grrm.astormofswords-第17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！


　The　old　woman　smelled　of　rosewater。　Why；　she's　just　the　littlest　bit　of　a　thing。　There　was　nothing　the　least　bit　thorny　about　her。　〃Kiss　me；　child；〃　Lady　Olenna　said；　tugging　at　Sansa's　wrist　with　a　soft　spotted　hand。　〃It　is　so　kind　of　you　to　sup　with　me　and　my　foolish　flock　of　hens。〃　Dutifully；　Sansa　kissed　the　old　woman　on　the　cheek。　〃It　is　kind　of　you　to　have　me；　my　lady。〃
　〃I　knew　your　grandfather；　Lord　Rickard；　though　not　well。〃
　〃He　died　before　I　was　born。〃
　〃I　am　aware　of　that；　child。　It's　said　that　your　Tully　grandfather　is　dying　too。　Lord　Hoster；　surely　they　told　you？　An　old　man；　though　not　so　old　as　me。　Still；　night　falls　for　all　of　us　in　the　end；　and　too　soon　for　some。　You　would　know　that　more　than　most；　poor　child。　You've　had　your　share　of　grief；　I　know。　We　are　sorry　for　your　losses。〃
　Sansa　glanced　at　Margaery。　〃I　was　saddened　when　I　heard　of　Lord　Renly's　death；　Your　Grace。　He　was　very　gallant。〃
　〃You　are　kind　to　say　so；〃　answered　Margaery。
　Her　grandmother　snorted。　〃Gallant；　yes；　and　charming；　and　very　clean。　He　knew　how　to　dress　and　he　knew　how　to　smile　and　he　knew　how　to　bathe；　and　somehow　he　got　the　notion　that　this　made　him　fit　to　be　king。　The　Baratheons　have　always　had　some　queer　notions；　to　be　sure。　It　es　from　their　Targaryen　blood；　I　should　think。〃　She　sniffed。　〃They　tried　to　marry　me　to　a　Targaryen　once；　but　I　soon　put　an　end　to　that。〃
　〃Renly　was　brave　and　gentle；　Grandmother；〃　said　Margaery。　〃Father　liked　him　as　well；　and　so　did　Loras。〃
　〃Loras　is　young；〃　Lady　Olenna　said　crisply；　〃and　very　good　at　knocking　men　off　horses　with　a　stick。　That　does　not　make　him　wise。　As　to　your　father；　would　that　I'd　been　born　a　peasant　woman　with　a　big　wooden　spoon；　I　might　have　been　able　to　beat　some　sense　into　his　fat　head。〃
　〃Mother；〃　Lady　Alerie　scolded。
　〃Hush；　Alerie；　don't　take　that　tone　with　me。　And　don't　call　me　Mother。　If　I'd　given　birth　to　you；　I'm　sure　I'd　remember。　I'm　only　to　blame　for　your　husband；　the　lord　oaf　of　Highgarden。〃
　〃Grandmother；〃　Margaery　said；　〃mind　your　words；　or　what　will　Sansa　think　of　us？〃
　〃She　might　think　we　have　some　wits　about　us。　One　of　us；　at　any　rate。〃　The　old　woman　turned　back　to　Sansa。　〃It's　treason；　I　warned　them；　Robert　has　two　sons；　and　Renly　has　an　older　brother；　how　can　he　possibly　have　any　claim　to　that　ugly　iron　chair？　Tut…tut；　says　my　son；　don't　you　want　your　sweetling　to　be　queen？　You　Starks　were　kings　once；　the　Arryns　and　the　Lannisters　as　well；　and　even　the　Baratheons　through　the　female　line；　but　the　Tyrells　were　no　more　than　stewards　until　Aegon　the　Dragon　came　along　and　cooked　the　rightful　King　of　the　Reach　on　the　Field　of　Fire。　If　truth　be　told；　even　our　claim　to　Highgarden　is　a　bit　dodgy；　just　as　those　dreadful　Florents　are　always　whining。　'What　does　it　matter？'　you　ask；　and　of　course　it　doesn't；　except　to　oafs　like　my　son。　The　thought　that　one　day　he　may　see　his　grandson　with　his　arse　on　the　iron　Throne　makes　Mace　puff　up　like　。　。　。　now；　what　do　you　call　it？　Margaery；　you're　clever；　be　a　dear　and　tell　your　poor　old　half…daft　grandmother　the　name　of　that　queer　fish　from　the　Summer　Isles　that　puffs　up　to　ten　times　its　own　size　when　you　poke　it。〃
　〃They　call　them　puff　fish；　Grandmother。〃
