grrm.astormofswords-第12章

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！


　an　oil　lamp。　He　raised　his　eyes　at　the　sound　of　the　latch。　〃Tyrion。〃　Calmly；　he　laid　his　quill　aside。
　〃I'm　pleased　you　remember　me；　my　lord。〃　Tyrion　released　his　grip　on　Pod；　leaned　his　weight　on　the　stick；　and　waddled　closer。　Something　is　wrong；　he　knew　at　once。
　〃Ser　Bronn；〃　Lord　Tywin　said；　〃Podrick。　Perhaps　you　had　best　wait　without　until　we　are　done。〃
　The　look　Bronn　gave　the　Hand　was　little　less　than　insolent；　nonetheless；　he　bowed　and　withdrew；　with　Pod　on　his　heels。　The　heavy　door　swung　shut　behind　them；　and　Tyrion　Lannister　was　alone　with　his　father。　Even　with　the　windows　of　the　solar　shuttered　against　the　night；　the　chill　in　the　room　was　palpable。　What　sort　of　lies　has　Cersei　been　telling　him？
　The　Lord　of　Casterly　Rock　was　as　lean　as　a　man　twenty　years　younger；　even　handsome　in　his　austere　way。　Stiff　blond　whiskers　covered　his　cheeks；　framing　a　stem　face；　a　bald　head；　a　hard　mouth。　About　his　throat　he　wore　a　chain　of　golden　hands；　the　fingers　of　each　clasping　the　wrist　of　the　next。　〃That's　a　handsome　chain；〃　Tyrion　said。　Though　it　looked　better　on　me。
　Lord　Tywin　ignored　the　sally。　〃You　had　best　be　seated。　Is　it　wise　for　you　to　be　out　of　your　sickbed？〃
　〃I　am　sick　of　my　sickbed。〃　Tyrion　knew　how　much　his　father　despised　weakness。　He　claimed　the　nearest　chair。　〃Such　pleasant　chambers　you　have。　Would　you　believe　it；　while　I　was　dying；　someone　moved　me　to　a　dark　little　cell　in　Maegor's？〃
　〃The　Red　Keep　is　overcrowded　with　wedding　guests。　Once　they　depart；　we　will　find　you　more　suitable　acmodations。〃
　〃I　rather　liked　these　acmodations。　Have　you　set　a　date　for　this　great　wedding？〃
　〃Joffrey　and　Margaery　shall　marry　on　the　first　day　of　the　new　year；　which　as　it　happens　is　also　the　first　day　of　the　new　century。　The　ceremony　will　herald　the　dawn　of　a　new　era。〃
　A　new　Lannister　era；　thought　Tyrion。　〃Oh；　bother；　I　fear　I've　made　other　plans　for　that　day。〃
　〃Did　you　e　here　just　to　plain　of　your　bedchamber　and　make　your　lame　japes？　I　have　important　letters　to　finish。〃
　〃Important　letters。　To　be　sure。〃
　〃Some　battles　are　won　with　swords　and　spears；　others　with　quills　and　ravens。　Spare　me　these　coy　reproaches；　Tyrion。　I　visited　your　sickbed　as　often　as　Maester　Ballabar　would　allow　it；　when　you　seemed　like　to　die。〃　He　steepled　his　fingers　under　his　chin。　〃Why　did　you　dismiss　Ballabar？〃
　Tyrion　shrugged。　〃Maester　Frenken　is　not　so　determined　to　keep　me　insensate。〃
　〃Ballabar　came　to　the　city　in　Lord　Redwyne's　retinue。　A　gifted　healer；　it's　said。　It　was　kind　of　Cersei　to　ask　him　to　look　after　you。　She　feared　for　your　life。〃
　Feared　that　I　might　keep　it；　you　mean。　〃Doubtless　that's　why　she's　never　once　left　my　bedside。〃
