grrm.astormofswords-第15章

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at；　two　dozen　men　were　taking　their　practice　with　sword　and　shield。　With　the　castle　so　crowded；　the　outer　ward　had　been　given　over　to　guests　to　raise　their　tents　and　pavilions；　leaving　only　the　smaller　inner　yards　for　training。　One　of　the　Redwyne　twins　was　being　driven　backward　by　Ser　Tallad；　with　the　eyes　on　his　shield。　Chunky　Ser　Kennos　of　Kayce；　who　chuffed　and　puffed　every　time　he　raised　his　longsword；　seemed　to　be　holding　his　own　against　Osney　Kettleblack；　but　Osney's　brother　Ser　Osfryd　was　savagely　punishing　the　frog…faced　squire　Morros　Slynt。　Blunted　swords　or　no；　Slynt　would　have　a　rich　crop　of　bruises　by　the　morrow。　It　made　Sansa　wince　Just　to　watch。　They　have　scarcely　finished　burying　the　dead　from　the　last　battle；　and　already　they　are　practicing　for　the　next　one。
　On　the　edge　of　the　yard；　a　lone　knight　with　a　pair　of　golden　roses　on　his　shield　was　holding　off　three　foes。　Even　as　they　watched；　he　caught　one　of　them　alongside　the　head；　knocking　him　senseless。　〃Is　that　your　brother？〃　Sansa　asked。
　〃It　is；　my　lady；〃　said　Ser　Loras。　〃Garlan　often　trains　against　three　men；　or　even　four。　In　battle　it　is　seldom　one　against　one；　he　says；　so　he　likes　to　be　prepared。〃
　〃He　must　be　very　brave。〃
　〃He　is　a　great　knight；〃　Ser　Loras　replied。　〃A　better　sword　than　me；　in　truth；　though　I'm　the　better　lance。〃
　〃I　remember；〃　said　Sansa。　〃You　ride　wonderfully；　ser。〃
　〃My　lady　is　gracious　to　say　so。　When　has　she　seen　me　ride？〃
　〃At　the　Hand's　tourney；　don't　you　remember？　You　rode　a　white　courser；　and　your　armor　was　a　hundred　different　kinds　of　flowers。　You　gave　me　a　rose。　A　red　rose。　You　threw　white　roses　to　the　other　girls　that　day。〃　It　made　her　flush　to　speak　of　it。　〃You　said　no　victory　was　half　as　beautiful　as　me。〃
　Ser　Loras　gave　her　a　modest　smile。　〃I　spoke　only　a　simple　truth；　that　any　man　with　eyes　could　see。〃
　He　doesn't　remember；　Sansa　realized；　startled。　He　is　only　being　kind　to　me；　he　doesn't　remember　me　or　the　rose　or　any　of　it。　She　had　been　so　certain　that　it　meant　something；　that　it　meant　everything。　A　red　rose；　not　a　white。　〃It　was　after　you　unhorsed　Ser　Robar　Royce；〃　she　said；　desperately。
　He　took　his　hand　from　her　arm。　〃I　slew　Robar　at　Storm's　End；　my　lady。〃　It　was　not　a　boast；　he　sounded　sad。
　Him；　and　another　of　King　Renly's　Rainbow　Guard　as　well；　yes。　Sansa　had　heard　the　women　talking　of　it　round　the　well；　but　for　a　moment　she'd　forgotten。　〃That　was　when　Lord　Renly　was　killed；　wasn't　it？　How　terrible　for　your　poor　sister。〃
　〃For　Margaery？〃　His　voice　was　tight。　〃To　be　sure。　She　was　at　Bitterbridge；　though。　She　did　not　see。〃
　〃Even　so；　when　she　heard　。　。　。〃
　Ser　Loras　brushed　the　hilt　of　his　sword　lightly　with　his　hand。　Its　grip　was　white　leather；　its　pommel　a　rose　in　alabaster。　〃Renly　is　dead。　Robar　as　well。　What　use　to　speak　of　them？〃
