grrm.astormofswords-第150章

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t。　It　must　have　been　loose　in　the　setting；　that's　all。　It　was　loose　and　it　fell　out；　and　now　it's　lying　somewhere　in　the　throne　room；　or　in　the　yard；　unless　。　。　。
　Ser　Dontos　had　said　the　hair　net　was　magic；　that　it　would　take　her　home。　He　told　her　she　must　wear　it　tonight　at　Joffrey's　wedding　feast。　The　silver　wire　stretched　tight　across　her　knuckles。　Her　thumb　rubbed　back　and　forth　against　the　hole　where　the　stone　had　been。　She　tried　to　stop；　but　her　fingers　were　not　her　own。　Her　thumb　was　drawn　to　the　hole　as　the　tongue　is　drawn　to　a　missing　tooth。　What　kind　of　magic？　The　king　was　dead；　the　cruel　king　who　had　been　her　gallant　prince　a　thousand　years　ago。　If　Dontos　had　lied　about　the　hair　net；　had　he　lied　about　the　rest　as　well？　What　if　he　never　es？　What　if　there　is　no　ship；　no　boat　on　the　river；　no　escape？　What　would　happen　to　her　then？
　She　heard　a　faint　rustle　of　leaves；　and　stuffed　the　silver　hair　net　down　deep　in　the　pocket　of　her　cloak。　〃Who's　there？〃　she　cried。　〃Who　is　it？〃　The　godswood　was　dim　and　dark；　and　the　bells　were　ringing　Joff　into　his　grave。
　〃Me。〃　He　staggered　out　from　under　the　trees；　reeling　drunk。　He　caught　her　arm　to　steady　himself。　〃Sweet　jonquil；　I've　e。　Your　Florian　has　e；　don't　be　afraid。〃
　Sansa　pulled　away　from　his　touch。　〃You　said　I　must　wear　the　hair　net。　The　silver　net　with　。　。　。　what　sort　of　stones　are　those？〃
　〃Amethysts。　Black　amethysts　from　Asshai；　my　lady。〃
　〃They're　no　amethysts。　Are　they？　Are　they？　You　lied。〃
　〃Black　amethysts；〃　he　swore。　〃There　was　magic　in　them。〃
　〃There　was　murder　in　them！〃
　〃Softly；　my　lady；　softly。　No　murder。　He　choked　on　his　pigeon　pie。〃　Dontos　chortled。　〃Oh；　tasty　tasty　pie。　Silver　and　stones；　that's　all　it　was；　silver　and　stone　and　magic。〃
　The　bells　were　tolling；　and　the　wind　was　making　a　noise　like　he　had　made　as　he　tried　to　suck　a　breath　of　air。　〃You　poisoned　him。　You　did。　You　took　a　stone　from　my　hair　。　。　。〃
　〃Hush；　you'll　be　the　death　of　us。　I　did　nothing。　e；　we　must　away；　they'll　search　for　you。　Your　husband's　been　arrested。〃
　〃Tyrion？〃　she　said；　shocked。
　〃Do　you　have　another　husband？　The　Imp；　the　dwarf　uncle；　she　thinks　he　did　it。〃　He　grabbed　her　hand　and　pulled　at　her。　〃This　way；　we　must　away；　quickly　now；　have　no　fear。〃
　Sansa　followed　unresisting。　I　could　never　abide　the　weeping　of　women；　Joff　once　said；　but　his　mother　was　the　only　woman　weeping　now。　In　Old　Nan's　stories　the　grumkins　crafted　magic　things　that　could　make　a　wish　e　true。　Did　I　wish　him　dead？　she　wondered；　before　she　remembered　that　she　was　too　old　to　believe　in　grumkins。　〃Tyrion　poisoned　him？〃　Her　dwarf　husband　had　hated　his　nephew；　she　knew。　Could　he　truly　have　killed　him？　Did　he　know　about　my　hair　net；　about　the　black　amethysts？　He　brought　Joff　wine。　How　could　you　make　someone　choke　by　putting　an　amethyst　in　their　wine？　If　Tyrion　did　it；　they　will　think　I　was　part　of　it　as　well；　she　realized　with　a　start　of　fear。　How　not？　They　were　man　and　wife；　and　Joff　had　killed　her　father　and　mocked　her　with　her　brother's　death。　One　flesh；　one　heart；　one　soul。
