grrm.astormofswords-第175章

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ide　the　breastplate。　When　he　tried　to　take　a　step；　one　knee　buckled。　Tyrion　thought　he　was　going　down。
　Prince　Oberyn　had　circled　behind　him。　〃ELIA　OF　DORNE！〃　he　shouted。　Ser　Gregor　started　to　turn；　but　too　slow　and　too　late。　The　spearhead　went　through　the　back　of　the　knee　this　time；　through　the　layers　of　chain　and　leather　between　the　plates　on　thigh　and　calf。　The　Mountain　reeled；　swayed；　then　collapsed　face　first　on　the　ground。　His　huge　sword　went　flying　from　his　hand。　Slowly；　ponderously；　he　rolled　onto　his　back。
　The　Dornishman　flung　away　his　ruined　shield；　grasped　the　spear　in　both　hands；　and　sauntered　away。　Behind　him　the　Mountain　let　out　a　groan；　and　pushed　himself　onto　an　elbow。　Oberyn　whirled　cat…quick；　and　ran　at　his　fallen　foe。　〃EEEEELLLLLLIIIIIAAAAA！〃　he　screamed；　as　he　drove　the　spear　down　with　the　whole　weight　of　his　body　behind　it。　The　crack　of　the　ashwood　shaft　snapping　was　almost　as　sweet　a　sound　as　Cersei's　wail　of　fury；　and　for　an　instant　Prince　Oberyn　had　wings。　The　snake　has　vaulted　over　the　Mountain。　Four　feet　of　broken　spear　jutted　from　Clegane's　belly　as　Prince　Oberyn　rolled；　rose；　and　dusted　himself　off。　He　tossed　aside　the　splintered　spear　and　claimed　his　foe's　greatsword。　〃If　you　die　before　you　say　her　name；　ser；　I　will　hunt　you　through　all　seven　hells；〃　he　promised。
　Ser　Gregor　tried　to　rise；　The　broken　spear　had　gone　through　him；　and　was　pinning　him　to　the　ground。　He　wrapped　both　hands　about　the　shaft；　grunting；　but　could　not　pull　it　out。　Beneath　him　was　a　spreading　pool　of　red。　〃I　am　feeling　more　innocent　by　the　instant；〃　Tyrion　told　Ellaria　Sand　beside　him。
　Prince　Oberyn　moved　closer。　〃Say　the　name！〃　He　put　a　foot　on　the　Mountain's　chest　and　raised　the　greatsword　with　both　hands。　Whether　he　intended　to　hack　off　Gregor's　head　or　shove　the　point　through　his　eyeslit　was　something　Tyrion　would　never　know。
　Clegane's　hand　shot　up　and　grabbed　the　Dornishman　behind　the　knee。　The　Red　Viper　brought　down　the　greatsword　in　a　wild　slash；　but　he　was　off…balance；　and　the　edge　did　no　more　than　put　another　dent　in　the　Mountain's　vambrace。　Then　the　sword　was　forgotten　as　Gregor's　hand　tightened　and　twisted；　yanking　the　Dornishman　down　on　top　of　him。　They　wrestled　in　the　dust　and　blood；　the　broken　spear　wobbling　back　and　forth。　Tyrion　saw　with　horror　that　the　Mountain　had　wrapped　one　huge　arm　around　the　prince；　drawing　him　tight　against　his　chest；　like　a　lover。
　〃Elia　of　Dorne；〃　they　all　heard　Ser　Gregor　say；　when　they　were　close　enough　to　kiss。　His　deep　voice　boomed　within　the　helm。　〃I　killed　her　screaming　whelp。〃　He　thrust　his　free　hand　into　Oberyn's　unprotected　face；　pushing　steel　fingers　into　his　eyes。　〃Then　I　raped　her。〃　Clegane　slammed　his　fist　into　the　Dornishman's　mouth；　making　splinters　of　his　teeth。　〃Then　I　smashed　her　fucking　head　in。　Like　this。〃　As　he　drew　back　his　huge　fist；　the　blood　on　his　gauntlet　seemed　to　smoke　in　the　cold　dawn　air。　There　was　a　sickening　crunch。　Ellaria　Sand　wailed　in　terror；　and　Tyrion's　breakfast　came　boiling　back　up。　He　found　himself　on　his　knees　retching　bacon　and　sausage　and　applecakes；　and　that　double　helping　of　fried　eggs　cooked　up　with　onions　and　fiery　Dornish　peppers。
　He　never　heard　his　father　speak　the　words　that　condemned　him。　Perhaps　no　words　were　necessary。　I　put　my　life　in　the　Red　Viper's　hands；　and　he　dropped　it。　When　he　remembered；　too　late；　that　snakes　had　no　hands；　Tyrion　began　to　laugh　hysterically。
　He　was　halfway　down　the　serpentine　steps　before　he　realized　that　the　gold　cloaks　were　not　taking　him　back　to　his　tower　room。　〃I've　been　consigned　to　the　black　cells；〃　he　said。　They　did　not　bother　to　answer。　Why　waste　your　breath　on　the　dead？
　
　CHAPTER　71
　DAENERYS
　
