grrm.astormofswords-第16章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　told；　but　the　ones　in　motley　are　more　amusing　than　ones　with　crowns。　Margaery；　child；　summon　Butterbumps；　let　us　see　if　we　can't　make　Lady　Sansa　smile。　The　rest　of　you　be　seated；　do　I　have　to　tell　you　everything？　Sansa　must　think　that　my　granddaughter　is　attended　by　a　flock　of　sheep。〃
　Butterbumps　arrived　before　the　food；　dressed　in　a　jester's　suit　of　green　and　yellow　feathers　with　a　floppy　coxb。　An　immense　round　fat　man；　as　big　as　three　Moon　Boys；　he　came　cartwheeling　into　the　hall；　vaulted　onto　the　table；　and　laid　a　gigantic　egg　right　in　front　of　Sansa。　〃Break　it；　my　lady；〃　he　manded。　When　she　did；　a　dozen　yellow　chicks　escaped　and　began　running　in　all　directions。　〃Catch　them！〃　Butterbumps　exclaimed。　Little　Lady　Bulwer　snagged　one　and　handed　it　to　him；　whereby　he　tilted　back　his　head；　popped　it　into　his　huge　rubbery　mouth；　and　seemed　to　swallow　it　whole。　When　he　belched；　tiny　yellow　feathers　flew　out　his　nose。　Lady　Bulwer　began　to　wail　in　distress；　but　her　tears　turned　into　a　sudden　squeal　of　delight　when　the　chick　came　squirming　out　of　the　sleeve　of　her　gown　and　ran　down　her　arm。
　As　the　servants　brought　out　a　broth　of　leeks　and　mushrooms；　Butterbumps　began　to　juggle　and　Lady　Olenna　pushed　herself　forward　to　rest　her　elbows　on　the　table。　〃Do　you　know　my　son；　Sansa？　Lord　Puff　Fish　of　Highgarden？〃
　〃A　great　lord；〃　Sansa　answered　politely。
　〃A　great　oaf；〃　said　the　Queen　of　Thorns。　〃His　father　was　an　oaf　as　well。　My　husband；　the　late　Lord　Luthor。　Oh；　I　loved　him　well　enough；　don't　mistake　me。　A　kind　man；　and　not　unskilled　in　the　bedchamber；　but　an　appalling　oaf　all　the　same。　He　managed　to　ride　off　a　cliff　whilst　hawking。　They　say　he　was　looking　up　at　the　sky　and　paying　no　mind　to　where　his　horse　was　taking　him。
　〃And　now　my　oaf　son　is　doing　the　same；　only　he's　riding　a　lion　instead　of　a　palfrey。　It　is　easy　to　mount　a　lion　and　not　so　easy　to　get　off；　I　warned　him；　but　he　only　chuckles。　Should　you　ever　have　a　son；　Sansa；　beat　him　frequently　so　he　learns　to　mind　you。　I　only　had　the　one　boy　and　I　hardly　beat　him　at　all；　so　now　he　pays　more　heed　to　Butterbumps　than　he　does　to　me。　A　lion　is　not　a　lap　cat；　I　told　him；　and　he　gives　me　a　'tut…tutMother。'　There　is　entirely　too　much　tut…tutting　in　this　realm；　if　you　ask　me。　All　these　kings　would　do　a　deal　better　if　they　would　put　down　their　swords　and　listen　to　their　mothers。〃
　Sansa　realized　that　her　mouth　was　open　again。　She　filled　it　with　a　spoon　of　broth　while　Lady　Alerie　and　the　other　women　were　giggling　at　the　spectacle　of　Butterbumps　bouncing　oranges　off　his　head；　his　elbows；　and　his　ample　rump。
　〃I　want　you　to　tell　me　the　truth　about　this　royal　boy；〃　said　Lady　Olenna　abruptly。　〃This　Joffrey。〃
　Sansa's　fingers　tightened　round　her　spoon。　The　truth？　I　can't。　Don't　ask　it；　please；　I　can't。　〃I　。　。　。　I　。　。　。　I　。　。　。〃
