grrm.astormofswords-第178章

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　the　heroes　were　tall　and　handsome；　and　you　could　tell　the　traitors　by　their　shifty　eyes。　Yet　she　loved　them　all　the　same。　Last　night　she　had　been　reading　of　the　three　princesses　in　the　red　tower；　locked　away　by　the　king　for　the　crime　of　being　beautiful。
　When　her　handmaid　brought　the　book；　Dany　had　no　trouble　finding　the　page　where　she　had　left　off；　but　it　was　no　good。　She　found　herself　reading　the　same　passage　half　a　dozen　times。　Ser　forah　gave　me　this　book　as　a　bride's　gift；　the　day　I　wed　Khal　Drogo。　But　Daario　is　right；　I　shouldn't　have　banished　him。　I　should　have　kept　him；　or　I　should　have　killed　him。　She　played　at　being　a　queen；　yet　sometimes　she　still　felt　like　a　scared　little　girl。　Viserys　always　said　what　a　dolt　I　was。　Was　he　truly　mad？　She　closed　the　book。　She　could　still　recall　Ser　Jorah；　if　she　wished。　Or　send　Daario　to　kill　him。
　Dany　fled　from　the　choice；　out　onto　the　terrace。　She　found　Rhaegal　asleep　beside　the　pool；　a　green　and　bronze　coil　basking　in　the　sun。　Drogon　was　perched　up　atop　the　pyramid；　in　the　place　where　the　huge　bronze　harpy　had　stood　before　she　had　manded　it　to　be　pulled　down。　He　spread　his　wings　and　roared　when　he　spied　her。　There　was　no　sign　of　Viserion；　but　when　she　went　to　the　parapet　and　scanned　the　horizon　she　saw　pale　wings　in　the　far　distance；　sweeping　above　the　river。　He　is　hunting。　They　grow　bolder　every　day。　Yet　it　still　made　her　anxious　when　they　flew　too　far　away。　One　day　one　of　them　may　not　return；　she　thought。
　〃Your　Grace？〃
　She　turned　to　find　Ser　Barristan　behind　her。　〃What　more　would　you　have　of　me；　ser？　I　spared　you；　I　took　you　into　my　service；　now　give　me　some　peace。〃
　〃Forgive　me；　Your　Grace。　It　was　only　。　。　。　now　that　you　know　who　I　am　。　。　。〃　The　old　man　hesitated。　〃A　knight　of　the　Kingsguard　is　in　the　king's　presence　day　and　night。　For　that　reason；　our　vows　require　us　to　protect　his　secrets　as　we　would　his　life。　But　your　father's　secrets　by　rights　belong　to　you　now；　along　with　his　throne；　and　。　。　。　I　thought　perhaps　you　might　have　questions　for　me。〃
　Questions？　She　had　a　hundred　questions；　a　thousand；　ten　thousand。　Why　couldn't　she　think　of　one？　〃Was　my　father　truly　mad？〃　she　blurted　out。　Why　do　I　ask　that？　〃Viserys　said　this　talk　of　madness　was　a　ploy　of　the　Usurper's　。　。　。〃
　〃Viserys　was　a　child；　and　the　queen　sheltered　him　as　much　as　she　could。　Your　father　always　had　a　little　madness　in　him；　I　now　believe。　Yet　he　was　charming　and　generous　as　well；　so　his　lapses　were　forgiven。　His　reign　began　with　such　promise　。　。　。　but　as　the　years　passed；　the　lapses　grew　more　frequent；　until。　。。〃
　Dany　stopped　him。　〃Do　I　want　to　hear　this　now？〃
　Ser　Barristan　considered　a　moment。　〃Perhaps　not。　Not　now。〃
　〃Not　now；〃　she　agreed。　〃One　day。　One　day　you　must　tell　me　all。　The　good　and　the　bad。　There　is　some　good　to　be　said　of　my　father；　surely？〃
