grrm.astormofswords-第179章

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　〃This　is　your　royal　pardon　for　Lord　Gawen　Westerling；　his　lady　wife；　and　his　daughter　Jeyne；　weling　them　back　into　the　king's　peace；〃　Ser　Kevan　said。　〃This　is　a　pardon　for　Lord　Jonos　Bracken　of　Stone　Hedge。　This　is　a　pardon　for　Lord　Vance。　This　for　Lord　Goodbrook。　This　for　Lord　Mooton　of　Maidenpool。〃
　Jaime　pushed　himself　to　his　feet。　〃You　seem　to　have　these　matters　well　in　hand；　Uncle。　I　shall　leave　His　Grace　to　you。〃
　〃As　you　wish。〃　Ser　Kevan　rose　as　well。　〃Jaime；　you　should　go　to　your　father。　This　breach　between　you…〃
　〃…is　his　doing。　Nor　will　he　mend　it　by　sending　me　mocking　gifts。　Tell　him　that；　if　you　can　pry　him　away　from　the　Tyrells　long　enough。〃
　His　uncle　looked　distressed。　〃The　gift　was　heartfelt。　We　thought　that　it　might　encourage　you…〃
　〃…to　grow　a　new　hand？〃　Jaime　turned　to　Tommen。　Though　he　had　Joffrey's　golden　curls　and　green　eyes；　the　new　king　shared　little　else　with　his　late　brother。　He　inclined　to　plumpness；　his　face　was　pink　and　round；　and　he　even　liked　to　read。　He　is　still　shy　of　nine；　this　son　of　mine。　The　boy　is　not　the　man。　It　would　be　seven　years　before　Tommen　was　ruling　in　his　own　right。　Until　then　the　realm　would　remain　firmly　in　the　hands　of　his　lord　grandfather。　〃Sire；〃　he　asked；　〃do　I　have　your　leave　to　go？〃
　〃As　you　like；　Ser　Uncle。〃　Tommen　looked　back　to　Ser　Kevan。　〃Can　I　seal　them　now；　Great…Uncle？〃　Pressing　his　royal　seal　into　the　hot　wax　was　his　favorite　part　of　being　king；　so　far。
　Jaime　strode　from　the　council　chamber。　Outside　the　door　he　found　Ser　Meryn　Trant　standing　stiff　at　guard　in　white　scale　armor　and　snowy　cloak。　If　this　one　should　learn　how　feeble　I　am；　or　Kettleblack　or　Blount　should　hear　of　it　。　。　。　〃Remain　here　until　His　Grace　is　done；〃　he　said；　〃then　escort　him　back　to　Maegor's。〃
　Trant　inclined　his　head。　〃As　you　say；　my　lord。〃
　The　outer　ward　was　crowded　and　noisy　that　morning。　Jaime　made　for　the　stables；　where　a　large　group　of　men　were　saddling　their　horses。　〃Steelshanks！〃　he　called。　〃Are　you　off；　then？〃
　〃As　soon　as　m'lady　is　mounted；〃　said　Steelshanks　Walton。　〃My　lord　of　Bolton　expects　us。　Here　she　is　now。〃
　A　groom　led　a　fine　grey　mare　out　the　stable　door。　On　her　back　was　mounted　a　skinny　hollow…eyed　girl　wrapped　in　a　heavy　cloak。　Grey；　it　was；　like　the　dress　beneath　it；　and　trimmed　with　white　satin。　The　clasp　that　pinned　it　to　her　breast　was　wrought　in　the　shape　of　a　wolf　's　head　with　slitted　opal　eyes。　The　girl's　long　brown　hair　blew　wild　in　the　wind。　She　had　a　pretty　face；　he　thought；　but　her　eyes　were　sad　and　wary。
　When　she　saw　him；　she　inclined　her　head。　〃Ser　Jaime；〃　she　said　in　a　thin　anxious　voice。　〃You　are　kind　to　see　me　off。〃
　Jaime　studied　her　closely。　〃You　know　me；　then？〃
