grrm.astormofswords-第163章

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　〃Have　we　heard　it　all？〃　Lord　Tywin　asked　his　daughter　as　Varys　left　the　hall。
　〃Almost；〃　said　Cersei。　〃I　beg　your　leave　to　bring　one　final　witness　before　you；　on　the　morrow。〃
　〃As　you　wish；〃　Lord　Tywin　said。
　Oh；　good；　thought　Tyrion　savagely。　After　this　farce　of　a　trial；　execution　will　almost　e　as　a　relief。
　That　night；　as　he　sat　by　his　window　drinking；　he　heard　voices　outside　his　door。　Ser　Kevan；　e　for　my　answer；　he　thought　at　once；　but　it　was　not　his　uncle　who　entered。
　Tyrion　rose　to　give　Prince　Oberyn　a　mocking　bow。　〃Are　judges　permitted　to　visit　the　accused？〃
　〃Princes　are　permitted　to　go　where　they　will。　Or　so　I　told　your　guards。〃　The　Red　Viper　took　a　seat。
　〃My　father　will　be　displeased　with　you。〃
　〃The　happiness　of　Tywin　Lannister　has　never　been　high　on　my　list　of　concerns。　Is　it　Domish　wine　you're　drinking？〃
　〃From　the　Arbor。〃
　Oberyn　made　a　face。　〃Red　water。　Did　you　poison　him？〃
　〃No。　Did　you？〃
　The　prince　smiled。　〃Do　all　dwarfs　have　tongues　like　yours？　Someone　is　going　to　cut　it　out　one　of　these　days。〃
　〃You　are　not　the　first　to　tell　me　that。　Perhaps　I　should　cut　it　out　myself；　it　seems　to　make　no　end　of　trouble。〃
　〃So　I've　seen。　I　think　I　may　drink　some　of　Lord　Redwyne's　grape　juice　after　all。〃
　〃As　you　like。〃　Tyrion　served　him　a　cup。
　The　man　took　a　sip；　sloshed　it　about　in　his　mouth；　and　swallowed。　〃it　will　serve；　for　the　moment。　I　will　send　you　up　some　strong　Domish　wine　on　the　morrow。〃　He　took　another　sip。　〃I　have　turned　up　that　goldenhaired　whore　I　was　hoping　for。〃
　〃So　you　found　Chataya's？〃
　〃At　Chataya's　I　bedded　the　black…skinned　girl。　Alayaya；　I　believe　she　is　called。　Exquisite；　despite　the　stripes　on　her　back。　But　the　whore　I　referred　to　is　your　sister。〃
　〃Has　she　seduced　you　yet？〃　Tyrion　asked；　unsurprised。
　Oberyn　laughed　aloud。　〃No；　but　she　will　if　I　meet　her　price。　The　queen　has　even　hinted　at　marriage。　Her　Grace　needs　another　husband；　and　who　better　than　a　prince　of　Dome？　Ellaria　believes　I　should　accept。　just　the　thought　of　Cersei　in　our　bed　makes　her　wet；　the　randy　wench。　And　we　should　not　even　need　to　pay　the　dwarf's　penny。　All　your　sister　requires　from　me　is　one　head；　somewhat　overlarge　and　missing　a　nose。〃
　〃And？〃　said　Tyrion；　waiting。
　By　way　of　answer　Prince　Oberyn　swirled　his　wine；　and　said；　〃When　the　Young　Dragon　conquered　Dome　so　long　ago；　he　left　the　Lord　of　Highgarden　to　rule　us　after　the　Submission　of　Sunspear。　This　Tyrell　moved　with　his　tail　from　keep　to　keep；　chasing　rebels　and　making　certain　that　our　knees　stayed　bent。　He　would　arrive　in　force；　take　a　castle　for　his　own；　stay　a　moon's　turn；　and　ride　on　to　the　next　castle。　It　was　his　custom　to　turn　the　lords　out　of　their　own　chambers　and　take　their　beds　for　himself。　One　night　he　found　himself　beneath　a　heavy　velvet　canopy。　