grrm.astormofswords-第191部分

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　〃Cersei　and　Jaime。〃
　〃Such　a　clever　dwarf。　Elia　and　I　were　older；　to　be　sure。　Your　brother　and　sister　could　not　have　been　more　than　eight　or　nine。　Still；　a　difference　of　five　or　six　years　is　little　enough。　And　there　was　an　empty　cabin　on　our　ship；　a　very　nice　cabin；　such　as　might　be　kept　for　a　person　of　high　birth。　As　if　it　were　intended　that　we　take　someone　back　to　Sunspear。　A　young　page；　perhaps。　Or　a　panion　for　Elia。　Your　lady　mother　meant　to　betroth　Jaime　to　my　sister；　or　Cersei　to　me。　Perhaps　both。〃
　〃Perhaps；〃　said　Tyrion；　〃but　my　father…〃　
　〃…ruled　the　Seven　Kingdoms；　but　was　ruled　at　home　by　his　lady　wife；　or　so　my　mother　always　said。〃　Prince　Oberyn　raised　his　arms；　so　Lord　Dagos　Manwoody　and　the　Bastard　of　Godsgrace　could　slip　a　chainmail　bymie　down　over　his　head。　〃At　Oldtown　we　learned　of　your　mother's　death；　and　the　monstrous　child　she　had　borne。　We　might　have　turned　back　there；　but　my　mother　chose　to　sail　on。　I　told　you　of　the　wele　we　found　at　Casterly　Rock。
　〃What　I　did　not　tell　you　was　that　my　mother　waited　as　long　as　was　decent；　and　then　broached　your　father　about　our　purpose。　Years　later；　on　her　deathbed；　she　told　me　that　Lord　Tywin　had　refused　us　brusquely。　His　daughter　was　meant　for　Prince　Rhaegar；　he　informed　her。　And　when　she　asked　for　Jaime；　to　espouse　Elia；　he　offered　her　you　instead。〃
　〃Which　offer　she　took　for　an　outrage。〃
　〃It　was。　Even　you　can　see　that；　surely？〃
　〃Oh；　surely。〃　It　all　goes　back　and　back；　Tyrion　thought；　to　our　mothers　and　fathers　and　theirs　before　them。　We　are　puppets　dancing　on　the　strings　of　those　who　came　before　us；　and　one　day　our　own　children　will　take　up　our　strings　and　dance　on　in　our　steads。　〃Well；　Prince　Rhaegar　married　Elia　of　Dome；　not　Cersei　Lannister　of　Casterly　Rock。　So　it　would　seem　your　mother　won　that　tilt。〃
　〃She　thought　so；〃　Prince　Oberyn　agreed；　〃but　your　father　is　not　a　man　to　forget　such　slights。　He　taught　that　lesson　to　Lord　and　Lady　Tarbeck　once；　and　to　the　Reynes　of　Castamere。　And　at　King's　Landing；　he　taught　it　to　my　sister。　My　helm；　Dagos。〃　Manwoody　handed　it　to　him；　a　high　golden　helm　with　a　copper　disk　mounted　on　the　brow；　the　sun　of　Dome。　The　visor　had　been　removed；　Tyrion　saw。　〃Elia　and　her　children　have　waited　long　for　justice。〃　Prince　Oberyn　pulled　on　soft　red　leather　gloves；　and　took　up　his　spear　again。　〃But　this　day　they　shall　have　it。〃
　The　outer　ward　had　been　chosen　for　the　bat。　Tyrion　had　to　skip　and　run　to　keep　up　with　Prince　Oberyn's　long　strides。　The　snake　is　eager；　he　thought。　Let　us　hope　he　is　venomous　as　well。　The　day　was　grey　and　windy。　The　sun　was　struggling　to　break　through　the　clouds；　but　Tyrion　could　no　more　have　said　who　was　going　to　win　that　fight　than　the　one　on　which　his　life　depended。
　It　looked　as　though　a　thousand　people　had　e　to　see　if　he　would　live　or　die。　They　lined　the　castle　wallwalks　and　elbowed　one　another　on　the　steps　of　keeps　and　towers。　They　watched　from　the　stable　doors；　from　windows　and　bridges；　from　balconies　and　roofs。　And　the　yard　was　packed　with　them；　so　many　that　the　gold　cloaks　and　the　knights　of　the　Kingsguard　had　to　shove　them　back　to　make　enough　room　for　the　fight。　Some　had　dragged　out　chairs　to　watch　more　fortably；　while　others　perched　on　barrels。　We　should　have　done　this　in　the　Dragonpit；　Tyrion　thought　sourly。　We　could　have　charged　a　penny　a　head　and　paid　for　Joffrey's　wedding　and　funeral　both。　Some　of　the　onlookers　even　had　small　children　sitting　on　their　shoulders；　to　get　a　better　view。　They　shouted　and　pointed　at　the　sight　of　Tyrion。
