grrm.astormofswords-第23部分

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　〃And　he　was！〃　said　Dany；　delighted。
　〃He　was　indeed。〃　Whitebeard　bowed。　〃My　pardons；　Your　Grace。　We　speak　of　warriors；　and　I　see　that　Strong　Belwas　has　arisen。　I　must　attend　him。〃
　Dany　glanced　aft。　The　eunuch　was　climbing　through　the　hold　amidships；　nimble　for　all　his　size。　Belwas　was　squat　but　broad；　a　good　fifteen　stone　of　fat　and　muscle；　his　great　brown　gut　crisscrossed　by　faded　white　scars。　He　wore　baggy　pants；　a　yellow　silk　bellyband；　and　an　absurdly　tiny　leather　vest　dotted　with　iron　studs。　〃Strong　Belwas　is　hungry！〃　he　roared　at　everyone　and　no　one　in　particular。　〃Strong　Belwas　will　eat　now！〃　Turning；　he　spied　Arstan　on　the　forecastle。　〃Whitebeard！　You　will　bring　food　for　Strong　Belwas！〃
　〃You　may　go；〃　Dany　told　the　squire。　He　bowed　again；　and　moved　off　to　tend　the　needs　of　the　man　he　served。
　Ser　Jorah　watched　with　a　frown　on　his　blunt　honest　face。　Mormont　was　big　and　burly；　strong　of　jaw　and　thick　of　shoulder。　Not　a　handsome　man　by　any　means；　but　as　true　a　friend　as　Dany　had　ever　known。　〃You　would　be　wise　to　take　that　old　man's　words　well　salted；〃　he　told　her　when　Whitebeard　was　out　of　earshot。
　〃A　queen　must　listen　to　all；〃　she　reminded　him。　〃The　highborn　and　the　low；　the　strong　and　the　weak；　the　noble　and　the　venal。　One　voice　may　speak　you　false；　but　in　many　there　is　always　truth　to　be　found。〃　She　had　read　that　in　a　book。
　〃Hear　my　voice　then；　Your　Grace；〃　the　exile　said。　〃This　Arstan　Whitebeard　is　playing　you　false。　He　is　too　old　to　be　a　squire；　and　too　well　spoken　to　be　serving　that　oaf　of　a　eunuch。〃
　That　does　seem　queer；　Dany　had　to　admit。　Strong　Belwas　was　an　ex…slave；　bred　and　trained　in　the　fighting　pits　of　Meereen。　Magister　Illyrio　had　sent　him　to　guard　her；　or　so　Belwas　claimed；　and　it　was　true　that　she　needed　guarding。　The　Usurper　on　his　Iron　Throne　had　offered　land　and　lordship　to　any　man　who　killed　her。　One　attempt　had　been　made　already；　with　a　cup　of　poisoned　wine。　The　closer　she　came　to　Westeros；　the　more　likely　another　attack　became。　Back　in　Qarth；　the　warlock　Pyat　Pree　had　sent　a　Sorrowful　Man　after　her　to　avenge　the　Undying　she'd　burned　in　their　House　of　Dust。　Warlocks　never　forgot　a　wrong；　it　was　said；　and　the　Sorrowful　Men　never　failed　to　kill。　Most　of　the　Dothraki　would　be　against　her　as　well。　Khal　Drogo's　kos　led　khalasars　of　their　own　now；　and　none　of　them　would　hesitate　to　attack　her　own　little　band　on　sight；　to　slay　and　slave　her　people　and　drag　Dany　herself　back　to　Vaes　Dothrak　to　take　her　proper　place　among　the　withered　crones　of　the　dosh　khaleen。　She　hoped　that　Xaro　Xhoan　Daxos　was　not　an　enemy；　but　the　Qartheen　merchant　had　coveted　her　dragons。　And　there　was　Quaithe　of　the　Shadow；　that　strange　woman　in　the　red　lacquer　mask　with　all　her　cryptic　counsel。　Was　she　an　enemy　too；　or　only　a　dangerous　friend？　Dany　could　not　say。
　Ser　forah　saved　me　from　the　poisoner；　and　Arstan　Whitebeard　from　the　manticore。　Perhaps　Strong　Belwas　voll　save　me　from　the　next。　He　was　huge　enough；　with　arms　like　small　trees　and　a　great　curved　arakh　so　sharp　he　might　have　shaved　with　it；　in　the　unlikely　event　of　hair　sprouting　on　those　smooth　brown　cheeks。　Yet　he　was　childlike　as　well。　As　a　protector；　he　leaves　much　to　be　desired。　Thankfully；　I　have　Ser　forah　and　my　bloodriders。　And　my　dragons；　never　forget。　In　time；　the　dragons　would　be　her　most　formidable　guardians；　just　as　they　had　been　for　Aegon　the　Conqueror　and　his　sisters　three　hundred　years　ago。　just　now；　though；　they　brought　her　more　danger　than　protection。　In　all　the　world　there　were　but　three　living　dragons；　and　those　were　hers；　they　were　a　wonder；　and　a　terror；　and　beyond　price。
