grrm.astormofswords-第151章

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　〃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　dragons；　was　it？〃
　〃Ten　thousand。〃　Dontos　rubbed　his　mouth　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　〃As　you　promised；　my　lord。'/
　〃Ser　Lothor；　the　reward。〃
　Lothor　Brune　dipped　his　torch。　Three　men　stepped　to　the　gunwale；　raised　crossbows；　fired。　One　bolt　took　Dontos　in　the　chest　as　he　looked　up；　punching　through　the　left　crown　on　his　surcoat。　The　others　ripped　into　throat　and　belly。　It　happened　so　quickly　neither　Dontos　nor　Sansa　had　time　to　cry　out。　When　it　was　done；　Lothor　Brune　tossed　the　torch　down　on　top　of　the　corpse。　The　little　boat　was　blazing　fiercely　as　the　galley　moved　away。
　〃You　killed　him。〃　Clutching　the　rail；　Sansa　turned　away　and　retched。　Had　she　escaped　the　Lannisters　to　tumble　into　worse？
　〃My　lady；〃　Littlefinger　murmured；　〃your　grief　is　wasted　on　such　a　man　as　that。　He　was　a　sot；　and　no　man's　friend。〃
　〃But　he　saved　me。〃
　〃He　sold　you　for　a　promise　of　ten　thousand　dragons。　Your　disappearance　will　make　them　suspect　you　in　Joffrey's　death。　The　gold　cloaks　will　hunt；　and　the　eunuch　will　jingle　his　purse。　Dontos　。　。　。　well；　you　heard　him。　He　sold　you　for　gold；　and　when　he'd　drunk　it　up　he　would　have　sold　you　again。　A　bag　of　dragons　buys　a　man's　silence　for　a　while；　but　a　well…placed　quarrel　buys　it　forever。〃　He　smiled　sadly。　〃All　he　did　he　did　at　my　behest。　I　dared　not　befriend　you　openly。　When　I　heard　how　you　saved　his　life　at　Joff　's　tourney；　I　knew　he　would　be　the　perfect　catspaw。
　Sansa　felt　sick。　〃He　said　he　was　my　Florian。〃
　〃Do　you　perchance　recall　what　I　said　to　you　that　day　your　father　sat　the　Iron　Throne？〃
　The　moment　came　back　to　her　vividly。　〃You　told　me　that　life　was　not　a　song。　That　I　would　learn　that　one　day；　to　my　sorrow。〃　She　felt　tears　in　her　eyes；　but　whether　she　wept　for　Ser　Dontos　Hollard；　for　Joff；　for　Tyrion；　or　for　herself；　Sansa　could　not　say。　〃Is　it　all　lies；　forever　and　ever；　everyone　and　everything？〃
　〃Almost　everyone。　Save　you　and　I；　of　course。〃　He　smiled。　〃e　to　the　godswood　tonight　if　you　want　to　go　home。〃
　〃The　note　。　。　。　it　was　you？〃
　；'It　had　to　be　the　godswood。　No　other　place　in　the　Red　Keep　is　safe　from　the　eunuch's　little　birds　。　。　。　or　little　rats；　as　I　call　them。　There　are　trees　in　the　godswood　instead　of　walls。　Sky　above　instead　of　ceiling。　Roots　and　dirt　and　rock　in　place　of　floor。　The　rats　have　no　place　to　scurry。　Rats　need　to　hide；　lest　men　skewer　them　with　swords。〃　Lord　Petyr　took　her　arm。　〃Let　me　show　you　to　your　cabin。　You　have　had　a　long　and　trying　day；　I　know。　You　must　be　weary。〃
　Already　the　little　boat　was　no　more　than　a　swirl　of　smoke　and　fire　behind　them；　almost　lost　in　the　immensity　of　the　dawn　sea。　There　was　no　going　back；　her　only　road　was　forward。　〃Very　weary；〃　she　admitted。