　The　sharpness　in　his　tone　took　her　aback。　〃I　。　。　。　my　lord；　I　。　。　。　I　did　not　mean　to　give　offense；　ser。〃
　〃Nor　could　you；　Lady　Sansa；〃　Ser　Loras　replied；　but　all　the　warmth　had　gone　from　his　voice。　Nor　did　he　take　her　arm　again。
　They　ascended　the　serpentine　steps　in　a　deepening　silence。
　Oh；　why　did　I　have　to　mention　Ser　Robar？　Sansa　thought。　I've　ruined　everything。　He　is　angry　with　me　now　She　tried　to　think　of　something　she　might　say　to　make　amends；　but　all　the　words　that　came　to　her　were　lame　and　weak。　Be　quiet；　or　you　will　only　make　it　worse；　she　told　herself。
　Lord　Mace　Tyrell　and　his　entourage　had　been　housed　behind　the　royal　sept；　in　the　long　slate…roofed　keep　that　had　been　called　the　Maidenvault　since　King　Baelor　the　Blessed　had　confined　his　sisters　therein；　so　the　sight　of　them　might　not　tempt　him　into　carnal　thoughts。　Outside　its　tall　carved　doors　stood　two　guards　in　gilded　halffielms　and　green　cloaks　edged　in　gold　satin；　the　golden　rose　of　Highgarden　sewn　on　their　breasts。　Both　were　seven…footers；　wide　of　shoulder　and　narrow　of　waist；　magnificently　muscled。　When　Sansa　got　close　enough　to　see　their　faces；　she　could　not　tell　one　from　the　other。　They　had　the　same　strong　jaws；　the　same　deep　blue　eyes；　the　same　thick　red　mustaches。　〃Who　are　they？〃　she　asked　Ser　Loras；　her　disfit　forgotten　for　a　moment。
　〃My　grandmother's　personal　guard；〃　he　told　her。　〃Their　mother　named　them　Erryk　and　Arryk；　but　Grandmother　can't　tell　them　apart；　so　she　calls　them　Left　and　Right。〃
　Left　and　Right　opened　the　doors；　and　Margaery　Tyrell　herself　emerged　and　swept　down　the　short　flight　of　steps　to　greet　them。　〃Lady　Sansa；〃　she　called；　〃I'm　so　pleased　you　came。　Be　wele。〃
　Sansa　knelt　at　the　feet　of　her　future　queen。　〃You　do　me　great　honor；　Your　Grace。〃
　〃Won't　you　call　me　Margaery？　Please；　rise。　Loras；　help　the　Lady　Sansa　to　her　feet。　Might　I　call　you　Sansa？〃
　〃If　it　please　you。〃　Ser　Loras　helped　her　up。
　Margaery　dismissed　him　with　a　sisterly　kiss；　and　took　Sansa　by　the　hand。　〃e；　my　grandmother　awaits；　and　she　is　not　the　most　patient　of　ladies。〃
　A　fire　was　crackling　in　the　hearth；　and　sweet…swelling　rushes　had　been　scattered　on　the　floor。　Around　the　long　trestle　table　a　dozen　women　were　seated。
　Sansa　recognized　only　Lord　Tyrell's　tall；　dignified　wife；　Lady　Alerie；　whose　long　silvery　braid　was　bound　with　jeweled　rings。　Margaery　performed　the　other　introductions。　There　were　three　Tyrell　cousins；　Megga　and　Alla　and　Elinor；　all　close　to　Sansa's　age。　Buxom　Lady　Janna　was　Lord　Tyrell's　sister；　and　wed　to　one　of　the　green…apple　Fossoways；　dainty；　bright…eyed　Lady　Leonette　was　a　Fossoway　as　well；　and　wed　to　Ser　Garlan。　Septa　Nysterica　had　a　homely　pox…scarred　face　but　seemed　jolly。　Pale；　elegant　Lady　Graceford　was　with　child；　and　Lady　Bulwer　was　a　child；　no　more　than　eight。　And　〃Merry〃　was　what　she　was　to　call　boisterous　plump　Meredyth　Crane；　but　most　definitely　not　Lady　Merryweather；　a　sultry　black…eyed　Myrish　beauty。
