grrm.astormofswords-第165章

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　〃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　until　his　hair　turns　white　and　his　teeth　fall　out。　And　not　from　poison。〃　Jaime　turned　to　Ser　Boros　Blount。　The　man　had　grown　stout　in　recent　years；　though　he　was　big…boned　enough　to　carry　it。　〃Ser　Boros；　you　look　like　a　man　who　enjoys　his　food。　Henceforth　you'll　taste　everything　Tommen　eats　or　drinks。〃
　Ser　Osmund　Kettleblack　laughed　aloud　and　the　Knight　of　Flowers　smiled；　but　Ser　Boros　turned　a　deep　beet　red。　〃I　am　no　food　taster！　I　am　a　knight　of　the　Kingsguard！〃
　〃Sad　to　say；　you　are。〃　Cersei　should　never　have　stripped　the　man　of　his　white　cloak。　But　their　father　had　only　pounded　the　shame　by　restoring　it。　〃My　sister　has　told　me　how　readily　you　yielded　my　nephew　to　Tyrion's　sellswords。　You　will　find　carrots　and　pease　less　threatening；　I　hope。　When　your　Sworn　Brothers　are　training　in　the　yard　with　sword　and　shield；　you　may　train　with　spoon　and　trencher。　Tornmen　loves　applecakes。　Try　not　to　let　any　sellswords　make　off　with　them。〃
　〃You　speak　to　me　thus？　You？〃
　〃You　should　have　died　before　you　let　Tommen　be　taken。〃
　〃As　you　died　protecting　Aerys；　ser？　〃　Ser　Boros　lurched　to　his　feet；　and　clasped　the　hilt　of　his　sword。　〃I　won't　。　。　。　I　won't　suffer　this。　You　should　be　the　food　taster；　it　seems　to　me。　What　else　is　a　cripple　good　for？〃
　Jaime　smiled。　〃I　agree。　I　am　as　unfit　to　guard　the　king　as　you　are。　So　draw　that　sword　you're　fondling；　and　we　shall　see　how　your　two　hands　fare　against　my　one。　At　the　end　one　of　us　will　be　dead；　and　the　Kingsguard。　will　be　improved。〃　He　rose。　〃Or；　if　you　prefer；　you　may　return　to　your　duties。〃
　〃Bah！〃　Ser　Boros　hawked　up　a　glob　of　green　phlegm；　spat　it　at　Jaime's　feet；　and　walked　out；　his　sword　still　in　its　sheath。
　The　man　is　craven；　and　a　good　thing。　Though　fat；　aging；　and　never　more　than　ordinary；　Ser　Boros　could　still　have　hacked　him　into　bloody　pieces。　But　Boros　does　not　know　that；　and　neither　must　the　rest。　They　feared　the　man　I　was；　the　man　I　am　they'd　pity。
　Jaime　seated　himself　again　and　turned　to　Kettleblack。　〃Ser　Osmund。　I　do　not　know　you。　I　find　that　curious。　I've　fought　in　tourneys；　m6l6es；　and　battles　throughout　the　Seven　Kingdoms。　I　know　of　every　hedge　knight；　freerider；　and　upjumped　squire　of　any　skill　who　has　ever　presumed　to　break　a　lance　in　the　lists。　So　how　is　it　that　I　have　never　heard　of　you；　Ser　Osmund？〃
　〃That　I　couldn't　say；　my　lord。〃　He　had　a　great　wide　smile　on　his　face；　did　Ser　Osmund；　as　if　he　and　Jaime　were　old　rades　in　arms　playing　some　jolly　little　game。　〃I'm　a　soldier；　though；　not　no　tourney　knight。〃
　〃Where　had　you　served；　before　my　sister　found　you？〃
　〃Here　and　there；　my　lord。〃