　〃You；　yes。　Who　would　know　better？　The　lad　seems　kingly　enough；　I'll　grant　you。　A　bit　full　of　himself；　but　that　would　be　his　Lannister　blood。　We　have　heard　some　troubling　tales；　however。　Is　there　any　truth　to　them？　Has　this　boy　mistreated　you？〃
　Sansa　glanced　about　nervously。　Butterbumps　popped　a　whole　orange　into　his　mouth；　chewed　and　swallowed；　slapped　his　cheek；　and　blew　seeds　out　of　his　nose。　The　women　giggled　and　laughed。　Servants　were　ing　and　going；　and　the　Maidenvault　echoed　to　the　clatter　of　spoons　and　plates。　One　of　the　chicks　hopped　back　onto　the　table　and　ran　through　Lady　Graceford's　broth。　No　one　seemed　to　be　paying　them　any　mind；　but　even　so；　she　was　frightened。
　Lady　Olenna　was　growing　impatient。　〃Why　are　you　gaping　at　Butterbumps？　I　asked　a　question；　I　expect　an　answer。　Have　the　Lannisters　stolen　your　tongue；　child？〃
　Ser　Dontos　had　warned　her　to　speak　freely　only　in　the　godswood。　〃Joff　。　。　。　King　Joffrey；　he's　。　。　。　His　Grace　is　very　fair　and　handsome；　and　。　。　。　and　as　brave　as　a　lion。〃
　〃Yes；　all　the　Lannisters　are　lions；　and　when　a　Tyrell　breaks　wind　it　smells　just　like　a　rose；〃　the　old　woman　snapped。　〃But　how　kind　is　he？　How　clever？　Has　he　a　good　heart；　a　gentle　hand？　Is　he　chivalrous　as　befits　a　king？　Will　he　cherish　Margaery　and　treat　her　tenderly；　protect　her　honor　as　he　would　his　own？〃
　〃He　will；〃　Sansa　lied。　〃He　is　very　。　。　。　very　ely。〃
　〃You　said　that。　You　know；　child；　some　say　that　you　are　as　big　a　fool　as　Butterbumps　here；　and　I　am　starting　to　believe　them。　ely？　I　have　taught　my　Margaery　what　ely　is　worth；　I　hope。　Somewhat　less　than　a　mummer's　fart。　Aerion　Brightfire　was　ely　enough；　but　a　monster　all　the　same。　The　question　is；　what　is　Joffrey？〃　She　reached　to　snag　a　passing　servant。　〃I　am　not　fond　of　leeks。　Take　this　broth　away；　and　bring　me　some　cheese。〃
　〃The　cheese　will　be　served　after　the　cakes；　my　lady。〃
　〃The　cheese　will　be　served　when　I　want　it　served；　and　I　want　it　served　now。〃　The　old　woman　turned　back　to　Sansa。　〃Are　you　frightened；　child？　No　need　for　that；　we're　only　women　here。　Tell　me　the　truth；　no　harm　will　e　to　you。〃
　〃My　father　always　told　the　truth。〃　Sansa　spoke　quietly；　but　even　so；　it　was　hard　to　get　the　words　out。
　〃Lord　Eddard；　yes；　he　had　that　reputation；　but　they　named　him　traitor　and　took　his　head　off　even　so。〃　The　old　woman's　eyes　bore　into　her；　sharp　and　bright　as　the　points　of　swords。
　〃Joffrey；〃　Sansa　said。　〃Joffrey　did　that。　He　promised　me　he　would　be　merciful；　and　cut　my　father's　head　off。　He　said　that　was　mercy；　and　he　took　me　up　on　the　walls　and　made　me　look　at　it。　The　head。　He　wanted　me　to　weep；　but　。　。　。〃　She　stopped　abruptly；　and　covered　her　mouth。　I've　said　too　much；　oh　gods　be　good；　they'll　know；　theyll　hear；　someone　will　tell　on　me。