　〃Of　course　they　do。　Summer　Islanders　have　no　imagination。　My　son　ought　to　take　the　puff　fish　for　his　sigil；　if　truth　be　told。　He　could　put　a　crown　on　it；　the　way　the　Baratheons　do　their　stag；　mayhap　that　would　make　him　happy。　We　should　have　stayed　well　out　of　all　this　bloody　foolishness　if　you　ask　me；　but　once　the　cow's　been　milked　there's　no　squirting　the　cream　back　up　her　udder。　After　Lord　Puff　Fish　put　that　crown　on　Renly's　head；　we　were　into　the　pudding　up　to　our　knees；　so　here　we　are　to　see　things　through。　And　what　do　you　say　to　that；　Sansa？〃
　Sansa's　mouth　opened　and　closed。　She　felt　very　like　a　puff　fish　herself。　〃The　Tyrells　can　trace　their　descent　back　to　Garth　Greenhand；〃　was　the　best　she　could　manage　at　short　notice。
　The　Queen　of　Thorns　snorted。　〃So　can　the　Florents；　the　Rowans；　the　oakhearts；　and　half　the　other　noble　houses　of　the　south。　Garth　liked　to　plant　his　seed　in　fertile　ground；　they　say。　I　shouldn't　wonder　that　more　than　his　hands　were　green。〃
　〃Sansa；〃　Lady　Alerie　broke　in；　〃you　must　be　very　hungry。　Shall　we　have　a　bite　of　boar　together；　and　some　lemon　cakes？〃
　〃Lemon　cakes　are　my　favorite；〃　Sansa　admitted。
　〃So　we　have　been　told；〃　declared　Lady　Olenna；　who　obviously　had　no　intention　of　being　hushed。　〃That　Varys　creature　seemed　to　think　we　should　be　grateful　for　the　information。　I've　never　been　quite　sure　what　the　point　of　a　eunuch　is；　if　truth　be　told。　It　seems　to　me　they're　only　men　with　the　useful　bits　cut　off。　Alerie；　will　you　have　them　bring　the　food；　or　do　you　mean　to　starve　me　to　death？　Here；　Sansa；　sit　here　next　to　me；　I'm　much　less　boring　than　these　others。　I　hope　that　you're　fond　of　fools。〃
　Sansa　smoothed　down　her　skirts　and　sat。　〃I　think　。　。　。　fools；　my　lady？　You　mean　。　。　。　the　sort　in　motley？〃
　〃Feathers；　in　this　case。　What　did　you　imagine　I　was　speaking　of？　My　son？　Or　these　lovely　ladies？　No；　don't　blush；　with　your　hair　it　makes　you　look　like　a　pomegranate。　All　men　are　fools；　if　truth　be　told；　but　the　ones　in　motley　are　more　amusing　than　ones　with　crowns。　Margaery；　child；　summon　Butterbumps；　let　us　see　if　we　can't　make　Lady　Sansa　smile。　The　rest　of　you　be　seated；　do　I　have　to　tell　you　everything？　Sansa　must　think　that　my　granddaughter　is　attended　by　a　flock　of　sheep。〃
　Butterbumps　arrived　before　the　food；　dressed　in　a　jester's　suit　of　green　and　yellow　feathers　with　a　floppy　coxb。　An　immense　round　fat　man；　as　big　as　three　Moon　Boys；　he　came　cartwheeling　into　the　hall；　vaulted　onto　the　table；　and　laid　a　gigantic　egg　right　in　front　of　Sansa。　〃Break　it；　my　lady；〃　he　manded。　When　she　did；　a　dozen　yellow　chicks　escaped　and　began　running　in　all　directions。　〃Catch　them！〃　Butterbumps　exclaimed。　Little　Lady　Bulwer　snagged　one　and　handed　it　to　him；　whereby　he　tilted　back　his　head；　popped　it　into　his　huge　rubbery　mouth；　and　seemed　to　swallow　it　whole。　When　he　belched；　tiny　yellow　feathers　flew　out　his　nose。　Lady　Bulwer　began　to　wail　in　distress；　but　her　tears　turned　into　a　sudden　squeal　of　delight　when　the　chick　came　squirming　out　of　the　sleeve　of　her　gown　and　ran　down　her　arm。
　As　the　servants　brought　out　a　broth　of　leeks　and　mushrooms；　Butterbumps　began　to　juggle　and　Lady　Olenna　pushed　herself　forward　to　rest　her　elbows　on　the　table。　〃Do　you　know　my　son；　Sansa？　Lord　Puff　Fish　of　Highgarden？〃
　〃A　great　lord；〃　Sansa　answered　politely。
　〃A　great　oaf；〃　said　the　Queen　of　Thorns。　〃His　father　was　an　oaf　as　well。　My　husband；　the　late　Lord　Luthor。　Oh；　I　loved　him　well　enough；　don't　mistake　me。　A　kind　man；　and　not　unskilled　in　the　bedchamber；　but　an　appalling　oaf　all　the　same。　He　managed　to　ride　off　a　cliff　whilst　hawking。　They　say　he　was　looking　up　at　the　sky　and　paying　no　mind　to　where　his　horse　was　taking　him。