　〃I　have　been　to　Oldtown　in　the　south　and　Winterfell　in　the　north。　I　have　been　to　Lannisport　in　the　west；　and　King's　Landing　in　the　east。　But　I　have　never　been　to　Here。　Nor　There。〃　For　want　of　a　finger；　Jaime　pointed　his　stump　at　Ser　Osmund's　beak　of　a　nose。　〃I　will　ask　once　more。　Where　have　you　served？〃
　〃In　the　Stepstones。　Some　in　the　Disputed　Lands。　There's　always　fighting　there。　I　rode　with　the　Gallant　Men。　We　fought　for　Lys；　and　some　for　Tyrosh。〃
　You　fought　for　anyone　who　would　pay　you。　〃How　did　you　e　by　your　knighthood？〃
　〃On　a　battlefield。〃
　〃Who　knighted　you？〃
　〃Ser　Robert　。　。　。　Stone。　He's　dead　now；　my　lord。〃
　〃To　be　sure。〃　Ser　Robert　Stone　might　have　been　some　bastard　from　the　Vale；　he　supposed；　selling　his　sword　in　the　Disputed　Lands。　On　the　other　hand；　he　might　be　no　more　than　a　name　Ser　Osmund　cobbled　together　from　a　dead　king　and　a　castle　wall。　What　was　Gersei　thinking　when　she　gave　this　one　a　white　cloak？
　At　least　Kettleblack　would　likely　know　how　to　use　a　sword　and　shield。　Sellswords　were　seldom　the　most　honorable　of　men；　but　they　had　to　have　a　certain　skill　at　arms　to　stay　alive。　〃Very　well；　ser；〃　Jaime　said。　〃You　may　go。〃
　The　man's　grin　returned。　He　left　swaggering。
　〃Ser　Meryn。〃　Jaime　smiled　at　the　sour　knight　with　the　rust…red　hair　and　the　pouches　under　his　eyes。　〃I　have　heard　it　said　that　Joffrey　made　use　of　you　to　chastise　Sansa　Stark。〃　He　turned　the　White　Book　around　one…handed。　〃Here；　show　me　where　it　is　in　our　vows　that　we　swear　to　beat　women　and　children。〃
　〃I　did　as　His　Grace　manded　me。　We　are　sworn　to　obey。〃
　〃Henceforth　you　will　temper　that　obedience。　My　sister　is　Queen　Regent。　My　father　is　the　King's　Hand。　I　am　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard。　Obey　us。　None　other。〃
　Ser　Meryn　got　a　stubborn　look　on　his　face。　〃Are　you　telling　us　not　to　obey　the　king？〃
　〃The　king　is　eight。　Our　first　duty　is　to　protect　him；　which　includes　protecting　him　from　himself。　Use　that　ugly　thing　you　keep　inside　your　helm。　If　Tommen　wants　you　to　saddle　his　horse；　obey　him。　If　he　tells　you　to　kill　his　horse；　e　to　me。〃
　〃Aye。　As　you　mand；　my　lord。〃
　〃Dismissed。〃　As　he　left；　Jaime　turned　to　Ser　Balon　Swann。　〃Ser　Balon；　I　have　watched　you　tilt　many　a　time；　and　fought　with　and　against　you　in　melees。　I'm　told　you　proved　your　valor　a　hundred　times　over　during　the　Battle　of　the　Blackwater。　The　Kingsguard　is　honored　by　your　presence。〃
　〃The　honor's　mine；　my　lord。〃　Ser　Balon　sounded　wary。
　〃There　is　only　one　question　I　would　put　to　you。　You　served　us　loyally；　it's　true　。　。　。　but　Varys　tells　me　that　your　brother　rode　with　Renly　and　then　Stannis；　whilst　your　lord　father　chose　not　to　call　his　banners　at　all　and　remained　behind　the　walls　of　Stonehelm　all　through　the　fighting。〃
　〃My　father　is　an　old　man；　my　lord。　Well　past　forty。　His　fighting　days　are　done。〃
　〃And　your　brother？〃
