　truths　have　you　withheld？〃　Dany　did　not　like　this。　〃You　will　tell　me。　Now。〃
　He　bowed　his　head。　〃At　Qarth；　when　you　asked　my　name；　I　said　I　was　called　Arstan。　That　much　was　true。　Many　men　had　called　me　by　that　name　while　Belwas　and　I　were　making　our　way　east　to　find　you。　But　it　is　not　my　true　name。〃
　She　was　more　confused　than　angry。　He　has　played　me　false；　just　as　Jorah　warned　me；　yet　he　saved　my　life　just　now　。　。　。
　Ser　Jorah　flushed　red。　〃Mero　shaved　his　beard；　but　you　grew　one；　didn't　you？　No　wonder　you　looked　so　bloody　familiar　。　。　。〃
　〃You　know　him？〃　Dany　asked　the　exile　knight；　lost。
　〃I　saw　him　perhaps　a　dozen　times　。　。　。　from　afar　most　often；　standing　with　his　brothers　or　riding　in　some　tourney。　But　every　man　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms　knew　Barristan　the　Bold。〃　He　laid　the　point　of　his　sword　against　the　old　man's　neck。　〃Khaleesi；　before　you　kneels　Ser　Barristan　Selmy；　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard；　who　betrayed　your　House　to　serve　the　Usurper　Robert　Baratheon。〃
　The　old　knight　did　not　so　much　as　blink。　〃The　crow　calls　the　raven　black；　and　you　speak　of　betrayal。〃
　〃Why　are　you　here？〃　Dany　demanded　of　him。　〃If　Robert　sent　you　to　kill　me；　why　did　you　save　my　life？〃　He　served　the　Usurper。　He　betrayed　Rhaegar's　memory；　and　abandoned　Viserys　to　live　and　die　in　exile。　Yet　if　he　wanted　me　dead；　he　need　only　have　stood　aside　。　。　。　〃I　want　the　whole　truth　now；　on　your　honor　as　a　knight。　Are　you　the　Usurper's　man；　or　mine？〃
　〃Yours；　if　you　will　have　me。〃　Ser　Barristan　had　tears　in　his　eyes。　〃I　took　Robert's　pardon；　aye。　I　served　him　in　Kingsguard　and　council。　Served　with　the　Kingslayer　and　others　near　as　bad；　who　soiled　the　white　cloak　I　wore。　Nothing　will　excuse　that。　I　might　be　serving　in　King's　Landing　still　if　the　vile　boy　upon　the　Iron　Throne　had　not　cast　me　aside；　it　shames　me　to　admit。　But　when　he　took　the　cloak　that　the　White　Bull　had　draped　about　my　shoulders；　and　sent　men　to　kill　me　that　selfsame　day；　it　was　as　though　he'd　ripped　a　caul　off　my　eyes。　That　was　when　I　knew　I　must　find　my　true　king；　and　die　in　his　service…〃
　〃I　can　grant　that　wish；〃　Ser　Jorah　said　darkly。
　〃Quiet；〃　said　Dany。　〃I'll　hear　him　out。〃
　〃It　may　be　that　I　must　die　a　traitor's　death；〃　Ser　Barristan　said。　〃If　so；　I　should　not　die　alone。　Before　I　took　Robert's　pardon　I　fought　against　him　on　the　Trident。　You　were　on　the　other　side　of　that　battle；　Mormont；　were　you　not？〃　He　did　not　wait　for　an　answer。　〃Your　Grace；　I　am　sorry　I　misled　you。　it　was　the　only　way　to　keep　the　Lannisters　from　learning　that　I　had　joined　you。　You　are　watched；　as　your　brother　was。　Lord　Varys　reported　every　move　Viserys　made；　for　years。　Whilst　I　sat　on　the　small　council；　I　heard　a　hundred　such　reports。　And　since　the　day　you　wed　Khal　Drogo；　there　has　been　an　informer　by　your　side　selling　your　secrets；　trading　whispers　to　the　Spider　for　gold　and　promises。〃
　He　cannot　mean　。　。　。　〃You　are　mistaken。〃　Dany　looked　at　Jorah　Mon　mont。　〃Tell　him　he's　mistaken。　There's　no　informer。　Ser　Jorah；　tell　him。　We　crossed　the　Dothraki　sea　together；　and　the　red　waste　。　。　。〃　Her　heart　fluttered　like　a　bird　in　a　trap。　〃Tell　him；　Jorah。　Tell　him　how　he　got　it　wrong。〃
　〃The　Others　take　you；　Selmy。〃　Ser　Jorah　flung　his　longsword　to　the　carpet。　〃Khaleesi；　it　was　only　at　the　start；　before　I　came　to　know　you　。　。　。　before　I　came　to　love　。　。　。〃
　〃Do　not　say　that　word！〃　She　backed　away　from　him。　〃How　could　you？　What　did　the　Usurper　promise　you？　Gold；　was　it　gold？〃　The　Undying　had　said　she　would　be　betrayed　twice　more；　once　for　gold　and　once　for　love。　〃Tell　me　what　you　were　promised？〃
　〃Varys　said　。　。　。　I　might　go　home。〃　He　bowed　his　head。
　I　was　going　to　take　you　home！　Her　dragons　sensed　her　fury。　Viserion　roared；　and　smoke　rose　grey　from　his　snout。　Drogon　beat　the　air　with　black　wings；　and　Rhaegal　twisted　his　head　back　and　belched　flame。　I　should　say　the　word　and　burn　the　two　of　them。　Was　there　no　one　she　could　trust；　no　one　to　keep　her　safe？　〃Are　all　the　knights　of　Westeros　so　false　as　you　two？　Get　out；　before　my　dragons　roast　you　both。　What　does　roast　liar　smell　like？　As　foul　as　Brown　Ben's　sewers？　Go！〃
　Ser　Barristan　rose　stiff　and　slow。　For　the　first　time；　he　looked　his　age。　〃Where　shall　we　go；　Your　Grace？〃
　〃To　hell；　to　serve　King　Robert。〃　Dany　felt　hot　tears　on　her　cheeks。　Drogon　screamed；　lashing　his　tail　back　and　forth。　〃The　Others　can　have　you　both。〃　Go；　go　away　forever；　both　of　you；　the　next　time　I　see　your　faces　I'll　have　your　traitors'　heads　off。　She　could　not　say　the　words；　though。　They　betrayed　me。　But　they　saved　me。　But　they　lied。　〃You　go　。　。　。〃　My　bear；　myfierce　strong　bear；　what　will　I　do　without　him？　And　the　old　man；　my　brother's　friend。　〃You　go　。　。　。　go　。　。　。〃　Where？
　And　then　she　knew。
　
　CHAPTER　58
　TYRION
　
　Tyrion　dressed　himself　in　darkness；　listening　to　his　wife's　soft　breathing　from　the　bed　they　shared。　She　dreams；　he　thought；　when　Sansa　murmured　something　softly…a　name；　perhaps；　though　it　was　too　faint　to　say…and　turned　onto　her　side。　As　man　and　wife　they　shared　a　marriage　bed；　but　that　was　all。　Even　her　tears　she　hoards　to　herself。
　He　had　expected　anguish　and　anger　when