grrm.astormofswords-第161章

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　〃The　boy　begged；　or　I　wouldn't　have　e　at　all。　I　am　expected　at　Castle　Stokeworth　for　supper。〃
　〃Stokeworth？〃　Tyrion　hopped　from　the　bed。　〃And　pray；　what　is　there　for　you　in　Stokeworth？〃
　〃A　bride。〃　Brorm　smiled　like　a　wolf　contemplating　a　lost　lamb。　〃I'm　to　wed　Lollys　the　day　after　next。〃
　〃Lollys。〃　Perfect；　bloody　perfect。　Lady　Tanda's　lackwit　daughter　gets　a　knightly　husband　and　a　father　of　sorts　for　the　bastard　in　her　belly；　and　Ser　Bronn　of　the　Blackwater　climbs　another　rung。　It　had　Cersei's　stinking　fingers　all　over　it。　〃My　bitch　sister　has　sold　you　a　lame　horse。　The　girl's　dim…witted。〃
　〃If　I　wanted　wits；　I'd　marry　you。〃
　〃Lollys　is　big　with　another　man's　child。〃
　〃And　when　she　pops　him　out；　I'll　get　her　big　with　mine。〃
　〃She's　not　even　heir　to　Stokeworth；〃　Tyrion　pointed　out。　〃She　has　an　elder　sister。　Falyse。　A　married　sister。〃
　〃Married　ten　years；　and　still　barren；〃　said　Bronn。　〃Her　lord　husband　shuns　her　bed。　It's　said　he　prefers　virgins。〃
　〃He　could　prefer　goats　and　it　wouldn't　matter。　The　lands　will　still　pass　to　his　wife　when　Lady　Tanda　dies。〃
　〃Unless　Falyse　should　die　before　her　mother。〃
　Tyrion　wondered　whether　Cersei　had　any　notion　of　the　sort　of　serpent　she'd　given　Lady　Tanda　to　suckle。　And　if　she　does；　would　she　care？　〃Why　are　you　here；　then？〃
　Bronn　shrugged。　〃You　once　told　me　that　if　anyone　ever　asked　me　to　sell　you　out；　you'd　double　the　price。〃
　Yes。　〃Is　it　two　wives　you　want；　or　two　castles？〃
　〃One　of　each　would　serve。　But　if　you　want　me　to　kill　Gregor　Clegane　for　you；　it　had　best　be　a　damned　big　castle。〃
　The　Seven　Kingdoms　were　full　of　highborn　maidens；　but　even　the　oldest；　poorest；　and　ugliest　spinster　in　the　realm　would　balk　at　wedding　such　lowborn　scum　as　Bronn。　Unless　she　was　soft　of　body　and　soft　of　head；　with　a　fatherless　child　in　her　belly　from　having　been　raped　half　a　hundred　times。　Lady　Tanda　had　been　so　desperate　to　find　a　husband　for　Lollys　that　she　had　even　pursued　Tyrion　for　a　time；　and　that　had　been　before　half　of　King's　Landing　enjoyed　her。　No　doubt　Cersei　had　sweetened　the　offer　somehow；　and　Brorm　was　a　knight　now；　which　made　him　a　suitable　match　for　a　younger　daughter　of　a　minor　house。
　〃I　find　myself　woefully　short　of　both　castles　and　highborn　maidens　at　the　moment；〃　Tyrion　admitted。　〃But　I　can　offer　you　gold　and　gratitude；　as　before。〃
　〃I　have　gold。　What　can　I　buy　with　gratitude？〃
　〃You　might　be　surprised。　A　Lannister　pays　his　debts。〃
　〃Your　sister　is　a　Lannister　too。〃
　〃My　lady　wife　is　heir　to　Winterfell。　Should　I　emerge　from　this　with　my　head　still　on　my　shoulders；　I　may　one　day　rule　the　north　in　her　name。　I　could　carve　you　out　a　big　piece　of　it。〃
　〃If　and　when　and　might　be；〃　said　Bronn。　〃And　it's　bloody　cold　up　there。　Lollys　is　soft；　warm；　and　close。　I　could　be　poking　her　two　nights　hence。〃
