grrm.astormofswords-第164章

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　its　formal　name；　but　more　often　it　was　simply　called　the　White　Book。
　Within　the　White　Book　was　the　history　of　the　Kingsguard。　Every　knight　who'd　ever　served　had　a　page；　to　record　his　name　and　deeds　for　all　time。　On　the　top　left…hand　corner　of　each　page　was　drawn　the　shield　the　man　had　carried　at　the　time　he　was　chosen；　inked　in　rich　colors。　Down　in　the　bottom　right　corner　was　the　shield　of　the　Kingsguard；　snow…white；　empty；　pure。　The　upper　shields　were　all　different；　the　lower　shields　were　all　the　same。　in　the　space　between　were　written　the　facts　of　each　man's　life　and　service。　The　heraldic　drawings　and　illuminations　were　done　by　septons　sent　from　the　Great　Sept　of　Baelor　three　times　a　year；　but　it　was　the　duty　of　the　Lord　mander　to　keep　the　entries　up　to　date。
　My　duty；　now　Once　he　learned　to　write　with　his　left　hand；　that　is。　The　White　Book　was　well　behind。　The　deaths　of　Ser　Mandon　Moore　and　Ser　Preston　Greenfield　needed　to　be　entered；　and　the　brief　bloody　Kingsguard　service　of　Sandor　Clegane　as　well。　New　pages　must　be　started　for　Ser　Balon　Swann；　Ser　Osmund　Kettleblack；　and　the　Knight　of　Flowers。　I　will　need　to　summon　a　septon　to　draw　their　shields。
　Ser　Barristan　Selmy　had　preceded　Jaime　as　Lord　mander。　The　shield　atop　his　page　showed　the　arms　of　House　Selmy：　three　stalks　of　wheat；　yellow；　on　a　brown　field。　Jaime　was　amused；　though　unsurprised；　to　find　that　Ser　Barristan　had　taken　the　time　to　record　his　own　dismissal　before　leaving　the　castle。
　Ser　Barristan　of　House　Selmy。　Firstborn　son　of　Ser　Lyonel　Selmy　of　Harvest　Hall。　Served　as　squire　to　Ser　Manfred　Swann。　Named　〃the　Bold〃　in　his　10th　year；　when　he　donned　borrowed　armor　to　appear　as　a　mystery　knight　in　the　tourney　at　Blackhaven；　where　he　was　defeated　and　unmasked　by　Duncan；　Prince　of　Dragonflies。　Knighted　in　his　16th　year　by　King　Aegon　V　Targaryen；　after　performing　great　feats　of　prowess　as　a　mystery　knight　in　the　winter　tourney　at　King's　Landing；　defeating　Prince　Duncan　the　Small　and　Ser　Duncan　the　Tall；　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard。　Slew　Maelys　the　Monstrous；　last　of　the　Blackfyre　Pretenders；　in　single　bat　during　the　War　of　the　Ninepenny　Kings。　Defeated　Lormelle　Long　Lance　and　Cedrik　Storm；　the　Bastard　of　Bronzegate。　Named　to　the　Kingsguard　in　his　23rd　year；　by　Lord　mander　Ser　Gerold　Hightower。　Defended　the　passage　against　all　challengers　in　the　tourney　of　the　Silver　Bridge。　Victor　in　the　m6l6e　at　Maidenpool。　Brought　King　Aerys　II　to　safety　during　the　Defiance　of　Duskendale；　despite　an　arrow　wound　in　the　chest。　Avenged　the　murder　of　his　Sworn　Brother；　Ser　Gwayne　Gaunt。　Rescued　Lady　feyne　Swann　and　her　septa　from　the　Kingswood　Brotherhood；　defeating　Simon　Toyne　and　the　Smiling　Knight；　and　slaying　the　former。　