　As　he　led　her　below；　he　said；　〃Tell　me　of　the　feast。　The　queen　took　such　pains。　The　singers；　the　jugglers；　the　dancing　bear　。　。　。　did　your　little　lord　husband　enjoy　my　jousting　dwarfs？〃
　〃Yours？〃
　〃I　had　to　send　to　Braavos　for　them　and　hide　them　away　in　a　brothel　until　the　wedding。　The　expense　was　exceeded　only　by　the　bother。　It　is　surprisingly　difficult　to　hide　a　dwarf；　and　Joffrey　。　。　。　you　can　lead　a　king　to　water；　but　with　Joff　one　had　to　splash　it　about　before　he　realized　he　could　drink　it。　When　I　told　him　about　my　little　surprise；　His　Grace　said；　'Why　would　I　want　some　ugly　dwarfs　at　my　feast？　I　hate　dwarfs。'　I　had　to　take　him　by　the　shoulder　and　whisper；　'Not　as　much　as　your　uncle　will。'〃
　The　deck　rocked　beneath　her　feet；　and　Sansa　felt　as　if　the　world　itself　had　grown　unsteady。　〃They　think　Tyrion　poisoned　Joffrey。　Ser　Dontos　said　they　seized　him。〃
　Littlefinger　smiled。　〃Widowhood　will　bee　you；　Sansa。〃
　The　thought　made　her　tummy　flutter。　She　might　never　need　to　share　a　bed　with　Tyrion　again。　That　was　what　she'd　wanted　。　。　。　wasn't　it？
　The　cabin　was　low　and　cramped；　but　a　featherbed　had　been　laid　upon　the　narrow　sleeping　shelf　to　make　it　more　fortable；　and　thick　furs　piled　atop　it。　〃It　will　be　snug；　I　know；　but　you　shouldn't　be　too　unfortable。〃　Littlefinger　pointed　out　a　cedar　chest　under　the　porthole。　〃You'll　find　fresh　garb　within。　Dresses；　smallclothes；　warm　stockings；　a　cloak。　Wool　and　linen　only；　I　fear。　Unworthy　of　a　maid　so　beautiful；　but　they'll　serve　to　keep　you　dry　and　clean　until　we　can　find　you　something　finer。〃
　He　had　this　all　prepared　for　me。　〃My　lord；　I　。　。　。　I　do　not　understand　。　。　。　Joffrey　gave　you　Harrenhal；　made　you　Lord　Paramount　of　the　Trident　。　。　。　why　。　。　。〃
　〃Why　should　I　wish　him　dead？〃　Littlefinger　shrugged。　〃I　had　no　motive。　Besides；　I　am　a　thousand　leagues　away　in　the　Vale。　Always　keep　your　foes　confused。　If　they　are　never　certain　who　you　are　or　what　you　want；　they　cannot　know　what　you　are　like　to　do　next。　Sometimes　the　best　way　to　baffle　them　is　to　make　moves　that　have　no　purpose；　or　even　seem　to　work　against　you。　Remember　that；　Sansa；　when　you　e　to　play　the　game。〃
　〃What　。　。　。　what　game？〃
　〃The　only　game。　The　game　of　thrones。〃　He　brushed　back　a　strand　of　her　hair。　〃You　are　old　enough　to　know　that　your　mother　and　I　were　more　than　friends。　There　was　a　time　when　Cat　was　all　I　wanted　in　this　world。　I　dared　to　dream　of　the　life　we　might　make　and　the　children　she　would　give　me　。　。　。　but　she　was　a　daughter　of　Riverrun；　and　Hoster　Tully。　Family；　Duty；　Honor；　Sansa。　Family；　Duty；　Honor　meant　I　could　never　have　her　hand。　But　she　gave　me　something　finer；　a　gift　a　woman　can　give　but　once。　How　could　I　turn　my　back　upon　her　daughter？　In　a　better　world；　you　might　have　been　mine；　not　Eddard　Stark's。　My　loyal　loving　daughter　。　。　。　Put　Joffrey　from　your　mind；　sweetling。　Dontos；　Tyrion；　all　of　them。　They　will　never　trouble　you　again。　You　are　safe　now；　that's　all　that　matters。　You　are　safe　with　me；　and　sailing　home。〃