　〃There　is；　Your　Grace。　Of　him；　and　those　who　came　before　him。　Your　grandfather　Jaehaerys　and　his　brother；　their　father　Aegon；　your　mother　。　。　。　and　Rhaegar。　Him　most　of　all。〃
　〃I　wish　I　could　have　known　him。〃　Her　voice　was　wistful。
　〃I　wish　he　could　have　known　you；〃　the　old　knight　said。　〃When　you　are　ready；　I　will　tell　you　all。〃
　Dany　kissed　him　on　the　cheek　and　sent　him　on　his　way。
　That　night　her　handmaids　brought　her　lamb；　with　a　salad　of　raisins　and　carrots　soaked　in　wine；　and　a　hot　flaky　bread　dripping　with　honey。　She　could　eat　none　of　it。　Did　Rhaegar　ever　grow　so　weary？　she　wondered。　Did　Aegon；　after　his　conquest？
　Later；　when　the　time　came　for　sleep；　Dany　took　Irri　into　bed　with　her；　for　the　first　time　since　the　ship。　But　even　as　she　shuddered　in　release　and　wound　her　fingers　through　her　handmaid's　thick　black　hair；　she　pretended　it　was　Drogo　holding　her　。　。　。　only　somehow　his　face　kept　turning　into　Daario's。　If　I　want　Daario　I　need　only　say　so。　She　lay　with　Irri's　legs　entangled　in　her　own。　His　eyes　looked　almost　purple　today　。　。　。
　Dany's　dreams　were　dark　that　night；　and　she　woke　three　times　from　half…remembered　nightmares。　After　the　third　time　she　was　too　restless　to　return　to　sleep。　Moonlight　streamed　through　the　slanting　windows；　silvering　the　marble　floors。　A　cool　breeze　was　blowing　through　the　open　terrace　doors。　Irri　slept　soundly　beside　her；　her　lips　slightly　parted；　one　dark　brown　nipple　peeping　out　above　the　sleeping　silks。　For　a　moment　Dany　was　tempted；　but　it　was　Drogo　she　wanted；　or　perhaps　Daario。　Not　Irri。　The　maid　was　sweet　and　skillful；　but　all　her　kisses　tasted　of　duty。
　She　rose；　leaving　Irri　asleep　in　the　moonlight。　Jhiqui　and　Missandei　slept　in　their　own　beds。　Dany　slipped　on　a　robe　and　padded　barefoot　across　the　marble　floor；　out　onto　the　terrace。　The　air　was　chilly；　but　she　liked　the　feel　of　grass　between　her　toes　and　the　sound　of　the　leaves　whispering　to　one　another。　Wind　ripples　chased　each　other　across　the　surface　of　the　little　bathing　pool　and　made　the　moon's　reflection　dance　and　shimmer。
　She　leaned　against　a　low　brick　parapet　to　look　down　upon　the　city。　Meereen　was　sleeping　too。　Lost　in　dreams　of　kinder　days；　perhaps。　Night　covered　the　streets　like　a　black　blanket；　hiding　the　corpses　and　the　grey　rats　that　came　up　from　the　sewers　to　feast　on　them；　the　swarms　of　stinging　flies。　Distant　torches　glimmered　red　and　yellow　where　her　sentries　walked　their　rounds；　and　here　and　there　she　saw　the　faint　glow　of　lanterns　bobbing　down　an　alley。　Perhaps　one　was　Ser　Jorah；　leading　his　horse　slowly　toward　the　gate。　Farewell；　old　bear。　Farewell；　betrayer。
　She　was　Daenerys　Stormborn；　the　Unburnt；　khaleesi　and　queen；　Mother　of　Dragons；　slayer　of　warlocks；　breaker　of　chains；　and　there　was　no　one　in　the　world　that　she　could　trust。
