grrm.astormofswords-第159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！


al　sun；　and　pearl　direwolf。
　〃A　splendid　cup；〃　said　Joffrey；　〃but　we'll　need　to　chip　the　wolf　off　and　put　a　squid　in　its　place；　I　think。〃
　Sansa　pretended　that　she　had　not　heard。
　〃Margaery　and　I　shall　drink　deep　at　the　feast；　good　father。〃　Joffrey　lifted　the　chalice　above　his　head；　for　everyone　to　admire。
　〃The　damned　thing's　as　tall　as　I　am；〃　Tyrion　muttered　in　a　low　voice。　〃Half　a　chalice　and　Joff　will　be　falling　down　drunk。〃
　Good；　she　thought。　Perhaps　he'll　break　his　neck。
　Lord　Tywin　waited　until　last　to　present　the　king　with　his　own　gift：　a　longsword。　Its　scabbard　was　made　of　cherrywood；　gold；　and　oiled　red　leather；　studded　with　golden　lions'　heads。　The　lions　had　ruby　eyes；　she　saw。　The　ballroom　fell　silent　as　Joffrey　unsheathed　the　blade　and　thrust　the　sword　above　his　head。　Red　and　black　ripples　in　the　steel　shimmered　in　the　morning　light。
　〃Magnificent；〃　declared　Mathis　Rowan。
　〃A　sword　to　sing　of；　sire；〃　said　Lord　Redwyne。
　〃A　king's　sword；〃　said　Ser　Kevan　Lannister。
　King　Joffrey　looked　as　if　he　wanted　to　kill　someone　right　then　and　there；　he　was　so　excited。　He　slashed　at　the　air　and　laughed。　〃A　great　sword　must　have　a　great　name；　my　lords！　What　shall　I　call　it？〃
　Sansa　remembered　Lion's　Tooth；　the　sword　Arya　had　flung　into　the　Trident；　and　Hearteater；　the　one　he'd　made　her　kiss　before　the　battle。　She　wondered　if　he'd　want　Margaery　to　kiss　this　one。
　The　guests　were　shouting　out　names　for　the　new　blade。　Joff　dismissed　a　dozen　before　he　heard　one　he　liked。　〃Widow's　Wail！〃　he　cried。　〃Yes！　It　shall　make　many　a　widow；　too！〃　He　slashed　again。　〃And　when　I　face　my　uncle　Stannis　it　will　break　his　magic　sword　clean　in　two。〃　Joff　tried　a　downcut；　forcing　Ser　Balon　Swann　to　take　a　hasty　step　backward。　Laughter　rang　through　the　hall　at　the　look　on　Ser　Balon's　face。
　〃Have　a　care；　Your　Grace；〃　Ser　Addam　Marbrand　warned　the　king。　〃Valyrian　steel　is　perilously　sharp。〃
　〃I　remember。〃　Joffrey　brought　Widow's　Wail　down　in　a　savage　twohanded　slice；　onto　the　book　that　Tyrion　had　given　him。　The　heavy　leather　cover　parted　at　a　stroke。　〃Sharp！　I　told　you；　I　am　no　stranger　to　Valyrian　steel。〃　It　took　him　half　a　dozen　further　cuts　to　hack　the　thick　tome　apart；　and　the　boy　was　breathless　by　the　time　he　was　done。　Sansa　could　feel　her　husband　struggling　with　his　fury　as　Ser　Osmund　Kettleblack　shouted；　〃I　pray　you　never　turn　that　wicked　edge　on　me；　sire。〃
　〃See　that　you　never　give　me　cause；　ser。〃　Joffrey　flicked　a　chunk　of　Lives　of　Four　Kings　off　the　table　at　swordpoint；　then　slid　Widow's　Wail　back　into　its　scabbard。
　〃Your　Grace；〃　Ser　Garlan　Tyrell　said。　〃Perhaps　you　did　not　know。　In　all　of　Westeros　there　were　but　four　copies　of　that　book　illuminated　in　Kaeth's　own　hand。〃
　〃Now　there　are　three。〃　Joffrey　undid　his　old　swordbelt　to　don　his　new　one。　〃You　and　Lady　Sansa　owe　me　a　better　present；　Uncle　Imp。　This　one　is　all　chopped　to　pieces。〃
　Tyrion　was　staring　at　his　nephew　with　his　mismatched　eyes。　〃Perhaps　a　knife；　sire。　To　match　your　sword。　A　dagger　of　the　same　fine　Valyrian　steel　。　。　。　with　a　dragonbone　hilt；　say？〃
　Joff　gave　him　a　sharp　look。　〃You　。　。　。　yes；　a　dagger　to　match　my　sword；　good。〃　He　nodded。　〃A　。　。　。　a　gold　hilt　with　rubies　in　it。　Dragonbone　is　too　plain。〃
　〃As　you　wish；　Your　Grace。　〃　Tyrion　drank　another　cup　of　wine。　He　might　have　been　all　alone　in　his　solar　for　all　the　attention　he　paid　Sansa。　But　when　the　time　came　to　leave　for　the　wedding；　he　took　her　by　the　hand。
