grrm.astormofswords-第169章

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　The　singer　saw　it　too。　〃Find　your　own　wench…〃　The　knife　flashed；　and　he　cried　out。　〃You　cut　me！〃
　〃I'll　do　worse；　if　you　don't　go。〃
　And　quick　as　that；　Marillion　was　gone。　The　other　remained；　looming　over　Sansa　in　the　darkness。　〃Lord　Petyr　said　watch　out　for　you。〃　It　was　Lothor　Brune's　voice；　she　realized。　Not　the　Hound's；　no；　how　could　it　be？　Of　course　it　had　to　be　Lothor　。　。　。
　That　night　Sansa　scarcely　slept　at　all；　but　tossed　and　turned　just　as　she　had　aboard　the　Merling　King。　She　dreamt　of　Joffrey　dying；　but　as　he　clawed　at　his　throat　and　the　blood　ran　down　across　his　fingers　she　saw　with　horror　that　it　was　her　brother　Robb。　And　she　dreamed　of　her　wedding　night　too；　of　Tyrion's　eyes　devouring　her　as　she　undressed。　Only　then　he　was　bigger　than　Tyrion　had　any　right　to　be；　and　when　he　climbed　into　the　bed　his　face　was　scarred　only　on　one　side。　〃I'll　have　a　song　from　you；〃　he　rasped；　and　Sansa　woke　and　found　the　old　blind　dog　beside　her　once　again。　〃I　wish　that　you　were　Lady；〃　she　said。
　e　the　morning；　Grisel　climbed　up　to　the　bedchamber　to　serve　the　lord　and　lady　a　tray　of　morning　bread；　with　butter；　honey；　fruit；　and　cream。　She　returned　to　say　that　Alayne　was　wanted。　Sansa　was　still　drowsy　from　sleep。　it　took　her　a　moment　to　remember　that　she　was　Alayne。
　Lady　Lysa　was　still　abed；　but　Lord　Petyr　was　up　and　dressed。　〃Your　aunt　wishes　to　speak　with　you；〃　he　told　Sansa；　as　he　pulled　on　a　boot。　〃I've　told　her　who　you　are。〃
　Gods　be　good。　〃I　。　。　。　I　thank　you；　my　lord。〃
　Petyr　yanked　on　the　other　boot。　〃I've　had　about　as　much　home　as　I　can　stomach。　We'll　leave　for　the　Eyrie　this　afternoon。〃　He　kissed　his　lady　wife　and　licked　a　smear　of　honey　off　her　lips；　then　headed　down　the　steps。
　Sansa　stood　by　the　foot　of　the　bed　while　her　aunt　ate　a　pear　and　studied　her。　〃I　see　it　now；〃　the　Lady　Lysa　said；　as　she　set　the　core　aside。　〃You　look　so　much　like　Catelyn。〃
　〃It's　kind　of　you　to　say　so。〃
　〃It　was　not　meant　as　flattery。　if　truth　be　told；　you　look　too　much　like　Catelyn。　Something　must　be　done。　We　shall　darken　your　hair　before　we　bring　you　back　to　the　Eyrie；　I　think。〃
　Darken　my　hair？　〃If　it　please　you；　Aunt　Lysa。〃
　〃You　must　not　call　me　that。　No　word　of　your　presence　here　must　be　allowed　to　reach　King's　Landing。　I　do　not　mean　to　have　my　son　endangered。〃　She　nibbled　the　corner　of　a　honeyb。　〃I　have　kept　the　Vale　out　of　this　war。　Our　harvest　has　been　plentiful；　the　mountains　protect　us；　and　the　Eyrie　is　impregnable。　Even　so；　it　would　not　do　to　draw　Lord　Tywin's　wroth　down　upon　us。〃　Lysa　set　the　b　down　and　licked　honey　from　her　fingers。　〃You　were　wed　to　Tyrion　Lannister；　Petyr　says。　That　vile　dwarf。〃
　〃They　made　me　marry　him。　I　never　wanted　it。〃
