grrm.astormofswords-第183部分

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tter。
　〃He　did　not　kill　Joffrey；　true；　but　the　dwarf's　hands　are　far　from　clean。　He　had　a　wife　before　you；　did　you　know　that？〃
　〃He　told　me。〃
　〃And　did　he　tell　you　that　when　he　grew　bored　with　her；　he　made　a　gift　of　her　to　his　father's　guardsmen？　He　might　have　done　the　same　to　you；　in　time。　Shed　no　tears　for　the　Imp；　my　lady。〃
　The　wind　ran　salty　fingers　through　her　hair；　and　Sansa　shivered。　Even　this　close　to　shore；　the　rolling　of　the　ship　made　her　tummy　queasy。　She　desperately　needed　a　bath　and　a　change　of　clothes。　I　must　look　as　haggard　as　a　corpse；　and　smell　of　vomit。
　Lord　Petyr　came　up　beside　her；　cheerful　as　ever。　〃Good　morrow。　The　salt　air　is　bracing；　don't　you　think？　It　always　sharpens　my　appetite。〃　He　put　a　sympathetic　arm　about　her　shoulders。　〃Are　you　quite　well？　You　look　so　pale。〃
　〃It's　only　my　tummy。　The　seasickness。〃
　〃A　little　wine　will　be　good　for　that。　We'll　get　you　a　cup；　as　soon　as　we're　ashore。〃　Petyr　pointed　to　where　an　old　flint　tower　stood　outlined　against　a　bleak　grey　sky；　the　breakers　crashing　on　the　rocks　beneath　it。　〃Cheerful；　is　it　not？　I　fear　there's　no　safe　anchorage　here。　We'll　put　ashore　in　a　boat。〃
　〃Here？〃　She　did　not　want　to　go　ashore　here。　The　Fingers　were　a　dismal　place；　she'd　heard；　and　there　was　something　forlorn　and　desolate　about　the　little　tower。　〃Couldn't　I　stay　on　the　ship　until　we　make　sail　for　White　Harbor？〃
　〃From　here　the　King　turns　east　for　Braavos。　Without　us。〃
　〃But　。　。　。　my　lord；　you　said　。　。　。　you　said　we　were　sailing　home。〃
　〃And　there　it　stands；　miserable　as　it　is。　My　ancestral　home。　It　has　no　name；　I　fear。　A　great　lord's　seat　ought　to　have　a　name；　wouldn't　you　agree？　Winterfell；　the　Eyrie；　Riverrun；　those　are　castles。　Lord　of　Harrenhal　now；　that　has　a　sweet　ring　to　it；　but　what　was　I　before？　Lord　of　Sheepshit　and　Master　of　the　Drearfort？　It　lacks　a　certain　something。〃　His　grey…green　eyes　regarded　her　innocently。　〃You　look　distraught。　Did　you　think　we　were　making　for　Winterfell；　sweetling？　Winterfell　has　been　taken；　burned；　and　sacked。　All　those　you　knew　and　loved　are　dead。　What　northmen　who　have　not　fallen　to　the　ironmen　are　warring　amongst　themselves。　Even　the　Wall　is　under　attack。　Winterfell　was　the　home　of　your　childhood；　Sansa；　but　you　are　no　longer　a　child。　You're　a　woman　grown；　and　you　need　to　make　your　own　home。〃
　〃But　not　here；〃　she　said；　dismayed。　〃It　looks　so。　。
　〃　。　。　。　small　and　bleak　and　mean？　It's　all　that；　and　less。　The　Fingers　are　a　lovely　place；　if　you　happen　to　be　a　stone。　But　have　no　fear；　we　shan't　stay　more　than　a　fortnight。　I　expect　your　aunt　is　already　riding　to　meet　us。〃　He　smiled。　〃The　Lady　Lysa　and　I　are　to　be　wed。〃
　〃Wed？〃　Sansa　was　stunned。　〃You　and　my　aunt？〃
　〃The　Lord　of　Harrenhal　and　the　Lady　of　the　Eyrie。〃
　You　said　it　was　my　mother　you　loved。　But　of　course　Lady　Catelyn　was　dead；　so　even　if　she　had　loved　Petyr　secretly　and　given　him　her　maidenhood；　it　made　no　matter　now。
　〃So　silent；　my　lady？〃　said　Petyr。　〃I　was　certain　you　would　wish　to　give　me　your　blessing。　It　is　a　rare　thing　for　a　boy　born　heir　to　stones　and　sheep　pellets　to　wed　the　daughter　of　Hoster　Tully　and　the　widow　of　Jon　Arryn。〃
　〃I　。　。　。　I　pray　you　will　have　long　years　together；　and　many　children；　and　be　very　happy　in　one　another。〃　It　had　been　years　since　Sansa　last　saw　her　mother's　sister。　She　will　be　kind　to　me　for　my　mother's　sake；　surely。　She's　my　own　blood。　And　the　Vale　of　Arryn　was　beautiful；　all　the　songs　said　so。　Perhaps　it　would　not　be　so　terrible　to　stay　here　for　a　time。
