grrm.astormofswords-第26章

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Stannis　and　the　red　woman　go　down　together　to　watch　the　flames。　There　are　shafts；　they　say；　and　secret　stairs　down　into　the　mountain's　heart；　into　hot　places　where　only　she　may　walk　unburned。　It　is　enough　and　more　to　give　an　old　man　such　terrors　that　sometimes　he　can　scarcely　find　the　strength　to　eat。〃
　Melisandre。　Davos　shivered。　〃The　red　woman　did　this　to　him；〃　he　said。　〃She　sent　the　fire　to　consume　us；　to　punish　Stannis　for　setting　her　aside；　to　teach　him　that　he　could　not　hope　to　win　without　her　sorceries。〃
　The　Lyseni　chose　a　plump　olive　from　the　bowl　between　them。　〃You　are　not　the　first　to　be　saying　this；　my　friend。　But　if　I　am　you；　I　am　not　saying　it　so　loudly。　Dragonstone　crawls　with　these　queen's　men；　oh　yes；　and　they　have　sharp　ears　and　sharper　knives。〃　He　popped　the　olive　into　his　mouth。
　〃I　have　a　knife　myself。　Captain　Khorane　made　me　a　gift　of　it。〃　He　pulled　out　the　dirk　and　laid　it　on　the　table　between　them。　〃A　knife　to　cut　out　Melisandre's　heart。　If　she　has　one。〃
　Salladhor　Saan　spit　out　an　olive　pit。　〃Davos；　good　Davos；　you　must　not　be　saying　such　things；　even　in　jest。〃
　〃No　jest。　I　mean　to　kill　her。〃　If　she　can　be　killed　by　mortal　weapons。　Davos　was　not　certain　that　she　could。　He　had　seen　old　Maester　Cressen　slip　poison　into　her　wine；　with　his　own　eyes　he　had　seen　it；　but　when　they　both　drank　from　the　poisoned　cup　it　was　the　maester　who　died；　not　the　red　priestess。　A　knife　in　the　heart；　though　。　。　。　even　demons　can　be　killed　by　cold　iron；　the　singers　say。
　〃These　are　dangerous　talkings；　my　friend；〃　Salladhor　Saan　warned　him。　〃I　am　thinking　you　are　still　sick　from　the　sea。　The　fever　has　cooked　your　wits；　yes。　Best　you　are　taking　to　your　bed　for　a　long　resting；　until　you　are　stronger。〃
　Until　my　resolve　weakens；　you　mean。　Davos　got　to　his　feet。　He　did　feel　feverish　and　a　little　dizzy；　but　it　did　not　matter。　〃You　are　a　treacherous　old　rogue；　Salladhor　Saan；　but　a　good　friend　all　the　same。〃
　The　Lyseni　stroked　his　pointed　silver　beard。　〃So　with　this　great　friend　you　will　be　staying；　yes？〃
　〃No；　I　will　be　going。〃　He　coughed。
　〃Go？　Look　at　you！　You　cough；　you　tremble；　you　are　thin　and　weak。　Where　will　you　be　going？〃
　〃To　the　castle。　My　bed　is　there；　and　my　son。〃
　〃And　the　red　woman；〃　Salladhor　Saan　said　suspiciously。　〃She　is　in　the　castle　also。〃
　〃Her　too。〃　Davos　slid　the　dirk　back　into　its　sheath。
　〃You　are　an　onion　smuggler；　what　do　you　know　of　skulkings　and　stabbings？　And　you　are　ill；　you　cannot　even　hold　the　dirk。　Do　you　know　what　will　be　happening　to　you；　if　you　are　caught？　While　we　were　burning　on　the　river；　the　queen　was　burning　traitors。　Servants　of　the　dark；　she　named　them；　poor　men；　and　the　red　woman　sang　as　the　fires　were　lit。〃