　；'No　more　than　I　did；〃　her　aunt　said。　〃Jon　Arryn　was　no　dwarf；　but　he　was　old。　You　may　not　think　so　to　see　me　now；　but　on　the　day　we　wed　I　was　so　lovely　I　put　your　mother　to　shame。　But　all　Jon　desired　was　my　father's　swords；　to　aid　his　darling　boys。　I　should　have　refused　him；　but　he　was　such　an　old　man；　how　long　could　he　live？　Half　his　teeth　were　gone；　and　his　breath　smelled　like　bad　cheese。　I　cannot　abide　a　man　with　foul　breath。　Petyr's　breath　is　always　fresh　。　。　。　he　was　the　first　man　I　ever　kissed；　you　know。　My　father　said　he　was　too　lowborn；　but　I　knew　how　high　he'd　rise。　Jon　gave　him　the　customs　for　Gulltown　to　please　me；　but　when　he　increased　the　ines　tenfold　my　lord　husband　saw　how　clever　he　was　and　gave　him　other　appointments；　even　brought　him　to　King's　Landing　to　be　master　of　coin。　That　was　hard；　to　see　him　every　day　and　still　be　wed　to　that　old　cold　man。　Jon　did　his　duty　in　the　bedchamber；　but　he　could　no　more　give　me　pleasure　than　he　could　give　me　children。　His　seed　was　old　and　weak。　All　my　babies　died　but　Robert；　three　girls　and　two　boys。　All　my　sweet　little　babies　dead；　and　that　old　man　just　went　on　and　on　with　his　stinking　breath。　So　you　see；　I　have　suffered　too。〃　Lady　Lysa　sniffed。　〃You　do　know　that　your　poor　mother　is　dead？〃
　〃Tyrion　told　me；〃　said　Sansa。　〃He　said　the　Freys　murdered　her　at　The　Twins；　with　Robb。〃
　Tears　welled　suddenly　in　Lady　Lysa's　eyes。　〃We　are　women　alone　now；　you　and　I。　Are　you　afraid；　child？　Be　brave。　I　would　never　turn　away　Cat's　daughter。　We　are　bound　by　blood。〃　She　beckoned　Sansa　closer。　〃You　may　e　kiss　my　cheek；　Alayne。〃
　Dutifully　she　approached　and　knelt　beside　the　bed。　Her　aunt　was　drenched　in　sweet　scent；　though　under　that　was　a　sour　milky　smell。　Her　cheek　tasted　of　paint　and　powder。
　As　Sansa　stepped　back；　Lady　Lysa　caught　her　wrist。　〃Now　tell　me；〃　she　said　sharply。　〃Are　you　with　child？　The　truth　now；　I　will　know　if　you　lie。〃
　〃No；〃　she　said；　startled　by　the　question。
　〃You　are　a　woman　flowered；　are　you　not？〃
　〃Yes。〃　Sansa　knew　the　truth　of　her　flowering　could　not　be　long　hidden　in　the　Eyrie。　〃Tyrion　didn't　。　。　。　he　never　。　。　。〃　She　could　feel　the　blush　creeping　up　her　cheeks。　〃I　am　still　a　maid。〃
　〃Was　the　dwarf　incapable？〃
　〃No。　He　was　only　。　。　。　he　was　。　。　。〃　Kind？　She　could　not　say　that；　not　here；　not　to　this　aunt　who　hated　him　so。　〃He　。　。　。　he　had　whores；　my　lady。　He　told　me　so。〃
　〃Whores。〃　Lysa　released　her　wrist。　〃Of　course　he　did。　What　woman　would　bed　such　a　creature；　but　for　gold？　I　should　have　killed　the　Imp　when　he　was　in　my　power；　but　he　tricked　me。　He　is　full　of　low　cunning；　that　one。　His　sellsword　slew　my　good　Ser　Vardis　Egen。　Catelyn　should　not　have　brought　him　here；　I　told　her　that。　She　made　off　with　our　uncle　too。　That　was　wrong　of　her。　The　Blackfish　was　my　Knight　of　the　Gate；　and　since　he　left　us　the　mountain　clans　are　growing　very　bold。　Petyr　will　soon　set　all　that　to　rights；　though。　I　shall　make　him　Lord　Protector　of　the　Vale。〃　Her　aunt　smiled　for　the　first　time；　almost　warmly。　〃He　may　not　look　as　tall　or　strong　as　some；　but　he　is　worth　more　than　all　of　them。　Trust　in　him　and　do　as　he　says。〃