　〃Be　quiet　now；　my　sweetling；〃　said　Dontos。　〃Outside　the　godswood；　we　must　make　no　sound。　Pull　up　your　hood　and　hide　your　face。〃　Sansa　nodded；　and　did　as　he　said。
　He　was　so　drunk　that　sometimes　Sansa　had　to　lend　him　her　arm　to　keep　him　from　falling。　The　bells　were　ringing　out　across　the　city；　more　and　more　of　them　joining　in。　She　kept　her　head　down　and　stayed　in　the　shadows；　close　behind　Dontos。　While　descending　the　serpentine　steps　he　stumbled　to　his　knees　and　retched。　My　poor　Florian；　she　thought；　as　he　wiped　his　mouth　with　a　floppy　sleeve。　Dress　dark；　he'd　said；　yet　under　his　brown　hooded　cloak　he　was　wearing　his　old　surcoat；　red　and　pink　horizontal　stripes　beneath　a　black　chief　bearing　three　gold　crowns；　the　arms　of　House　Hollard。　〃Why　are　you　wearing　your　surcoat？　Joff　decreed　it　was　death　if　you　were　caught　dressed　as　a　knight　again；　he　。　。　。　oh　。　。　。〃　Nothing　Joff　had　decreed　mattered　any　longer。
　〃I　wanted　to　be　a　knight。　For　this；　at　least。〃　Dontos　lurched　back　to　his　feet　and　took　her　arm。　〃e。　Be　quiet　now；　no　questions。〃
　They　continued　down　the　serpentine　and　across　a　small　sunken　courtyard。　Ser　Dontos　shoved　open　a　heavy　door　and　lit　a　taper。　They　were　inside　a　long　gallery。　Along　the　walls　stood　empty　suits　of　armor；　dark　and　dusty；　their　helms　crested　with　rows　of　scales　that　continued　down　their　backs。　As　they　hurried　past；　the　taper's　light　made　the　shadows　of　each　scale　stretch　and　twist。　The　hollow　knights　are　turning　into　dragons；　she　thought。
　One　more　stair　took　them　to　an　oaken　door　banded　with　iron。　〃Be　strong　now；　my　jonquil；　you　are　almost　there。〃　When　Dontos　lifted　the　bar　and　pulled　open　the　door；　Sansa　felt　a　cold　breeze　on　her　face；　She　passed　through　twelve　feet　of　wall；　and　then　she　was　outside　the　castle；　standing　at　the　top　of　the　cliff。　Below　was　the　river；　above　the　sky；　and　one　was　as　black　as　the　other。
　〃We　must　climb　down；〃　Ser　Dontos　said。　〃At　the　bottom；　a　man　is　waiting　to　row　us　out　to　the　ship。〃
　〃I'll　fall。〃　Bran　had　fallen；　and　he　had　loved　to　climb。
　〃No　you　won't。　There's　a　sort　of　ladder；　a　secret　ladder；　carved　into　the　stone。　Here；　you　can　feel　it；　my　lady。〃　He　got　down　on　his　knees　with　her　and　made　her　lean　over　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　groping　with　her　fingers　until　she　found　the　handhold　cut　into　the　face　of　the　bluff。　〃Almost　as　good　as　rungs。〃
　Even　so；　it　was　a　long　way　down。　〃I　can't。〃
　〃You　must。〃
　〃Isn't　there　another　way？〃
