grrm.astormofswords-第145章

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　〃I　once　had　the　great　good　fortune　to　see　the　Citadel's　copy　of　Lives　of　Four　Kings；〃　Prince　Oberyn　was　telling　her　lord　husband。　〃The　illuminations　were　wondrous　to　behold；　but　Kaeth　was　too　kind　by　half　to　King　Viserys。〃
　Tyrion　gave　him　a　sharp　look。　〃Too　kind？　He　scants　Viserys　shamefully；　in　my　view。　It　should　have　been　Lives　of　Five　Kings。〃
　The　prince　laughed。　〃Viserys　hardly　reigned　a　fortnight。〃
　〃He　reigned　more　than　a　year；〃　said　Tyrion。
　Oberyn　gave　a　shrug。　〃A　year　or　a　fortnight；　what　does　it　matter？　He　poisoned　his　own　nephew　to　gain　the　throne　and　then　did　nothing　once　he　had　it。〃
　〃Baelor　starved　himself　to　death；　fasting；〃　said　Tyrion。　〃His　uncle　served　him　loyally　as　Hand；　as　he　had　served　the　Young　Dragon　before　him。　Viserys　might　only　have　reigned　a　year；　but　he　ruled　for　fifteen；　while　Daeron　warred　and　Baelor　prayed。〃　He　made　a　sour　face。　〃And　if　he　did　remove　his　nephew；　can　you　blame　him？　Someone　had　to　save　the　realm　from　Baelor's　follies。〃
　Sansa　was　shocked。　〃But　Baelor　the　Blessed　was　a　great　king。　He　walked　the　Boneway　barefoot　to　make　peace　with　Dorne；　and　rescued　the　Dragonknight　from　a　snakepit。　The　vipers　refused　to　strike　him　because　he　was　so　pure　and　holy。〃
　Prince　Oberyn　smiled。　〃If　you　were　a　viper；　my　lady；　would　you　want　to　bite　a　bloodless　stick　like　Baelor　the　Blessed？　I'd　sooner　save　my　fangs　for　someone　juicier　。　。　。〃
　〃My　prince　is　playing　with　you；　Lady　Sansa；〃　said　the　woman　Ellaria　Sand。　〃The　septons　and　singers　like　to　say　that　the　snakes　did　not　bite　Baelor；　but　the　truth　is　very　different。　He　was　bitten　half　a　hundred　times；　and　should　have　died　from　it。〃
　〃If　he　had；　Viserys　would　have　reigned　a　dozen　years；〃　said　Tyrion；　Iiand　the　Seven　Kingdoms　might　have　been　better　served。　Some　believe　Baelor　was　deranged　by　all　that　venom。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Prince　Oberyn；　〃but　I've　seen　no　snakes　in　this　Red　Keep　of　yours。　So　how　do　you　account　for　Joffrey？〃
　〃I　prefer　not　to。〃　Tyrion　inclined　his　head　stiffly。　〃If　you　will　excuse　us。　Our　litter　awaits。〃　The　dwarf　helped　Sansa　up　inside　and　clambered　awkwardly　after　her。　〃Close　the　curtains；　my　lady；　if　you'd　be　so　good。〃
　〃Must　we；　my　lord？　〃　Sansa　did　not　want　to　be　shut　behind　the　curtains。　〃The　day　is　so　lovely。〃
　〃The　good　people　of　King's　Landing　are　like　to　throw　dung　at　the　litter　if　they　see　me　inside　it。　Do　us　both　a　kindness；　my　lady。　Close　the　curtains。〃
　She　did　as　he　bid　her。　They　sat　for　a　time；　as　the　air　grew　warm　and　stuffy　around　them。　〃I　was　sorry　about　your　book；　my　lord；〃　she　made　herself　say。
　〃It　was　Joffrey's　book。　He　might　have　learned　a　thing　or　two　if　he'd　read　it。〃　He　sounded　distracted。　〃I　should　have　known　better。　I　should　have　seen　。　。　。　a　good　many　things。〃
