grrm.astormofswords-第27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！


can　teach　you；　and　you've　heard　what　he　says。　If　we　leave　this　place　to　seek　refuge　at　Last　Hearth　or　beyond　the　Wall；　we　risk　being　taken。　You　are　only　a　boy；　I　know；　but　you　are　our　prince　as　well；　our　lord's　son　and　our　king's　true　heir。　We　have　sworn　you　our　faith　by　earth　and　water；　bronze　and　iron；　ice　and　fire。　The　risk　is　yours；　Bran；　as　is　the　gift。　The　choice　should　be　yours　too；　I　think。　We　are　your　servants　to　mand。〃　She　grinned。　〃At　least　in　this。〃
　〃You　mean；〃　Bran　said；　〃you'll　do　what　I　say？　Truly？〃
　〃Truly；　my　prince；〃　the　girl　replied；　〃so　consider　well。〃
　Bran　tried　to　think　it　through；　the　way　his　father　might　have。　The　Greatjon's　uncles　Hother　Whoresbane　and　Mors　Crowfood　were　fierce　men；　but　he　thought　they　would　be　loyal。　And　the　Karstarks；　them　too。　Karhold　was　a　strong　castle；　Father　always　said。　We　would　be　safe　with　the　Umbers　or　the　Karstarks。
　Or　they　could　go　south　to　fat　Lord　Manderly。　At　Winterfell；　he'd　laughed　a　lot；　and　never　seemed　to　look　at　Bran　with　so　much　pity　as　the　other　lords。　Castle　Cerwyn　was　closer　than　White　Harbor；　but　Maester　Luwin　had　said　that　Cley　Cerwyn　was　dead。　The　Umbers　and　the　Karstarks　and　the　Manderlys　may　all　be　dead　as　well；　he　realized。　As　he　would　be；　if　he　was　caught　by　the　ironmen　or　the　Bastard　of　Bolton。
　If　they　stayed　here；　hidden　down　beneath　Tumbledown　Tower；　no　one　would　find　them。　He　would　stay　alive。　And　crippled。
　Bran　realized　he　was　crying。　Stupid　baby；　he　thought　at　himself。　No　matter　where　he　went；　to　Karhold　or　White　Harbor　or　Greywater　Watch；　he'd　be　a　cripple　when　he　got　there。　He　balled　his　hands　into　fists。　〃I　want　to　fly；〃　he　told　them。　〃Please。　Take　me　to　the　crow。〃
　
　CHAPTER　10
　DAVOS
　
　When　he　came　up　on　deck；　the　long　point　of　Driftmark　was　dwindling　behind　them　while　Dragonstone　rose　from　the　sea　ahead。　A　pale　grey　wisp　of　smoke　blew　from　the　top　of　the　mountain　to　mark　where　the　island　lay。　Dragonmont　is　restless　this　morning；　Davos　thought；　or　else　Melisandre　is　burning　someone　else。
　Melisandre　had　been　much　in　his　thoughts　as　Shayala's　Dance　made　her　way　across　Blackwater　Bay　and　through　the　Gullet；　tacking　against　perverse　contrary　winds。　The　great　fire　that　burned　atop　the　Sharp　Point　watchtower　at　the　end　of　Massey's　Hook　reminded　him　of　the　ruby　she　wore　at　her　throat；　and　when　the　world　turned　red　at　dawn　and　sunset　the　drifting　clouds　turned　the　same　color　as　the　silks　and　satins　of　her　rustling　gowns。
　She　would　be　waiting　on　Dragonstone　as　well；　waiting　in　all　her　beauty　and　all　her　power；　with　her　god　and　her　shadows　and　his　king。　The　red　priestess　had　always　seemed　loyal　to　Stannis；　until　now。　She　has　broken　him；　as　a　man　breaks　a　horse。　She　would　ride　him　to　power　if　she　could；　and　for　that　she　gave　my　sons　to　the　fire。　I　will　cut　the　living　heart　from　her　breast　and　see　how　it　burns。　He　touched　the　hilt　of　the　fine　long　Lysene　dirk　that　the　captain　had　given　him。
　The　captain　had　been　very　kind　to　him。　His　name　was　Khorane　Sathmantes；　a　Lyseni　like　Salladhor　Saan；　whose　ship　this　was。　He　had　the　pale　blue　eyes　you　often　saw　on　Lys；　set　in　a　bony　weatherworn　face；　but　he　had　spent　many　years　trading　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms。　When　he　learned　that　the　man　he　had　plucked　from　the　sea　was　the　celebrated　onion　knight；　he　gave　him　the　use　of　his　own　cabin　and　his　own　clothes；　and　a　pair　of　new　boots　that　almost　fit。　He　insisted　that　Davos　share　his　provisions　as　well；　though　that　turned　out　badly。　His　stomach　could　not　tolerate　the　snails　and　lampreys　and　other　rich　food　Captain　Khorane　so　relished；　and　after　his　first　meal　at　the　captain's　table　he　spent　the　rest　of　the　day　with　one　end　or　the　other　dangling　over　the　rail。