　〃Donnel　was　wounded　in　the　battle　and　yielded　to　Ser　Elwood　Harte。　He　was　ransomed　afterward　and　pledged　his　fealty　to　King　Joffrey；　as　did　many　other　captives。〃
　〃So　he　did；〃　said　Jaime。　〃Even　so　。　。　。　Renly；　Stannis；　Joffrey；　Tommen　how　did　he　e　to　omit　Balon　Greyjoy　and　Robb　Stark？　He　might　have　been　the　first　knight　in　the　realm　to　swear　fealty　to　all　six　kings。〃
　Ser　Balon's　unease　was　plain。　〃Donnel　erred；　but　he　is　Tommen's　man　now。　You　have　my　word。〃
　〃It's　not　Ser　Donnel　the　Constant　who　concerns　me。　It's　you。〃　Jaime　leaned　forward。　〃What　will　you　do　if　brave　Ser　Donnel　gives　his　sword　to　yet　another　usurper；　and　one　day　es　storming　into　the　throne　room？　And　there　you　stand　all　in　white；　between　your　king　and　your　blood。　What　will　you　do？〃
　〃I　。　。　。　my　lord；　that　will　never　happen。〃
　〃It　happened　to　me；〃　Jaime　said。
　Swann　wiped　his　brow　with　the　sleeve　of　his　white　tunic。
　〃You　have　no　answer？〃
　〃My　lord。〃　Ser　Balon　drew　himself　up。　〃On　my　sword；　on　my　honor；　on　my　father's　name；　I　swear　。　。　。　I　shall　not　do　as　you　did。〃
　Jaime　laughed。　〃Good。　Return　to　your　duties　。　。　。　and　tell　Ser　Donnel　to　add　a　weathervane　to　his　shield。〃
　And　then　he　was　alone　with　the　Knight　of　Flowers。
　Slim　as　a　sword；　lithe　and　fit；　Ser　Loras　Tyrell　wore　a　snowy　linen　tunic　and　white　wool　breeches；　with　a　gold　belt　around　his　waist　and　a　gold　rose　clasping　his　fine　silk　cloak。　His　hair　was　a　soft　brown　tumble；　and　his　eyes　were　brown　as　well；　and　bright　with　insolence。　He　thinks　this　is　a　tourney；　and　his　tilt　has　just　been　called。　〃Seventeen　and　a　knight　of　the　Kingsguard；〃　said　Jaime。　〃You　must　be　proud。　Prince　Ae　n　the　Dragonknight　was　seventeen　when　he　was　named。　Did　you　know　that？〃
　〃Yes；　my　lord。〃
　〃And　did　you　know　that　I　was　fifteen？〃
　〃That　as　well；　my　lord。〃　He　smiled。
　Jaime　hated　that　smile。　〃I　was　better　than　you；　Ser　Loras。　I　was　bigger；　I　was　stronger；　and　I　was　quicker。〃
　〃And　now　you're　older；〃　the　boy　said。　〃My　lord。〃
　He　had　to　laugh。　This　is　too　absurd。　Tyrion　would　mock　me　unmercifully　if　he　could　hear　me　now；　paring　cocks　with　this　green　boy。　〃Older　and　wiser；　ser。　You　should　learn　from　me。〃
　〃As　you　learned　from　Ser　Boros　and　Ser　Meryn？〃
　That　arrow　hit　too　close　to　the　mark。　〃I　learned　from　the　White　Bull　and　Barristan　the　Bold；〃　Jaime　snapped。　〃I　learned　from　Ser　Arthur　Dayne；　the　Sword　of　the　Morning；　who　could　have　slain　all　five　of　you　with　his　left　hand　while　he　was　taking　with　a　piss　with　the　right。　I　learned　from　Prince　Lewyn　of　Dome　and　Ser　Oswell　Whent　and　Ser　Jonothor　Darry；　good　men　every　one。〃
　〃Dead　men；　every　one。〃
　He's　me；　Jaime　realized　suddenly。　I　am　speaking　to　myself；　as　I　was；　all　cocksure　arrogance　and　empty　chivalry。　This　is　what　it　does　to　you；　to　be　too　good　too　young。