　〃Not　a　prospect　I　would　relish。〃
　〃Is　that　so？〃　Bronn　grinned。　〃Admit　it；　Imp。　Given　a　choice　between　fucking　Lollys　and　fighting　the　Mountain；　you'd　have　your　breeches　down　and　cock　up　before　a　man　could　blink。〃
　He　knows　me　too　bloody　well。　Tyrion　tried　a　different　tack。　〃I'd　heard　that　Ser　Gregor　was　wounded　on　the　Red　Fork；　and　again　at　Duskendale。　The　wounds　are　bound　to　slow　him。〃
　Bronn　looked　annoyed。　〃He　was　never　fast。　Only　freakish　big　and　freakish　strong。　I'll　grant　you；　he's　quicker　than　you'd　expect　for　a　man　that　size。　He　has　a　monstrous　long　reach；　and　doesn't　seem　to　feel　blows　the　way　a　normal　man　would。〃
　〃Does　he　frighten　you　so　much？　〃　asked　Tyrion；　hoping　to　provoke　him。
　〃if　he　didn't　frighten　me；　I'd　be　a　bloody　fool。〃　Bronn　gave　a　shrug。　〃Might　be　I　could　take　him。　Dance　around　him　until　he　was　so　tired　of　hacking　at　me　that　he　couldn't　lift　his　sword。　Get　him　off　his　feet　somehow。　When　they're　flat　on　their　backs　it　don't　matter　how　tall　they　are。　Even　so；　it's　chancy。　One　misstep　and　I'm　dead。　Why　should　I　risk　it？　I　like　you　well　enough；　ugly　little　whoreson　that　you　are　。　。　。　but　if　I　fight　your　battle；　I　lose　either　way。　Either　the　Mountain　spills　my　guts；　or　I　kill　him　and　lose　Stokeworth。　I　sell　my　sword；　I　don't　give　it　away。　I'm　not　your　bloody　brother。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Tyrion　sadly。　〃You're　not。〃　He　waved　a　hand。　〃Begone；　then。　Run　to　Stokeworth　and　Lady　Lollys。　May　you　find　more　joy　in　your　marriage　bed　than　I　ever　found　in　mine。〃
　Bronn　hesitated　at　the　door。　〃What　will　you　do；　Imp？〃
　〃Kill　Gregor　myself。　Won't　that　make　for　a　jolly　song？〃
　；'I　hope　I　hear　them　sing　it。〃　Bronn　grinned　one　last　time；　and　walked　out　of　the　door；　the　castle；　and　his　life。
　Pod　shuffled　his　feet。　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　〃Why？　is　it　your　fault　that　Bronn's　an　insolent　black…hearted　rogue？　He's　always　been　an　insolent　black…hearted　rogue。　That's　what　I　liked　about　him。〃　Tyrion　poured　himself　a　cup　of　wine　and　took　it　to　the　window　seat。　Outside　the　day　was　grey　and　rainy；　but　the　prospect　was　still　more　cheerful　than　his。　He　could　send　Podrick　Payne　questing　after　Shagga；　he　supposed；　but　there　were　so　many　hiding　places　in　the　deep　of　the　kingswood　that　outlaws　often　evaded　capture　for　decades。　And　Pod　sometimes　has　difficulty　finding　the　kitchens　when　I　send　him　down　for　cheese。　Timett　son　of　Timett　would　likely　be　back　in　the　Mountains　of　the　Moon　by　now。　And　despite　what　he'd　told　Bronn；　going　up　against　Ser　Gregor　Clegane　in　his　own　person　would　be　a　bigger　farce　than　Joffrey's　jousting　dwarfs。　He　did　not　intend　to　die　with　gales　of　laughter　ringing　in　his　ears。　So　much　for　trial　by　bat。