　Dragonstone　loomed　larger　with　every　stroke　of　the　oars。　Davos　could　see　the　shape　of　the　mountain　now；　and　on　its　side　the　great　black　citadel　with　its　gargoyles　and　dragon　towers。　The　bronze　figurehead　at　the　bow　of　Shayala's　Dance　sent　up　wings　of　salt　spray　as　it　cut　the　waves。　He　leaned　his　weight　against　the　rail；　grateful　for　its　support。　His　ordeal　had　weakened　him。　If　he　stood　too　long　his　legs　shook；　and　sometimes　he　fell　prey　to　uncontrollable　fits　of　coughing　and　brought　up　gobs　of　bloody　phlegm。　It　is　nothing；　he　told　himself。　Surely　the　gods　did　not　bring　me　safe　through　flre　and　sea　only　to　kill　me　with　a　flux。
　As　he　listened　to　the　pounding　of　the　oarmaster's　drum；　the　thrum　of　the　sail；　and　the　rhythmic　swish　and　creak　of　the　oars；　he　thought　back　to　his　younger　days；　when　these　same　sounds　woke　dread　in　his　heart　on　many　a　misty　mom。　They　heralded　the　approach　of　old　Ser　Tristimun's　sea　watch；　and　the　sea　watch　was　death　to　smugglers　when　Aerys　Targaryen　sat　the　Iron　Throne。
　But　that　was　another　lifetime；　he　thought。　That　was　before　the　onion　ship；　before　Storm's　End；　before　Stannis　shortened　my　fingers。　That　was　before　the　war　or　the　red　et；　before　I　was　a　Seaworth　or　a　knight。　I　was　a　different　man　in　those　days；　before　Lord　Stannis　raised　me　high。
　Captain　Khorane　had　told　him　of　the　end　of　Stannis's　hopes；　on　the　night　the　river　burned。　The　Lannisters　had　taken　him　from　the　flank；　and　his　fickle　bannermen　had　abandoned　him　by　the　hundreds　in　the　hour　of　his　greatest　need。　〃King　Renly's　shade　was　seen　as　well；〃　the　captain　said；　〃slaying　right　and　left　as　he　led　the　lion　lord's　van。　It's　said　his　green　armor　took　a　ghostly　glow　from　the　wildfire；　and　his　antlers　ran　with　golden　flames。〃
　Renly's　shade。　Davos　wondered　if　his　sons　would　return　as　shades　as　well。　He　had　seen　too　many　queer　things　on　the　sea　to　say　that　ghosts　did　not　exist。　〃Did　none　keep　faith？〃　he　asked。
　〃Some　few；〃　the　captain　said。　〃The　queen's　kin；　them　in　chief。　We　took　off　many　who　wore　the　fox…and…flowers；　though　many　more　were　left　ashore；　with　all　manner　of　badges。　Lord　Florent　is　the　King's　Hand　on　Dragonstone　now。〃
　The　mountain　grew　taller；　crowned　all　in　pale　smoke。　The　sail　sang；　the　drum　beat；　the　oars　pulled　smoothly；　and　before　very　long　the　mouth　of　the　harbor　opened　before　them。　So　empty；　Davos　thought；　remembering　how　it　had　been　before；　with　the　ships　crowding　every　quay　and　rocking　at　anchor　off　the　breakwater。　He　could　see　Salladhor　Saan's　flagship　Valyrian　moored　at　the　quay　where　Fury　and　her　sisters　had　once　tied　up。　The　ships　on　either　side　of　her　had　striped　Lysene　hulls　as　well。　In　vain　he　looked　for　any　sign　of　Lady　Marya　or　Wraith。
　They　pulled　down　the　sail　as　they　entered　the　harbor；　to　dock　on　oars　alone。　The　captain　came　to　Davos　as　they　were　tying　up。　〃My　prince　will　wish　to　see　you　at　once。〃
　A　fit　of　coughing　seized　Davos　as　he　tried　to　answer。　He　clutched　the　rail　for　support　and　spat　over　the　side。　〃The　king；〃　he　wheezed。　〃I　must　go　to　the　king。〃　For　where　the　king　is；　I　will　find　Melisandre。