　〃I　shall；　Aunt　。　。　。　my　lady。〃
　Lady　Lysa　seemed　pleased　by　that。　〃I　knew　that　boy　Joffrey。　He　used　to　call　my　Robert　cruel　names；　and　once　he　slapped　him　with　a　wooden　sword。　A　man　will　tell　you　poison　is　dishonorable；　but　a　woman's　honor　is　different。　The　Mother　shaped　us　to　protect　our　children；　and　our　only　dishonor　is　in　failure。　You'll　know　that；　when　you　have　a　child。〃
　〃A　child？〃　said　Sansa；　uncertainly。
　Lysa　waved　a　hand　negligently。　〃Not　for　many　years。　You　are　too　young　to　be　a　mother。　One　day　you　shall　want　children；　though。　just　as　you　will　want　to　marry。〃
　〃I　。　。　。　I　am　married；　my　lady。〃
　〃Yes；　but　soon　a　widow。　Be　glad　the　Imp　preferred　his　whores。　It　would　not　be　fitting　for　my　son　to　take　that　dwarfs　leavings；　but　as　he　never　touched　you　。　。　。　How　would　you　like　to　marry　your　cousin；　the　Lord　Robert？〃
　The　thought　made　Sansa　weary。　All　she　knew　of　Robert　Arryn　was　that　he　was　a　little　boy；　and　sickly。　It　is　not　me　she　wants　her　son　to　marry；　it　is　my　claim。　No　one　will　ever　marry　me　for　love。　But　lying　came　easy　to　her　now。　〃I　。　。　。　can　scarcely　wait　to　meet　him；　my　lady。　But　he　is　still　a　child；　is　he　not？〃
　〃He　is　eight。　And　not　robust。　But　such　a　good　boy；　so　bright　and　clever。　He　will　be　a　great　man；　Alayne。　The　seed　is　strong；　my　lord　husband　said　before　he　died。　His　last　words。　The　gods　sometimes　let　us　glimpse　the　future　as　we　lay　dying。　I　see　no　reason　why　you　should　not　be　wed　as　soon　as　we　know　that　your　Lannister　husband　is　dead。　A　secret　wedding；　to　be　sure。　The　Lord　of　the　Eyrie　could　scarcely　be　thought　to　have　married　a　bastard；　that　would　not　be　fitting。　The　ravens　should　bring　us　the　word　from　King's　Landing　once　the　Imp's　head　rolls。　You　and　Robert　can　be　wed　the　next　day；　won't　that　be　joyous？　it　will　be　good　for　him　to　have　a　little　panion。　He　played　with　Vardis　Egen's　boy　when　we　first　returned　to　the　Eyrie；　and　my　steward's　sons　as　well；　but　they　were　much　too　rough　and　I　had　no　choice　but　to　send　them　away。　Do　you　read　well；　Alayne？〃
　〃Septa　Mordane　was　good　enough　to　say　so。〃
　〃Robert　has　weak　eyes；　but　he　loves　to　be　read　to；〃　Lady　Lysa　confided。　〃He　likes　stories　about　animals　the　best。　Do　you　know　the　little　song　about　the　chicken　who　dressed　as　a　fox？　I　sing　him　that　all　the　time；　he　never　grows　tired　of　it。　And　he　likes　to　play　hopfrog　and　spin…the…sword　and　e…into…my…castle；　but　you　must　always　let　him　win。　That's　only　proper；　don't　you　think？　He　is　the　Lord　of　the　Eyrie；　after　all；　you　must　never　forget　that。　You　are　well　born；　and　the　Starks　of　Winterfell　were　always　proud；　but　Winterfell　has　fallen　and　you　are　really　just　a　beggar　now；　so　put　that　pride　aside。　Gratitude　will　better　bee　you；　in　your　present　circumstances。　Yes；　and　obedience。　My　son　will　have　a　grateful　and　obedient　wife。〃
