grrm.astormofswords-第63章

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hey　brought；　and　by　the　changing　of　the　torches　in　the　sconce　outside　his　cell。
　A　man　grows　lonely　in　the　dark；　and　hungers　for　the　sound　of　a　human　voice。　Davos　would　talk　to　the　gaolers　whenever　they　came　to　his　cell；　whether　to　bring　him　food　or　change　his　slops　pail。　He　knew　they　would　be　deaf　to　pleas　for　freedom　or　mercy；　instead　he　asked　them　questions；　hoping　perhaps　one　day　one　might　answer。　〃What　news　of　the　war？〃　he　asked；　and　〃Is　the　king　well？〃　He　asked　after　his　son　Devan；　and　the　Princess　Shireen；　and　Salladhor　Saan。　〃What　is　the　weather　like？〃　he　asked；　and　〃Have　the　autumn　storms　begun　yet？　Do　ships　still　sail　the　narrow　sea？〃
　It　made　no　matter　what　he　asked；　they　never　answered；　though　sometimes　Porridge　gave　him　a　look；　and　for　half　a　heartbeat　Davos　would　think　that　he　was　about　to　speak。　With　Lamprey　there　was　not　even　that　much。　I　am　not　a　man　to　him；　Davos　thought；　only　a　stone　that　eats　and　shits　and　speaks。　He　decided　after　a　while　that　he　liked　Porridge　much　the　better。　Porridge　at　least　seemed　to　know　he　was　alive；　and　there　was　a　queer　sort　of　kindness　to　the　man。　Davos　suspected　that　he　fed　the　rats；　that　was　why　there　were　so　many。　Once　he　thought　he　heard　the　gaoler　talking　to　them　as　if　they　were　children；　but　perhaps　he'd　only　dreamed　that。
　They　do　not　mean　to　let　me　die；　he　realized。　They　are　keeping　me　alive；　for　some　purpose　of　their　own。　He　did　not　like　to　think　what　that　might　be。　Lord　Sunglass　had　been　confined　in　the　cells　beneath　Dragonstone　for　a　time；　as　had　Ser　Hubard　Rambton's　sons；　all　of　them　had　ended　on　the　pyre。　I　should　have　given　myself　to　the　sea；　Davos　thought　as　he　sat　staring　at　the　torch　beyond　the　bars。　Or　let　the　sail　pass　me　by；　to　perish　on　my　rock。　I　would　sooner　feed　crabs　than　flames。
　Then　one　night　as　he　was　finishing　his　supper；　Davos　felt　a　queer　flush　e　over　him。　He　glanced　up　through　the　bars；　and　there　she　stood　in　shimmering　scarlet　with　her　great　ruby　at　her　throat；　her　red　eyes　gleaming　as　bright　as　the　torch　that　bathed　her。　〃Melisandre；〃　he　said；　with　a　calm　he　did　not　feel。
　〃Onion　Knight；〃　she　replied；　just　as　calmly；　as　if　the　two　of　them　had　met　on　a　stair　or　in　the　yard；　and　were　exchanging　polite　greetings。　〃Are　you　well？〃
　〃Better　than　I　was。〃
　〃Do　you　lack　for　anything？〃
　〃My　king。　My　son。　I　lack　for　them。〃　He　pushed　the　bowl　aside　and　stood。　〃Have　you　e　to　burn　me？〃
　Her　strange　red　eyes　studied　him　through　the　bars。　〃This　is　a　bad　place；　is　it　not？　A　dark　place；　and　foul。　The　good　sun　does　not　shine　here；　nor　the　bright　moon。〃　She　lifted　a　hand　toward　the　torch　in　the　wall　sconce。　〃This　is　all　that　stands　between　you　and　the　darkness；　Onion　Knight。　This　little　fire；　this　gift　of　R'hllor。　Shall　I　put　it　out？〃
　〃No。〃　He　moved　toward　the　bars。　〃Please。〃　He　did　not　think　he　could　bear　that；　to　be　left　alone　in　utter　blackness　with　no　one　but　the　rats　for　pany。
　The　red　woman's　lips　curved　upward　in　a　smile。　〃So　you　have　e　to　love　the　fire；　it　would　seem。〃
　〃I　need　the　torch。〃　His　hands　opened　and　closed。　I　will　not　beg　her。　I　will　not。
　〃I　am　like　this　torch；　Ser　Davos。　We　are　both　instruments　of　R'hllor。　We　were　made　for　a　single　purpose…to　keep　the　darkness　at　bay。　Do　you　believe　that？〃
　〃No。〃　Perhaps　he　should　have　lied；　and　told　her　what　she　wanted　to　hear；　but　Davos　was　too　accustomed　to　speaking　truth。　〃You　are　the　mother　of　darkness。　I　saw　that　under　Storm's　End；　when　you　gave　birth　before　my　eyes。〃
