grrm.astormofswords-第154章

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hink　for　one　misbegotten　moment　that　I　would　wed　Joffrey's　widow　。　。　。〃
　〃Lord　Tyrell　swears　the　girl's　still　maiden。〃
　〃She　can　die　a　maiden　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。　I　don't　want　her；　and　I　don't　want　your　Rock！〃
　〃You　are　my　son…〃
　〃I　am　a　knight　of　the　Kingsguard。　The　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard！　And　that's　all　I　mean　to　be！〃
　Firelight　gleamed　golden　in　the　stiff　whiskers　that　framed　Lord　Tywin's　face。　A　vein　pulsed　in　his　neck；　but　he　did　not　speak。　And　did　not　speak。　And　did　not　speak。
　The　strained　silence　went　on　until　it　was　more　than　Jaime　could　endure。　〃Father　。　。　。　〃　he　began。
　〃You　are　not　my　son。〃　Lord　Tywin　turned　his　face　away。　〃You　say　you　are　the　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard；　and　only　that。　Very　well；　ser。　Go　do　your　duty。〃
　
　CHAPTER　63
　DAVOS
　
　Their　voices　rose　like　cinders；　swirling　up　into　purple　evening　sky。　〃Lead　us　from　the　darkness；　O　my　Lord。　Fill　our　hearts　with　fire；　so　we　may　walk　your　shining　path。〃
　The　nightfire　burned　against　the　gathering　dark；　a　great　bright　beast　whose　shifting　orange　light　threw　shadows　twenty　feet　tall　across　the　yard。　All　along　the　walls　of　Dragonstone　the　army　of　gargoyles　and　grotesques　seemed　to　stir　and　shift。
　Davos　looked　down　from　an　arched　window　in　the　gallery　above。　He　watched　Melisandre　lift　her　arms；　as　if　to　embrace　the　shivering　flames。　〃WhIlor；〃　she　sang　in　a　voice　loud　and　clear；　〃you　are　the　light　in　our　eyes；　the　fire　in　our　hearts；　the　heat　in　our　loins。　Yours　is　the　sun　that　warms　our　days；　yours　the　stars　that　guard　us　in　the　dark　of　night。〃
　〃Lord　of　Light；　defend　us。　The　night　is　dark　and　full　of　terrors。　〃　Queen　Selyse　led　the　responses；　her　pinched　face　full　of　fervor。　King　Stannis　stood　beside　her；　jaw　clenched　hard；　the　points　of　his　red…gold　crown　shimmering　whenever　he　moved　his　head。　He　is　with　them；　but　not　of　them；　Davos　thought。　Princess　Shireen　was　between　them；　the　mottled　grey　patches　on　her　face　and　neck　almost　black　in　the　firelight。
　〃Lord　of　Light；　protect　us；〃　the　queen　sang。　The　king　did　not　respond　with　the　others。　He　was　staring　into　the　flames。　Davos　wondered　what　he　saw　there。　Another　vision　of　the　war　to　e？　Or　something　closer　to　home？
　〃WhIlor　who　gave　us　breath；　we　thank　you；〃　sang　Melisandre。　〃R'hllor　who　gave　us　day；　we　thank　you。〃
　〃We　thank　you　for　the　sun　that　warms　us；〃　Queen　Selyse　and　the　other　worshipers　replied。　〃We　thank　you　for　the　stars　that　watch　us。　We　thank　you　for　our　hearths　and　for　our　torches；　that　keep　the　savage　dark　at　bay。〃　There　were　fewer　voices　saying　the　responses　than　there　had　been　the　night　before；　it　seemed　to　Davos；　fewer　faces　flushed　with　orange　light　about　the　fire。　But　would　there　be　fewer　still　on　the　morrow　。　。　。　or　more？
