grrm.astormofswords-第48章

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ious　appetite；　this　one。　Tyrell　demanded　the　lands　and　castles　of　Lord　Alester　Florent；　his　own　bannerman；　who'd　had　the　singular　ill　judgment　to　back　first　Renly　and　then　Stannis。　Lord　Tywin　was　pleased　to　oblige。　Brightwater　Keep　and　all　its　lands　and　ines　were　granted　to　Lord　Tyrell's　second　son；　Ser　Garlan；　transforming　him　into　a　great　lord　in　the　blink　of　an　eye。　His　elder　brother；　of　course；　stood　to　inherit　Highgarden　itself。
　Lesser　tracts　were　granted　to　Lord　Rowan；　and　set　aside　for　Lord　Tarly；　Lady　Oakheart；　Lord　Hightower；　and　other　worthies　not　present。　Lord　Redwyne　asked　only　for　thirty　years'　remission　of　the　taxes　that　Littlefinger　and　his　wine　factors　had　levied　on　certain　of　the　Arbor's　finest　vintages。　When　that　was　granted；　he　pronounced　himself　well　satisfied　and　suggested　that　they　send　for　a　cask　of　Arbor　gold；　to　toast　good　King　Joffrey　and　his　wise　and　benevolent　Hand。　At　that　Cersei　lost　patience。
　〃It's　swords　Joff　needs；　not　toasts；〃　she　snapped。　〃His　realm　is　still　plagued　with　would…be　usurpers　and　self…styled　kings。〃
　〃But　not　for　long；　I　think；〃　said　Varys　unctuously。
　〃A　few　more　items　remain；　my　lords。〃　Ser　Kevan　consulted　his　papers。　〃Ser　Addam　has　found　some　crystals　from　the　High　Septon's　crown。　It　appears　certain　now　that　the　thieves　broke　up　the　crystals　and　melted　down　the　gold。〃
　〃Our　Father　Above　knows　their　guilt　and　will　sit　in　judgment　on　them　all；〃　the　High　Septon　said　piously。
　〃No　doubt　he　will；〃　said　Lord　Tywin。　〃All　the　same；　you　must　be　crowned　at　the　king's　wedding。　Cersei；　summon　your　goldsmiths；　we　must　see　to　a　replacement。〃　He　did　not　wait　for　her　reply；　but　turned　at　once　to　Varys。　〃You　have　reports？〃
　The　eunuch　drew　a　parchment　from　his　sleeve。　〃A　kraken　has　been　seen　off　the　Fingers。〃　He　giggled。　〃Not　a　Greyjoy；　mind　you；　a　true　kraken。　It　attacked　an　Ibbenese　whaler　and　pulled　it　under。　There　is　fighting　on　the　Stepstones；　and　a　new　war　between　Tyrosh　and　Lys　seems　likely。　Both　hope　to　win　Myr　as　ally。　Sailors　back　from　the　jade　Sea　report　that　a　three…headed　dragon　has　hatched　in　Qarth；　and　is　the　wonder　of　that　city…〃
　〃Dragons　and　krakens　do　not　interest　me；　regardless　of　the　number　of　their　heads；〃　said　Lord　Tywin。　〃Have　your　whisperers　perchance　found　some　trace　of　my　brother's　son？〃
　〃Alas；　our　beloved　Tyrek　has　quite　vanished；　the　poor　brave　lad。〃　Varys　sounded　close　to　tears。
　〃Tywin；〃　Ser　Kevan　said；　before　Lord　Tywin　could　vent　his　obvious　displeasure；　〃some　of　the　gold　cloaks　who　deserted　during　the　battle　have　drifted　back　to　barracks；　thinking　to　take　up　duty　once　again。　Ser　Addam　wishes　to　know　what　to　do　with　them。〃
　〃They　might　have　endangered　Joff　with　their　cowardice；〃　Cersei　said　at　once。　〃I　want　them　put　to　death。〃