　Ser　Kevan　paid　him　another　call　later　that　day；　and　again　the　day　after。　Sansa　had　not　been　found；　his　uncle　informed　him　politely。　Nor　the　fool　Ser　Dontos；　who'd　vanished　the　same　night。　Did　Tyrion　have　any　more　witnesses　he　wished　to　summon？　He　did　not。　How　do　I　bloody　well　prove　I　didn't　poison　the　wine；　when　a　thousand　people　saw　me　fill　/off　's　cup？
　He　did　not　sleep　at　all　that　night。
　Instead　he　lay　in　the　dark；　staring　up　at　the　canopy　and　counting　his　ghosts。　He　saw　Tysha　smiling　as　she　kissed　him；　saw　Sansa　naked　and　shivering　in　fear。　He　saw　Joffrey　clawing　his　throat；　the　blood　running　down　his　neck　as　his　face　turned　black。　He　saw　Cersei's　eyes；　Bronn's　wolfish　smile；　Shae's　wicked　grin。　Even　thought　of　Shae　could　not　arouse　him。　He　fondled　himself；　thinking　that　perhaps　if　he　woke　his　cock　and　satisfied　it；　he　might　rest　more　easily　afterward；　but　it　was　no　good。
　And　then　it　was　dawn；　and　time　for　his　trial　to　begin。
　It　was　not　Ser　Kevan　who　came　for　him　that　morning；　but　Ser　Addam　Marbrand　with　a　dozen　gold　cloaks。　Tyrion　had　broken　his　fast　on　boiled　eggs；　burned　bacon；　and　fried　bread；　and　dressed　in　his　finest。　〃Ser　Addam；〃　he　said。　〃I　had　thought　my　father　might　send　the　Kingsguard　to　escort　me　to　trial。　I　am　still　a　member　of　the　royal　family；　am　I　not？〃
　〃You　are；　my　lord；　but　I　fear　that　most　of　the　Kingsguard　stand　witness　against　you。　Lord　Tywin　felt　it　would　not　be　proper　for　them　to　serve　as　your　guards。〃
　〃Gods　forbid　we　do　anything　improper。　Please；　lead　on。〃
　He　was　to　be　tried　in　the　throne　room；　where　Joffrey　had　died。　As　Ser　Addam　marched　him　through　the　towering　bronze　doors　and　down　the　long　carpet；　he　felt　the　eyes　upon　him。　Hundreds　had　crowded　in　to　see　him　judged。　At　least　he　hoped　that　was　why　they　had　e。　For　all　I　know；　they're　all　witnesses　against　me。　He　spied　Queen　Margaery　up　in　the　gallery；　pale　and　beautiful　in　her　mourning。　Twice　wed　and　twice　widowed；　and　only　sixteen。　Her　mother　stood　tall　to　one　side　of　her；　her　grandmother　small　on　the　other；　with　her　ladies　in　waiting　and　her　father's　household　knights　packing　the　rest　of　the　gallery。
　The　dais　still　stood　beneath　the　empty　iron　Throne；　though　all　but　one　table　had　been　removed。　Behind　it　sat　stout　Lord　Mace　Tyrell　in　a　gold　mantle　over　green；　and　slender　Prince　Oberyn　Martell　in　flowing　robes　of　striped　orange；　yellow；　and　scarlet。　Lord　Tywin　Lannister　sat　between　them。　Perhaps　there's　hope　for　me　yet。　The　Domishman　and　the　Highgardener　despised　each　other。　If　I　can　ftnd　a　way　to　use　that　。　。　。
　The　High　Septon　began　with　a　prayer；　asking　the　Father　Above　to　guide　them　to　justice。　When　he　was　done　the　father　below　leaned　forward　to　say；　〃Tyrion；　did　you　kill　King　Joffrey？〃
　He　would　not　waste　a　heartbeat。　〃No。〃
　〃Well；　that's　a　relief；〃　said　Oberyn　Martell　dryly。
　〃Did　Sansa　Stark　do　it；　then？〃　Lord　Tyrell　demanded。