　The　voice　of　Ser　Axell　Florent　rang　loud　as　a　trumpet。　He　stood　barrelchested　and　bandy…legged；　the　firelight　washing　his　face　like　a　monstrous　orange　tongue。　Davos　wondered　if　Ser　Axell　would　thank　him；　after。　The　work　they　did　tonight　might　well　make　him　the　King's　Hand；　as　he　dreamed。
　Melisandre　cried；　〃We　thank　you　for　Stannis；　by　your　grace　our　king。　We　thank　you　for　the　pure　white　fire　of　his　goodness；　for　the　red　sword　of　justice　in　his　hand；　for　the　love　he　bears　his　leal　people。　Guide　him　and　defend　him；　R'hllor；　and　grant　him　strength　to　smite　his　foes。〃
　〃Grant　him　strength；〃　answered　Queen　Selyse；　Ser　Axell；　Devan；　and　the　rest。　〃Grant　him　courage。　Grant　him　wisdom。〃
　When　he　was　a　boy；　the　septons　had　taught　Davos　to　pray　to　the　Crone　for　wisdom；　to　the　Warrior　for　courage；　to　the　Smith　for　strength。　But　it　was　the　Mother　he　prayed　to　now；　to　keep　his　sweet　son　Devan　safe　from　the　red　woman's　demon　god。
　〃Lord　Davos？　We'd　best　be　about　it。〃　Ser　Andrew　touched　his　elbow　gently。　〃My　lord？〃
　The　title　still　rang　queer　in　his　ears；　yet　Davos　turned　away　from　the　window。　〃Aye。　It's　time。〃　Stannis；　Melisandre；　and　the　queen's　men　would　be　at　their　prayers　an　hour　or　more。　The　red　priests　lit　their　fires　every　day　at　sunset；　to　thank　R'hllor　for　the　day　just　ending；　and　beg　him　to　send　his　sun　back　on　the　morrow　to　banish　the　gathering　darkness。　A　smuggler　must　know　the　tides　and　when　to　seize　them。　That　was　all　he　was　at　the　end　of　the　day；　Davos　the　smuggler。　His　maimed　hand　rose　to　his　throat　for　his　luck；　and　found　nothing。　He　snatched　it　down　and　walked　a　bit　more　quickly。
　His　panions　kept　pace；　matching　their　strides　to　his　own。　The　Bastard　of　Nightsong　had　a　pox…ravaged　face　and　an　air　of　tattered　chivalry；　Ser　Gerald　Gower　was　broad；　bluff；　and　blond；　Ser　Andrew　Estermont　stood　a　head　taller；　with　a　spade…shaped　beard　and　shaggy　brown　eyebrows。　They　were　all　good　men　in　their　own　ways；　Davos　thought。　And　they　will　all　be　dead　men　soon；　if　this　night's　work　goes　badly。
　〃Fire　is　a　living　thing；〃　the　red　woman　told　him；　when　he　asked　her　to　teach　him　how　to　see　the　future　in　the　flames。　〃It　is　always　moving；　always　changing　。　。　。　like　a　book　whose　letters　dance　and　shift　even　as　you　try　to　read　them。　It　takes　years　of　training　to　see　the　shapes　beyond　the　flames；　and　more　years　still　to　learn　to　tell　the　shapes　of　what　will　be　from　what　may　be　or　what　was。　Even　then　it　es　hard；　hard。　You　do　not　understand　that；　you　men　of　the　sunset　lands。〃　Davos　asked　her　then　how　it　was　that　Ser　Axell　had　learned　the　trick　of　it　so　quickly；　but　to　that　she　only　smiled　enigmatically　and　said；　〃Any　cat　may　stare　into　a　fire　and　see　red　mice　at　play。〃
　He　had　not　lied　to　his　king's　men；　about　that　or　any　of　it。　〃The　red　woman　may　see　what　we　intend；〃　he　warned　them。