　Lothor　and　old　Oswell　rowed　them　ashore。　Sansa　huddled　in　the　bow　under　her　cloak　with　the　hood　drawn　up　against　the　wind；　wondering　what　awaited　her。　Servants　emerged　from　the　tower　to　meet　them；　a　thin　old　woman　and　a　fat　middle…aged　one；　two　ancient　white…haired　men；　and　a　girl　of　two　or　three　with　a　sty　on　one　eye。　When　they　recognized　Lord　Petyr　they　knelt　on　the　rocks。　〃My　household；〃　he　said。　〃I　don't　know　the　child。　Another　of　Kella's　bastards；　I　suppose。　She　pops　one　out　every　few　years。〃
　The　two　old　men　waded　out　up　to　their　thighs　to　lift　Sansa　from　the　boat　so　she　would　not　get　her　skirts　wet。　Oswell　and　Lothor　splashed　their　way　ashore；　as　did　Littlefinger　himself。　He　gave　the　old　woman　a　kiss　on　the　cheek　and　grinned　at　the　younger　one。　〃Who　fathered　this　one；　Kella？〃
　The　fat　woman　laughed。　〃I　can't　rightly　say；　m'lord。　I'm　not　one　for　telling　them　no。〃
　〃And　all　the　local　lads　are　grateful；　I　am　quite　sure。〃
　〃It　is　good　to　have　you　home；　my　lord；〃　said　one　old　man。　He　looked　to　be　at　least　eighty；　but　he　wore　a　studded　brigantine　and　a　longsword　at　his　side。　〃How　long　will　you　be　in　residence？〃
　〃As　short　a　time　as　possible；　Bryen；　have　no　fear。　Is　the　place　habitable　just　now；　would　you　say？〃
　〃If　we　knew　you　was　ing　we　would　have　laid　down　fresh　rushes；　m'lord；〃　said　the　crone。　〃There's　a　dung　fire　burning。〃
　〃Nothing　says　home　like　the　smell　of　burning　dung。〃　Petyr　turned　to　Sansa。　〃Grisel　was　my　wet　nurse；　but　she　keeps　my　castle　now。　Umfred's　my　steward；　and　Bryen…didn't　I　name　you　captain　of　the　guard　the　last　time　I　was　here？〃
　〃You　did；　my　lord。　You　said　you'd　be　getting　some　more　men　too；　but　you　never　did。　Me　and　the　dogs　stand　all　the　watches。〃
　〃And　very　well；　I'm　sure。　No　one　has　made　off　with　any　of　my　rocks　or　sheep　pellets；　I　see　that　plainly。〃　Petyr　gestured　toward　the　fat　woman。　〃Kella　minds　my　vast　herds。　How　many　sheep　do　I　have　at　present；　Kella？〃
　She　had　to　think　a　moment。　〃Three　and　twenty；　m'lord。　There　was　nine　and　twenty；　but　Bryen's　dogs　killed　one　and　we　butchered　some　others　and　salted　down　the　meat。〃
　〃Ah；　cold　salt　mutton。　I　must　be　home。　When　I　break　my　fast　on　gulls'　eggs　and　seaweed　soup；　I'll　be　certain　of　it。〃
　〃If　you　like；　m'lord；〃　said　the　old　woman　Grisel。
　Lord　Petyr　made　a　face。　〃e；　let's　see　if　my　hall　is　as　dreary　as　I　recall。〃　He　led　them　up　the　strand　over　rocks　slick　with　rotting　seaweed。　A　handful　of　sheep　were　wandering　about　the　base　of　the　flint　tower；　grazing　on　the　thin　grass　that　grew　between　the　sheepfold　and　thatched　stable。　Sansa　had　to　step　carefully；　there　were　pellets　everywhere。
　Within；　the　tower　seemed　even　smaller。　An　open　stone　stair　wound　round　the　inside　wall；　from　undercroft　to　roof。　Each　floor　was　but　a　single　room。　The　servants　lived　and　slept　in　the　kitchen　at　ground　level；　sharing　the　space　with　a　huge　brindled　mastiff　and　a　half…dozen　sheepdogs。　Above　that　was　a　modest　hall；　and　higher　still　the　bedchamber。　There　were　no　windows；　but　arrowslits　were　embedded　in　the　outer　wall　at　intervals　along　the　curve　of　the　stair。　Above　the　hearth　hung　a　broken　longsword　and　a　battered　oaken　shield；　its　paint　cracked　and　flaking。