　I　would　have；　if　I'd　been　her。　Yet　wherever　Sansa　was　and　whatever　her　part　in　this　might　have　been；　she　remained　his　wife。　He　had　wrapped　the　cloak　of　his　protection　about　her　shoulders；　though　he'd　had　to　stand　on　a　fool's　back　to　do　it。　〃The　gods　killed　Joffrey。　He　choked　on　his　pigeon　pie。〃
　Lord　Tyrell　reddened。　〃You　would　blame　the　bakers？〃
　〃Them；　or　the　pigeons。　just　leave　me　out　of　it。〃　Tyrion　heard　nervous　laughter；　and　knew　he'd　made　a　mistake。　Guard　your　tongue；　you　little　fool；　before　it　digs　your　grave。
　〃There　are　witnesses　against　you；〃　Lord　Tywin　said。　〃We　shall　hear　them　first。　Then　you　may　present　your　own　witnesses。　You　are　to　speak　only　with　our　leave。〃
　There　was　naught　that　Tyrion　could　do　but　nod。
　Ser　Addarn　had　told　it　true；　the　first　man　ushered　in　was　Ser　Balon　Swann　of　the　Kingsguard。　〃Lord　Hand；〃　he　began；　after　the　High　Septon　had　sworn　him　to　speak　only　truth；　〃I　had　the　honor　to　fight　beside　your　son　on　the　bridge　of　ships。　He　is　a　brave　man　for　all　his　size；　and　I　will　not　believe　he　did　this　thing。〃
　A　murmur　went　through　the　hall；　and　Tyrion　wondered　what　mad　game　Cersei　was　playing。　Why　offer　a　witness　that　believes　me　innocent？　He　soon　learned。　Ser　Balon　spoke　reluctantly　of　how　he　had　pulled　Tyrion　away　from　Joffrey　on　the　day　of　the　riot。　〃He　did　strike　His　Grace；　that's　so。　It　was　a　fit　of　wroth；　no　more。　A　summer　storm。　The　mob　near　killed　us　all。〃
　〃In　the　days　of　the　Targaryens；　a　man　who　struck　one　of　the　blood　royal　would　lose　the　hand　he　struck　him　with；〃　observed　the　Red　Viper　of　Dome。　〃Did　the　dwarf　regrow　his　little　hand；　or　did　you　White　Swords　forget　your　duty？〃
　〃He　was　of　the　blood　royal　himself；〃　Ser　Balon　answered。　〃And　the　King's　Hand　beside。〃
　〃No；〃　Lord　Tywin　said。　〃He　was　acting　Hand；　in　my　stead。〃
　Ser　Meryn　Trant　was　pleased　to　expand　on　Ser　Balon's　account；　when　he　took　his　place　as　witness。　〃He　knocked　the　king　to　the　ground　and　began　kicking　him。　He　shouted　that　it　was　unjust　that　His　Grace　had　escaped　unharmed　from　the　mobs。〃
　Tyrion　began　to　grasp　his　sister's　plan。　She　began　with　a　man　known　to　be　honest；　and　milked　him　for　all　he　would　give。　Every　witness　to　follow　will　tell　a　worse　tale；　until　I　seem　as　bad　as　Maegor　the　Cruel　and　Aerys　the　Mad　together；　with　a　pinch　of　Aegon　the　Unworthy　for　spice。
　Ser　Meryn　went　on　to　relate　how　Tyrion　had　stopped　Joffrey's　chastisement　of　Sansa　Stark。　〃The　dwarf　asked　His　Grace　if　he　knew　what　had　happened　to　Aerys　Targaryen。　When　Ser　Boros　spoke　up　in　defense　of　the　king；　the　Imp　threatened　to　have　him　killed。〃
　Blount　himself　came　next；　to　echo　that　sorry　tale。　Whatever　mislike　Ser　Boros　might　harbor　toward　Cersei　for　dismissing　him　from　the　Kingsguard；　he　said　the　words　she　wanted　all　the　same。
　Tyrion　could　no　longer　hold　his　tongue。　〃Tell　the　judges　what　Joffrey　was　doing；　why　don't　you？〃
　The　big　jowly　man　glared　at　him。　〃You　told　your　savages　to　kill　me　if　I　opened　my　mou