　〃No　one　goes　to　the　king；〃　Khorane　Sathmantes　replied　firmly。　〃Salladhor　Saan　will　tell　you。　Him　first。〃
　Davos　was　too　weak　to　defy　him。　He　could　only　nod。
　Salladhor　Saan　was　not　aboard　his　Valyrian。　They　found　him　at　another　quay　a　quarter　mile　distant；　down　in　the　hold　of　a　big…bellied　Pentoshi　cog　named　Bountiful　Harvest；　counting　cargo　with　two　eunuchs。　One　held　a　lantern；　the　other　a　wax　tablet　and　stylus。　〃Thirty…seven；　thirtyeight；　thirty…nine；〃　the　old　rogue　was　saying　when　Davos　and　the　captain　came　down　the　hatch。　Today　he　wore　a　wine…colored　tunic　and　high　boots　of　bleached　white　leather　inlaid　with　silver　scrollwork。　Pulling　the　stopper　from　a　jar；　he　sniffed；　sneezed；　and　said；　〃A　coarse　grind；　and　of　the　second　quality；　my　nose　declares。　The　bill　of　lading　is　saying　forty…three　jars。　Where　have　the　others　gotten　to；　I　am　wondering？　These　Pentoshi；　do　they　think　I　am　not　counting？〃　When　he　saw　Davos　he　stopped　suddenly。　〃Is　it　pepper　stinging　my　eyes；　or　tears？　Is　this　the　knight　of　the　onions　who　stands　before　me？　No；　how　can　it　be；　my　dear　friend　Davos　died　on　the　burning　river；　all　agree。　Why　has　he　e　to　haunt　me？〃
　〃I　am　no　ghost；　Salla。〃
　〃What　else？　My　onion　knight　was　never　so　thin　or　so　pale　as　you。〃　Salladhor　Saan　threaded　his　way　between　the　jars　of　spice　and　bolts　of　cloth　that　filled　the　hold　of　the　merchanter；　wrapped　Davos　in　a　fierce　embrace；　then　kissed　him　once　on　each　cheek　and　a　third　time　on　his　forehead。　〃You　are　still　warm；　ser；　and　I　feel　your　heart　thumpetythumping。　Can　it　be　true？　The　sea　that　swallowed　you　has　spit　you　up　again。〃
　Davos　was　reminded　of　Patchface；　Princess　Shireen's　lackwit　fool。　He　had　gone　into　the　sea　as　well；　and　when　he　came　out　he　was　mad。　Am　I　mad　as　well？　He　coughed　into　a　gloved　hand　and　said；　〃I　swam　beneath　the　chain　and　washed　ashore　on　a　spear　of　the　merling　king。　I　would　have　died　there；　if　Shayala's　Dance　had　not　e　upon　me。〃
　Salladhor　Saan　threw　an　arm　around　the　captain's　shoulders。　〃This　was　well　done；　Khorane。　You　will　be　having　a　fine　reward；　I　am　thinking。　Meizo　Mahr；　be　a　good　eunuch　and　take　my　friend　Davos　to　the　owner's　cabin。
　Fetch　him　some　hot　wine　with　cloves；　I　am　misliking　the　sound　of　that　cough。　Squeeze　some　lime　in　it　as　well。　And　bring　white　cheese　and　a　bowl　of　those　cracked　green　olives　we　counted　earlier！　Davos；　I　will　join　you　soon；　once　I　have　bespoken　our　good　captain。　You　will　be　forgiving　me；　I　know。　Do　not　eat　all　the　olives；　or　I　must　be　cross　with　you！〃
　Davos　let　the　elder　of　the　two　eunuchs　escort　him　to　a　large　and　lavishly　furnished　cabin　at　the　stem　of　the　ship。　The　carpets　were　deep；　the　windows　stained　glass；　and　any　of　the　great　leather　chairs　would　have　seated　three　of　Davos　quite　fortably。　The　cheese　and　olives　arrived　shortly；　and　a　cup　of　steaming　hot　red　wine。　He　held　it　between　his　hands　and　sipped　it　gratefully。　The　warmth　felt　soothing　as　it　spread　through　his　chest。
　Salladhor　Saan　appeared　not　long　after。　〃You　must　be　forgiving　me　for　the　wine；　my　friend。　These　Pentoshi　would　drink　their　own　water　if　it　were　purple。〃
　〃It　will　help　my　chest；〃　said　Davos。　〃Hot　wine　is　better　than　a　press；　my　mother　used　to　say。〃
　〃You　shall　be　needing　presses　as　well；　I　am　thinking。　Sitting　on　a　spear　all　this　long　time；　oh　my。　How　are　you　finding　that　excellent　chair？　He　has　fat　cheeks；　does　he　not？〃
　〃Who？〃　asked　Davos；　between　sips　of　hot　wine。
　〃Illyrio　Mopatis。　A　whale　with　whiskers；　I　am　telling　you　truly。　These　chairs　were　bui