　She　bit　her　lip。　〃You　may　not　recall；　my　lord；　as　I　was　littler　then　。　。　。　but　I　had　the　honor　to　meet　you　at　Winterfell　when　King　Robert　came　to　visit　my　father　Lord　Eddard。〃　She　lowered　her　big　brown　eyes　and　mumbled；　〃I'm　Arya　Stark。〃
　Jaime　had　never　paid　much　attention　to　Arya　Stark；　but　it　seemed　to　him　that　this　girl　was　older。　〃I　understand　you're　to　be　married。〃
　〃I　am　to　wed　Lord　Bolton's　son；　Ramsay。　He　used　to　be　a　Snow；　but　His　Grace　has　made　him　a　Bolton。　They　say　he's　very　brave。　I　am　so　happy。〃
　Then　why　do　you　sound　so　frightened？　〃I　wish　you　joy；　my　lady。〃　Jaime　turned　back　to　Steelshanks。　〃You　have　the　coin　you　were　promised？〃
　〃Aye；　and　we've　shared　it　out。　You　have　my　thanks。〃　The　northman　grinned。　〃A　Lannister　always　pays　his　debts。〃
　〃Always；〃　said　Jaime；　with　a　last　glance　at　the　girl。　He　wondered　if　there　was　much　resemblance。　Not　that　it　mattered。　The　real　Arya　Stark　was　buried　in　some　unmarked　grave　in　Flea　Bottom　in　all　likelihood。　With　her　brothers　dead；　and　both　parents；　who　would　dare　name　this　one　a　fraud？　〃Good　speed；〃　he　told　Steelshanks。　Nage　raised　his　peace　banner；　and　the　northmen　formed　a　column　as　ragged　as　their　fur　cloaks　and　trotted　out　the　castle　gate。　The　thin　girl　on　the　grey　mare　looked　small　and　forlorn　in　their　midst。
　A　few　of　the　horses　still　shied　away　from　the　dark　splotch　on　the　hard…packed　ground　where　the　earth　had　drunk　the　life's　blood　of　the　stableboy　Gregor　Clegane　had　killed　so　clumsily。　The　sight　of　it　made　Jaime　angry　all　over　again。　He　had　told　his　Kingsguard　to　keep　the　crowd　out　of　the　way；　but　that　oaf　Ser　Boros　had　let　himself　be　distracted　by　the　duel。　The　fool　boy　himself　shared　some　of　the　blame；　to　be　sure；　the　dead　Domishman　as　well。　And　Clegane　most　of　all。　The　blow　that　took　the　boy's　arm　off　had　been　mischance；　but　that　second　cut　。　。　。
　Well；　Gregor　is　paying　for　it　now　Grand　Maester　Pycelle　was　tending　to　the　man's　wounds；　but　the　howls　heard　ringing　from　the　maester's　chambers　suggested　that　the　healing　was　not　going　as　well　as　it　might。　〃The　flesh　mortifies　and　the　wounds　ooze　pus；〃　Pycelle　told　the　council。　〃Even　maggots　will　not　touch　such　foulness。　His　convulsions　are　so　violent　that　I　have　had　to　gag　him　to　prevent　him　from　biting　off　his　tongue。　I　have　cut　away　as　much　tissue　as　I　dare；　and　treated　the　rot　with　boiling　wine　and　bread　mold；　to　no　avail。　The　veins　in　his　arm　are　turning　black。　When　I　leeched　him；　all　the　leeches　died。　My　lords；　I　must　know　what　malignant　substance　Prince　Oberyn　used　on　his　spear。　Let　us　detain　these　other　Domishmen　until　they　are　more　forthing。〃
　Lord　Tywin　had　refused　him。　〃There　will　be　trouble　enough　with　Sunspear　over　Prince　Oberyn's　death。　I　do　not　mean　to　make　matters　worse　by　holding　his　panions　captive。〃
　〃Then　I　fear　Ser　Gregor　may　die。〃