　〃Perhaps　the　dagger　will　please　him　more。〃
　When　the　dwarf　grimaced；　his　scar　tightened　and　twisted。　〃The　boy's　earned　himself　a　dagger；　wouldn't　you　say？〃　Thankfully　Tyrion　did　not　wait　for　her　reply。　〃Joff　quarreled　with　your　brother　Robb　at　Winterfell。　Tell　me；　was　there　ill　feeling　between　Bran　and　His　Grace　as　well？〃
　〃Bran？〃　The　question　confused　her。　〃Before　he　fell；　you　mean？〃　She　had　to　try　and　think　back。　It　was　all　so　long　ago。　〃Bran　was　a　sweet　boy。　Everyone　loved　him。　He　and　Tornmen　fought　with　wooden　swords；　I　remember；　but　just　for　play。〃
　Tyrion　lapsed　back　into　moody　silence。　Sansa　heard　the　distant　clank　of　chains　from　outside；　the　portcullis　was　being　drawn　up。　A　moment　later　there　was　a　shout；　and　their　litter　swayed　into　motion。　Deprived　of　the　passing　scenery；　she　chose　to　stare　at　her　folded　hands；　unfortably　aware　of　her　husand's　mismatched　eyes。　Why　is　he　looking　at　me　that　way？
　〃You　loved　your　brothers；　much　as　I　love　Jaime。〃
　Is　this　some　Lannister　trap　to　make　me　speak　treason？　〃My　brothers　were　traitors；　and　they've　gone　to　traitors'　graves。　It　is　treason　to　love　a　traitor。〃
　Her　little　husband　snorted。　〃Robb　rose　in　arms　against　his　rightful　king。　By　law；　that　made　him　a　traitor。　The　others　died　too　young　to　know　what　treason　was。〃　He　rubbed　his　nose。　〃Sansa；　do　you　know　what　happened　to　Bran　at　Winterfell？〃
　〃Bran　fell。　He　was　always　climbing　things；　and　finally　he　fell。　We　always　feared　he　would。　And　Theon　Greyjoy　killed　him；　but　that　was　later。〃
　〃Theon　Grey…joy。〃　Tyrion　sighed。　〃Your　lady　mother　once　accused　me　。　。　。　well；　I　will　not　burden　you　with　the　ugly　details。　She　accused　me　falsely。　I　never　harmed　your　brother　Bran。　And　I　mean　no　harm　to　you。〃
　What　does　he　want　me　to　say？　〃That　is　good　to　know；　my　lord。〃　He　wanted　something　from　her；　but　Sansa　did　not　know　what　it　was。　He　looks　like　a　starving　child；　but　I　have　no　food　to　give　him。　Why　won't　he　leave　me　be？
　Tyrion　rubbed　at　his　scarred；　scabby　nose　yet　again；　an　ugly　habit　that　drew　the　eye　to　his　ugly　face。　〃You　have　never　asked　me　how　Robb　died；　or　your　lady　mother。〃
　〃I　。　。　。　would　sooner　not　know。　It　would　give　me　bad　dreams。〃
　〃Then　I　will　say　no　more。〃
　〃That　。　。　。　that's　kind　of　you。〃
　〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　Tyrion。　〃I　am　the　very　soul　of　kindness。　And　I　know　about　bad　dreams。〃
　
　CHAPTER　60
　TYRION
　
　The　new　crown　that　his　father　had　given　the　Faith　stood　twice　as　tall　as　the　one　the　mob　had　smashed；　a　glory　of　crystal　and　spun　gold。　Rainbow　light　flashed　and　shimmered　every　time　the　High　Septon　moved　his　head；　but　Tyrion　had　to　wonder　how　the　man　could　bear　the　weight。　And　even　he　had　to　concede　that　Joffrey　and　Margaery　made　a　regal　couple；　as　they　stood　side…by…side　between　the　towering　gilded　statues　of　the　Father　and　the　Mother。