　Dany　broke　her　fast　under　the　persimmon　tree　that　grew　in　the　terrace　garden；　watching　her　dragons　chase　each　other　about　the　apex　of　the　Great　Pyramid　where　the　huge　bronze　harpy　once　stood。　Meereen　had　a　score　of　lesser　pyramids；　but　none　stood　even　half　as　tall。　From　here　she　could　see　the　whole　city：　the　narrow　twisty　alleys　and　wide　brick　streets；　the　temples　and　granaries；　hovels　and　palaces；　brothels　and　baths；　gardens　and　fountains；　the　great　red　circles　of　the　fighting　pits。　And　beyond　the　walls　was　the　pewter　sea；　the　winding　Skahazadhan；　the　dry　brown　hills；　burnt　orchards；　and　blackened　fields。　Up　here　in　her　garden　Dany　sometimes　felt　like　a　god；　living　atop　the　highest　mountain　in　the　world。
　Do　all　gods　feel　so　lonely？　Some　must；　surely。　Missandei　had　told　her　of　the　Lord　of　Harmony；　worshiped　by　the　Peaceful　People　of　Naath；　he　was　the　only　true　god；　her　little　scribe　said；　the　god　who　always　was　and　always　would　be；　who　made　the　moon　and　stars　and　earth；　and　all　the　creatures　that　dwelt　upon　them。　Poor　Lord　of　Harmony。　Dany　pitied　him。　it　must　be　terrible　to　be　alone　for　all　time；　attended　by　hordes　of　butterfly　women　you　could　make　or　unmake　at　a　word。　Westeros　had　seven　gods　at　least；　though　Viserys　had　told　her　that　some　septons；　said　the　seven　were　only　aspects　of　a　single　god；　seven　facets　of　a　single　crystal。　That　was　just　confusing。　The　red　priests　believed　in　two　gods；　she　had　heard；　but　two　who　were　eternally　at　war。　Dany　liked　that　even　less。　She　would　not　want　to　be　eternally　at　war。
　Missandei　served　her　duck　eggs　and　dog　sausage；　and　half　a　cup　of　sweetened　wine　mixed　with　the　juice　of　a　lime。　The　honey　drew　flies；　but　a　scented　candle　drove　them　off。　The　flies　were　not　so　troublesome　up　here　as　they　were　in　the　rest　of　her　city；　she　had　found；　something　else　she　liked　about　the　pyramid。　〃I　must　remember　to　do　something　about　the　flies；〃　Dany　said。　〃Are　there　many　flies　on　Naath；　Missandei？〃
　〃On　Naath　there　are　butterflies；〃　the　scribe　responded　in　the　mon　Tongue。　〃More　wine？〃
　〃No。　I　must　hold　court　soon。〃　Dany　had　grown　very　fond　of　Missandei。　The　little　scribe　with　the　big　golden　eyes　was　wise　beyond　her　years。　She　is　brave　as　well。　She　had　to　be；　to　survive　the　life　she's　lived。　One　day　she　hoped　to　see　this　fabled　isle　of　Naath。　Missandei　said　the　Peaceful　People　made　music　instead　of　war。　They　did　not　kill；　not　even　animals；　they　ate　only　fruit　and　never　flesh。　The　butterfly　spirits　sacred　to　their　Lord　of　Harmony　protected　their　isle　against　those　who　would　do　them　harm。　Many　conquerors　had　sailed　on　Naath　to　blood　their　swords；　only　to　sicken　and　die。　The　butterflies　do　not　help　them　when　the　slave　ships　e　raiding；　though。　〃I　am　going　to　take　you　home　one　day；　Missandei；〃　Dany　promised。　If　I　had　made　the　same　promise　to　Jorah；　would　he　still　have　sold　me？　〃I　swear　it。〃
　〃This　one　is　content　to　stay　with　you；　Your　Grace。　Naath　will　be　there；　always。　You　are　good　to　this…to　me。〃
　〃And　you　to　me。〃　Dany　took　the　girl　by　the　hand。　〃e　help　me　dress。〃
　Jhiqui　helped　Missandei　bathe　her　while　Irri　was　laying　out　her　clothes。　Today　she　wore　a　robe　of　purple　samite　and　a　silver　sash；　and　on　her　head　the　three…headed　dragon　crown　the　Tourmaline　Brotherhood　had　given　her　in　Qarth。　Her　slippers　were　silver　as　well；　with　heels　so　high　that　she　was　always　half　afraid　she　was　about　to　topple　over。　When　she　was　dressed；　Missandei　brought　her　a　polished　silver　glass　so　she　could　see　how　she　looked。　Dany　stared　at　herself　in　silence。　Is　this　the　face　of　a　conqueror？　So　far　as　she　could　tell；　she　still　looked　like　a　little　girl。