In　the　Oldtown　tourney；　defeated　and　unmasked　the　mystery　knight　Blackshield；　revealing　him　as　the　Bastard　of　Uplands。　Sole　champion　of　Lord　Steffon's　tourney　at　Storm's　End；　whereat　he　unhorsed　Lord　Robert　Baratheon；　Prince　Oberyn　Martell；　Lord　Leyton　Hightower；　Lord　Jon　Connington；　Lord　Jason　Mallister；　and　Prince　Rhaegar　Targaryen。　Wounded　by　arrow；　spear；　and　sword　at　the　Battle　of　the　Trident　whilst　fighting　beside　his　Sworn　Brothers　and　Rhaegar　Prince　of　Dragonstone。　Pardoned；　and　named　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard；　by　King　Robert　I　Baratheon。　Served　in　the　honor　guard　that　brought　Lady　Cersei　of　House　Lannister　to　King's　Landing　to　wed　King　Robert。　Led　the　attack　on　Old　Wyk　during　Balon　Greyjoy's　Rebellion。　Champion　of　the　tourney　at　King's　Landing；　in　his　57th　year。　Dismissed　from　service　by　King　Joffrey　I　Baratheon　in　his　61st　year；　for　reasons　of　advanced　age。
　The　earlier　part　of　Ser　Barristan's　storied　career　had　been　entered　by　Ser　Gerold　Hightower　in　a　big　forceful　hand。　Selmy's　own　smaller　and　more　elegant　writing　took　over　with　the　account　of　his　wounding　on　the　Trident。
　Jaime's　own　page　was　scant　by　parison。
　　Ser　Jaime　of　House　Lannister。　Firstborn　son　of　Lord　Tywin　and　Lady　Joanna　of　Casterly　Rock。　Served　against　the　Kingswood　Brotherhood　as　squire　to　Lord　Sumner　Crakehall。　Knighted　in　his　15th　year　by　Ser　Arthur　Dayne　of　the　Kingsguard；　for　valor　in　the　field。　Chosen　for　the　Kingsguard　in　his　15th　year　by　King　Aerys　II　Targaryen。　During　the　Sack　of　King's　Landing；　slew　King　Aerys　II　at　the　foot　of　the　Iron　Throne。　Thereafter　known　as　the　〃Kingslayer。〃　
　Pardoned　for　his　crime　by　King　Robert　I　Baratheon。　Served　in　the　honor　guard　that　brought　his　sister　the　Lady　Cersei　Lannister　to　King's　Landing　to　wed　King　Robert。　Champion　in　the　tourney　held　at　King's　Landing　on　the　occasion　of　their　wedding。
　Summed　up　like　that；　his　life　seemed　a　rather　scant　and　mingy　thing。　Ser　Barristan　could　have　recorded　a　few　of　his　other　tourney　victories；　at　least。　And　Ser　Gerold　might　have　written　a　few　more　words　about　the　deeds　he'd　performed　when　Ser　Arthur　Dayne　broke　the　Kingswood　Brotherhood。　He　had　saved　Lord　Sumner's　life　as　Big　Belly　Ben　was　about　to　smash　his　head　in；　though　the　outlaw　had　escaped　him。　And　he'd　held　his　own　against　the　Smiling　Knight；　though　it　was　Ser　Arthur　who　slew　him。　What　a　fight　that　was；　and　what　a　foe。　The　Smiling　Knight　was　a　madman；　cruelty　and　chivalry　all　jumbled　up　together；　but　he　did　not　know　the　meaning　of　fear。　And　Dayne；　with　Dawn　in　hand　。　。　。　The　outlaw's　longsword　had　so　many　notches　by　the　end　that　Ser　Arthur　had　stopped　to　let　him　fetch　a　new　one。　〃It's　that　white　sword　of　yours　I　want；〃　the　robber　knight　told　him　as　they　resumed；　though　he　was　bleeding　from　a　dozen　wounds　by　then。　〃Then　you　shall　have　it；　ser；〃　the　Sword　of　the　Morning　replied；　and　made　an　end　of　it。