　〃Undoubtedly。　I　swore　as　much　in　the　letter　I　sent　to　Prince　Doran　with　his　brother's　body。　But　it　must　be　seen　to　be　the　sword　of　the　King's　justice　that　slays　him；　not　a　poisoned　spear。　Heal　him。〃
　Grand　Maester　Pycelle　blinked　in　dismay。　〃MY　lord　…
　〃Heal　him；〃　Lord　Tywin　said　again；　vexed。　〃You　are　aware　that　Lord　Varys　has　sent　fishermen　into　the　waters　around　Dragonstone。　They　report　that　only　a　token　force　remains　to　defend　the　island。　The　Lyseni　are　gone　from　the　bay；　and　the　great　part　of　Lord　Stannis's　strength　with　them。〃
　〃Well　and　good；〃　announced　Pycelle。　〃Let　Stannis　rot　in　Lys；　I　say。　We　are　well　rid　of　the　man　and　his　ambitions。〃
　〃Did　you　turn　into　an　utter　fool　when　Tyrion　shaved　your　beard？　This　is　Stannis　Baratheon。　The　man　will　fight　to　the　bitter　end　and　then　some。　If　he　is　gone；　it　can　only　mean　he　intends　to　resume　the　war。　Most　likely　he　will　land　at　Storm's　End　and　try　and　rouse　the　storm　lords。　If　so；　he's　finished。　But　a　bolder　man　might　roll　the　dice　for　Dome。　If　he　should　win　Sunspear　to　his　cause；　he　might　prolong　this　war　for　years。　So　we　will　not　offend　the　Martells　any　further；　for　any　reason。　The　Domishmen　are　free　to　go；　and　you　will　heal　Ser　Gregor。〃
　And　so　the　Mountain　screamed；　day　and　night。　Lord　Tywin　Lannister　could　cow　even　the　Stranger；　it　would　seem。
　As　Jaime　climbed　the　winding　steps　of　White　Sword　Tower；　he　could　hear　Ser　Boros　snoring　in　his　cell。　Ser　Balon's　door　was　shut　as　well；　he　had　the　king　tonight；　and　would　sleep　all　day。　Aside　from　Blount's　snores；　the　tower　was　very　quiet。　That　suited　Jaime　well　enough。　I　ought　to　rest　myself。　Last　night；　after　his　dance　with　Ser　Addam；　he'd　been　too　sore　to　sleep。
　But　when　he　stepped　into　his　bedchamber；　he　found　his　sister　waiting　for　him。
　She　stood　beside　the　open　window；　looking　over　the　curtain　walls　and　out　to　sea。　The　bay　wind　swirled　around　her；　flattening　her　gown　against　her　body　in　a　way　that　quickened　Jaime's　pulse。　It　was　white；　that　gown；　like　the　hangings　on　the　wall　and　the　draperies　on　his　bed。　Swirls　of　tiny　emeralds　brightened　the　ends　of　her　wide　sleeves　and　spiraled　down　her　bodice。　Larger　emeralds　were　set　in　the　golden　spiderweb　that　bound　her　golden　hair。　The　gown　was　cut　low；　to　bare　her　shoulders　and　the　tops　of　her　breasts。　She　is　so　beautiful。　He　wanted　nothing　more　than　to　take　her　in　his　arms。
　〃Cersei。〃　He　closed　the　door　softly。　〃Why　are　you　here？〃
　〃Where　else　could　I　go？〃　When　she　turned　to　him　there　were　tears　in　her　eyes。　〃Father's　made　it　clear　that　I　am　no　longer　wanted　on　the　council。　Jaime；　won't　you　talk　to　him？〃
　Jaime　took　off　his　cloak　and　hung　it　from　a　peg　on　the　wall。　〃I　talk　to　Lord　Tywin　every　day。〃
　〃Must　you　be　so　stubborn？　All　he　wants　。　。　。〃
　〃　。　。　。　is　to　force　me　from　the　Kingsguard　and　send　me　back　to　Casterly　Rock。〃
　〃That　need　not　be　so　terrible。　He　is　sending　me　back　to　Casterly　Rock　as　well。　He　wants　me　far　away；　so　he'll　have　a　free　hand　with　Tommen。　Tornmen　is　my　son；　not　his！〃