　No　one　was　calling　her　Daenerys　the　Conqueror　yet；　but　perhaps　they　would。　Aegon　the　Conqueror　had　won　Westeros　with　three　dragons；　but　she　had　taken　Meereen　with　sewer　rats　and　a　wooden　cock；　in　less　than　a　day。　Poor　Groleo。　He　still　grieved　for　his　ship；　she　knew。　If　a　war　galley　could　ram　another　ship；　why　not　a　gate？　That　had　been　her　thought　when　she　manded　the　captains　to　drive　their　ships　ashore。　Their　masts　had　bee　her　battering　rams；　and　swarms　of　freedmen　had　torn　their　hulls　apart　to　build　mantlets；　turtles；　catapults；　and　ladders。　The　sellwords　had　given　each　ram　a　bawdy　name；　and　it　had　been　the　mainmast　of　Meraxes…formerly　Joso's　Prank　that　had　broken　the　eastern　gate。　Joso's　Cock；　they　called　it。　The　fighting　had　raged　bitter　and　bloody　for　most　of　a　day　and　well　into　the　night　before　the　wood　began　to　splinter　and　Meraxes'　iron　figurehead；　a　laughing　jester's　face；　came　crashing　through。
　Dany　had　wanted　to　lead　the　attack　herself；　but　to　a　man　her　captains　said　that　would　be　madness；　and　her　captains　never　agreed　on　anything。　Instead　she　remained　in　the　rear；　sitting　atop　her　silver　in　a　long　shirt　of　mail。　She　heard　the　city　fall　from　half　a　league　away；　though；　when　the　defenders'　shouts　of　defiance　changed　to　cries　of　fear。　Her　dragons　had　roared　as　one　in　that　moment；　filling　the　night　with　flame。　The　slaves　are　rising；　she　knew　at　once。　My　sewer　rats　have　gnawed　off　their　chains。
　When　the　last　resistance　had　been　crushed　by　the　Unsullied　and　the　sack　had　run　its　course；　Dany　entered　her　city。　The　dead　were　heaped　so　high　before　the　broken　gate　that　it　took　her　freedmen　near　an　hour　to　make　a　path　for　her　silver。　Joso's　Cock　and　the　great　wooden　turtle　that　had　protected　it；　covered　with　horsehides；　lay　abandoned　within。　She　rode　past　burned　buildings　and　broken　windows；　through　brick　streets　where　the　gutters　were　choked　with　the　stiff　and　swollen　dead。　Cheering　slaves　lifted　bloodstained　hands　to　her　as　she　went　by；　and　called　her　〃Mother。〃
　In　the　plaza　before　the　Great　Pyramid；　the　Meereenese　huddled　forlorn。　The　Great　Masters　had　looked　anything　but　great　in　the　morning　light。　Stripped　of　their　jewels　and　their　fringed　tokars；　they　were　contemptible；　a　herd　of　old　men　with　shriveled　balls　and　spotted　skin　and　young　men　with　ridiculous　hair。　Their　women　were　either　soft　and　fleshy　or　as　dry　as　old　sticks；　their　face　paint　streaked　by　tears。　〃I　want　your　leaders；〃　Dany　told　them。　〃Give　them　up；　and　the　rest　of　you　shall　be　spared。〃
　〃How　many？〃　one　old　woman　had　asked；　sobbing。　〃How　many　must　you　have　to　spare　us？〃
　〃One　hundred　and　sixty…three；〃　she　answered。
　She　had　them　nailed　to　wooden　posts　around　the　plaza；　each　man　pointing　at　the　next。　The　anger　was　fierce　and　hot　inside　her　when　she　gave　the　mand；　it　made　her　feel　like　an　avenging　dragon。　But　later；　when　she　passed　the　men　dying　on　the　posts；　when　she　heard　their　moans　and　smelled　their　bowels　and　blood　。　。　。
　Dany　put　the　glass　aside；　frowning。　It　was　just。　It　was。　I　did　it　for　the　children。
　Her　audience　chamber　was　on　the　level　below；　an　echoing　highceilinged　room　with　walls　of　purple　marble。　It　was　a　chilly　place　for　all　its　grandeur。　There　had　been　a　throne　there；　a　fantastic　thing　of　carved　and　gilded　wood　in　the　shape　of　a　savage　harpy。　She　had　taken　one　long　look　and　manded　it　be　broken　up　for　firewood。　〃I　will　not　sit　in　the　harpy's　lap；〃　she　told　them。　Instead　she　sat　upon　a　simple　ebony　bench。　it　served；　though　she　had　heard　the　Meereenese　muttering　that　it　did　not　befit　a　queen。
　Her　bloodriders　were　waiting　for　her。　Silver　bells　tinkled　in　their　oiled　braids；　and　they　wore　the　gold　and　jewels　of　dead　men。　Meereen　had　been　rich　beyond　imagining。　Even　her　sellswords　seemed　sated；　at　least　for　now。　Across　the　room；　Grey　Worm　wore　the　plain　uniform　of　the　Unsullied；　his　spiked　bronze　cap　beneath　one　arm。　These　at　least　she　could　rely　on；　or　so　she　hoped　。　。　。　and　Brown　Ben　Plumm　as　well；　solid　Ben　with　his　grey…white　hair　a