　The　world　was　simpler　in　those　days；　Jaime　thought；　and　men　as　well　as　swords　were　made　of　finer　steel。　Or　was　it　only　that　he　had　been　fifteen？　They　were　all　in　their　graves　now；　the　Sword　of　the　Morning　and　the　Smiling　Knight；　the　White　Bull　and　Prince　Lewyn；　Ser　Oswell　Whent　with　his　black　humor；　earnest　Jon　Darry；　Simon　Toyne　and　his　Kingswood　Brotherhood；　bluff　old　Sumner　Crakehall。　And　me；　that　boy　I　was　。　。　。　when　did　he　die；　I　wonder？　When　I　donned　the　white　cloak？　When　I　opened　Aerys's　throat？　That　boy　had　wanted　to　be　Ser　Arthur　Dayne；　but　someplace　along　the　way　he　had　bee　the　Smiling　Knight　instead。
　When　he　heard　the　door　open；　he　closed　the　White　Book　and　stood　to　receive　his　Sworn　Brothers。　Ser　Osmund　Kettleblack　was　the　first　to　arrive。　He　gave　Jaime　a　grin；　as　if　they　were　old　brothers…in…arms。　〃Ser　Jaime；〃　he　said；　〃had　you　looked　like　this　t'other　night；　I'd　have　known　you　at　once。〃
　〃Would　you　indeed？〃　Jaime　doubted　that。　The　servants　had　bathed　him；　shaved　him；　and　washed　and　brushed　his　hair。　When　he　looked　in　a　glass；　he　no　longer　saw　the　man　who　had　crossed　the　riverlands　with　Brienne　。　。　。　but　he　did　not　see　himself　either。　His　face　was　thin　and　hollow；　and　he　had　lines　under　his　eyes。　I　look　like　some　old　man。　〃Stand　by　your　seat；　ser。〃
　Kettleblack　plied。　The　other　Sworn　Brothers　filed　in　one　by　one。　〃Sers；〃　Jaime　said　in　a　formal　tone　when　all　five　had　assembled；　〃who　guards　the　king？〃
　〃My　brothers　Ser　Osney　and　Ser　Osfryd；〃　Ser　Osmund　replied。
　〃And　my　brother　Ser　Garlan；〃　said　the　Knight　of　Flowers。
　〃Will　they　keep　him　safe？〃
　〃They　will；　my　lord。〃
　〃Be　seated；　then。〃　The　words　were　ritual。　Before　the　seven　could　meet　in　session；　the　king's　safety　must　be　assured。
　Ser　Boros　and　Ser　Meryn　sat　to　his　right；　leaving　an　empty　chair　between　them　for　Ser　Arys　Oakheart；　off　in　Dorne。　Ser　Osmund；　Ser　Balon；　and　Ser　Loras　took　the　seats　to　his　left。　The　old　and　the　new。　Jaime　wondered　if　that　meant　anything。　There　had　been　times　during　its　history　where　the　Kingsguard　had　been　divided　against　itself；　most　notably　and　bitterly　during　the　Dance　of　the　Dragons。　Was　that　something　he　needed　to　fear　as　well？
　It　seemed　queer　to　him　to　sit　in　the　Lord　mander's　seat　where　Barristan　the　Bold　had　sat　for　so　many　years。　And　even　queerer　to　sit　here　crippled。　Nonetheless；　it　was　his　seat；　and　this　was　his　Kingsguard　now。　Tommen's　seven。
　Jaime　had　served　with　Meryn　Trant　and　Boros　Blount　for　years；　adequate　fighters；　but　Trant　was　sly　and　cruel；　and　Blount　a　bag　of　growly　air。　Ser　Balon　Swann　was　better　suited　to　his　cloak；　and　of　course　the　Knight　of　Flowers　was　supposedly　all　a　knight　should　be。　The　fifth　man　was　a　stranger　to　him；　this　Osmund　Kettleblack。
　He　wondered　what　Ser　Arthur　Dayne　would　have　to　say　of　this　lot。　〃How　is　it　that　the　Kingsguard　has　fallen　so　low；〃　most　like。　〃It　was　my　doing；　〃　I　would　have　to　answer。　〃I　opened　the　door；　and　did　nothing　when　the　vermin　began　to　crawl　inside。〃