　As　they　were　crossing　the　yard；　Prince　Oberyn　of　Dorne　fell　in　beside　them；　his　black…haired　paramour　on　his　arm。　Sansa　glanced　at　the　woman　curiously。　She　was　baseborn　and　unwed；　and　had　home　two　bastard　daughters　for　the　prince；　but　she　did　not　fear　to　look　even　the　queen　in　the　eye。　Shae　had　told　her　that　this　Ellaria　worshiped　some　Lysene　love　goddess。　〃She　was　almost　a　whore　when　he　found　her；　m'lady；〃　her　maid　confided；　〃and　now　she's　near　a　princess。〃　Sansa　had　never　been　this　close　to　the　Dornishwoman　before。　She　is　not　truly　beautiful；　she　thought；　but　something　about　her　draws　the　eye。
　〃I　once　had　the　great　good　fortune　to　see　the　Citadel's　copy　of　Lives　of　Four　Kings；〃　Prince　Oberyn　was　telling　her　lord　husband。　〃The　illuminations　were　wondrous　to　behold；　but　Kaeth　was　too　kind　by　half　to　King　Viserys。〃
　Tyrion　gave　him　a　sharp　look。　〃Too　kind？　He　scants　Viserys　shamefully；　in　my　view。　It　should　have　been　Lives　of　Five　Kings。〃
　The　prince　laughed。　〃Viserys　hardly　reigned　a　fortnight。〃
　〃He　reigned　more　than　a　year；〃　said　Tyrion。
　Oberyn　gave　a　shrug。　〃A　year　or　a　fortnight；　what　does　it　matter？　He　poisoned　his　own　nephew　to　gain　the　throne　and　then　did　nothing　once　he　had　it。〃
　〃Baelor　starved　himself　to　death；　fasting；〃　said　Tyrion。　〃His　uncle　served　him　loyally　as　Hand；　as　he　had　served　the　Young　Dragon　before　him。　Viserys　might　only　have　reigned　a　year；　but　he　ruled　for　fifteen；　while　Daeron　warred　and　Baelor　prayed。〃　He　made　a　sour　face。　〃And　if　he　did　remove　his　nephew；　can　you　blame　him？　Someone　had　to　save　the　realm　from　Baelor's　follies。〃
　Sansa　was　shocked。　〃But　Baelor　the　Blessed　was　a　great　king。　He　walked　the　Boneway　barefoot　to　make　peace　with　Dorne；　and　rescued　the　Dragonknight　from　a　snakepit。　The　vipers　refused　to　strike　him　because　he　was　so　pure　and　holy。〃
　Prince　Oberyn　smiled。　〃If　you　were　a　viper；　my　lady；　would　you　want　to　bite　a　bloodless　stick　like　Baelor　the　Blessed？　I'd　sooner　save　my　fangs　for　someone　juicier　。　。　。〃
　〃My　prince　is　playing　with　you；　Lady　Sansa；〃　said　the　woman　Ellaria　Sand。　〃The　septons　and　singers　like　to　say　that　the　snakes　did　not　bite　Baelor；　but　the　truth　is　very　different。　He　was　bitten　half　a　hundred　times；　and　should　have　died　from　it。〃
　〃If　he　had；　Viserys　would　have　reigned　a　dozen　years；〃　said　Tyrion；　Iiand　the　Seven　Kingdoms　might　have　been　better　served。　Some　believe　Baelor　was　deranged　by　all　that　venom。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Prince　Oberyn；　〃but　I've　seen　no　snakes　in　this　Red　Keep　of　yours。　So　how　do　you　account　for　Joffrey？〃
　〃I　prefer　not　to。〃　Tyrion　inclined　his　head　stiffly。　〃If　you　will　excuse　us。　Our　litter　awaits。〃　The　dwarf　helped　Sansa　up　inside　and　clambered　awkwardly　after　her。　〃Close　the　curtains；　my　lady；　if　you'd　be　so　good。〃
　〃Must　we；　my　lord？　〃　Sansa　did　not　want　to　be　shut　behind　the　curtains。　〃The　day　is　so　lovely。〃
　〃The　good　people　of　King's　Landing　are　like　to　throw　dung　at　the　litter　if　they　see　me　inside　it。　Do　us　both　a　kindness；　my　lady。　Close　the　curtains。〃
　She　did　as　he　bid　her。　They　sat　for　a　time；　as　the　air　grew　warm　and　stuffy　around　them。　〃I　was　sorry　about　your　book；　my　lord；〃　she　made　herself　say。
　〃It　was　Joffrey's　book。　He　might　have　learned　a　thing　or　two　if　he'd　read　it。〃　He　sounded　distracted。　〃I　should　have　known　better。　I　should　have　seen　。　。　。　a　good　many　things。〃
　〃Perhaps　the　dagger　will　please　him　more。〃