　Cersei　seemed　half　a　child　herself　beside　Ser　Gregor。　In　his　armor；　the　Mountain　looked　bigger　than　any　man　had　any　right　to　be。　Beneath　a　long　yellow　surcoat　bearing　the　three　black　dogs　of　Clegane；　he　wore　heavy　plate　over　chainmail；　dull　grey　steel　dinted　and　scarred　in　battle。　Beneath　that　would　be　boiled　leather　and　a　layer　of　quilting。　A　flat…topped　greathelm　was　bolted　to　his　gorget；　with　breaths　around　the　mouth　and　nose　and　a　narrow　slit　for　vision。　The　crest　atop　it　was　a　stone　fist。
　If　Ser　Gregor　was　suffering　from　wounds；　Tyrion　could　see　no　sign　of　it　from　across　the　yard。　He　looks　as　though　he　was　chiseled　out　of　rock；　standing　there。　His　greatsword　was　planted　in　the　ground　before　him；　six　feet　of　scarred　metal。　Ser　Gregor's　huge　hands；　clad　in　gauntlets　of　lobstered　steel；　clasped　the　crosshilt　to　either　side　of　the　grip。　Even　Prince　Oberyn's　paramour　paled　at　the　sight　of　him。　〃You　are　going　to　fight　that？〃　Ellaria　Sand　said　in　a　hushed　voice。
　〃I　am　going　to　kill　that；〃　her　lover　replied　carelessly。
　Tyrion　had　his　own　doubts；　now　that　they　stood　on　the　brink。　When　he　looked　at　Prince　Oberyn；　he　found　himself　wishing　he　had　Bronn　defending　him　。　。　。　or　even　better；　Jaime。　The　Red　Viper　was　lightly　armored；　greaves；　vambraces；　gorget；　spaulder；　steel　codpiece。　Elsewise　Oberyn。　was　clad　in　supple　leather　and　flowing　silks。　Over　his　byrnie　he　wore　his　scales　of　gleaming　copper；　but　mail　and　scale　together　would　not　give　him　a　quarter　the　protection　of　Gregor's　heavy　plate。　With　its　visor　removed；　the　prince's　helm　was　effectively　no　better　than　a　halfhelm；　lacking　even　a　nasal。　His　round　steel　shield　was　brightly　polished；　and　showed　the　sun…and…spear　in　red　gold；　yellow　gold；　white　gold；　and　copper。
　Dance　around　him　until　he's　so　tired　he　can　hardly　lift　his　arm；　then　put　him　on　his　back。　The　Red　Viper　seemed　to　have　the　same　notion　as　Bronn。　But　the　sellsword　had　been　blunt　about　the　risks　of　such　tactics。　I　hope　to　seven　hells　that　you　know　what　you　are　doing；　snake。
　A　platform　had　been　erected　beside　the　Tower　of　the　Hand；　halfway　between　the　two　champions。　That　was　where　Lord　Tywin　sat　with　his　brother　Ser　Kevan。　King　Tommen　was　not　in　evidence；　for　that；　at　least；　Tyrion　was　grateful。
　Lord　Tywin　glanced　briefly　at　his　dwarf　son；　then　lifted　his　hand。　A　dozen　trumpeters　blew　a　fanfare　to　quiet　the　crowd。　The　High　Septon　shuffled　forward　in　his　tall　crystal　crown；　and　prayed　that　the　Father　Above　would　help　them　in　this　judgment；　and　that　the　Warrior　would　lend　his　strength　to　the　arm　of　the　man　whose　cause　was　just。　That　would　be　me；　Tyrion　almost　shouted；　but　they　would　only　laugh；　and　he　was　sick　unto　death　of　laughter。
　Ser　Osmund　Kettleblack　brought　Clegane　his　shield；　a　massive　thing　of　heavy　oak　rimmed　in　black　iron。　As　the　Mountain　slid　his　left　arm　through　the　straps；　Tyrion　saw　that　the　hounds　of　Clegane　had　been　painted　over。　This　morning　Ser　Gregor　bore　the　seven…pointed　star　the　Andals　had　brought　to　Westeros　when　they　crossed　the　narrow　sea　to　overwhelm　the　First　Men　and　their　gods。　Very　pious　of　you；　Cersei；　but　I　doubt　the　gods　will　be　impressed。
　There　were　fifty　yards　between　them。　Prince　Oberyn　advanced　quickly；　Ser　Gregor　more　ominously。　The　ground　does　not　shake　when　he　walks；　Tyrion　told　himself。　That　is　only　my　heart　fluttering。　When　the　two　men　were　ten　yards　apart；　the　Red　Viper　stopped　and　called　out；　〃Have　they　told　you　who　I　am？〃