　〃This　is　the　way。　It　won't　be　so　hard　for　a　strong　young　girl　like　you。　Hold　on　tight　and　never　look　down　and　you'll　be　at　the　bottom　in　no　time　at　all。〃　His　eyes　were　shiny。　〃Your　poor　Florian　is　fat　and　old　and　drunk；　I'm　the　one　should　be　afraid。　I　used　to　fall　off　my　horse；　don't　you　remember？　That　was　how　we　began。　I　was　drunk　and　fell　off　my　horse　and　Joffrey　wanted　my　fool　head；　but　you　saved　me。　You　saved　me；　sweetling。〃
　He's　weeping；　she　realized。　〃And　now　you　have　saved　me。〃
　〃Only　if　you　go。　If　not；　I　have　killed　us　both。〃
　It　was　him；　she　thought。　He　killed　Joffrey。　She　had　to　go；　for　him　as　much　as　for　herself。　〃You　go　first；　ser。〃　If　he　did　fall；　she　did　not　want　him　falling　down　on　her　head　and　knocking　both　of　them　off　the　cliff。
　〃As　you　wish；　my　lady。〃　He　gave　her　a　sloppy　kiss　and　swung　his　legs　clumsily　over　the　precipice；　kicking　about　until　he　found　a　foothold。　〃Let　me　get　down　a　bit；　and　e　after。　You　will　e　now？　You　must　swear　it。〃
　〃I'll　e；〃　she　promised。
　Ser　Dontos　disappeared。　She　could　hear　him　huffing　and　puffing　as　he　began　the　descent。　Sansa　listened　to　the　tolling　of　the　bell；　counting　each　ring。　At　ten；　gingerly；　she　eased　herself　over　the　edge　of　the　cliff；　poking　with　her　toes　until　they　found　a　place　to　rest。　The　castle　walls　loomed　large　above　her；　and　for　a　moment　she　wanted　nothing　so　much　as　to　pull　herself　up　and　run　back　to　her　warm　rooms　in　the　Kitchen　Keep。　Be　brave；　she　told　herself。　Be　brave；　like　a　lady　in　a　song。
　Sansa　dared　not　look　down。　She　kept　her　eyes　on　the　face　of　the　cliff；　making　certain　of　each　step　before　reaching　for　the　next。　The　stone　was　rough　and　cold。　Sometimes　she　could　feel　her　fingers　slipping；　and　the　handholds　were　not　as　evenly　spaced　as　she　would　have　liked。　The　bells　would　not　stop　ringing。　Before　she　was　halfway　down　her　arms　were　trembling　and　she　knew　that　she　was　going　to　fall。　One　more　step；　she　told　herself；　one　more　step。　She　had　to　keep　moving。　If　she　stopped；　she　would　never　start　again；　and　dawn　would　find　her　still　clinging　to　the　cliff；　frozen　in　fear。　One　more　step；　and　one　more　step。
　The　ground　took　her　by　surprise。　She　stumbled　and　fell；　her　heart　pounding。　When　she　rolled　onto　her　back　and　stared　up　at　from　where　she　had　e；　her　head　swam　dizzily　and　her　fingers　clawed　at　the　dirt。　I　did　it。　I　did　it；　I　didn't　fall；　I　made　the　climb　and　now　I'm　going　home。
　Ser　Dontos　pulled　her　back　onto　her　feet。　〃This　way。　Quiet　now；　quiet；　quiet。〃　He　stayed　close　to　the　shadows　that　lay　black　and　thick　beneath　the　cliffs。　Thankfully　they　did　not　have　to　go　far。　Fifty　yards　downriver；　a　man　sat　in　a　small　skiff；　half…hidden　by　the　remains　of　a　great　galley　that　had　gone　aground　there　and　burned。　Dontos　limped　up　to　him；　puffing。　〃Oswell？〃
　〃No　names；〃　the　man　said。　〃In　the　boat。〃　He　sat　hunched　over　his　oars；　an　old　man；　tall　and　gangling；　with　long　white　hair　and　a　great　hooked　nose；　with　eyes　shaded　by　a　cowl。　〃Get　in；　be　quick　about　it；〃　he　muttered。　〃We　need　to　be　away。〃