　Last　of　all；　Margaery　brought　her　before　the　wizened　white…haired　doll　of　a　woman　at　the　head　of　the　table。　〃I　am　honored　to　present　my　grandmother　the　Lady　Olenna；　widow　to　the　late　Luthor　Tyrell；　Lord　of　Highgarden；　whose　memory　is　a　fort　to　us　all。〃
　The　old　woman　smelled　of　rosewater。　Why；　she's　just　the　littlest　bit　of　a　thing。　There　was　nothing　the　least　bit　thorny　about　her。　〃Kiss　me；　child；〃　Lady　Olenna　said；　tugging　at　Sansa's　wrist　with　a　soft　spotted　hand。　〃It　is　so　kind　of　you　to　sup　with　me　and　my　foolish　flock　of　hens。〃　Dutifully；　Sansa　kissed　the　old　woman　on　the　cheek。　〃It　is　kind　of　you　to　have　me；　my　lady。〃
　〃I　knew　your　grandfather；　Lord　Rickard；　though　not　well。〃
　〃He　died　before　I　was　born。〃
　〃I　am　aware　of　that；　child。　It's　said　that　your　Tully　grandfather　is　dying　too。　Lord　Hoster；　surely　they　told　you？　An　old　man；　though　not　so　old　as　me。　Still；　night　falls　for　all　of　us　in　the　end；　and　too　soon　for　some。　You　would　know　that　more　than　most；　poor　child。　You've　had　your　share　of　grief；　I　know。　We　are　sorry　for　your　losses。〃
　Sansa　glanced　at　Margaery。　〃I　was　saddened　when　I　heard　of　Lord　Renly's　death；　Your　Grace。　He　was　very　gallant。〃
　〃You　are　kind　to　say　so；〃　answered　Margaery。
　Her　grandmother　snorted。　〃Gallant；　yes；　and　charming；　and　very　clean。　He　knew　how　to　dress　and　he　knew　how　to　smile　and　he　knew　how　to　bathe；　and　somehow　he　got　the　notion　that　this　made　him　fit　to　be　king。　The　Baratheons　have　always　had　some　queer　notions；　to　be　sure。　It　es　from　their　Targaryen　blood；　I　should　think。〃　She　sniffed。　〃They　tried　to　marry　me　to　a　Targaryen　once；　but　I　soon　put　an　end　to　that。〃
　〃Renly　was　brave　and　gentle；　Grandmother；〃　said　Margaery。　〃Father　liked　him　as　well；　and　so　did　Loras。〃
　〃Loras　is　young；〃　Lady　Olenna　said　crisply；　〃and　very　good　at　knocking　men　off　horses　with　a　stick。　That　does　not　make　him　wise。　As　to　your　father；　would　that　I'd　been　born　a　peasant　woman　with　a　big　wooden　spoon；　I　might　have　been　able　to　beat　some　sense　into　his　fat　head。〃
　〃Mother；〃　Lady　Alerie　scolded。
　〃Hush；　Alerie；　don't　take　that　tone　with　me。　And　don't　call　me　Mother。　If　I'd　given　birth　to　you；　I'm　sure　I'd　remember。　I'm　only　to　blame　for　your　husband；　the　lord　oaf　of　Highgarden。〃
　〃Grandmother；〃　Margaery　said；　〃mind　your　words；　or　what　will　Sansa　think　of　us？〃