　The　device　painted　on　the　shield　was　one　Sansa　did　not　know；　a　grey　stone　head　with　fiery　eyes；　upon　a　light　green　field。　〃My　grandfather's　shield；〃　Petyr　explained　when　he　saw　her　gazing　at　it。　〃His　own　father　was　born　in　Braavos　and　came　to　the　Vale　as　a　sellsword　in　the　hire　of　Lord　Corbray；　so　my　grandfather　took　the　head　of　the　Titan　as　his　sigil　when　he　was　knighted。〃
　〃It's　very　fierce；〃　said　Sansa。
　〃Rather　too　fierce；　for　an　amiable　fellow　like　me；〃　said　Petyr。　〃I　much　prefer　my　mockingbird。〃
　Oswell　made　two　more　trips　out　to　the　Merling　King　to　offload　provisions。　Among　the　loads　he　brought　ashore　were　several　casks　of　wine。　Petyr　poured　Sansa　a　cup；　as　promised。　〃Here；　my　lady；　that　should　help　your　tummy；　I　would　hope。〃
　Having　solid　ground　beneath　her　feet　had　helped　already；　but　Sansa　dutifully　lifted　the　goblet　with　both　hands　and　took　a　sip。　The　wine　was　very　fine；　an　Arbor　vintage；　she　thought。　it　tasted　of　oak　and　fruit　and　hot　summer　nights；　the　flavors　blossoming　in　her　mouth　like　flowers　opening　to　the　sun。　She　only　prayed　that　she　could　keep　it　down。　Lord　Petyr　was　being　so　kind；　she　did　not　want　to　spoil　it　all　by　retching　on　him。
　He　was　studying　her　over　his　own　goblet；　his　bright　grey…green　eyes　full　of　。　。　。　was　it　amusement？　Or　something　else？　Sansa　was　not　certain。　〃Grisel；〃　he　called　to　the　old　woman；　〃bring　some　food　up。　Nothing　too　heavy；　my　lady　has　a　tender　tummy。　Some　fruit　might　serve；　perhaps。　Oswell's　brought　some　oranges　and　pomegranates　from　the　King。〃
　〃Yes；　m'lord。〃
　〃Might　I　have　a　hot　bath　as　well？〃　asked　Sansa。
　〃I'll　have　Kella　draw　some　water；　m'lady。〃
　Sansa　took　another　sip　of　wine　and　tried　to　think　of　some　polite　conversation；　but　Lord　Petyr　saved　her　the　effort。　When　Grisel　and　the　other　servants　had　gone；　he　said；　〃Lysa　will　not　e　alone。　Before　she　arrives；　we　must　be　clear　on　who　you　are。〃
　〃Who　I　。　。　。　I　don't　understand。〃
　〃Varys　has　informers　everywhere。　If　Sansa　Stark　should　be　seen　in　the　Vale；　the　eunuch　will　know　within　a　moon's　turn；　and　that　would　create　unfortunate　。　。　。　plications。　it　is　not　safe　to　be　a　Stark　just　now。　So　we　shall　tell　Lysa's　people　that　you　are　my　natural　daughter。〃
　〃Natural？〃　Sansa　was　aghast。　〃You　mean；　a　bastard？〃
　〃Well；　you　can　scarcely　be　my　trueborn　daughter。　I've　never　taken　a　wife；　that's　well　known。　What　should　you　be　called？〃
　〃I　。　。　。　I　could　call　myself　after　my　mother　。　。　。〃
　〃Catelyn？　A　bit　too　obvious　。　。　。　but　after　my　mother；　that　would　serve。　Alayne。　Do　you　like　it？〃
　〃Alayne　is　pretty。〃　Sansa　hoped　she　would　remember。　〃But　couldn't　I　be　the　trueborn　daughter　of　some　knight　in　your　service？　Perhaps　he　died　gallantly　in　the　battle；　and　。　。　。〃
　〃I　have　no　gallant　knights　in　my　service；　Alayne。　Such　a　tale　would　draw　unwanted　questions　as　a　corpse　draws　crows。　It　is　rude　to　pry　into　the　origins　of　a　man's　natural　children；　however。〃　He　cocked　his　head。　〃So；　who　are　you？〃
　〃Alayne　。　。　。　Stone；　would　it　be？〃　When　he　nodded；　she　said；　〃But　who　is　my　mother？〃
　〃Kella？〃
　〃Please　no；〃　she　said；　mortified。
　〃I　was　teasing。　Your　mother　was　a　gentlewoman　of　Braavos；　daughter　of　a　merchant　prince。　We　met　in　Gulltown　when　I　had　charge　of　the　port。　She　died　giving　you　birth；　and　entrusted　you　to　the　Faith。　I　have　some　devotional　books　you　can　look　over。　Learn　to　quote　from　them。　Nothing　discourages　unwanted　questions　as　much　as　a　flow　of　pious　bleating。　In　any　case；　at　your　flowering　you　decided　you　did　not　wish　to　be　a　septa　and　wrote　to　me。　That　was　the　first　I　knew　of　your　existence。〃　He　fingered　his　beard。　〃Do　y