　When　the　dwarf　grimaced；　his　scar　tightened　and　twisted。　〃The　boy's　earned　himself　a　dagger；　wouldn't　you　say？〃　Thankfully　Tyrion　did　not　wait　for　her　reply。　〃Joff　quarreled　with　your　brother　Robb　at　Winterfell。　Tell　me；　was　there　ill　feeling　between　Bran　and　His　Grace　as　well？〃
　〃Bran？〃　The　question　confused　her。　〃Before　he　fell；　you　mean？〃　She　had　to　try　and　think　back。　It　was　all　so　long　ago。　〃Bran　was　a　sweet　boy。　Everyone　loved　him。　He　and　Tornmen　fought　with　wooden　swords；　I　remember；　but　just　for　play。〃
　Tyrion　lapsed　back　into　moody　silence。　Sansa　heard　the　distant　clank　of　chains　from　outside；　the　portcullis　was　being　drawn　up。　A　moment　later　there　was　a　shout；　and　their　litter　swayed　into　motion。　Deprived　of　the　passing　scenery；　she　chose　to　stare　at　her　folded　hands；　unfortably　aware　of　her　husand's　mismatched　eyes。　Why　is　he　looking　at　me　that　way？
　〃You　loved　your　brothers；　much　as　I　love　Jaime。〃
　Is　this　some　Lannister　trap　to　make　me　speak　treason？　〃My　brothers　were　traitors；　and　they've　gone　to　traitors'　graves。　It　is　treason　to　love　a　traitor。〃
　Her　little　husband　snorted。　〃Robb　rose　in　arms　against　his　rightful　king。　By　law；　that　made　him　a　traitor。　The　others　died　too　young　to　know　what　treason　was。〃　He　rubbed　his　nose。　〃Sansa；　do　you　know　what　happened　to　Bran　at　Winterfell？〃
　〃Bran　fell。　He　was　always　climbing　things；　and　finally　he　fell。　We　always　feared　he　would。　And　Theon　Greyjoy　killed　him；　but　that　was　later。〃
　〃Theon　Grey…joy。〃　Tyrion　sighed。　〃Your　lady　mother　once　accused　me　。　。　。　well；　I　will　not　burden　you　with　the　ugly　details。　She　accused　me　falsely。　I　never　harmed　your　brother　Bran。　And　I　mean　no　harm　to　you。〃
　What　does　he　want　me　to　say？　〃That　is　good　to　know；　my　lord。〃　He　wanted　something　from　her；　but　Sansa　did　not　know　what　it　was。　He　looks　like　a　starving　child；　but　I　have　no　food　to　give　him。　Why　won't　he　leave　me　be？
　Tyrion　rubbed　at　his　scarred；　scabby　nose　yet　again；　an　ugly　habit　that　drew　the　eye　to　his　ugly　face。　〃You　have　never　asked　me　how　Robb　died；　or　your　lady　mother。〃
　〃I　。　。　。　would　sooner　not　know。　It　would　give　me　bad　dreams。〃
　〃Then　I　will　say　no　more。〃
　〃That　。　。　。　that's　kind　of　you。〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Tyrion。　〃I　am　the　very　soul　of　kindness。　And　I　know　about　bad　dreams。〃
　
　CHAPTER　60
　TYRION
　
　The　new　crown　that　his　father　had　given　the　Faith　stood　twice　as　tall　as　the　one　the　mob　had　smashed；　a　glory　of　crystal　and　spun　gold。　Rainbow　light　flashed　and　shimmered　every　time　the　High　Septon　moved　his　head；　but　Tyrion　had　to　wonder　how　the　man　could　bear　the　weight。　And　even　he　had　to　concede　that　Joffrey　and　Margaery　made　a　regal　couple；　as　they　stood　side…by…side　between　the　towering　gilded　statues　of　the　Father　and　the　Mother。
　The　bride　was　lovely　in　ivory　silk　and　Myrish　lace；　her　skirts　decorated　with　floral　patterns　picked　out　in　seed　pearls。　As　Renly's　widow；　she　might　have　worn　the　Baratheon　colors；　gold　and　black；　yet　she　came　to　them　a　Tyrell；　in　a　maiden's　cloak　made　of　a　hundred　cloth…of…gold　roses　sewn　to　green　velvet。　He　wondered　if　she　really　was　a　maiden。　Not　that　Joffrey　is　like　to　know　the　difference。
　The　king　looked　near　as　splendid　as　his　bride；　in　his　doublet　of　dusky　rose；　beneath　a　cloak　of　deep　crimson　velvet　blazoned　with　his　stag　and　lion。　The　crown　rested　easily　on　his　curls；　gold　on　gold。　I　saved　that　bloody　crown　for　him。　Tyrion　shifted　his　weight　unfortably　from　one　foo