　〃Don't　be　impertinent。　Cersei　has　a　royal　wedding　to　plan；　I　am　waging　a　war；　and　you　have　been　out　of　danger　for　at　least　a　fortnight。〃　Lord　Tywin　studied　his　son's　disfigured　face；　his　pale　green　eyes　unflinching。　〃Though　the　wound　is　ghastly　enough；　I'll　grant　you。　What　madness　possessed　you？〃
　〃The　foe　was　at　the　gates　with　a　battering　ram。　If　Jaime　had　led　the　sortie；　you'd　call　it　valor。〃
　〃Jaime　would　never　be　so　foolish　as　to　remove　his　helm　in　battle。　I　trust　you　killed　the　man　who　cut　you？〃
　〃Oh；　the　wretch　is　dead　enough。〃　Though　it　had　been　Podrick　Payne　who'd　killed　Ser　Mandon；　shoving　him　into　the　river　to　drown　beneath　the　weight　of　his　armor。　〃A　dead　enemy　is　a　joy　forever；〃　Tyrion　said　blithely；　though　Ser　Mandon　was　not　his　true　enemy。　The　man　had　no　reason　to　want　him　dead。　He　was　only　a　catspaw；　and　I　believe　I　know　the　cat。　She　told　him　to　make　certain　I　did　not　survive　the　battle。　But　without　proof　Lord　Tywin　would　never　listen　to　such　a　charge。　〃Why　are　you　here　in　the　city；　Father？〃　he　asked。　〃Shouldn't　you　be　off　fighting　Lord　Stannis　or　Robb　Stark　or　someone？〃　And　the　sooner　the　better。
　〃Until　Lord　Redwyne　brings　his　fleet　up；　we　lack　the　ships　to　assail　Dragonstone。　It　makes　no　matter。　Stannis　Baratheon's　sun　set　on　the　Blackwater。　As　for　Stark；　the　boy　is　still　in　the　west；　but　a　large　force　of　northmen　under　Helman　Tallhart　and　Robett　Glover　are　descending　toward　Duskendale。　I've　sent　Lord　Tarly　to　meet　them；　while　Ser　Gregor　drives　up　the　kingsroad　to　cut　off　their　retreat。　Tallhart　and　Glover　will　be　caught　between　them；　with　a　third　of　Stark's　strength。〃
　〃Duskendale？〃　There　was　nothing　at　Duskendale　worth　such　a　risk。　Had　the　Young　Wolf　finally　blundered？
　〃It's　nothing　you　need　trouble　yourself　with。　Your　face　is　pale　as　death；　and　there's　blood　seeping　through　your　dressings。　Say　what　you　want　and　take　yourself　back　to　bed。〃
　〃What　I　want　。　。　。　〃　His　throat　felt　raw　and　tight。　What　did　he　want？　More　than　you　can　ever　give　me；　Father。　〃Pod　tells　me　that　Littlefinger's　been　made　Lord　of　Harrenhal。〃
　〃An　empty　title；　so　long　as　Roose　Bolton　holds　the　castle　for　Robb　Stark；　yet　Lord　Baelish　was　desirous　of　the　honor。　He　did　us　good　service　in　the　matter　of　the　Tyrell　marriage。　A　Lannister　pays　his　debts。〃
　The　Tyrell　marriage　had　been　Tyrion's　notion；　in　point　of　fact；　but　it　would　seem　churlish　to　try　to　claim　that　now。　〃That　title　may　not　be　as　empty　as　you　think；〃　he　warned。　〃Littlefinger　does　nothing　without　good　reason。　But　be　that　as　it　may。　You　said　something　about　paying　debts；　I　believe？〃
　〃And　you　want　your　own　reward；　is　that　it？　Very　well。　What　is　it　you　would　have　of　me？　Lands；　castle；　some　office？〃
　〃A　little　bloody　gratitude　would　make　a　nice　start。〃
　Lord　Tywin　stared　at　him；　unblinking。　〃Mummers　and　monkeys　require　applause。　So　did　Aerys；　for　that　matter。　You　did　as　you　were　manded；　and　I　am　sure　it　was　to　the　best　of　your　ability。　No　one　denies　the　part　you　played。〃