A　sash　hung　down　near　the　pillows；　should　he　wish　to　summon　a　wench。　He　had　a　taste　for　Domish　women；　this　Lord　Tyrell；　and　who　can　blame　him？　So　he　pulled　upon　the　sash；　and　when　he　did　the　canopy　above　him　split　open；　and　a　hundred　red　scorpions　fell　down　upon　his　head。　His　death　lit　a　fire　that　soon　swept　across　Dome；　undoing　all　the　Young　Dragon's　victories　in　a　fortnight。　The　kneeling　men　stood　up；　and　we　were　free　again。〃
　〃I　know　the　tale；〃　said　Tyrion。　〃What　of　it？〃
　〃Just　this。　if　I　should　ever　find　a　sash　beside　my　own　bed；　and　pull　on　it；　I　would　sooner　have　the　scorpions　fall　upon　me　than　the　queen　in　all　her　naked　beauty。〃
　Tyrion　grinned。　〃We　have　that　much　in　mon；　then。〃
　〃To　be　sure；　I　have　much　to　thank　your　sister　for。　if　not　for　her　accusation　at　the　feast；　it　might　well　be　you　judging　me　instead　of　me　judging　you。〃　The　prince's　eyes　were　dark　with　amusement。　〃Who　knows　more　of　poison　than　the　Red　Viper　of　Dome；　after　all？　Who　has　better　reason　to　want　to　keep　the　Tyrells　far　from　the　crown？　And　with　Joffrey　in　his　grave；　by　Dornish　law　the　Iron　Throne　should　pass　next　to　his　sister　Myrcella；　who　as　it　happens　is　betrothed　to　mine　own　nephew；　thanks　to　you。〃
　〃Domish　law　does　not　apply。〃　Tyrion　had　been　so　ensnared　in　his　own　troubles　that　he'd　never　stopped　to　consider　the　succession。　〃My　father　will　crown　Tommen；　count　on　that。〃
　〃He　may　indeed　crown　Tommen；　here　in　King's　Landing。　Which　is　not　to　say　that　my　brother　may　not　crown　Myrcella；　down　in　Sunspear。　Will　your　father　make　war　on　your　niece　on　behalf　of　your　nephew？　Will　your　sister？〃　He　gave　a　shrug。　〃Perhaps　I　should　marry　Queen　Cersei　after　all；　on　the　condition　that　she　support　her　daughter　over　her　son。　Do　you　think　she　would？〃
　Never；　Tyrion　wanted　to　say；　but　the　word　caught　in　his　throat。　Cersei　always　resented　being　excluded　from　power　on　account　of　her　sex。　If　Dornish　law　applied　in　the　west；　she　would　be　the　heir　to　Casterly　Rock　in　her　own　right。　She　and　Jaime　were　twins；　but　Cersei　had　e　first　into　the　world；　and　that　was　all　it　took。　By　championing　Myrcella's　cause　she　would　be　championing　her　own。　〃I　do　not　know　how　my　sister　would　choose；　between　Tornmen　and　Myrcella；〃　he　admitted。　〃It　makes　no　matter。　My　father　will　never　give　her　that　choice。〃
　〃Your　father；〃　said　Prince　Oberyn；　〃may　not　live　forever。〃
　Something　about　the　way　he　said　it　made　the　hairs　on　the　back　of　Tyrion's　neck　bristle。　Suddenly　he　was　mindful　of　Elia　again；　and　all　that　Oberyn　had　said　as　they　crossed　the　field　of　ashes。　He　wants　the　head　that　spoke　the　words；　not　just　the　hand　that　swung　the　sword。　〃It　is　not　wise　to　speak　such　treasons　in　the　Red　Keep；　my　prince。　The　little　birds　are　listening。〃