　
　CHAPTER　62
　JAIME
　
　The　king　is　dead；　they　told　him；　never　knowing　that　Joffrey　was　his　son　as　well　as　his　sovereign。
　〃The　Imp　opened　his　throat　with　a　dagger；〃　a　costermonger　declared　at　the　roadside　inn　where　they　spent　the　night。　〃He　drank　his　blood　from　a　big　gold　chalice。〃　The　man　did　not　recognize　the　bearded　one…handed　knight　with　the　big　bat　on　his　shield；　no　more　than　any　of　them；　so　he　said　things　he　might　otherwise　have　swallowed；　had　he　known　who　was　listening。
　〃It　was　poison　did　the　deed；〃　the　innkeep　insisted。　〃The　boy's　face　turned　black　as　a　plum。〃
　〃May　the　Father　judge　him　justly；〃　murmured　a　septon。
　〃The　dwarf's　wife　did　the　murder　with　him；〃　swore　an　archer　in　Lord　Rowan's　livery。　〃Afterward；　she　vanished　from　the　hall　in　a　puff　of　brimstone；　and　a　ghostly　direwolf　was　seen　prowling　the　Red　Keep；　blood　dripping　from　his　jaws。〃
　Jaime　sat　silent　through　it　all；　letting　the　words　wash　over　him；　a　horn　of　ale　forgotten　in　his　one　good　hand。　Joffrey。　My　blood。　My　firstborn。　My　son。　He　tried　to　bring　the　boy's　face　to　mind；　but　his　features　kept　turning　into　Cersei's。　She　will　be　in　mourning；　her　hair　in　disarray　and　her　eyes　red　from　crying；　her　mouth　trembling　as　she　tries　to　speak。　She　will　cry　again　when　she　sees　me；　though　she'll　fight　the　tears。　His　sister　seldom　wept　but　when　she　was　with　him。　She　could　not　stand　for　others　to　think　her　weak。　Only　to　her　twin　did　she　show　her　wounds。　She　will　look　to　me　for　fort　and　revenge。
　They　rode　hard　the　next　day；　at　Jaime's　insistence。　His　son　was　dead；　and　his　sister　needed　him。
　When　he　saw　the　city　before　him；　its　watchtowers　dark　against　the　gathering　dusk；　Jaime　Lannister　cantered　up　to　Steelshanks　Walton；　behind　Nage　with　the　peace　banner。
　〃What's　that　awful　stink？〃　the　northman　plained。
　Death；　thought　Jaime；　but　he　said；　〃Smoke；　sweat；　and　shit。　King's　Landing；　in　short。　If　you　have　a　good　nose　you　can　smell　the　treachery　too。　You've　never　smelled　a　city　before？〃
　〃I　smelled　White　Harbor。　It　never　stank　like　this。〃
　〃White　Harbor　is　to　King's　Landing　as　my　brother　Tyrion　is　to　Ser　Gregor　Clegane。〃
　Nage　led　them　up　a　low　hill；　the　seven…tailed　peace　banner　lifting　and　turning　in　the　wind；　the　polished　seven…pointed　star　shining　bright　upon　its　staff。　He　would　see　Cersei　soon；　and　Tyrion；　and　their　father。　Could　my　brother　truly　have　killed　the　boy？　Jaime　found　that　hard　to　believe。
　He　was　curiously　calm。　Men　were　supposed　to　go　mad　with　grief　when　their　children　died；　he　knew。　They　were　supposed　to　tear　their　hair　out　by　the　roots；　to　curse　the　gods　and　swear　red　vengeance。　So　why　was　it　that　he　felt　so　little？　The　boy　lived　and　died　believing　Robert　Baratheon　his　sire。