　
　CHAPTER　69
　JON
　
　Day　and　night　the　axes　rang。
　Jon　could　not　remember　the　last　time　he　had　slept。　When　he　closed　his　eyes　he　dreamed　of　fighting；　when　he　woke　he　fought。　Even　in　the　King's　Tower　he　could　hear　the　ceaseless　thunk　of　bronze　and　flint　and　stolen　steel　biting　into　wood；　and　it　was　louder　when　he　tried　to　rest　in　the　warming　shed　atop　the　Wall。　Mance　had　sledgehammers　at　work　as　well；　and　long　saws　with　teeth　of　bone　and　flint。　Once；　as　he　was　drifting　off　into　an　exhausted　sleep；　there　came　a　great　cracking　from　the　haunted　forest；　and　a　sentinel　tree　came　crashing　down　in　a　cloud　of　dirt　and　needles。
　He　was　awake　when　Owen　came　to　him；　lying　restless　under　a　pile　of　furs　on　the　floor　of　the　warming　shed。　〃Lord　Snow；〃　said　Owen；　shaking　his　shoulder；　〃the　dawn。〃　He　gave　Jon　a　hand　to　help　pull　him　back　onto　his　feet。　Others　were　waking　as　well；　jostling　one　another　as　they　pulled　on　their　boots　and　buckled　their　swordbelts　in　the　close　confines　of　the　shed。　No　one　spoke。　They　were　all　too　tired　for　talk。　Few　of　them　ever　left　the　Wall　these　days。　it　took　too　long　to　ride　up　and　down　in　the　cage。　Castle　Black　had　been　abandoned　to　Maester　Aemon；　Ser　Wynton　Stout；　and　a　few　others　too　old　or　ill　to　fight。
　〃I　had　a　dream　that　the　king　had　e；〃　Owen　said　happily。　〃Maester　Aemon　sent　a　raven；　and　King　Robert　came　with　all　his　strength。　I　dreamed　I　saw　his　golden　banners。〃
　Jon　made　himself　smile。　〃That　would　be　a　wele　sight　to　see；　Owen。〃　Ignoring　the　twinge　of　pain　in　his　leg；　he　swept　a　black　fur　cloak　about　his　shoulders；　gathered　up　his　crutch；　and　went　out　onto　the　Wall　to　face　another　day。
　A　gust　of　wind　sent　icy　tendrils　wending　through　his　long　brown　hair。　Half　a　mile　north；　the　wildling　encampments　were　stirring；　their　campfires　sending　up　smoky　fingers　to　scratch　against　the　pale　dawn　sky。　Along　the　edge　of　the　forest　they　had　raised　their　tents　of　hide　and　fur；　even　a　crude　longhall　of　logs　and　woven　branches；　there　were　horselines　to　the　east；　mammoths　to　the　west；　and　men　everywhere；　sharpening　their　swords；　putting　points　on　crude　spears；　donning　makeshift　armor　of　hide　and　horn　and　bone。　For　every　man　that　he　could　see；　Jon　knew　there　were　a　score　unseen　in　the　wood。　The　brush　gave　them　some　shelter　from　the　elements　and　hid　them　from　the　eyes　of　the　hated　crows。
　Already　their　archers　were　stealing　forward；　pushing　their　rolling　mantlets。　〃Here　e　our　breakfast　arrows；〃　Pyp　announced　cheerfully；　as　he　did　every　morning。　It's　good　that　he　can　make　a　jape　of　it；　Jon　thought。　Someone　has　to。　Three　days　ago；　one　of　those　breakfast　arrows　had　caught　Red　Alyn　of　the　Rosewood　in　the　leg。　You　could　still　see　his　bo