grrm.astormofswords-第131章

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he　dungeon。〃
　Sometimes　the　storm　winds　blow　so　strong　a　man　has　no　choice　but　to　furl　his　sails。　〃Aye；　Your　Grace。〃　Davos　bowed；　but　Stannis　had　seemingly　forgotten　him　already。
　It　was　chilly　in　the　yard　when　he　left　the　Stone　Drum。　A　wind　blew　briskly　from　the　cast；　making　the　banners　snap　and　flap　noisily　along　the　walls。　Davos　could　smell　salt　in　the　air。　The　sea。　He　loved　that　smell。　It　made　him　want　to　walk　a　deck　again；　to　raise　his　canvas　and　sail　off　south　to　Marya　and　his　two　small　ones。　He　thought　of　them　most　every　day　now；　and　even　more　at　night。　Part　of　him　wanted　nothing　so　much　as　to　take　Devan　and　go　home。　I　cannot。　Not　yet。　I　am　a　lord　now；　and　the　King's　Hand；　I　must　not　fail　him。
　He　raised　his　eyes　to　gaze　up　at　the　walls。　In　place　of　merlons；　a　thousand　grotesques　and　gargoyles　looked　down　on　him；　each　different　from　all　the　others；　wyvems；　griffins；　demons；　manticores；　minotaurs；　basilisks；　hellhounds；　cockatrices；　and　a　thousand　queerer　creatures　sprouted　from　the　castle's　battlements　as　if　they'd　grown　there。　And　the　dragons　were　everywhere。　The　Great　Hall　was　a　dragon　lying　on　its　belly。　Men　entered　through　its　open　mouth。　The　kitchens　were　a　dragon　curled　up　in　a　ball；　with　the　smoke　and　steam　of　the　ovens　vented　through　its　nostrils。　The　towers　were　dragons　hunched　above　the　walls　or　poised　for　flight；　the　Windwyrrn　seemed　to　scream　defiance；　while　Sea　Dragon　Tower　gazed　serenely　out　across　the　waves。　Smaller　dragons　framed　the　gates。　Dragon　claws　emerged　from　walls　to　grasp　at　torches；　great　stone　wings　enfolded　the　smith　and　armory；　and　tails　formed　arches；　bridges；　and　exterior　stairs。
　Davos　had　often　heard　it　said　that　the　wizards　of　Valyria　did　not　cut　and　chisel　as　mon　masons　did；　but　worked　stone　with　fire　and　magic　as　a　potter　might　work　clay。　But　now　he　wondered。　What　if　they　were　real　dragons；　somehow　turned　to　stone？
　〃If　the　red　woman　brings　them　to　life；　the　castle　will　e　crashing　down；　I　am　thinking。　What　kind　of　dragons　are　full　of　rooms　and　stairs　and　furniture？　And　windows。　And　chimneys。　And　privy　shafts。〃
　Davos　turned　to　find　Salladhor　Saan　beside　him。　〃Does　this　mean　you　have　forgiven　my　treachery；　Salla？〃
　The　old　pirate　wagged　a　finger　at　him。　〃Forgiving；　yes。　Forgetting；　no。　All　that　good　gold　on　Claw　isle　that　might　have　been　mine；　it　makes　me　old　and　tired　to　think　of　it。　When　I　die　impoverished；　my　wives　and　concubines　will　curse　you；　Onion　Lord。　Lord　Celtigar　had　many　fine　wines　that　now　I　am　not　tasting；　a　sea　eagle　he　had　trained　to　fly　from　the　wrist；　and　a　magic　horn　to　summon　krakens　from　the　deep。　Very　useful　such　a　horn　would　be；　to　pull　down　Tyroshi　and　other　vexing　creatures。　But　do　I　have　this　horn　to　blow？　No；　because　the　king　made　my　old　friend　his　Hand。〃　He　slipped　his　arm　through　Davos's　and　said；　〃The　queen's　men　love　you　not；　old　friend。　I　am　hearing　that　a　certain　Hand　has　been　making　friends　of　his　own。　This　is　true；　yes？〃