　Davos　was　unsurprised。　I　knew；　he　thought；　I　knew　before　he　told　me。　〃She　took　Lord　Sunglass　from　the　dungeons；〃　he　guessed；　〃and　Hubard　Rambton's　sons。〃
　〃Just　so；　and　burned　them；　as　she　will　burn　you。　If　you　kill　the　red　woman；　they　will　burn　you　for　revenge；　and　if　you　fail　to　kill　her；　they　will　burn　you　for　the　trying。　She　will　sing　and　you　will　scream；　and　then　you　will　die。　And　you　have　only　just　e　back　to　life！〃
　〃And　this　is　why；〃　said　Davos。　〃To　do　this　thing。　To　make　an　end　of　Melisandre　of　Asshai　and　all　her　works。　Why　else　would　the　sea　have　spit　me　out？　You　know　Blackwater　Bay　as　well　as　I　do；　Salla。　No　sensible　captain　would　ever　take　his　ship　through　the　spears　of　the　merling　king　and　risk　ripping　out　his　bottom。　Shayala's　Dance　should　never　have　e　near　me。〃
　〃A　wind；〃　insisted　Salladhor　Saan　loudly；　〃an　ill　wind；　is　all。　A　wind　drove　her　too　far　to　the　south。〃
　〃And　who　sent　the　wind？　Salla；　the　Mother　spoke　to　me。〃
　The　old　Lyseni　blinked　at　him。　〃Your　mother　is　dead　。　。　。〃
　〃The　Mother。　She　blessed　me　with　seven　sons；　and　yet　I　let　them　burn　her。　She　spoke　to　me。　We　called　the　fire；　she　said。　We　called　the　shadows　too。　I　rowed　Melisandre　into　the　bowels　of　Storm's　End　and　watched　her　birth　a　horror。〃　He　saw　it　still　in　his　nightmares；　the　gaunt　black　hands　pushing　against　her　thighs　as　it　wriggled　free　of　her　swollen　womb。　〃She　killed　Cressen　and　Lord　Renly　and　a　brave　man　named　Cormay　Penrose；　and　she　killed　my　sons　as　well。　Now　it　is　time　someone　killed　her。〃
　〃Someone；〃　said　Salladhor　Saan。　〃Yes；　just　so；　someone。　But　not　you。　You　are　weak　as　a　child；　and　no　warrior。　Stay；　I　beg　you；　we　will　talk　more　and　you　will　eat；　and　perhaps　we　will　sail　to　Braavos　and　hire　a　Faceless　Man　to　do　this　thing；　yes？　But　you；　no；　you　must　sit　and　eat。〃
　He　is　making　this　much　harder；　thought　Davos　wearily；　and　it　was　perishingly　hard　to　begin　with。　〃I　have　vengeance　in　my　belly；　Salla。　It　leaves　no　room　for　food。　Let　me　go　now。　For　our　friendship；　wish　me　luck　and　let　me　go。〃
　Salladhor　Saan　pushed　himself　to　his　feet。　〃You　are　no　true　friend；　I　am　thinking。　When　you　are　dead；　who　will　be　bringing　your　ashes　and　bones　back　to　your　lady　wife　and　telling　her　that　she　has　lost　a　husband　and　four　sons？　Only　sad　old　Salladhor　Saan。　But　so　be　it；　brave　ser　knight；　go　rushing　to　your　grave。　I　will　gather　your　bones　in　a　sack　and　give　them　to　the　sons　you　leave　behind；　to　wear　in　little　bags　around　their　necks。〃　He　waved　an　angry　hand；　with　rings　on　every　finger。　〃Go；　go；　go；　go；　go。〃
　Davos　did　not　want　to　leave　like　this。　〃Salla…〃
　〃GO。　Or　stay；　better；　but　if　you　are　going；　go。〃
　He　went。