　〃The　king　is　dead；　〃　Jaime　began。　〃My　sister's　son；　a　boy　of　thirteen；　murdered　at　his　own　wedding　feast　in　his　own　hall。　All　five　of　you　were　present。　All　five　of　you　were　protecting　him。　And　yet　he's　dead。〃　He　waited　to　see　what　they　would　say　to　that；　but　none　of　them　so　much　as　cleared　a　throat。　The　Tyrell　boy　is　angry；　and　Balon　Swann's　ashamed；　he　judged。　From　the　other　three　Jaime　sensed　only　indifference。　〃Did　my　brother　do　this　thing？〃　He　asked　them　bluntly。　〃Did　Tyrion　poison　my　nephew？〃
　Ser　Balon　shifted　unfortably　in　his　seat。　Ser　Boros　made　a　fist。　Ser　Osmund　gave　a　lazy　shrug。　It　was　Meryn　Trant　who　finally　answered。　〃He　filled　Joffrey's　cup　with　wine。　That　must　have　been　when　he　slipped　the　poison　in。〃
　〃You　are　certain　it　was　the　wine　that　was　poisoned？〃
　〃What　else？〃　said　Ser　Boros　Blount。　〃The　Imp　emptied　the　dregs　on　the　floor。　Why；　but　to　spill　the　wine　that　might　have　proved　him　guilty？〃
　〃He　knew　the　wine　was　poisoned；〃　said　Ser　Meryn。
　Ser　Balon　Swann　frowned。　〃The　Imp　was　not　alone　on　the　dais。　Far　from　it。　That　late　in　the　feast；　we　had　people　standing　and　moving　about；　changing　places；　slipping　off　to　the　privy；　servants　were　ing　and　going　。　。　。　the　king　and　queen　had　just　opened　the　wedding　pie；　every　eye　was　on　them　or　those　thrice…damned　doves。　No　one　was　watching　the　wine　cup。〃
　〃Who　else　was　on　the　dais？〃　asked　Jaime。
　Ser　Meryn　answered。　〃The　king's　family；　the　bride's　family；　Grand　Maester　Pycelle；　the　High　Septon　。　。　。〃
　〃There's　your　poisoner；〃　suggested　Ser　Oswald　Kettleblack　with　a　sly　grin。　〃Too　holy　by　half；　that　old　man。　Never　liked　the　look　o'　him；　myself。〃　He　laughed。
　〃No；〃　the　Knight　of　Flowers　said；　unamused。　〃Sansa　Stark　was　the　poisoner。　You　all　forget；　my　sister　was　drinking　from　that　chalice　as　well。　Sansa　Stark　was　the　only　person　in　the　hall　who　had　reason　to　want　Margaery　dead；　as　well　as　the　king。　By　poisoning　the　wedding　cup；　she　could　hope　to　kill　both　of　them。　And　why　did　she　run　afterward；　unless　she　was　guilty？〃
　The　boy　makes　sense。　Tyrion　might　yet　be　innocent。　No　one　was　any　closer　to　finding　the　girl；　however。　Perhaps　Jaime　should　look　into　that　himself。　For　a　start；　it　would　be　good　to　know　how　she　had　gotten　out　of　the　castle。　Varys　may　have　a　notion　or　two　about　that。　No　one　knew　the　Red　Keep　better　than　the　eunuch。
　That　could　wait；　however。　just　now　Jaime　had　more　immediate　concerns。　You　say　you　are　the　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard；　his　father　had　said。　Go　do　your　duty。　These　five　were　not　the　brothers　he　would　have　chosen；　but　they　were　the　brothers　he　had；　the　time　had　e　to　take　them　in　hand。
　〃Whoever　did　it；〃　he　told　them；　〃Joffrey　is　dead；　and　the　iron　Throne　belongs　to　Tornmen　now。　I　mean　for　him　to　sit　on　it