　You　hear　too　much；　you　old　pirate。　A　smuggler　had　best　know　men　as　well　as　tides；　or　he　would　not　live　to　smuggle　long。　The　queen's　men　might　remain　fervent　followers　of　the　Lord　of　Light；　but　the　lesser　folk　of　Dragonstone　were　drifting　back　to　the　gods　they'd　known　all　their　lives。　They　said　Stannis　was　ensorceled；　that　Melisandre　had　turned　him　away　from　the　Seven　to　bow　before　some　demon　out　of　shadow；　and　。　。　。　worst　sin　of　all　。　。　。　that　she　and　her　god　had　failed　him。　And　there　were　knights　and　lordlings　who　felt　the　same。　Davos　had　sought　them　out；　choosing　them　with　the　same　care　with　which　he'd　once　picked　his　crews。　Ser　Gerald　Gower　fought　stoutly　on　the　Blackwater；　but　afterward　had　been　heard　to　say　that　R'hllor　must　be　a　feeble　god　to　let　his　followers　be　chased　off　by　a　dwarf　and　a　dead　man。　Ser　Andrew　Estermont　was　the　king's　cousin；　and　had　served　as　his　squire　years　ago。　The　Bastard　of　Nightsong　had　manded　the　rearguard　that　allowed　Stannis　to　reach　the　safety　of　Salladhor　Saan's　galleys；　but　he　worshiped　the　Warrior　with　a　faith　as　fierce　as　he　was。　King's　men；　not　queen's　men。　But　it　would　not　do　to　boast　of　them。
　〃A　certain　Lysene　pirate　once　told　me　that　a　good　smuggler　stays　out　of　sight；〃　Davos　replied　carefully。　〃Black　sails；　muffled　oars；　and　a　crew　that　knows　how　to　hold　their　tongues。〃
　The　Lyseni　laughed。　〃A　crew　with　no　tongues　is　even　better。　Big　strong　mutes　who　cannot　read　or　write。〃　But　then　he　grew　more　somber。　〃But　I　am　glad　to　know　that　someone　watches　your　back；　old　friend。　Will　the　king　give　the　boy　to　the　red　priestess；　do　you　think？　one　little　dragon　could　end　this　great　big　war。〃
　Old　habit　made　him　reach　for　his　luck；　but　his　fingerbones　no　longer　hung　about　his　neck；　and　he　found　nothing。　〃He　will　not　do　it；〃　said　Davos。　〃He　could　not　harm　his　own　blood。〃
　〃Lord　Renly　will　be　glad　to　hear　this。〃
　〃Renly　was　a　traitor　in　arms。　Edric　Storm　is　innocent　of　any　crime。　His　Grace　is　a　just　man。〃
　Salla　shrugged。　〃We　shall　be　seeing。　Or　you　shall。　For　myself；　I　am　returning　to　sea。　Even　now；　rascally　smugglers　may　be　sailing　across　the　Blackwater　Bay；　hoping　to　avoid　paying　their　lord's　lawful　duties。〃　He　slapped　Davos　on　the　back。　〃Take　care。　You　with　your　mute　friends。　You　are　grown　so　very　great　now；　yet　the　higher　a　man　climbs　the　farther　he　has　to　fall。〃
　Davos　reflected　on　those　words　as　he　climbed　the　steps　of　Sea　Dragon　Tower　to　the　maester's　chambers　below　the　rookery。　He　did　not　need　Salla　to　tell　him　that　he　had　risen　too　high。　I　cannot　read；　I　cannot　write；　the　lords　despise　me；　I　know　nothing　of　ruling；　how　can　I　be　the　King's　Hand？　I　belong　on　the　deck　of　a　ship；　not　in　a　castle　tower。