　As　in　a　swordfight；　sometimes　it　is　best　to　try　a　different　stroke。　〃It's　said　you　fought　magnificently　in　the　battle　。　。　。　almost　as　well　as　Lord　Renly's　ghost　beside　you。　A　Sworn　Brother　has　no　secrets　from　his　Lord　mander。　Tell　me；　ser。　Who　was　wearing　Renly's　armor？〃
　For　a　moment　Loras　Tyrell　looked　as　though　he　might　refuse；　but　in　the　end　he　remembered　his　vows。　〃My　brother；〃　he　said　sullenly。　〃Renly　was　taller　than　me；　and　broader　in　the　chest。　His　armor　was　too　loose　on　me；　but　it　suited　Garlan　well。〃
　〃Was　the　masquerade　your　notion；　or　his？〃
　〃Lord　Littlefinger　suggested　it。　He　said　it　would　frighten　Stannis's　ignorant　men…at…arms。〃
　〃And　so　it　did。〃　And　some　knights　and　lordlings　too。　〃Well；　you　gave　the　singers　something　to　make　rhymes　about；　I　suppose　that's　not　to　be　despised。　What　did　you　do　with　Renly？〃
　〃I　buried　him　with　mine　own　hands；　in　a　place　he　showed　me　once　when　I　was　a　squire　at　Storm's　End。　No　one　shall　ever　find　him　there　to　disturb　his　rest。〃　He　looked　at　Jaime　defiantly。　〃I　will　defend　King　Tommen　with　all　my　strength；　I　swear　it。　I　will　give　my　life　for　his　if　need　be。　But　I　will　never　betray　Renly；　by　word　or　deed。　He　was　the　king　that　should　have　been。　He　was　the　best　of　them。〃
　The　best　dressed　perhaps；　Jaime　thought；　but　for　once　he　did　not　say　it。　The　arrogance　had　gone　out　of　Ser　Loras　the　moment　he　began　to　speak　of　Renly。　He　answered　truly。　He　is　proud　and　reckless　and　full　of　piss；　but　he　is　not　false。　Not　yet。　〃As　you　say。　One　more　thing；　and　you　may　return　to　your　duties。〃
　〃Yes；　my　lord？〃
　〃I　still　have　Brienne　of　Tarth　in　a　tower　cell。〃
　The　boy's　mouth　hardened。　〃A　black　cell　would　be　better。〃
　〃You　are　certain　that's　what　she　deserves？〃
　〃She　deserves　death。　I　told　Renly　that　a　woman　had　no　place　in　the　Rainbow　Guard。　She　won　the　melee　with　a　trick。〃
　〃I　seem　to　recall　another　knight　who　was　fond　of　tricks。　He　once　rode　a　mare　in　heat　against　a　foe　mounted　on　a　badtempered　stallion。　What　sort　of　trickery　did　Brienne　use？〃
　Ser　Loras　flushed。　〃She　leapt　。　。　。　it　makes　no　matter。　She　won；　I　grant　her　that。　His　Grace　put　a　rainbow　cloak　around　her　shoulders。　And　she　killed　him；　Or　let　him　die。〃
　〃A　large　difference　there。〃　The　difference　between　my　crime　and　the　shame　of　Boros　Blount。
　〃She　had　sworn　to　protect　him。　Ser　Emmon　Cuy；　Ser　Robar　Royce；　Ser　Parmen　Crane；　they'd　swom　as　well。　How　could　anyone　have　hurt　him；　with　her　inside　his　tent　and　the　others　just　outside？　Unless　they　were　part　of　it。〃
　〃There　were　five　of　you　at　the　wedding　feast；〃　Jaime　pointed　out。　〃How　could　Joffrey　die？　Unless　you　were　part　of　it？〃
　Ser　Loras　drew　himself　up　stiffly。　〃There　was　nothing　we　could　have　done。〃
　〃The　wench　says　the　same。　She　grieves　for　Renly　as　you　do。　I　promise　you；　I　never　grieve　for　Aerys。　Brienne's　ugly；　and　pighead　stubborn。　But　she　lacks　the　wits　to　be　a　liar；　and　she　is　loyal　past　the　point　of　sense。　She　swore　an　oath　to　bring　me　to