　Varys　sighed。　〃They　have　surely　earned　death；　Your　Grace；　none　can　deny　it。　And　yet；　perhaps　we　might　be　wiser　to　send　them　to　the　Night's　Watch。　We　have　had　disturbing　messages　from　the　Wall　of　late。　Of　wildlings　astir　。　。　。〃
　〃Wildlings；　krakens；　and　dragons。〃　Mace　Tyrell　chuckled。　〃Why；　is　there　anyone　not　stirring？〃
　Lord　Tywin　ignored　that。　〃The　deserters　serve　us　best　as　a　lesson。　Break　their　knees　with　hammers。　They　will　not　run　again。　Nor　will　any　man　who　sees　them　begging　in　the　streets。〃　He　glanced　down　the　table　to　see　if　any　of　the　other　lords　disagreed。
　Tyrion　remembered　his　own　visit　to　the　Wall；　and　the　crabs　he'd　shared　with　old　Lord　Mormont　and　his　officers。　He　remembered　the　Old　Bear's　fears　as　well。　〃Perhaps　we　might　break　the　knees　of　a　few　to　make　our　point。　Those　who　killed　Ser　Jacelyn；　say。　The　rest　we　can　send　to　Marsh。　The　Watch　is　grievously　under　strength。　If　the　Wall　should　fail　。　。　。〃
　〃　。　。　。　the　wildlings　will　flood　the　north；〃　his　father　finished；　〃and　the　Starks　and　Greyjoys　will　have　another　enemy　to　contend　with。　They　no　longer　wish　to　be　subject　to　the　Iron　Throne；　it　would　seem；　so　by　what　right　do　they　look　to　the　Iron　Throne　for　aid？　King　Robb　and　King　Balon　both　claim　the　north。　Let　them　defend　it；　if　they　can。　And　if　not；　this　Mance　Rayder　might　even　prove　a　useful　ally。〃　Lord　Tywin　looked　to　his　brother。　〃Is　there　more？〃
　Ser　Kevan　shook　his　head。　〃We　are　done。　My　lords；　His　Grace　King　Joffrey　would　no　doubt　wish　to　thank　you　all　for　your　wisdom　and　good　counsel。〃
　〃I　should　like　private　words　with　my　children；〃　said　Lord　Tywin　as　the　others　rose　to　leave。　〃You　as　well；　Kevan。〃
　Obediently；　the　other　councillors　made　their　farewells；　Varys　the　first　to　depart　and　Tyrell　and　Redwyne　the　last。　When　the　chamber　was　empty　but　for　the　four　Lannisters；　Ser　Kevan　closed　the　door。
　〃Master　of　coin〃　said　Tyrion　in　a　thin　strained　voice。　〃Whose　notion　was　that；　pray？〃
　〃Lord　Petyr's；〃　his　father　said；　〃but　it　serves　us　well　to　have　the　treasury　in　the　hands　of　a　Lannister。　You　have　asked　for　important　work。　Do　you　fear　you　might　be　incapable　of　the　task？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Tyrion；　〃I　fear　a　trap。　Littlefinger　is　subtle　and　ambitious。　I　do　not　trust　him。　Nor　should　you。〃
　〃He　won　Highgarden　to　our　side　。　。　。〃　Cersei　began。
　〃　。　。　。　and　sold　you　Ned　Stark；　I　know。　He　will　sell　us　just　as　quick。　A　coin　is　as　dangerous　as　a　sword　in　the　wrong　hands。〃
　His　uncle　Kevan　looked　at　him　oddly。　〃Not　to　us；　surely。　The　gold　of　Casterly　Rock　。　。　。〃
　〃　。　。　。　is　dug　from　the　ground。　Littlefinger's　gold　is　made　from　thin　air；　with　a　snap　of　his　fingers。〃
　〃A　more　useful　skill　than　any　of　yours；　sweet　brother；〃　purred　Cersei；　in　a　voice　sweet　with　malice。
　〃Littlefinger　is　a　liar…〃
　〃…and　black　as　well；　said　the　raven　of　the　crow。〃