　He　had　said　as　much　to　Maester　Pylos。　〃You　are　a　notable　captain；〃　the　maester　replied。　〃A　captain　rules　his　ship；　does　he　not？　He　must　navigate　treacherous　waters；　set　his　sails　to　catch　the　rising　wind；　know　when　a　storm　is　ing　and　how　best　to　weather　it。　This　is　much　the　same。〃
　Pylos　meant　it　kindly；　but　his　assurances　rang　hollow。　〃It　is　not　at　all　the　same！〃　Davos　had　protested。　〃A　kingdom's　not　a　ship　。　。　。　and　a　good　thing；　or　this　kingdom　would　be　sinking。　I　know　wood　and　rope　and　water；　yes；　but　how　will　that　serve　me　now？　Where　do　I　find　the　wind　to　blow　King　Stannis　to　his　throne？〃
　The　maester　laughed　at　that。　〃And　there　you　have　it；　my　lord。　Words　are　wind；　you　know；　and　you've　blown　mine　away　with　your　good　sense。　His　Grace　knows　what　he　has　in　you；　I　think。〃
　〃Onions；〃　said　Davos　glumly。　〃That　is　what　he　has　in　me。　The　King's　Hand　should　be　a　highborn　lord；　someone　wise　and　learned；　a　battle　mander　or　a　great　knight　。　。　。〃
　〃Ser　Ryam　Redwyne　was　the　greatest　knight　of　his　day；　and　one　of　the　worst　Hands　ever　to　serve　a　king。　Septon　Murmison's　prayers　worked　miracles；　but　as　Hand　he　soon　had　the　whole　realm　praying　for　his　death。　Lord　Butterwell　was　renowned　for　wit；　Myles　Smallwood　for　courage；　Ser　Otto　Hightower　for　learning；　yet　they　failed　as　Hands；　every　one。　As　for　birth；　the　dragonkings　oft　chose　Hands　from　amongst　their　own　blood；　with　results　as　various　as　Baelor　Breakspear　and　Maegor　the　Cruel。　Against　this；　you　have　Septon　Barth；　the　blacksmith's　son　the　Old　King　plucked　from　the　Red　Keep's　library；　who　gave　the　realm　forty　years　of　peace　and　plenty。〃　Pylos　smiled。　〃Read　your　history；　Lord　Davos；　and　you　will　see　that　your　doubts　are　groundless。〃
　〃How　can　I　read　history；　when　I　cannot　read？〃
　〃Any　man　can　read；　my　lord；〃　said　Maester　Pylos。　〃There　is　no　magic　needed；　nor　high　birth；　I　am　teaching　the　art　to　your　son；　at　the　king's　mand。　Let　me　teach　you　as　well。〃
　It　was　a　kindly　offer；　and　not　one　that　Davos　could　refuse。　And　so　every　day　he　repaired　to　the　maester's　chambers　high　atop　Sea　Dragon　Tower；　to　frown　over　scrolls　and　parchments　and　great　leather　tomes　and　try　to　puzzle　out　a　few　more　words。　His　efforts　often　gave　him　headaches；　and　made　him　feel　as　big　a　fool　as　Patchface　besides。　His　son　Devan　was　not　yet　twelve；　yet　he　was　well　ahead　of　his　father；　and　for　Princess　Shireen　and　Edric　Storm　reading　seemed　as　natural　as　breathing。　When　it　came　to　books；　Davos　was　more　a　child　than　any　of　them。　Yet　he　persisted。　He　was　the　King's　Hand　now；　and　a　King's　Hand　should　read。
　The　narrow　twisting　steps　of　Sea　Dragon　Tower　had　been　a　sore　trial　to　Maester　Cressen　after　he　broke　his　hip。　Davos　still　found　himself　missing　the　old　man。　He　thought　Stannis　must　as　well。　Pylos　seemed　clever　and　diligent　and　well…meaning；　but　he　was　so　young；　and　the　king　did　not　confide　in　him　as　he　had　in　Cressen。　The　old　man　had　been　with　Stannis　so　long　。　。　。　Until　he　ran　afoul　of　Melisandre；　and　died　for　it。