　Jaime　had　seen　him　born；　that　was　true；　though　more　for　Cersei　than　the　child。　But　he　had　never　held　him。　〃How　would　it　look？〃　his　sister　warned　him　when　the　women　finally　left　them。　〃Bad　enough　Joff　looks　like　you　without　you　mooning　over　him。〃　Jaime　yielded　with　hardly　a　fight。　The　boy　had　been　a　squalling　pink　thing　who　demanded　too　much　of　Cersei's　time；　Cersei's　love；　and　Cersei's　breasts。　Robert　was　wele　to　him。
　And　now　he's　dead。　He　pictured　Joff　lying　still　and　cold　with　a　face　black　from　poison；　and　still　felt　nothing。　Perhaps　he　was　the　monster　they　claimed。　if　the　Father　Above　came　down　to　offer　him　back　his　son　or　his　hand；　Jaime　knew　which　he　would　choose。　He　had　a　second　son；　after　all；　and　seed　enough　for　many　more。　If　Cersei　wants　another　child　I'll　give　her　one　。　。　。　and　this　time　I'll　hold　him；　and　the　Others　take　those　who　do　not　like　it。　Robert　was　rotting　in　his　grave；　and　Jaime　was　sick　of　lies。
　He　turned　abruptly　and　galloped　back　to　find　Brienne。　Gods　know　why　I　bother。　She　is　the　least　panionable　creature　I've　ever　had　the　misfortune　to　meet。　The　wench　rode　well　behind　and　a　few　feet　off　to　the　side；　as　if　to　proclaim　that　she　was　no　part　of　them。　They　had　found　men's　garb　for　her　along　the　way；　a　tunic　here；　a　mantle　there；　a　pair　of　breeches　and　a　cowled　cloak；　even　an　old　iron　breastplate。　She　looked　more　fortable　dressed　as　a　man；　but　nothing　would　ever　make　her　look　handsome。　Nor　happy。　Once　out　of　Harrenhal；　her　usual　pighead　stubbornness　had　soon　reasserted　itself。　〃I　want　my　arms　and　armor　back；〃　she　had　insisted。　〃Oh；　by　all　means；　let　us　have　you　back　in　steel；〃　Jaime　replied。　〃A　helm；　especially。　We'll　all　be　happier　if　you　keep　your　mouth　shut　and　your　visor　down。〃
　That　much　Brienne　could　do；　but　her　sullen　silences　soon　began　to　fray　his　good　humor　almost　as　much　as　Qyburn's　endless　attempts　to　be　ingratiating。　I　never　thought　I　would　find　myself　missing　the　pany　of　Cleos　Frey；　gods　help　me。　He　was　beginning　to　wish　he　had　left　her　for　the　bear　after　all。
　〃King's　Landing；〃　Jaime　announced　when　he　found　her。　〃Our　journey's　done；　my　lady。　You've　kept　your　vow；　and　delivered　me　to　King's　Landing。　All　but　a　few　fingers　and　a　hand。〃
　Brienne's　eyes　were　listless。　〃That　was　only　half　my　vow。　I　told　Lady　Catelyn　I　would　bring　her　back　her　daughters。　Or　Sansa；　at　the　least。　And　now　。　。　。〃
　She　never　met　Robb　Stark；　yet　her　grief　for　him　runs　deeper　than　mine　for　Joff。　Or　perhaps　it　was　Lady　Catelyn　she　mourned。　They　had　been　at　Brindlewood　when　they　had　that　news；　from　a　red…faced　tub　of　a　knight　named　Ser　Bertram　Beesbury；　whose　arms　were　three　beehives　on　a　field　striped　black　and　yellow。　A　troop　of　Lord　Piper's　me