　〃Go　on。〃　It　was　Margaery　who　urged。　Joffrey's　own　queen…to…be。　Sansa　did　not　know　how　much　she　had　heard。
　〃I　can't。〃　What　if　she　tells　him；　what　if　she　tells？　He'll　kill　me　for　certain　then；　or　give　me　to　Ser　Ilyn。　〃I　never　meant　。　。　。　my　father　was　a　traitor；　my　brother　as　well；　I　have　the　traitor's　blood；　please；　don't　make　me　say　more。〃
　〃Calm　yourself；　child；〃　the　Queen　of　Thorns　manded。
　〃She's　terrified；　Grandmother；　just　look　at　her。〃
　The　old　woman　called　to　Butterbumps。　〃Fool！　Give　us　a　song。　A　long　one；　I　should　think。　'The　Bear　and　the　Maiden　Fair'　will　do　nicely。〃
　〃It　will！〃　the　huge　jester　replied。　〃It　will　do　nicely　indeed！　Shall　I　sing　it　standing　on　my　head；　my　lady？〃
　〃Will　that　make　it　sound　better？〃
　〃No。〃
　〃Stand　on　your　feet；　then。　We　wouldn't　want　your　hat　to　fall　off。　As　I　recall；　you　never　wash　your　hair。〃
　〃As　my　lady　mands。〃　Butterbumps　bowed　low；　let　loose　of　an　enormous　belch；　then　straightened；　threw　out　his　belly；　and　bellowed。　〃A　bear　there　was；　a　bear；　a　BEAR！　All　black　and　brown；　and　covered　with　hair　。　。　。〃
　Lady　Olenna　squirmed　forward。　〃Even　when　I　was　a　girl　younger　than　you；　it　was　well　known　that　in　the　Red　Keep　the　very　walls　have　ears。　Well；　they　will　be　the　better　for　a　song；　and　meanwhile　we　girls　shall　speak　freely。〃
　〃But；〃　Sansa　said；　〃Varys　。　。　。　he　knows；　he　always　。　。　。
　〃Sing　louder！〃　the　Queen　of　Thorns　shouted　at　Butterbumps。　〃These　old　ears　are　almost　deaf；　you　know。　Are　you　whispering　at　me；　you　fat　fool？　I　don't　pay　you　for　whispers。　Sing！〃
　〃　。　。　。　THE　BEAR！〃　thundered　Butterbumps；　his　great　deep　voice　echoing　off　the　rafters。　〃OH；　E；　THEY　SAID；　OH　E　TO　THE　FAIR！　THE　FAIR？　SAID　HE；　BUT　I'M　A　BEAR！　ALL　BLACK　AND　BROWN；　AND　COVERED　WITH　HAIR！〃
　The　wrinkled　old　lady　smiled。　〃At　Highgarden　we　have　many　spiders　amongst　the　flowers。　So　long　as　they　keep　to　themselves　we　let　them　spin　their　little　webs；　but　if　they　get　underfoot　we　step　on　them。〃　She　patted　Sansa　on　the　back　of　the　hand。　〃Now；　child；　the　truth。　What　sort　of　man　is　this　Joffrey；　who　calls　himself　Baratheon　but　looks　so　very　Lannister？〃
　〃AND　DOWN　THE　ROAD　FROM　HERE　TO　THERE。　FROM　HERE！　TO　THERE！　THREE　BOYS；　A　GOAT；　AND　A　DANCING　BEAR！〃
　Sansa　felt　as　though　her　heart　had　lodged　in　her　throat。　The　Queen　of　Thorns　was　so　close　she　could　smell　the　old　woman's　sour　breath。　Her　gaunt　thin　fingers　were　pinching　her　wrist。　To　her　other　side；　Margaery　was　listening　as　well。　A　shiver　went　through　her。　〃A　monster；〃　she　whispered；　so　tremulously　she　could　scarcely　hear　her　own　voice。　〃Joffrey　is　a　monster。　He　lied　about　the　butcher's　boy　and　made　Father　kill　my　wolf。　When　I　displease　him；　he　has　the　Kingsguard　beat　me。　He's　evil　and　cruel；　my　lady；　it's　so。　And　the　queen　as　well。〃
　Lady　Olenna　Tyrell　and　her　granddaughter　exchanged　a　look。　〃Ah〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃that's　a　pity。〃