　〃We　should　start　by　killing　her；　then；〃　urged　Lewys　the　Fishwife。　〃I　know　a　place　where　we　could　waylay　her；　four　of　us　with　sharp　swords　。　。　。〃
　〃You'd　doom　us　all；〃　said　Davos。　〃Maester　Cressen　tried　to　kill　her；　and　she　knew　at　once。　From　her　flames；　I'd　guess。　It　seems　to　me　that　she　is　very　quick　to　sense　any　threat　to　her　own　person；　but　surely　she　cannot　see　everything。　if　we　ignore　her；　perhaps　we　might　escape　her　notice。〃
　〃There　is　no　honor　in　hiding　and　sneaking；〃　objected　Ser　Triston　of　Tally　Hill；　who　had　been　a　Sunglass　man　before　Lord　Guncer　went　to　Melisandre's　fires。
　〃Is　it　so　honorable　to　burn？　〃　Davos　asked　him。　〃You　saw　Lord　Sunglass　die。　is　that　what　you　want？　I　don't　need　men　of　honor　now。　I　need　smugglers。　Are　you　with　me；　or　no？〃
　They　were。　Gods　be　good；　they　were。
　Maester　Pylos　was　leading　Edric　Storm　through　his　sums　when　Davos　pushed　open　the　door。　Ser　Andrew　was　close　behind　him；　the　others　had　been　left　to　guard　the　steps　and　cellar　door。　The　maester　broke　off。　〃That　will　be　enough　for　now；　Edric。〃
　The　boy　was　puzzled　by　the　intrusion。　〃Lord　Davos；　Ser　Andrew。　We　were　doing　sums。〃
　Ser　Andrew　smiled。　〃I　hated　sums　when　I　was　your　age；　coz。〃
　〃I　don't　mind　them　so　much。　I　like　history　best；　though。　it's　full　of　tales。〃
　〃Edric；〃　said　Maester　Pylos；　〃run　and　get　your　cloak　now。　You're　to　go　with　Lord　Davos。〃
　〃I　am？〃　Edric　got　to　his　feet。　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　His　mouth　set　stubbornly。　〃I　won't　go　pray　to　the　Lord　of　Light。　I　am　a　Warrior's　man；　like　my　father。〃
　〃We　know；〃　Davos　said。　〃e；　lad；　we　must　not　dawdle。〃
　Edric　donned　a　thick　hooded　cloak　of　undyed　wool。　Maester　Pylos　helped　him　fasten　it；　and　pulled　the　hood　up　to　shadow　his　face。　〃Are　you　ing　with　us；　Maester？〃　the　boy　asked。
　〃No。〃　Pylos　touched　the　chain　of　many　metals　he　wore　about　his　neck。　〃My　place　is　here　on　Dragonstone。　Go　with　Lord　Davos　now；　and　do　as　he　says。　He　is　the　King's　Hand；　remember。　What　did　I　tell　you　about　the　King's　Hand？〃
　〃The　Hand　speaks　with　the　king's　voice。〃
　The　young　maester　smiled。　〃That's　so。　Go　now。〃
　Davos　had　been　uncertain　of　Pylos。　Perhaps　he　resented　him　for　taking　old　Cressen's　place。　But　now　he　could　only　admire　the　man's　courage。　This　could　mean　his　life　as　well。
　Outside　the　maester's　chambers；　Ser　Gerald　Gower　waited　by　the　steps。　Edric　Storm　looked　at　him　curiously。　As　they　made　their　descent　he　asked；　〃Where　are　we　going；　Lord　Davos？〃
　〃To　the　water。　A　ship　awaits　you。〃
　The　boy　stopped　suddenly。　〃A　ship？〃
　〃One　of　Salladhor　Saan's。　Salla　is　a　good　friend　of　mine。〃
　〃I　shall　go　with　you；　Cousin；〃　Ser　Andrew　assured　him。　〃There's　nothing　to　be　frightened　of。〃
　〃I　am　not　frightened；〃　Edric　said　indignantly。　〃Only　。　。　。　is　Shireen　ing　too？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Davos。　〃The　princess　must　remain　here　with　her　father　and　mother。〃