　Lord　Tywin　slammed　his　hand　down　on　the　table。　〃Enough！　I　will　have　no　more　of　this　unseemly　squabbling。　You　are　both　Lannisters；　and　will　port　yourselves　as　such。〃
　Ser　Kevan　cleared　his　throat。　〃I　would　sooner　have　Petyr　Baelish　ruling　the　Eyrie　than　any　of　Lady　Lysa's　other　suitors。　Yohn　Royce；　Lyn　Corbray；　Horton　Redfort　。　。　。　these　are　dangerous　men；　each　in　his　own　way。　And　proud。　Littlefinger　may　be　clever；　but　he　has　neither　high　birth　nor　skill　at　arms。　The　lords　of　the　Vale　will　never　accept　such　as　their　liege。〃　He　looked　to　his　brother。　When　Lord　Tywin　nodded；　he　continued。　〃And　there　is　this…Lord　Petyr　continues　to　demonstrate　his　loyalty。　Only　yesterday　he　brought　us　word　of　a　Tyrell　plot　to　spirit　Sansa　Stark　off　to　Highgarden　for　a　'visit/　and　there　marry　her　to　Lord　Mace's　eldest　son；　Willas。〃
　〃Littlefinger　brought　you　word？〃　Tyrion　leaned　against　the　table。　〃Not　our　master　of　whisperers？　How　interesting。〃
　Cersei　looked　at　their　uncle　in　disbelief。　〃Sansa　is　my　hostage。　She　goes　nowhere　without　my　leave。〃
　〃Leave　you　must　perforce　grant；　should　Lord　Tyrell　ask；〃　their　father　pointed　out。　〃To　refuse　him　would　be　tantamount　to　declaring　that　we　did　not　trust　him。　He　would　take　offense。〃
　〃Let　him。　What　do　we　care？〃
　Bloody　fool；　thought　Tyrion。　〃Sweet　sister；〃　he　explained　patiently；　〃offend　Tyrell　and　you　offend　Redwyne；　Tarly；　Rowan；　and　Hightower　as　well；　and　perhaps　start　them　wondering　whether　Robb　Stark　might　not　be　more　acmodating　of　their　desires。〃
　〃I　will　not　have　the　rose　and　the　direwolf　in　bed　together；〃　declared　Lord　Tywin。　〃We　must　forestall　him。〃
　〃How？〃　asked　Cersei。
　〃By　marriage。　Yours；　to　begin　with。〃
　It　came　so　suddenly　that　Cersei　could　only　stare　for　a　moment。　Then　her　cheeks　reddened　as　if　she　had　been　slapped。　〃No。　Not　again。　I　will　not。〃
　〃Your　Grace；〃　said　Ser　Kevan；　courteously；　〃you　are　a　young　woman；　still　fair　and　fertile。　Surely　you　cannot　wish　to　spend　the　rest　of　your　days　alone？　And　a　new　marriage　would　put　to　rest　this　talk　of　incest　for　good　and　all。〃
　〃So　long　as　you　remain　unwed；　you　allow　Stannis　to　spread　his　disgusting　slander；〃　Lord　Tywin　told　his　daughter。　〃You　must　have　a　new　husband　in　your　bed；　to　father　children　on　you。〃
　〃Three　children　is　quite　sufficient。　I　am　Queen　of　the　Seven　Kingdoms；　not　a　brood　mare！　The　Queen　Regent！〃
　〃You　are　my　daughter；　and　will　do　as　I　mand。〃
　She　stood。　〃I　will　not　sit　here　and　listen　to　this…〃
　〃You　will　if　you　wish　to　have　any　voice　in　the　choice　of　your　next　husband；〃　Lord　Tywin　said　calmly。
　When　she　hesitated；　then　sat；　Tyrion　knew　she　was　lost；　despite　her　loud　declaration　of；　〃I　will　not　marry　again！〃
　〃You　will　marry　and　you　will　breed。　Every　child　you　birth　makes　Stannis　more　a　liar。〃　Their　father's　eyes　seemed　to　pin　her　to　her　chair。　〃Mace　Tyrell；　Paxter　Redwyne；　and　Doran　Martell　are　wed　to　younger　women　likely　to　outlive　them。　Balon　Greyjoy's　wife　is　elderly　and　failing；　but　such　a　match　would　mit　us　to　an　alliance　with　the　iron　Islands；　and　I　am　still　uncertain　whether　that　would　be　our　wisest　course。〃