　The　bride　was　lovely　in　ivory　silk　and　Myrish　lace；　her　skirts　decorated　with　floral　patterns　picked　out　in　seed　pearls。　As　Renly's　widow；　she　might　have　worn　the　Baratheon　colors；　gold　and　black；　yet　she　came　to　them　a　Tyrell；　in　a　maiden's　cloak　made　of　a　hundred　cloth…of…gold　roses　sewn　to　green　velvet。　He　wondered　if　she　really　was　a　maiden。　Not　that　Joffrey　is　like　to　know　the　difference。
　The　king　looked　near　as　splendid　as　his　bride；　in　his　doublet　of　dusky　rose；　beneath　a　cloak　of　deep　crimson　velvet　blazoned　with　his　stag　and　lion。　The　crown　rested　easily　on　his　curls；　gold　on　gold。　I　saved　that　bloody　crown　for　him。　Tyrion　shifted　his　weight　unfortably　from　one　foot　to　the　other。　He　could　not　stand　still。　Too　much　wine。　He　should　have　thought　to　relieve　himself　before　they　set　out　from　the　Red　Keep。　The　sleepless　night　he'd　spent　with　Shae　was　making　itself　felt　too；　but　most　of　all　he　wanted　to　strangle　his　bloody　royal　nephew。
　I　am　no　stranger　to　Valyrian　steel；　the　boy　had　boasted。　The　septons　were　always　going　on　about　how　the　Father　Above　judges　us　all。　If　the　Father　would　be　so　good　as　to　topple　over　and　crush　loff　like　a　dung　beetle；　I　might　even　believe　it。
　He　ought　to　have　seen　it　long　ago。　Jaime　would　never　send　another　man　to　do　his　killing；　and　Cersei　was　too　cunning　to　use　a　knife　that　could　be　traced　back　to　her；　but　Joff；　arrogant　vicious　stupid　little　wretch　that　he　was　。　。　。
　He　remembered　a　cold　morning　when　he'd　climbed　down　the　steep　exterior　steps　from　Winterfell's　library　to　find　Prince　Joffrey　jesting　with　the　Hound　about　killing　wolves。　Send　a　dog　to　kill　a　wolf；　he　said。　Even　Joffrey　was　not　so　foolish　as　to　mand　Sandor　Clegane　to　slay　a　son　of　Eddard　Stark；　however；　the　Hound　would　have　gone　to　Cersei。　Instead　the　boy　found　his　catspaw　among　the　unsavory　lot　of　freeriders；　merchants；　and　camp　followers　who'd　attached　themselves　to　the　king's　party　as　they　made　their　way　north。　Some　poxy　lackwit　willing　to　risk　his　life　for　a　prince's　favor　and　a　little　coin。　Tyrion　wondered　whose　idea　it　had　been　to　wait　until　Robert　left　Winterfell　before　opening　Bran's　throat。　loffs；　most　like。　No　doubt　he　thought　it　was　the　height　of　cunning。
　The　prince's　own　dagger　had　a　jeweled　pommel　and　inlaid　goldwork　on　the　blade；　Tyrion　seemed　to　recall。　At　least　Joff　had　not　been　stupid　enough　to　use　that。　Instead　he　went　poking　among　his　father's　weapons。　Robert　Baratheon　was　a　man　of　careless　generosity；　and　would　have　given　his　son　any　dagger　he　wanted　。　。　。　but　Tyrion　guessed　that　the　boy　had　just　taken　it。　Robert　had　e　to　Winterfell。　with　a　long　tail　of　knights　and　retainers；　a　huge　wheelhouse；　and　a　baggage　train。　No　doubt　some　diligent　servant　had　made　certain　that　the　king's　weapons　went　with　him；　in　case　he　should　desire　any　of　them。