　〃She　might　think　we　have　some　wits　about　us。　One　of　us；　at　any　rate。〃　The　old　woman　turned　back　to　Sansa。　〃It's　treason；　I　warned　them；　Robert　has　two　sons；　and　Renly　has　an　older　brother；　how　can　he　possibly　have　any　claim　to　that　ugly　iron　chair？　Tut…tut；　says　my　son；　don't　you　want　your　sweetling　to　be　queen？　You　Starks　were　kings　once；　the　Arryns　and　the　Lannisters　as　well；　and　even　the　Baratheons　through　the　female　line；　but　the　Tyrells　were　no　more　than　stewards　until　Aegon　the　Dragon　came　along　and　cooked　the　rightful　King　of　the　Reach　on　the　Field　of　Fire。　If　truth　be　told；　even　our　claim　to　Highgarden　is　a　bit　dodgy；　just　as　those　dreadful　Florents　are　always　whining。　'What　does　it　matter？'　you　ask；　and　of　course　it　doesn't；　except　to　oafs　like　my　son。　The　thought　that　one　day　he　may　see　his　grandson　with　his　arse　on　the　iron　Throne　makes　Mace　puff　up　like　。　。　。　now；　what　do　you　call　it？　Margaery；　you're　clever；　be　a　dear　and　tell　your　poor　old　half…daft　grandmother　the　name　of　that　queer　fish　from　the　Summer　Isles　that　puffs　up　to　ten　times　its　own　size　when　you　poke　it。〃
　〃They　call　them　puff　fish；　Grandmother。〃
　〃Of　course　they　do。　Summer　Islanders　have　no　imagination。　My　son　ought　to　take　the　puff　fish　for　his　sigil；　if　truth　be　told。　He　could　put　a　crown　on　it；　the　way　the　Baratheons　do　their　stag；　mayhap　that　would　make　him　happy。　We　should　have　stayed　well　out　of　all　this　bloody　foolishness　if　you　ask　me；　but　once　the　cow's　been　milked　there's　no　squirting　the　cream　back　up　her　udder。　After　Lord　Puff　Fish　put　that　crown　on　Renly's　head；　we　were　into　the　pudding　up　to　our　knees；　so　here　we　are　to　see　things　through。　And　what　do　you　say　to　that；　Sansa？〃
　Sansa's　mouth　opened　and　closed。　She　felt　very　like　a　puff　fish　herself。　〃The　Tyrells　can　trace　their　descent　back　to　Garth　Greenhand；〃　was　the　best　she　could　manage　at　short　notice。
　The　Queen　of　Thorns　snorted。　〃So　can　the　Florents；　the　Rowans；　the　oakhearts；　and　half　the　other　noble　houses　of　the　south。　Garth　liked　to　plant　his　seed　in　fertile　ground；　they　say。　I　shouldn't　wonder　that　more　than　his　hands　were　green。〃
　〃Sansa；〃　Lady　Alerie　broke　in；　〃you　must　be　very　hungry。　Shall　we　have　a　bite　of　boar　together；　and　some　lemon　cakes？〃
　〃Lemon　cakes　are　my　favorite；〃　Sansa　admitted。
　〃So　we　have　been　told；〃　declared　Lady　Olenna；　who　obviously　had　no　intention　of　being　hushed。　〃That　Varys　creature　seemed　to　think　we　should　be　grateful　for　the　information。　I've　never　been　quite　sure　what　the　point　of　a　eunuch　is；　if　truth　be　told。　It　seems　to　me　they're　only　men　with　the　useful　bits　cut　off。　Alerie；　will　you　have　them　bring　the　food；　or　do　you　mean　to　starve　me　to　death？　Here；　Sansa；　sit　here　next　to　me；　I'm　much　less　boring　than　these　others。　I　hope　that　you're　fond　of　fools。〃
　Sansa　smoothed　down　her　skirts　and　sat。　〃I　think　。　。　。　fools；　my　lady？　You　mean　。　。　。　the　sort　in　motley？〃
　〃Feathers；　in　this　case。　What　did　you　imagine　I　was　speaking　of？　My　son？　Or　these　lovely　ladies？　No；　don't　blush；　with　your　hair　it　makes　you　look　like　a　pomegranate。　All　men　are　fools；　if　truth　be　told；　but　the　ones　in　motley　are　more　amusing　than　ones　with　crowns。　Margaery；　child；　summon　Butter