　When　both　of　them　were　safe　aboard；　the　cowled　man　slid　the　blades　into　the　water　and　put　his　back　into　the　oars；　rowing　them　out　toward　the　channel。　Behind　them　the　bells　were　still　tolling　the　boy　king's　death。　They　had　the　dark　river　all　to　themselves。
　With　slow；　steady；　rhythmic　strokes；　they　threaded　their　way　downstream；　sliding　above　the　sunken　galleys；　past　broken　masts；　burned　hulls；　and　torn　sails。　The　oarlocks　had　been　muffled；　so　they　moved　almost　soundlessly。　A　mist　was　rising　over　the　water。　Sansa　saw　the　embattled　ramparts　of　one　of　the　Imp's　winch　towers　looming　above；　but　the　great　chain　had　been　lowered；　and　they　rowed　unimpeded　past　the　spot　where　a　thousand　men　had　burned。　The　shore　fell　away；　the　fog　grew　thicker；　the　sound　of　the　bells　began　to　fade。　Finally　even　the　lights　were　gone；　lost　somewhere　behind　them。　They　were　out　in　Blackwater　Bay；　and　the　world　shrank　to　dark　water；　blowing　mist；　and　their　silent　panion　stooped　over　the　oars。　〃How　far　must　we　go？〃　she　asked。
　〃No　talk。〃　The　oarsman　was　old；　but　stronger　than　he　looked；　and　his　voice　was　fierce。　There　was　something　oddly　familiar　about　his　face；　though　Sansa　could　not　say　what　it　was。
　〃Not　far。〃　Ser　Dontos　took　her　hand　in　his　own　and　rubbed　it　gently。　〃Your　friend　is　near；　waiting　for　you。〃
　〃No　talk！〃　the　oarsman　growled　again。　〃Sound　carries　over　water；　Ser　Fool。〃
　Abashed；　Sansa　bit　her　lip　and　huddled　down　in　silence。　The　rest　was　rowing；　rowing；　rowing。
　The　eastern　sky　was　vague　with　the　first　hint　of　dawn　when　Sansa　finally　saw　a　ghostly　shape　in　the　darkness　ahead；　a　trading　galley；　her　sails　furled；　moving　slowly　on　a　single　bank　of　oars。　As　they　drew　closer；　she　saw　the　ship's　figurehead；　a　merman　with　a　golden　crown　blowing　on　a　great　seashell　horn。　She　heard　a　voice　cry　out；　and　the　galley　swung　slowly　about。
　As　they　came　alongside；　the　galley　dropped　a　rope　ladder　over　the　rail。　The　rower　shipped　the　oars　and　helped　Sansa　to　her　feet。　〃Up　now。　Go　on；　girl；　I　got　you。〃　Sansa　thanked　him　for　his　kindness；　but　received　no　answer　but　a　grunt。　It　was　much　easier　going　up　the　rope　ladder　than　it　had　been　ing　down　the　cliff。　The　oarsman　Oswell　followed　close　behind　her；　while　Ser　Dontos　remained　in　the　boat。
　Two　sailors　were　waiting　by　the　rail　to　help　her　onto　the　deck。　Sansa　was　trembling。　〃She's　cold；〃　she　heard　someone　say。　He　took　off　his　cloak　and　put　it　around　her　shoulders。　〃There；　is　that　better；　my　lady？　Rest　easy；　the　worst　is　past　and　done。〃
　She　knew　the　voice。　But　he's　in　the　Vale；　she　thought。　Ser　Lothor　Brune　stood　beside　him　with　a　torch。
　〃Lord　Petyr；〃　Dontos　called　from　the　boat。　〃I　must　needs　row　back；　before　they　think　to　look　for　me。〃
　Petyr　Baelish　put　a　hand　on　the　rail。　〃But　first　you'll　want　your　payment。　Ten　thousand　d