　〃Your　Grace？〃　Missandei　stood　at　her　elbow　wrapped　in　a　bedrobe；　wooden　sandals　on　her　feet。　〃I　woke；　and　saw　that　you　were　gone。　Did　you　sleep　well？　What　are　you　looking　at？〃
　〃My　city；〃　said　Dany。　〃I　was　looking　for　a　house　with　a　red　door；　but　by　night　all　the　doors　are　black。〃
　〃A　red　door？〃　Missandei　was　puzzled。　〃What　house　is　this？〃
　〃No　house。　It　does　not　matter。〃　Dany　took　the　younger　girl　by　the　hand。　〃Never　lie　to　me；　Missandei。　Never　betray　me。〃
　〃I　never　would；〃　Missandei　promised。　〃Look；　dawn　es。〃
　The　sky　had　turned　a　cobalt　blue　from　the　horizon　to　the　zenith；　and　behind　the　line　of　low　hills　to　the　east　a　glow　could　be　seen；　pale　gold　and　oyster　pink。　Dany　held　Missandei's　hand　as　they　watched　the　sun　e　up。　All　the　grey　bricks　became　red　and　yellow　and　blue　and　green　and　orange。　The　scarlet　sands　of　the　fighting　pits　transformed　them　into　bleeding　sores　before　her　eyes。　Elsewhere　the　golden　dome　of　the　Temple　of　the　Graces　blazed　bright；　and　bronze　stars　winked　along　the　walls　where　the　light　of　the　rising　sun　touched　the　spikes　on　the　helms　of　the　Unsullied。　On　the　terrace；　a　few　flies　stirred　sluggishly。　A　bird　began　to　chirp　in　the　persimmon　tree；　and　then　two　more。　Dany　cocked　her　head　to　hear　their　song；　but　it　was　not　long　before　the　sounds　of　the　waking　city　drowned　them　out。
　The　sounds　of　my　city。
　That　morning　she　summoned　her　captains　and　manders　to　the　garden；　rather　than　descending　to　the　audience　chamber。　〃Aegon　the　Conqueror　brought　fire　and　blood　to　Westeros；　but　afterward　he　gave　them　peace；　prosperity；　and　justice。　But　all　I　have　brought　to　Slaver's　Bay　is　death　and　ruin。　I　have　been　more　khal　than　queen；　smashing　and　plundering；　then　moving　on。〃
　〃There　is　nothing　to　stay　for；〃　said　Brown　Ben　Plumm。
　〃Your　Grace；　the　slavers　brought　their　doom　on　themselves；〃　said　Daario　Naharis。
　〃You　have　brought　freedom　as　well；〃　Missandei　pointed　out。
　〃Freedom　to　starve？〃　asked　Dany　sharply。　〃Freedom　to　die？　Am　I　a　dragon；　or　a　harpy？〃　Am　I　mad？　Do　I　have　the　taint？
　〃A　dragon；〃　Ser　Barristan　said　with　certainty。　〃Meereen　is　not　Westeros；　Your　Grace。〃
　〃But　how　can　I　rule　seven　kingdoms　if　I　cannot　rule　a　single　city？〃　He　had　no　answer　to　that。　Dany　turned　away　from　them；　to　gaze　out　over　the　city　once　again。　〃My　children　need　time　to　heal　and　learn。　My　dragons　need　time　to　grow　and　test　their　wings。　And　I　need　the　same。　I　will　not　let　this　city　go　the　way　of　Astapor。　I　will　not　let　the　harpy　of　Yunkai　chain　up　those　I've　freed　all　over　again。〃　She　turned　back　to　look　at　their　faces。　〃I　will　not　march。〃
　〃What　will　you　do　then；　Khaleesi？〃　asked　Rakharo。
　〃Stay；〃　she　said。　〃Rule。　And　be　a　queen。〃
　
　CHAPTER　72
　JAIME
　
　The　king　sat　at　the　head　of　the　table；　a　stack　of　cushions　under　his　arse；　signing　each　document　as　it　was　presented　to　him。