　〃And　now　my　oaf　son　is　doing　the　same；　only　he's　riding　a　lion　instead　of　a　palfrey。　It　is　easy　to　mount　a　lion　and　not　so　easy　to　get　off；　I　warned　him；　but　he　only　chuckles。　Should　you　ever　have　a　son；　Sansa；　beat　him　frequently　so　he　learns　to　mind　you。　I　only　had　the　one　boy　and　I　hardly　beat　him　at　all；　so　now　he　pays　more　heed　to　Butterbumps　than　he　does　to　me。　A　lion　is　not　a　lap　cat；　I　told　him；　and　he　gives　me　a　'tut…tutMother。'　There　is　entirely　too　much　tut…tutting　in　this　realm；　if　you　ask　me。　All　these　kings　would　do　a　deal　better　if　they　would　put　down　their　swords　and　listen　to　their　mothers。〃
　Sansa　realized　that　her　mouth　was　open　again。　She　filled　it　with　a　spoon　of　broth　while　Lady　Alerie　and　the　other　women　were　giggling　at　the　spectacle　of　Butterbumps　bouncing　oranges　off　his　head；　his　elbows；　and　his　ample　rump。
　〃I　want　you　to　tell　me　the　truth　about　this　royal　boy；〃　said　Lady　Olenna　abruptly。　〃This　Joffrey。〃
　Sansa's　fingers　tightened　round　her　spoon。　The　truth？　I　can't。　Don't　ask　it；　please；　I　can't。　〃I　。　。　。　I　。　。　。　I　。　。　。〃
　〃You；　yes。　Who　would　know　better？　The　lad　seems　kingly　enough；　I'll　grant　you。　A　bit　full　of　himself；　but　that　would　be　his　Lannister　blood。　We　have　heard　some　troubling　tales；　however。　Is　there　any　truth　to　them？　Has　this　boy　mistreated　you？〃
　Sansa　glanced　about　nervously。　Butterbumps　popped　a　whole　orange　into　his　mouth；　chewed　and　swallowed；　slapped　his　cheek；　and　blew　seeds　out　of　his　nose。　The　women　giggled　and　laughed。　Servants　were　ing　and　going；　and　the　Maidenvault　echoed　to　the　clatter　of　spoons　and　plates。　One　of　the　chicks　hopped　back　onto　the　table　and　ran　through　Lady　Graceford's　broth。　No　one　seemed　to　be　paying　them　any　mind；　but　even　so；　she　was　frightened。
　Lady　Olenna　was　growing　impatient。　〃Why　are　you　gaping　at　Butterbumps？　I　asked　a　question；　I　expect　an　answer。　Have　the　Lannisters　stolen　your　tongue；　child？〃
　Ser　Dontos　had　warned　her　to　speak　freely　only　in　the　godswood。　〃Joff　。　。　。　King　Joffrey；　he's　。　。　。　His　Grace　is　very　fair　and　handsome；　and　。　。　。　and　as　brave　as　a　lion。〃
　〃Yes；　all　the　Lannisters　are　lions；　and　when　a　Tyrell　breaks　wind　it　smells　just　like　a　rose；〃　the　old　woman　snapped。　〃But　how　kind　is　he？　How　clever？　Has　he　a　good　heart；　a　gentle　hand？　Is　he　chivalrous　as　befits　a　king？　Will　he　cherish　Margaery　and　treat　her　tenderly；　protect　her　honor　as　he　would　his　own？〃
　〃He　will；〃　Sansa　lied。　〃He　is　very　。　。　。　very　ely。〃
　〃You　said　that。　You　know；　child；　some　say　that　you　are　as　big　a　fool　as　Butterbumps　here；　and　I　am　starting　to　believe　them。　ely？　I　have　taught　my　Margaery　what　ely　is　worth；　I　hope。　Somewhat　less　than　a　mummer's　fart。　Aerion　Brightfire　was　ely　enough；　but　a　monster　all　the　same。　The　question　is；　what　is　Joffrey？〃　She　reached　to　snag　a　passing　servant。　〃I　am　not　fond　of　leeks。　Take　this　broth　away；　and　bring　me　some　cheese。〃
　〃The　cheese　will　be　served　after　the　cakes；　my　lady。〃
　〃The　cheese　will　be　served　when　I　want　it　served；　and　I　want　it　served　now。〃　The　old　woman　turned　back　to　Sansa。　〃Are　you　frightened；　child？　No　need　for　that；　we're　only　women　here。　Tell　me　the　truth；　no　harm　will　e　to　you。〃
　〃My　father　always　told　the　truth。〃　Sansa　spoke　quietly；　but　even　so；　it　was　hard　to　get　the　words　out。
　〃Lord　Eddard；　yes；　he　had　that　reputation；　but　they　named　him　traitor　and　took　his　head