　His　walk　up　from　the　Bountiful　Harvest　to　the　gates　of　Dragonstone　was　long　and　lonely。　The　dockside　streets　where　soldiers　and　sailors　and　smallfolk　had　thronged　were　empty　and　deserted。　Where　once　he　had　stepped　around　squealing　pigs　and　naked　children；　rats　scurried。　His　legs　felt　like　pudding　beneath　him；　and　thrice　the　coughing　racked　him　so　badly　that　he　had　to　stop　and　rest。　No　one　came　to　help　him；　nor　even　peered　through　a　window　to　see　what　was　the　matter。　The　windows　were　shuttered；　the　doors　barred；　and　more　than　half　the　houses　displayed　some　mark　of　mourning。　Thousands　sailed　up　the　Blackwater　Rush；　and　hundreds　came　back；　Davos　reflected。　My　sons　did　not　die　alone。　May　the　Mother　have　mercy　on　them　all。
　When　he　reached　the　castle　gates；　he　found　them　shut　as　well。　Davos　pounded　on　the　iron…studded　wood　with　his　fist。　When　there　was　no　answer；　he　kicked　at　it；　again　and　again。　Finally　a　crossbowman　appeared　atop　the　barbican；　peering　down　between　two　towering　gargoyles。　〃Who　goes　there？〃
　He　craned　his　head　back　and　cupped　his　hands　around　his　mouth。　〃Ser　Davos　Seaworth；　to　see　His　Grace。〃
　〃Are　you　drunk？　Go　away　and　stop　that　pounding。〃
　Salladhor　Saan　had　warned　him。　Davos　tried　a　different　tack。　〃Send　for　my　son；　then。　Devan；　the　king's　squire。〃
　The　guard　frowned。　〃Who　did　you　say　you　were？〃
　〃Davos；〃　he　shouted。　〃The　onion　knight。〃
　The　head　vanished；　to　return　a　moment　later。　〃Be　off　with　you。　The　onion　knight　died　on　the　river。　His　ship　burned。〃
　〃His　ship　burned；〃　Davos　agreed；　〃but　he　lived；　and　here　he　stands。　Is　jate　still　captain　of　the　gate？〃
　〃Who？〃
　〃Jate　Blackberry。　He　knows　me　well　enough。〃
　〃I　never　heard　of　him。　Most　like　he's　dead。〃
　〃Lord　Chyttering；　then。〃
　〃That　one　I　know。　He　burned　on　the　Blackwater。〃
　〃Hookface　Will？　Hal　the　Hog？〃
　〃Dead　and　dead；〃　the　crossbowman　said；　but　his　face　betrayed　a　sudden　doubt。　〃You　wait　there。〃　He　vanished　again。
　Davos　waited。　Gone；　all　gone；　he　thought　dully；　remembering　how　fat　Hal's　white　belly　always　showed　beneath　his　grease…stained　doublet；　the　long　scar　the　fish　hook　had　left　across　Will's　face；　the　way　Jate　always　doffed　his　cap　at　the　women；　be　they　five　or　fifty；　highborn　or　low。　Drowned　or　burned；　with　my　sons　and　a　thousand　others；　gone　to　make　a　king　in　hell。
　Suddenly　the　crossbowman　was　back。　〃Go　round　to　the　sally　port　and　they'll　admit　you。〃
　Davos　did　as　he　was　bid。　The　guards　who　ushered　him　inside　were　strangers　to　him。　They　carried　spears；　and　on　their　breasts　they　wore　the　fox…and…flowers　sigil　of　House　Florent。　They　escorted　him　not　to　the　Stone　Drum；　as　he'd　expected；　but　under　the　arch　of　the　Dragon's　Tail　and　down　to　Aegon's　Garden。　〃Wait　here；〃　their　sergeant　told　him。
　〃Does　His　Grace　know　that　I've　returned？〃　asked　Davos。
　〃Bugger　all　if　I　know。　Wait；　I　said。〃　The　man　left；　taking　his　spearmen　with　him。
　Aegon's　Garden　had　a　pleasant　piney　smell　to　it；　and　tall　dark　trees　rose　on　every　side。　There　were　wild　roses　as　well；　and　towering　thorny　hedges；　and　a　boggy　spot　where　cranberries　grew。
　Why　have　they　brought　me　here？　Davos　wondered。