　At　the　top　of　the　steps　Davos　heard　a　soft　jingle　of　bells　that　could　only　herald　Patchface。　The　princess's　fool　was　waiting　outside　the　maester's　door　for　her　like　a　faithful　hound。　Dough…soft　and　slump…shouldered；　his　broad　face　tattooed　in　a　motley　pattern　of　red　and　green　squares；　Patchface　wore　a　helm　made　of　a　rack　of　deer　antlers　strapped　to　a　tin　bucket。　A　dozen　bells　hung　from　the　tines　and　rang　when　he　moved　。　。　。　which　meant　constantly；　since　the　fool　seldom　stood　still。　He　jingled　and　jangled　his　way　everywhere　he　went；　small　wonder　that　Pylos　had　exiled　him　from　Shireen's　lessons。　〃Under　the　sea　the　old　fish　eat　the　young　fish；〃　the　fool　muttered　at　Davos。　He　bobbed　his　head；　and　his　bells　clanged　and　chimed　and　sang。　〃I　know；　I　know；　oh　oh　oh。〃
　〃Up　here　the　young　fish　teach　the　old　fish；〃　said　Davos；　who　never　felt　so　ancient　as　when　he　sat　down　to　try　and　read。　it　might　have　been　different　if　aged　Maester　Cressen　had　been　the　one　teaching　him；　but　Pylos　was　young　enough　to　be　his　son。
　He　found　the　maester　seated　at　his　long　wooden　table　covered　with　books　and　scrolls；　across　from　the　three　children。　Princess　Shireen　sat　between　the　two　boys。　Even　now　Davos　could　take　great　pleasure　in　the　sight　of　his　own　blood　keeping　pany　with　a　princess　and　a　king's　bastard。　Devan　will　be　a　lord　now；　not　merely　a　knight。　The　Lord　of　the　Rainwood。　Davos　took　more　pride　in　that　than　in　wearing　the　title　himself。　He　reads　too。　He　reads　and　he…writes；　as　if　he　had　been　born　to　it。　Pylos　had　naught　but　praise　for　his　diligence；　and　the　master…at…arms　said　Devan　was　showing　promise　with　sword　and　lance　as　well。　And　he　is　a　godly　lad；　too。　〃My　brothers　have　ascended　to　the　Hall　of　Light；　to　sit　beside　the　Lord；〃　Devan　had　said　when　his　father　told　him　how　his　four　elder　brothers　had　died。　〃I　will　pray　for　them　at　the　nightfires；　and　for　you　as　well；　Father；　so　you　might　walk　in　the　Light　of　the　Lord　till　the　end　of　your　days。〃
　〃Good　morrow　to　you；　Father；〃　the　boy　greeted　him。　He　looks　so　much　like　Dale　did　at　his　age；　Davos　thought。　His　eldest　had　never　dressed　so　fine　as　Devan　in　his　squire's　raiment；　to　be　sure；　but　they　shared　the　same　square　plain　face；　the　same　forthright　brown　eyes；　the　same　thin　brown　flyaway　hair。　Devan's　cheeks　and　chin　were　dusted　with　blond　hair；　a　fuzz　that　would　have　shamed　a　proper　peach；　though　the　boy　was　fiercely　proud　of　his　〃beard。〃　just　as　Dale　was　proud　of　his；　once。　Devan　was　the　oldest　of　the　three　children　at　the　table。
　Yet　Edric　Storm　was　three　inches　taller　and　broader　in　the　chest　and　shoulders。　He　was　his　father's　son　in　that；　nor　did　he　ever　miss　a　morning's　work　with　sword　and　shield。　Those　old　enough