　The　blade　Joff　chose　was　nice　and　plain。　No　goldwork；　no　jewels　in　the　hilt；　no　silver　inlay　on　the　blade。　King　Robert　never　wore　it；　had　likely　forgotten　he　owned　it。　Yet　the　Valyrian　steel　was　deadly　sharp　。　。　。　sharp　enough　to　slice　through　skin；　flesh；　and　muscle　in　one　quick　stroke。　I　am　no　stranger　to　Valyrian　steel。　But　he　had　been；　hadn't　he？　Else　he　would　never　have　been　so　foolish　as　to　pick　Littlefinger's　knife。
　The　why　of　it　still　eluded　him。　Simple　cruelty；　perhaps？　His　nephew　had　that　in　abundance。　It　was　all　Tyrion　could　do　not　to　retch　up　all　the　wine　he'd　drunk；　piss　in　his　breeches；　or　both。　He　squirmed　unfortably。　He　ought　to　have　held　his　tongue　at　breakfast。　The　boy　knows　I　know　now　My　big　mouth　will　be　the　death　of　me；　I　swear　it。
　The　seven　vows　were　made；　the　seven　blessings　invoked；　and　the　seven　promises　exchanged。　When　the　wedding　song　had　been　sung　and　the　challenge　had　gone　unanswered；　it　was　time　for　the　exchange　of　cloaks。　Tyrion　shifted　his　weight　from　one　stunted　leg　to　the　other；　trying　to　see　between　his　father　and　his　uncle　Kevan。　If　the　gods　are　just；　loff　will　make　a　hash　of　this。　He　made　certain　not　to　look　at　Sansa；　lest　his　bitterness　show　in　his　eyes。　You　might　have　knelt；　damn　you。　Would　it　have　been　so　bloody　hard　to　bend　those　stiff　Stark　knees　of　yours　and　let　me　keep　a　little　dignity？
　Mace　Tyrell　removed　his　daughter's　maiden　cloak　tenderly；　while　Joffrey　accepted　the　folded　bride's　cloak　from　his　brother　Tornmen　and　shook　it　out　with　a　flourish。　The　boy　king　was　as　tall　at　thirteen　as　his　bride　was　at　sixteen；　he　would　not　require　a　fool's　back　to　climb　upon。　He　draped　Margaery　in　the　crimson…and…gold　and　leaned　close　to　fasten　it　at　her　throat。　And　that　easily　she　passed　from　her　father's　protection　to　her　husband's。　But　who　will　protect　her　from　loff？　Tyrion　glanced　at　the　Knight　of　Flowers；　standing　with　the　other　Kingsguard。　You　had　best　keep　your　sword　well　honed；　Ser　Loras。
　〃With　this　kiss　I　pledge　my　love！　〃　Joffrey　declared　in　ringing　tones。　When　Margaery　echoed　the　words　he　pulled　her　close　and　kissed　her　long　and　deep。　Rainbow　lights　danced　once　more　about　the　High　Septon's　crown　as　he　solemnly　declared　Joffrey　of　the　Houses　Baratheon　and　Lannister　and　Margaery　of　House　Tyrell　to　be　one　flesh；　one　heart；　one　soul。
　Good；　that's　done　with。　Now　let's　get　back　to　the　bloody　castle　so　I　can　have　a　piss。
　Ser　Loras　and　Ser　Meryn　led　the　procession　from　the　sept　in　their　white　scale　armor　and　snowy　cloaks。　Then　came　Prince　Tommen；　scattering　rose　petals　from　a　basket　before　the　king　and　queen。　After　the　royal　couple　followed　Queen　Cersei　and　Lord　Tyrell；　then　the　bride's　mother　arm…in…arm　with　Lord　Tywin。　The　Queen　of　Thorns　tottered　after　them　with　one　hand　on　Ser　Kevan　Lannister's　arm　and　the　other　on　her　cane；　her　twin　guardsmen　close　behind　her　in　case　she　fell。　Next　came　Ser　Garlan　Tyrell　and　his　lady　wife；　and　finally　it　was　their　turn。