　〃Only　a　few　more；　Your　Grace；〃　Ser　Kevan　Lannister　assured　him。　〃This　is　a　bill　of　attainder　against　Lord　Edmure　Tully；　stripping　him　of　Riverrun　and　all　its　lands　and　ines；　for　rebelling　against　his　lawful　king。　This　is　a　similar　attainder；　against　his　uncle　Ser　Brynden　Tully；　the　Blackfish。〃　Tornmen　signed　them　one　after　the　other；　dipping　the　quill　carefully　and　writing　his　name　in　a　broad　childish　hand。
　Jaime　watched　from　the　foot　of　the　table；　thinking　of　all　those　lords　who　aspired　to　a　seat　on　the　king's　small　council。　They　can　bloody　well　have　mine。　If　this　was　power；　why　did　it　taste　like　tedium？　He　did　not　feel　especially　powerful；　watching　Tommen　dip　his　quill　in　the　inkpot　again。　He　felt　bored。
　And　sore。　Every　muscle　in　his　body　ached；　and　his　ribs　and　shoulders　were　bruised　from　the　battering　they'd　gotten；　courtesy　of　Ser　Addam　Marbrand。　just　thinking　of　it　made　him　wince。　He　could　only　hope　the　man　would　keep　his　mouth　shut。　Jaime　had　known　Marbrand　since　he　was　a　boy；　serving　as　a　page　at　Casterly　Rock；　he　trusted　him　as　much　as　he　trusted　anyone。　Enough　to　ask　him　to　take　up　shields　and　tourney　swords。　He　had　wanted　to　know　if　he　could　fight　with　his　left　hand。
　And　now　I　do。　The　knowledge　was　more　painful　than　the　beating　that　Ser　Addarn　had　given　him；　and　the　beating　was　so　bad　he　could　hardly　dress　himself　this　morning。　If　they　had　been　fighting　in　earnest；　Jaime　would　have　died　two　dozen　deaths。　It　seemed　so　simple；　changing　hands。　It　wasn't。　Every　instinct　he　had　was　wrong。　He　had　to　think　about　everything；　where　once　he'd　just　moved。　And　while　he　was　thinking；　Marbrand　was　thumping　him。　His　left　hand　couldn't　even　seem　to　hold　a　longsword　properly；　Ser　Addam。　had　disarmed　him　thrice；　sending　his　blade　spinning。
　〃This　grants　said　lands；　ines；　and　castle　to　Ser　Emmon　Frey　and　his　lady　wife；　Lady　Genna。〃　Ser　Kevan　presented　another　sheaf　of　parchments　to　the　king。　Tommen　dipped　and　signed。　〃This　is　a　decree　of　legitimacy　for　a　natural　son　of　Lord　Roose　Bolton　of　the　Dreadfort。　And　this　names　Lord　Bolton　your　Warden　of　the　North。〃　Tommen　dipped；　signed；　dipped；　signed。　〃This　grants　Ser　Rolph　Spicer　title　to　the　castle　Castamere　and　raises　him　to　the　rank　of　lord。〃　Tommen　scrawled　his　name。
　I　should　have　gone　to　Ser　Ilyn　Payne；　Jaime　reflected。　The　King's　justice　was　not　a　friend　as　Marbrand　was；　and　might　well　have　beat　him　bloody　。　。　。　but　without　a　tongue；　he　was　not　like　to　boast　of　it　afterward。　All　it　would　take　would　be　one　chance　remark　by　Ser　Addam。　in　his　cups；　and　the　whole　world　would　soon　know　how　useless　he'd　bee。　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard。　It　was　a　cruel　jape；　that　。　。　。　though　not　quite　so　cruel　as　the　gift　his　father　had　sent　him。
　〃This　is　your　royal　pardon　for　Lord　Gawen　Westerling；　his　lady　wife；　and　his　daughter　Jeyne；　weli