　Then　he　heard　a　faint　ringing　of　bells；　and　a　child's　giggle；　and　suddenly　the　fool　Patchface　popped　from　the　bushes；　shambling　along　as　fast　as　he　could　go　with　the　Princess　Shireen　hot　on　his　heels。　〃You　e　back　now；〃　she　was　shouting　after　him。　〃Patches；　you　e　back。〃
　When　the　fool　saw　Davos；　he　jerked　to　a　sudden　halt；　the　bells　on　his　antlered　tin　helmet　going　ting…a…ling；　ting…a…ling。　Hopping　from　one　foot　to　the　other；　he　sang；　〃Fool's　blood；　king's　blood；　blood　on　the　maiden's　thigh；　but　chains　for　the　guests　and　chains　for　the　bridegroom；　aye　aye　aye。〃　Shireen　almost　caught　him　then；　but　at　the　last　instant　he　hopped　over　a　patch　of　bracken　and　vanished　among　the　trees。　The　princess　was　right　behind　him。　The　sight　of　them　made　Davos　smile。
　He　had　turned　to　cough　into　his　gloved　hand　when　another　small　shape　crashed　out　of　the　hedge　and　bowled　right　into　him；　knocking　him　off　his　feet。
　The　boy　went　down　as　well；　but　he　was　up　again　almost　at　once。　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　he　demanded　as　he　brushed　himself　off。　jet…black　hair　fell　to　his　collar；　and　his　eyes　were　a　startling　blue。　〃You　shouldn't　get　in　my　way　when　I'm　running。〃
　〃No；〃　Davos　agreed。　〃I　shouldn't。〃　Another　fit　of　coughing　seized　him　as　he　struggled　to　his　knees。
　〃Are　you　unwell？〃　The　boy　took　him　by　the　arm　and　pulled　him　to　his　feet。　〃Should　I　summon　the　maester？〃
　Davos　shook　his　head。　〃A　cough。　It　will　pass。〃
　The　boy　took　him　at　his　word。　〃We　were　playing　monsters　and　maidens；　〃　he　explained。　〃I　was　the　monster。　It's　a　childish　game　but　my　cousin　likes　it。　Do　you　have　a　name？〃
　〃Ser　Davos　Seaworth。〃
　The　boy　looked　him　up　and　down　dubiously。　〃Are　you　certain？　You　don't　look　very　knightly。〃
　〃I　am　the　knight　of　the　onions；　my　lord。〃
　The　blue　eyes　blinked。　〃The　one　with　the　black　ship？〃
　〃You　know　that　tale？〃
　〃You　brought　my　uncle　Stannis　fish　to　eat　before　I　was　born；　when　Lord　Tyrell　had　him　under　siege。〃　The　boy　drew　himself　up　tall。　〃I　am　Edric　Storm；〃　he　announced。　〃King　Robert's　son。〃
　〃Of　course　you　are。〃　Davos　had　known　that　almost　at　once。　The　lad　had　the　prominent　ears　of　a　Florent；　but　the　hair；　the　eyes；　the　jaw；　the　cheekbones；　those　were　all　Baratheon。
　〃Did　you　know　my　father？〃　Edric　Storm　demanded。
　〃I　saw　him　many　a　time　while　calling　on　your　uncle　at　court；　but　we　never　spoke。〃
　〃My　father　taught　me　to　fight；〃　the　boy　said　proudly。　〃He　came　to　see　me　almost　every　year；　and　sometimes　we　trained　together。　On　my　last　name　day　he　sent　me　a　warharnmer　just　like　his；　only　smaller。　They　made　me　leave　it　at　Storm's　End；　though。　Is　it　true　my　uncle　Stannis　cut　off　your　fingers？〃
　〃Only　the　last　joint。　I　still　have　fingers；　only　shorter。〃
　〃Show　me。〃
　Davos　peeled　his　glove　off。　The　boy　studied　his　hand　carefully。　〃He　did　not　shorten　your　thumb？〃
　〃No