　〃No；〃　Cersei　said　from　between　white　lips。　〃No；　no；　no。〃
　Tyrion　could　not　quite　suppress　the　grin　that　came　to　his　lips　at　the　thought　of　packing　his　sister　off　to　Pyke。　fust　when　I　was　about　to　give　up　praying；　some　sweet　god　gives　me　this。
　Lord　Tywin　went　on。　〃Oberyn　Martell　might　suit；　but　the　Tyrells　would　take　that　very　ill。　So　we　must　look　to　the　sons。　I　assume　you　do　not　object　to　wedding　a　man　younger　than　yourself？〃
　〃I　object　to　wedding　any…〃
　〃I　have　considered　the　Redwyne　twins；　Theon　Greyjoy；　Quentyn　Martell；　and　a　number　of　others。　But　our　alliance　with　Highgarden　was　the　sword　that　broke　Stannis。　it　should　be　tempered　and　made　stronger。　Ser　Loras　has　taken　the　white　and　Ser　Garlan　is　wed　to　one　of　the　Fossoways；　but　there　remains　the　eldest　son；　the　boy　they　scheme　to　wed　to　Sansa　Stark。〃
　Willas　Tyrell。　Tyrion　was　taking　a　wicked　pleasure　in　Cersei's　helpless　fury。　〃That　would　be　the　cripple；〃　he　said。
　Their　father　chilled　him　with　a　look。　〃Willas　is　heir　to　Highgarden；　and　by　all　reports　a　mild　and　courtly　young　man；　fond　of　reading　books　and　looking　at　the　stars。　He　has　a　passion　for　breeding　animals　as　well；　and　owns　the　finest　hounds；　hawks；　and　horses　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms。〃
　A　perfect　match；　mused　Tyrion。　Cersei　also　has　a　passion　for　breeding。　He　pitied　poor　Willas　Tyrell；　and　did　not　know　whether　he　wanted　to　laugh　at　his　sister　or　weep　for　her。
　〃The　Tyrell　heir　would　be　my　choice；〃　Lord　Tywin　concluded；　〃but　if　you　would　prefer　another；　I　will　hear　your　reasons。〃
　〃That　is　so　very　kind　of　you；　Father；〃　Cersei　said　with　icy　courtesy。　〃It　is　such　a　difficult　choice　you　give　me。　Who　would　I　sooner　take　to　bed；　the　old　squid　or　the　crippled　dog　boy？　I　shall　need　a　few　days　to　consider。　Do　I　have　your　leave　to　go？〃
　You　are　the　queen；　Tyrion　wanted　to　tell　her。　He　ought　to　be　begging　leave　of　you。
　〃Go；〃　their　father　said。　〃We　shall　talk　again　after　you　have　posed　yourself。　Remember　your　duty。〃
　Cersei　swept　stiffly　from　the　room；　her　rage　plain　to　see。　Yet　in　the　end　she　will　do　as　Father　bid。　She　had　proved　that　with　Robert。　Though　there　is　Jaime　to　consider。　Their　brother　had　been　much　younger　when　Cersei　wed　the　first　time；　he　might　not　acquiesce　to　a　second　marriage　quite　so　easily。　The　unfortunate　Willas　Tyrell　was　like　to　contract　a　sudden　fatal　case　of　sword…through…bowels；　which　could　rather　sour　the　alliance　between　Highgarden　and　Casterly　Rock。　I　should　say　something；　but　what？　Pardon　me；　Father；　but　it's　our　brother　she　wants　to　marry？
　〃Tyrion。〃
　He　gave　a　resigned　smile。　〃Do　I　hear　the　herald　summoning　me　to　the　lists？〃
　〃Your　whoring　is　a　wea