　Ser　Gregor　grunted　through　his　breaths。　〃Some　dead　man。〃　He　came　on；　inexorable。
　The　Domishman　slid　sideways。　〃I　am　Oberyn　Martell；　a　prince　of　Dome；〃　he　said；　as　the　Mountain　turned　to　keep　him　in　sight。　〃Princess　Elia　was　my　sister。〃
　〃Who？〃　asked　Gregor　Clegane。
　Oberyn's　long　spear　jabbed；　but　Ser　Gregor　took　the　point　on　his　shield；　shoved　it　aside；　and　bulled　back　at　the　prince；　his　great　sword　flashing。　The　Domishman　spun　away　untouched。　The　spear　darted　forward。　Clegane　slashed　at　it；　Martell　snapped　it　back；　then　thrust　again。　Metal　screamed　on　metal　as　the　spearhead　slid　off　the　Mountain's　chest；　slicing　through　the　surcoat　and　leaving　a　long　bright　scratch　on　the　steel　beneath。　〃Elia　Martell；　Princess　of　Dome；〃　the　Red　Viper　hissed。　〃You　raped　her。　You　murdered　her。　You　killed　her　children。〃
　Ser　Gregor　grunted。　He　made　a　ponderous　charge　to　hack　at　the　Domishman's　head。　Prince　Oberyn　avoided　him　easily。　〃You　raped　her。　You　murdered　her。　You　killed　her　children。〃
　〃Did　you　e　to　talk　or　to　fight？〃
　〃I　came　to　hear　you　confess。〃　The　Red　Viper　landed　a　quick　thrust　on　the　Mountain's　belly；　to　no　effect。　Gregor　cut　at　him；　and　missed。　The　long　spear　lanced　in　above　his　sword。　Like　a　serpent's　tongue　it　flickered　in　and　out；　feinting　low　and　landing　high；　jabbing　at　groin；　shield；　eyes。　The　Mountain　makes　for　a　big　target；　at　the　least；　Tyrion　thought。　Prince　Oberyn　could　scarcely　miss；　though　none　of　his　blows　was　penetrating　Ser　Gregor's　heavy　plate。　The　Dornishman　kept　circling；　jabbing；　then　darting　back　again；　forcing　the　bigger　man　to　turn　and　turn　again。　Clegane　is　losing　sight　of　him。　The　Mountain's　helm　had　a　narrow　eyeslit；　severely　limiting　his　vision。　Oberyn　was　making　good　use　of　that；　and　the　length　of　his　spear；　and　his　quickness。
　It　went　on　that　way　for　what　seemed　a　long　time。　Back　and　forth　they　moved　across　the　yard；　and　round　and　round　in　spirals；　Ser　Gregor　slashing　at　the　air　while　Oberyn's　spear　struck　at　arm；　and　leg；　twice　at　his　temple。　Gregor's　big　wooden　shield　took　its　share　of　hits　as　well；　until　a　dog's　head　peeped　out　from　under　the　star；　and　elsewhere　the　raw　oak　showed　through。　Clegane　would　grunt　from　time　to　time；　and　once　Tyrion　heard　him　mutter　a　curse；　but　otherwise　he　fought　in　a　sullen　silence。
　Not　Oberyn　Martell。　〃You　raped　her；〃　he　called；　feinting。　〃You　murdered　her；〃　he　said；　dodging　a　looping　cut　from　Gregor's　greatsword。　〃You　killed　her　children；〃　he　shouted；　slamming　the　spearpoint　into　the　giant's　throat；　only　to　have　it　glance　off　the　thick　steel　gorget　with　a　screech。
　〃Oberyn　is　toying　with　him；〃　said　Ellaria　Sand。
　That　is　fool's　play；　thought　Tyrion。　〃The　Mountain　is　too　bloody　big　to　be　any　man's　toy。〃
　All　around　the　yard；　the　throng　of　spectators　was　creeping　in　toward　the　two　batants；　edging　forward　inch　by　inch　to　get　a　better　view。　The　Kingsguard　tried　to　keep　them　back；　shoving　at　the　gawkers　forcefully　with　their　big　white　shields；　but　there　were　hundreds　of　gawkers　and　only　six　of　the　men　in　white　armor。
　〃You　raped　her。〃　Prince　Oberyn　parried　a　savage　cut　with　his　spearhead。　〃You　murdered　her。〃　He　sent　the　spearpoint　at　Clegane's　eyes；　so　fast　the　huge　man　flinched　back。　〃You　killed　her　children。〃　The　spear　flickered　sideways　and　down；　scraping　against　the　Mountain's　breastpla