　She　was　pondering　her　next　words　when　she　felt　a　cool　breath　on　the　back　of　her　neck；　and　a　loose　strand　of　her　silver…gold　hair　stirred　against　her　brow。　Above；　the　canvas　creaked　and　moved；　and　suddenly　a　great　cry　went　up　from　all　over　Balerion。　〃Wind！〃　the　sailors　shouted。　〃The　wind　returns；　the　wind！〃
　Dany　looked　up　to　where　the　great　cog's　sails　rippled　and　belled　as　the　lines　thrummed　and　tightened　and　sang　the　sweet　song　they　had　missed　so　for　six　long　days。　Captain　Groleo　rushed　aft；　shouting　mands。　The　Pentoshi　were　scrambling　up　the　masts；　those　that　were　not　cheering。　Even　Strong　Belwas　let　out　a　great　bellow　and　did　a　little　dance。　〃The　gods　are　good！〃　Dany　said。　〃You　see；　Jorah？　We　are　on　our　way　once　more。〃
　〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃but　to　what；　my　queen？〃
　All　day　the　wind　blew；　steady　from　the　east　at　first；　and　then　in　wild　gusts。　The　sun　set　in　a　blaze　of　red。　I　am　still　half　a　world　from　Westeros；　Dany　reminded　herself；　but　every　hour　brings　me　closer。　She　tried　to　imagine　what　it　would　feel　like；　when　she　first　caught　sight　of　the　land　she　was　born　to　rule。　It　will　be　as　fair　a　shore　as　I　have　ever　seen；　I　know　it。　How　could　it　be　otherwise？
　But　later　that　night；　as　Balerion　plunged　onward　through　the　dark　and　Dany　sat　crosslegged　on　her　bunk　in　the　captain's　cabin；　feeding　her　dragons…〃Even　upon　the　sea；〃　Groleo　had　said；　so　graciously；　〃queens　take　precedence　over　captains〃…a　sharp　knock　came　upon　the　door。
　Irri　had　been　sleeping　at　the　foot　of　her　bunk　（it　was　too　narrow　for　three；　and　tonight　was　Jhiqui's　turn　to　share　the　soft　featherbed　with　her　khaleesi）；　but　the　handmaid　roused　at　the　knock　and　went　to　the　door。　Dany　pulled　up　a　coverlet　and　tucked　it　in　under　her　arms。　She　was　naked；　and　had　not　expected　a　caller　at　this　hour。　〃e；〃　she　said　when　she　saw　Ser　Jorah　standing　without；　beneath　a　swaying　lantern。
　The　exile　knight　ducked　his　head　as　he　entered。　〃Your　Grace。　I　am　sorry　to　disturb　your　sleep。〃
　〃I　was　not　sleeping；　ser。　e　and　watch。〃　She　took　a　chunk　of　salt　pork　out　of　the　bowl　in　her　lap　and　held　it　up　for　her　dragons　to　see。　All　three　of　them　eyed　it　hungrily。　Rhaegal　spread　green　wings　and　stirred　the　air；　and　Viserion's　neck　swayed　back　and　forth　like　a　long　pale　snake's　as　he　followed　the　movement　of　her　hand。　〃Drogon；〃　Dany　said　softly；　〃dracarys。〃　And　she　tossed　the　pork　in　the　air。
　Drogon　moved　quicker　than　a　striking　cobra。　Flame　roared　from　his　mouth；　orange　and　scarlet　and　black；　searing　the　meat　before　it　began　to　fall。　As　his　sharp　black　teeth　snapped　shut　around　it；　Rhaegal's　head　darted　close；　as　if　to　steal　the　prize　from　his　brother's　jaws；　but　Drogon　swallowed　and　screamed；　and　the　smaller　green　dragon　could　only　hiss　in　frustration。
　〃Stop　that；　Rhaegal；〃　Dany　said　in　annoyance；　giving　his　head　a　swat。　〃You　had　the　last　one。　I'll　have　no　greedy　dragons。〃　She　smiled　at　Ser　Jorah。　〃I　won't　need　to　char　their　meat　over　a　brazier　any　longer。〃
　〃So　I　see。　Dracarys？〃
　All　three　dragons　turned　their　heads　at　the　sound　of　that　word　'　and　Viserion　let　loose　with　a　blast　of　pale　gold　flame　that　made　Ser　Jorah　take　a　hasty　step　backward。　Dany　giggled。　〃Be　careful　with　that　word；　ser；　or　they're　like　to　singe　your　beard　off。　It　means　'dragonfire'　in　High　Valyrian。　I　wanted　to　choose　a　mand　that　no　one　was　like　to　utter　by　chance。〃