　〃Let　them。　is　it　treason　to　say　a　man　is　mortal？　Valar　morghulis　was　how　they　said　it　in　Valyria　of　old。　All　men　must　die。　And　the　Doom　came　and　proved　it　true。〃　The　Dornishman　went　to　the　window　to　gaze　out　into　the　night。　〃It　is　being　said　that　you　have　no　witnesses　for　us。〃
　〃I　was　hoping　one　look　at　this　sweet　face　of　mine　would　be　enough　to　persuade　you　all　of　my　innocence。〃
　〃You　are　mistaken；　my　lord。　The　Fat　Flower　of　Highgarden　is　quite　convinced　of　your　guilt；　and　determined　to　see　you　die。　His　precious　Margaery　was　drinking　from　that　chalice　too；　as　he　has　reminded　us　half　a　hundred　times。〃
　〃And　you？〃　said　Tyrion。
　〃Men　are　seldom　as　they　appear。　You　look　so　very　guilty　that　I　am　convinced　of　your　innocence。　Still；　you　will　likely　be　condemned。　justice　is　in　short　supply　this　side　of　the　mountains。　There　has　been　none　for　Elia；　Aegon；　or　Rhaenys。　Why　should　there　be　any　for　you？　Perhaps　Joffrey's　real　killer　was　eaten　by　a　bear。　That　seems　to　happen　quite　often　in　King's　Landing。　Oh；　wait；　the　bear　was　at　Harrenhal；　now　I　remember。〃
　〃Is　that　the　game　we　are　playing？〃　Tyrion　rubbed　at　his　scarred　nose。　He　had　nothing　to　lose　by　telling　Oberyn　the　truth。　〃There　was　a　bear　at　Harrenhal；　and　it　did　kill　Ser　Amory　Lorch。〃
　〃How　sad　for　him；〃　said　the　Red　Viper。　〃And　for　you。　Do　all　noseless　men　lie　so　badly；　I　wonder？〃
　〃I　am　not　lying。　Ser　Amory　dragged　Princess　Rhaenys　out　from　under　her　father's　bed　and　stabbed　her　to　death。　He　had　some　men…at…arms　with　him；　but　I　do　not　know　their　names。〃　He　leaned　forward。　〃It　was　Ser　Gregor　Clegane　who　smashed　Prince　Aegon's　head　against　a　wall　and　raped　your　sister　Elia　with　his　blood　and　brains　still　on　his　hands。〃
　〃What　is　this；　now？　Truth；　from　a　Lannister？〃　Oberyn　smiled　coldly。　〃Your　father　gave　the　mands；　yes？〃
　〃No。〃　He　spoke　the　lie　without　hesitation；　and　never　stopped　to　ask　himself　why　he　should。
　The　Domishman　raised　one　thin　black　eyebrow。　〃Such　a　dutiful　son。　And　such　a　very　feeble　lie。　It　was　Lord　Tywin　who　presented　my　sister's　children　to　King　Robert　all　wrapped　up　in　crimson　Lannister　cloaks。〃
　〃Perhaps　you　ought　to　have　this　discussion　with　my　father。　He　was　there。　I　was　at　the　Rock；　and　still　so　young　that　I　thought　the　thing　between　my　legs　was　only　good　for　pissing。〃
　〃Yes；　but　you　are　here　now；　and　in　some　difficulty；　I　would　say。　Your　innocence　may　be　as　plain　as　the　scar　on　your　face；　but　it　will　not　save　you。　No　more　than　your　father　will。〃　The　Dornish　prince　smiled。　〃But　I　might。〃
　〃You？〃　Tyrion　studied　him。　〃You　are　one　judge　in　three。　How　could　you　save　me？〃
　〃Not　as　your　judge。　As　your　champion。〃
　
　CHAPTER　67
　JAIME
　
　A　white　book　sat　on　a　white　table　in　a　white　room。
　The　room　was　round；　its　walls　of　whitewashed　stone　hung　with　white　woolen　tapestries。　It　formed　the　first　floor　of　White　Sword　Tower；　a　slender　structure　of　four　stories　built　into　an　angle　of　the　castle　wall　overlooking　the　bay。　The　undercroft　held　arms　and　armor；　the　second　and　third　floors　the　small　spare　sleeping　cells　of　the　six　brothers　of　the　Kingsguard。