　〃Tommen　is　the　king。〃
　〃He　is　a　boy！　A　frightened　little　boy　who　saw　his　brother　murdered　at　his　own　wedding。　And　now　they　are　telling　him　that　he　must　marry。　The　girl　is　twice　his　age　and　twice　a　widow！〃
　He　eased　himself　into　a　chair；　trying　to　ignore　the　ache　of　bruised　muscles。　〃The　Tyrells　are　insisting。　I　see　no　harm　in　it。　Tommen's　been　lonely　since　Myrcella　went　to　Dorne。　He　likes　having　Margaery　and　her　ladies　about。　Let　them　wed。〃
　〃He　is　your　son　。　。　。〃
　〃He　is　my　seed。　He's　never　called　me　Father。　No　more　than　Joffrey　ever　did。　You　warned　me　a　thousand　times　never　to　show　any　undue　interest　in　them。〃
　〃To　keep　them　safe！　You　as　well。　How　would　it　have　looked　if　my　brother　had　played　the　father　to　the　king's　children？　Even　Robert　might　have　grown　suspicious。〃
　〃Well；　he's　beyond　suspicion　now。〃　Robert's　death　still　left　a　bitter　taste　in　Jaime's　mouth。　It　should　have　been　me　who　killed　him；　not　Cersei。　〃I　only　wished　he'd　died　at　my　hands。〃　When　I　still　had　two　of　them。　〃If　I'd　let　kingslaying　bee　a　habit；　as　he　liked　to　say；　I　could　have　taken　you　as　my　wife　for　all　the　world　to　see。　I'm　not　ashamed　of　loving　you；　only　of　the　things　I've　done　to　hide　it。　That　boy　at　Winterfell　。　。　。〃
　〃Did　I　tell　you　to　throw　him　out　the　window？　If　you'd　gone　hunting　as　I　begged　you；　nothing　would　have　happened。　But　no；　you　had　to　have　me；　you　could　not　wait　until　we　returned　to　the　city。〃
　〃I'd　waited　long　enough。　I　hated　watching　Robert　stumble　to　your　bed　every　night；　always　wondering　if　maybe　this　night　he'd　decide　to　claim　his　rights　as　husband。〃　Jaime　suddenly　remembered　something　else　that　troubled　him　about　Winterfell。　〃At　Riverrun；　Catelyn　Stark　seemed　convinced　I'd　sent　some　footpad　to　slit　her　son's　throat。　That　I'd　given　him　a　dagger。〃
　〃That；〃　she　said　scornfully。　〃Tyrion　asked　me　about　that。〃
　〃There　was　a　dagger。　The　scars　on　Lady　Catelyn's　hands　were　real　enough；　she　showed　them　to　me。　Did　you　。　。　。　？〃
　〃Oh；　don't　be　absurd。〃　Cersei　closed　the　window。　〃Yes；　I　hoped　the　boy　would　die。　So　did　you。　Even　Robert　thought　that　would　have　been　for　the　best。　'We　kill　our　horses　when　they　break　a　leg；　and　our　dogs　when　they　go　blind；　but　we　are　too　weak　to　give　the　same　mercy　to　crippled　children/　he　told　me。　He　was　blind　himself　at　the　time；　from　drink。〃
　Robert？　Jaime　had　guarded　the　king　long　enough　to　know　that　Robert　Baratheon　said　things　in　his　cups　that　he　would　have　denied　angrily　the　next　day。　〃Were　you　alone　when　Robert　said　this？〃
　〃You　don't　think　he　said　it　to　Ned　Stark；　I　hope？　Of　course　we　were　alone。　Us　and　the　children。〃　Cersei　removed　her　hairnet　and　draped　it　over　a　bedpost；　then　shook　out　her　golden　curls。　〃Perhaps　Myrcella　sent　this　man　with　the　dagger；　do　you　think　so？〃
　It　was　meant　as　mocker