　Mormont　nodded。　〃Your　Grace；〃　he　said；　〃I　wonder　if　I　might　have　a　few　private　words？〃
　〃Of　course。　Irri；　leave　us　for　a　bit。〃　She　put　a　hand　on　Jhiqui's　bare　shoulder　and　shook　the　other　handmaid　awake。　〃You　as　well；　sweetling。　Ser　Jorah　needs　to　talk　to　me。〃
　〃Yes；　Khaleesi。〃　Jhiqui　tumbled　from　the　bunk；　naked　and　yawning；　her　thick　black　hair　tumbled　about　her　head。　She　dressed　quickly　and　left　with　Irri；　closing　the　door　behind　them。
　Dany　gave　the　dragons　the　rest　of　the　salt　pork　to　squabble　over；　and　patted　the　bed　beside　her。　〃Sit；　goodser；　and　tell　mewhat　is　troublingyou。〃
　〃Three　things。〃　Ser　Jorah　sat。　〃Strong　Belwas。　This　Arstan　Whitebeard。　And　Illyrio　Mopatis；　who　sent　them。〃
　Again？　Dany　pulled　the　coverlet　higher　and　tugged　one　end　over　her　shoulder。　〃And　why　is　that？〃
　〃The　warlocks　in　Qarth　told　you　that　you　would　be　betrayed　three　times；〃　the　exile　knight　reminded　her；　as　Viserion　and　Rhaegal　began　to　snap　and　claw　at　each　other。
　IlOnce　for　blood　and　once　for　gold　and　once　for　love。〃　Dany　was　not　like　to　forget。　〃Mirri　Maz　Duur　was　the　first。〃
　〃Which　means　two　traitors　yet　remain　。　。　。　and　now　these　two　appear。　I　find　that　troubling；　yes。　Never　forget；　Robert　offered　a　lordship　to　the　man　who　slays　you。〃
　Dany　leaned　forward　and　yanked　Viserion's　tail；　to　pull　him　off　his　green　brother。　Her　blanket　fell　away　from　her　chest　as　she　moved。　She　grabbed　it　hastily　and　covered　herself　again。　〃The　Usurper　is　dead；〃　she　said。
　〃But　his　son　rules　in　his　place。〃　Ser　Jorah　lifted　his　gaze；　and　his　dark　eyes　met　her　own。　〃A　dutiful　son　pays　his　father's　debts。　Even　blood　debts。〃
　〃This　boy　Joffrey　might　want　me　dead　。　。　。　if　he　recalls　that　I'm　alive。　What　has　that　to　do　with　Belwas　and　Arstan　Whitebeard？　The　old　man　does　not　even　wear　a　sword。　You've　seen　that。〃
　〃Aye。　And　I　have　seen　how　deftly　he　handles　that　staff　of　his。　Recall　how　he　killed　that　manticore　in　Qarth？　It　might　as　easily　have　been　your　throat　he　crushed。〃
　〃Might　have　been；　but　was　not；〃　she　pointed　out。　〃It　was　a　stinging　manticore　meant　to　slay　me。　He　saved　my　life。〃
　〃Khaleesi；　has　it　occurred　to　you　that　Whitebeard　and　Belwas　might　have　been　in　league　with　the　assassin？　It　might　all　have　been　a　ploy　to　win　your　trust。〃
　Her　sudden　laughter　made　Drogon　hiss；　and　sent　Viserion　flapping　to　his　perch　above　the　porthole。　〃The　ploy　worked　well。〃
　The　exile　knight　did　not　return　her　smile。　〃These　are　Illyrio's　ships；　Illyrio's　captains；　Illyrio's　sailors　。　。　。　and　Strong　Belwas　and　Arstan　are　his　men　as　well；　not　yours。〃
　〃Magister　Illyrio　has　protected　me　in　the　past。　Strong　Belwas　says　that　he　wept　when　he　heard　my　brother　was　dead。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Mormont；　〃but　did　he　weep　for　Viserys；　or　for　the　plans　he　had　made　with　him？〃
　〃His　plans　need　not　change。　Magister　Illyrio　is　a　friend　to　House　Targaryen；　and　wealthy　。　。　。
　〃He　was　not　born　wealthy。　In　the　world　as　I　have　seen　it；　no　man　grows　rich　by　kindness。　The　warlocks　said　the　second　treason　would　be　for　gold。　What　does　Illyrio　Mopatis　love　more　than　gold？〃
　〃His　skin。〃　Across　the　cabin　Drogon　stirred　restlessly；　steam　rising　from　his　snout。　〃Mirri　Maz　Duur　betrayed　me。　I　burned　her　for　it。〃
　〃Mirri　Maz　Duur　was　in　your　power。　In　Pentos；　you　shall　be　in　Illyrio's　power。　It　is　not　the　same。　I　know　the　magister　as