　One　of　those　cells　had　been　his　for　eighteen　years；　but　this　morning　he　had　moved　his　things　to　the　topmost　floor；　which　was　given　over　entirely　to　the　Lord　mander's　apartments。　Those　rooms　were　spare　as　well；　though　spacious；　and　they　were　above　the　outer　walls；　which　meant　he　would　have　a　view　of　the　sea。　I　will　like　that；　he　thought。　The　view；　and　all　the　rest。
　As　pale　as　the　room；　Jaime　sat　by　the　book　in　his　Kingsguard　whites；　waiting　for　his　Sworn　Brothers。　A　longsword　hung　from　his　hip。　From　the　wrong　hip。　Before　he　had　always　wom　his　sword　on　his　left；　and　drawn　it　across　his　body　when　he　unsheathed。　He　had　shifted　it　to　his　right　hip　this　morning；　so　as　to　be　able　to　draw　it　with　his　left　hand　in　the　same　manner；　but　the　weight　of　it　felt　strange　there；　and　when　he　had　tried　to　pull　the　blade　from　the　scabbard　the　whole　motion　seemed　clumsy　and　unnatural。　His　clothing　fit　badly　as　well。　He　had　donned　the　winter　raiment　of　the　Kingsguard；　a　tunic　and　breeches　of　bleached　white　wool　and　a　heavy　white　cloak；　but　it　all　seemed　to　hang　loose　on　him。
　Jaime　had　spent　his　days　at　his　brother's　trial；　standing　well　to　the　back　of　the　hall。　Either　Tyrion　never　saw　him　there　or　he　did　not　know　him；　but　that　was　no　surprise。　Half　the　court　no　longer　seemed　to　know　him。　I　am　a　stranger　in　my　own　House。　His　son　was　dead；　his　father　had　disowned　him；　and　his　sister　。　。　。　she　had　not　allowed　him　to　be　alone　with　her　once；　after　that　first　day　in　the　royal　sept　where　Joffrey　lay　amongst　the　candles。　Even　when　they　bore　him　across　the　city　to　his　tomb　in　the　Great　Sept　of　Baelor；　Cersei　kept　a　careful　distance。
　He　looked　about　the　Round　Room　once　more。　White　wool　hangings　covered　the　walls；　and　there　was　a　white　shield　and　two　crossed　longswords　mounted　above　the　hearth。　The　chair　behind　the　table　was　old　black　oak；　with　cushions　of　blanched　cowhide；　the　leather　worn　thin。　Worn　by　the　bony　arse　of　Barristan　the　Bold　and　Ser　Gerold　Hightower　before　him；　by　Prince　Aemon　the　Dragonknight；　Ser　Ryam　Redwyne；　and　the　Demon　of　Darry；　by　Ser　Duncan　the　Tall　and　the　Pale　Griffin　Alyn　Connington。　How　could　the　Kingslayer　belong　in　such　exalted　pany？
　Yet　here　he　was。
　The　table　itself　was　old　weirwood；　pale　as　bone；　carved　in　the　shape　of　a　huge　shield　supported　by　three　white　stallions。　By　tradition　the　Lord　mander　sat　at　the　top　of　the　shield；　and　the　brothers　three　to　a　side；　on　the　rare　occasions　when　all　seven　were　assembled。　The　book　that　rested　by　his　elbow　was　massive；　two　feet　tall　and　a　foot　and　a　half　wide；　a　thousand　pages　thick；　fine　white　vellum　bound　between　covers　of　bleached　white　leather　with　gold　hinges　and　fastenings。　The　Book　of　the　Brothers　was　its　fo