　〃The　part　I　played？〃　What　nostrils　Tyrion　had　left　must　surely　have　flared。　〃I　saved　your　bloody　city；　it　seems　to　me。〃
　〃Most　people　seem　to　feel　that　it　was　my　attack　on　Lord　Stannis's　flank　that　turned　the　tide　of　battle。　Lords　Tyrell；　Rowan；　Redwyne；　and　Tarly　fought　nobly　as　well；　and　I'm　told　it　was　your　sister　Cersei　who　set　the　pyromancers　to　making　the　wildfire　that　destroyed　the　Baratheon　fleet。〃
　〃While　all　I　did　was　get　my　nosehairs　trimmed；　is　that　it？〃　Tyrion　could　not　keep　the　bitterness　out　of　his　voice。
　〃Your　chain　was　a　clever　stroke；　and　crucial　to　our　victory。　Is　that　what　you　wanted　to　hear？　I　am　told　we　have　you　to　thank　for　our　Dornish　alliance　as　well。　You　may　be　pleased　to　learn　that　Myrcella　has　arrived　safely　at　Sunspear。　Ser　Arys　Oakheart　writes　that　she　has　taken　a　great　liking　to　Princess　Arianne；　and　that　Prince　Trystane　is　enchanted　with　her。　I　mislike　giving　House　Martell　a　hostage；　but　I　suppose　that　could　not　be　helped。〃
　〃We'll　have　our　own　hostage；〃　Tyrion　said。　〃A　council　seat　was　also　part　of　the　bargain。　Unless　Prince　Doran　brings　an　army　when　he　es　to　claim　it；　he'll　be　putting　himself　in　our　power。〃
　〃Would　that　a　council　seat　were　all　Martell　came　to　claim；〃　Lord　Tywin　said。　〃You　promised　him　vengeance　as　well。〃
　〃I　promised　him　justice。〃
　〃Call　it　what　you　will。　It　still　es　down　to　blood。〃
　〃Not　an　item　in　short　supply；　surely？　I　splashed　through　lakes　of　it　during　the　battle。〃　Tyrion　saw　no　reason　not　to　cut　to　the　heart　of　the　matter。　〃Or　have　you　grown　so　fond　of　Gregor　Clegane　that　you　cannot　bear　to　part　with　him？〃
　〃Ser　Gregor　has　his　uses；　as　did　his　brother。　Every　lord　has　need　of　a　beast　from　time　to　time　。　。　。　a　lesson　you　seem　to　have　learned；　judging　from　Ser　Bronn　and　those　clansmen　of　yours。〃
　Tyrion　thought　of　Timett's　burned　eye；　Shagga　with　his　axe；　Chella　in　her　necklace　of　dried　ears。　And　Bronn。　Brorm　most　of　all。　〃The　woods　are　full　of　beasts；〃　he　reminded　his　father。　〃The　alleyways　as　well。〃
　〃True。　Perhaps　other　dogs　would　hunt　as　well。　I　shall　think　on　it。　If　there　is　nothing　else　。　。　。〃
　〃You　have　important　letters；　yes。〃　Tyrion　rose　on　unsteady　legs；　closed　his　eyes　for　an　instant　as　a　wave　of　dizziness　washed　over　him；　and　took　a　shaky　step　toward　the　door。　Later；　he　would　reflect　that　he　should　have　taken　a　second；　and　then　a　third。　instead　he　turned。　〃What　do　I　want；　you　ask？　I'll　tell　you　what　I　want。　I　want　what　is　mine　by　rights。　I　want　Casterly　Rock。〃
　His　father's　mouth　grew　hard。　〃Your　brother's　birthright？〃
　〃The　knights　of　the　Kingsguard　are　forbidden　to　marry；　to　father　children；　and　to　hold　land；　you　know　that　as　well　as　I。　The　day　Jaime　put　on　that　white　cloak；　he　gave　up　his　claim　to　Casterly　Rock；　but　never　once　have　you　acknowledged　it。　It's　past　time。　I　want　you　to　stand　up　before　the　realm　and　proclaim　that　I　am　your　son　and　your　lawful　heir。〃