　〃I　have　to　see　her　then；〃　Edric　explained。　〃To　say　my　farewells。　Otherwise　she'll　be　sad。〃
　Not　so　sad　as　if　she　sees　you　burn。　〃There　is　no　time；〃　Davos　said。　〃I　will　tell　the　princess　that　you　were　thinking　of　her。　And　you　can　write　her；　when　you　get　to　where　you're　going。〃
　The　boy　frowned。　〃Are　you　sure　I　must　go？　Why　would　my　uncle　send　me　from　Dragonstone？　Did　I　displease　him？　I　never　meant　to。〃　He　got　that　stubborn　look　again。　〃I　want　to　see　my　uncle。　I　want　to　see　King　Stannis。〃
　Ser　Andrew　and　Ser　Gerald　exchanged　a　look。　〃There's　no　time　for　that；　Cousin；〃　Ser　Andrew　said。
　〃I　want　to　see　him！〃　Edric　insisted；　louder。
　〃He　does　not　want　to　see　you。〃　Davos　had　to　say　something；　to　get　the　boy　moving。　〃I　am　his　Hand；　I　speak　with　his　voice。　Must　I　go　to　the　king　and　tell　him　that　you　would　not　do　as　you　were　told？　Do　you　know　how　angry　that　will　make　him？　Have　you　ever　seen　your　uncle　angry？〃　He　pulled　off　his　glove　and　showed　the　boy　the　four　fingers　that　Stannis　had　shortened。　〃I　have。〃
　It　was　all　lies；　there　had　been　no　anger　in　Stannis　Baratheon　when　he　cut　the　ends　off　his　onion　knight's　fingers；　only　an　iron　sense　of　justice。　But　Edric　Storm　had　not　been　born　then；　and　could　not　know　that。　And　the　threat　had　the　desired　effect。　〃He　should　not　have　done　that；〃　the　boy　said；　but　he　let　Davos　take　him　by　the　hand　and　draw　him　down　the　steps。
　The　Bastard　of　Nightsong　joined　them　at　the　cellar　door。　They　walked　quickly；　across　a　shadowed　yard　and　down　some　steps；　under　the　stone　tail　of　a　frozen　dragon。　Lewys　the　Fishwife　and　Omer　Blackberry　waited　at　the　postern　gate；　two　guards　bound　and　trussed　at　their　feet。　〃The　boat？〃　Davos　asked　them。
　〃It's　there；〃　Lewys　said。　〃Four　oarsmen。　The　galley　is　anchored　just　past　the　point。　Mad　Prendos。〃
　Davos　chuckled。　A　ship　named　after　a　madman。　Yes；　that's　fitting。　Salla　had　a　streak　of　the　pirate's　black　humor。
　He　went　to　one　knee　before　Edric　Storm。　〃I　must　leave　you　now；〃　he　said。　〃There's　a　boat　waiting；　to　row　you　out　to　a　galley。　Then　it's　off　across　the　sea。　You　are　Robert's　son　so　I　know　you　will　be　brave；　no　matter　what　happens。〃
　〃I　will。　Only　。　。　。〃　The　boy　hesitated。
　〃Think　of　this　as　an　adventure；　my　lord。〃　Davos　tried　to　sound　hale　and　cheerful。　〃It's　the　start　of　your　life's　great　adventure。　May　the　Warrior　defend　you。〃
　〃And　may　the　Father　judge　you　justly；　Lord　Davos。〃　The　boy　went　with　his　cousin　Ser　Andrew　out　the　postern　gate。　The　others　followed；　all　but　the　Bastard　of　Nightsong。　May　the　Father　judge　me　justly；　Davos　thought　ruefully。　But　it　was　the　king's　judgment　that　concerned　him　now。
　〃These　two？〃　asked　Ser　Rolland　of　the　guards；　when　he　had　closed　and　barred　the　gate。
　〃Drag　them　into　a　cellar；〃　said　Davos。　〃You　can　cut　them　free　when　Edric's　safely　under　way。〃
　The　Bastard　gave　a　curt　nod。　There　were　no　more　words　to　say；　the　easy　part　was　done。　Davos　pulle