　Oh；　gods；　thought　Sansa；　horrified。　If　Margaery　won't　marry　him；　Joff　will　know　that　I'm　to　blame。　〃Please；〃　she　blurted；　〃don't　stop　the　wedding　。　。　。〃
　〃Have　no　fear；　Lord　Puff　Fish　is　determined　that　Margaery　shall　be　queen。　And　the　word　of　a　Tyrell　is　worth　more　than　all　the　gold　in　Casterly　Rock。　At　least　it　was　in　my　day。　Even　so；　we　thank　you　for　the　truth；　child。〃
　〃　。　。　。　DANCED　AND　SP　UN；　ALL　THE　WA　Y　TO　THE　FAIR！　THE　FAIR！　THE　FAIR！〃　Butterbumps　hopped　and　roared　and　stomped　his　feet。
　〃Sansa；　would　you　like　to　visit　Highgarden？〃　When　Margaery　Tyrell　smiled；　she　looked　very　like　her　brother　Loras。　〃All　the　autumn　flowers　are　in　bloom　just　now；　and　there　are　groves　and　fountains；　shady　courtyards；　marble　colonnades。　My　lord　father　always　keeps　singers　at　court；　sweeter　ones　than　Butters　here；　and　pipers　and　fiddlers　and　harpers　as　well。　We　have　the　best　horses；　and　pleasure　boats　to　sail　along　the　Mander。　Do　you　hawk；　Sansa？〃
　〃A　little；〃　she　admitted。
　〃OH；　SWEET　SHE　WAS；　AND　PURE；　AND　FAIR！　THE　MAID　WITH　HONEY　IN　HER　HAIR！〃
　〃You　will　love　Highgarden　as　I　do；　I　know　it。〃　Margaery　brushed　back　a　loose　strand　of　Sansa's　hair。　〃Once　you　see　it；　you'll　never　want　to　leave。　And　perhaps　you　won't　have　to。〃
　〃HER　HAIR！　HER　HAIR！　THE　MAID　WITH　HONEY　IN　HER　HAIR！〃
　〃Shush；　child；〃　the　Queen　of　Thorns　said　sharply。　〃Sansa　hasn't　even　told　us　that　she　would　like　to　e　for　a　visit。〃
　〃Oh；　but　I　would；〃　Sansa　said。　Highgarden　sounded　like　the　place　she　had　always　dreamed　of；　like　the　beautiful　magical　court　she　had　once　hoped　to　find　at　King's　Landing。
　〃　。　。　。　SMELLED　THE　SCENT　ON　THE　SUMMER　AIR。　THE　BEAR！　THE　BEAR！　ALL　BLACK　AND　BROWN　AND　COVERED　WITH　HAIR。〃
　〃But　the　queen；〃　Sansa　went　on；　〃she　won't　let　me　go　。　。　。〃
　〃She　will。　Without　Highgarden；　the　Lannisters　have　no　hope　of　keeping　Joffrey　on　his　throne。　If　my　son　the　lord　oaf　asks；　she　will　have　no　choice　but　to　grant　his　request。〃
　〃Will　he？〃　asked　Sansa。　〃Will　he　ask？〃
　Lady　Olenna　frowned。　〃I　see　no　need　to　give　him　a　choice。　Of　course；　he　has　no　hint　of　our　true　purpose。〃
　〃HE　SMELLED　THE　SCENT　ON　THE　SUMMER　AIR！〃
　Sansa　wrinkled　her　brow。　〃Our　true　purpose；　my　lady？〃
　〃HE　SNIFFED　AND　ROARED　AND　SMELLED　IT　THERE！　HONEY　ON　THE　SUMMER　AIR！〃
　〃To　see　you　safely　wed；　child；〃　the　old　woman　said；　as　Butterbumps　bellowed　out　the　old；　old　song；　〃to　my　grandson。〃
　Wed　to　Ser　Loras；　oh　。　。　。　Sansa's　breath　caught　in　her　throat。　She　remembered　Ser　Loras　in　his　sparkling　sapphire　armor；　tossing　her　a　rose。　Ser　Loras　in　white　silk；　so　pure；　innocent；　beautiful。　The　dimples　at　the　corner　of　his　mouth　when　he　smiled。　The　sweetness　of　his　laugh；　the　warmth　of　his　hand。　She　could　only　imagine　what　it　would　be　like　to　pull　up　his　tunic　and　caress　the　smooth　skin　underneath；　to　stand　on　her　toes　and　kiss　him；　to　run　her　fingers　through　those　thick　brown　curls　a