　Lord　Tywin's　eyes　were　a　pale　green　flecked　with　gold；　as　luminous　as　they　were　merciless。　〃Casterly　Rock；〃　he　declared　in　a　flat　cold　dead　tone。　And　then；　〃Never。〃
　The　word　hung　between　them；　huge；　sharp；　poisoned。
　I　knew　the　answer　before　I　asked；　Tyrion　said。　Eighteen　years　since　Jaime　joined　the　Kingsguard；　and　I　never　once　raised　the　issue。　I　must　have　known。　I　must　always　have　known。　〃Why？〃　he　made　himself　ask；　though　he　knew　he　would　rue　the　question。
　〃You　ask　that？　You；　who　killed　your　mother　to　e　into　the　world？　You　are　an　ill…made；　devious；　disobedient；　spiteful　little　creature　full　of　envy；　lust；　and　low　cunning。　Men's　laws　give　you　the　right　to　bear　my　name　and　display　my　colors；　since　I　cannot　prove　that　you　are　not　mine。　To　teach　me　humility；　the　gods　have　condemned　me　to　watch　you　waddle　about　wearing　that　proud　lion　that　was　my　father's　sigil　and　his　father's　before　him。　But　neither　gods　nor　men　shall　ever　pel　me　to　let　you　turn　Casterly　Rock　into　your　whorehouse。〃
　〃My　whorehouse？〃　The　dawn　broke；　Tyrion　understood　all　at　once　where　this　bile　had　e　from。　He　ground　his　teeth　together　and　said；　〃Cersei　told　you　about　Alayaya。〃
　〃Is　that　her　name？　I　confess；　I　cannot　remember　the　names　of　all　your　whores。　Who　was　the　one　you　married　as　a　boy？〃
　〃Tysha。〃　He　spat　out　the　answer；　defiant。
　〃And　that　camp　follower　on　the　Green　Fork？〃
　〃Why　do　you　care？〃　he　asked；　unwilling　even　to　speak　Shae's　name　in　his　presence。
　〃I　don't。　No　more　than　I　care　if　they　live　or　die。〃
　〃It　was　you　who　had　Yaya　whipped。〃　It　was　not　a　question。
　〃Your　sister　told　me　of　your　threats　against　my　grandsons。〃　Lord　Tywin's　voice　was　colder　than　ice。　〃Did　she　lie？〃
　Tyrion　would　not　deny　it。　〃I　made　threats；　yes。　To　keep　Alayaya　safe。　So　the　Kettleblacks　would　not　misuse　her。〃
　〃To　save　a　whore's　virtue；　you　threatened　your　own　House；　your　own　kin？　Is　that　the　way　of　it？〃
　〃You　were　the　one　who　taught　me　that　a　good　threat　is　often　more　telling　than　a　blow。　Not　that　Joffrey　hasn't　tempted　me　sore　a　few　hundred　times。　If　you're　so　anxious　to　whip　people；　start　with　him。　But　Tornmen　。　。　。　why　would　I　harm　Tommen？　He's　a　good　lad；　and　mine　own　blood。〃
　〃As　was　your　mother。〃　Lord　Tywin　rose　abruptly；　to　tower　over　his　dwarf　son。　〃Go　back　to　your　bed；　Tyrion；　and　speak　to　me　no　more　of　your　rights　to　Casterly　Rock。　You　shall　have　your　reward；　but　it　shall　be　one　I　deem　appropriate　to　your　service　and　station。　And　make　no　mistake…this　was　the　last　time　I　will　suffer　you　to　bring　shame　onto　House　Lannister。　You　are　done　with　whores。　The　next　one　I　find　in　your　bed；　I'll　hang。〃
　
　CHAPTER　5
　DAVOS
　
　He　watched　the　sail　grow　for　a　long　time；　trying　to　decide　whether　he　would　sooner　live　or