　〃Is　the　brave　Ser　Onions　so　frightened　of　a　passing　shadow？　Take　heart；　then。　Shadows　only　live　when　given　birth　by　light；　and　the　king's　fires　burn　so　low　I　dare　not　draw　off　any　more　to　make　another　son。　It　might　well　kill　him。〃　Melisandre　moved　closer。　〃With　another　man；　though　。　。　。　a　man　whose　flames　still　burn　hot　and　high　。　。　。　if　you　truly　wish　to　serve　your　king's　cause；　e　to　my　chamber　one　night。　I　could　give　you　pleasure　such　as　you　have　never　known；　and　with　your　life…fire　I　could　make　。　。　。〃
　〃　。　。　。　a　horror。〃　Davos　retreated　from　her。　〃I　want　no　part　of　you；　my　lady。　Or　your　god。　May　the　Seven　protect　me。〃
　Melisandre　sighed。　〃They　did　not　protect　Guncer　Sunglass。　He　prayed　thrice　each　day；　and　bore　seven　seven…pointed　stars　upon　his　shield；　but　when　R'hllor　reached　out　his　hand　his　prayers　turned　to　screams；　and　he　burned。　Why　cling　to　these　false　gods？〃
　〃I　have　worshiped　them　all　my　life。〃
　〃All　your　life；　Davos　Seaworth？　As　well　say　it　was　so　yesterday。〃　She　shook　her　head　sadly。　〃You　have　never　feared　to　speak　the　truth　to　kings；　why　do　you　lie　to　yourself？　Open　your　eyes；　ser　knight。〃
　〃What　is　it　you　would　have　me　see？〃
　〃The　way　the　world　is　made。　The　truth　is　all　around　you；　plain　to　behold。　The　night　is　dark　and　full　of　terrors；　the　day　bright　and　beautiful　and　full　of　hope。　One　is　black；　the　other　white。　There　is　ice　and　there　is　fire。　Hate　and　love。　Bitter　and　sweet。　Male　and　female。　Pain　and　pleasure。　Winter　and　summer。　Evil　and　good。〃　She　took　a　step　toward　him。　〃Death　and　life。　Everywhere；　opposites。　Everywhere；　the　war。〃
　〃The　war？〃　asked　Davos。
　〃The　war；〃　she　affirmed。　〃There　are　two；　Onion　Knight。　Not　seven；　not　one；　not　a　hundred　or　a　thousand。　Two！　Do　you　think　I　crossed　half　the　world　to　put　yet　another　vain　king　on　yet　another　empty　throne？　The　war　has　been　waged　since　time　began；　and　before　it　is　done；　all　men　must　choose　where　they　will　stand。　On　one　side　is　R'hllor；　the　Lord　of　Light；　the　Heart　of　Fire；　the　God　of　Flame　and　Shadow。　Against　him　stands　the　Great　Other　whose　name　may　not　be　spoken；　the　Lord　of　Darkness；　the　Soul　of　Ice；　the　God　of　Night　and　Terror。　Ours　is　not　a　choice　between　Baratheon　and　Lannister；　between　Greyjoy　and　Stark。　It　is　death　we　choose；　or　life。　Darkness；　or　light。〃　She　clasped　the　bars　of　his　cell　with　her　slender　white　hands。　The　great　ruby　at　her　throat　seemed　to　pulse　with　its　own　radiance。　〃So　tell　me；　Ser　Davos　Seaworth；　and　tell　me　truly…does　your　heart　burn　with　the　shining　light　of　R'hllor？　Or　is　it　black　and　cold　and　full　of　worms？〃　She　reached　through　the　bars　and　laid　three　fingers　upon　his　breast；　as　if　to　feel　the　truth　of　him　through　flesh　and　wool　and　leather。
　〃My　heart；〃　Davos　said　slowly；　〃is　full　of　doubts。〃
　Melisandre　sighed。　〃Ahhhh；　Davos。　The　good　knight　is　honest　to　the　last；　even　in　his　day　of　darkness。　It　is　well　you　did　not　lie　to　me。　I　would　have　known。　The　Other's　servants　oft　hide　black　hearts　in　gaudy　light；　so　R'hllor　gives　his　priests　the　power　to　see　through　falsehoods。〃　She　stepped　lightly　away　from　the　cell。　〃Why　did　you　mean　to　kill　me？〃
　〃I　will　tell　you；〃　said　Davos；　〃if　you　will　tell　me　who　betrayed　me。〃
　It　could　only　have　been　Salladhor　Saan；　and　yet　even　now　he　prayed　it　was　not　so。
　The　red　woman　laughed。　〃No　one　betrayed　you；　onion　knight。　I　saw　your　purpose　in　my　flames。〃
　The　flames。　〃If　you　can　see　the　future　in　these　flames；　how　is　it　that　we　burned　upon　the　Blackwater？　You　gave　my　sons　to　the　fire　。　。　。　my　sons；　my　ship；　my　men；　all　burning　。　。　。〃
　Melisandre　shook　her　head。　〃You　wrong　me；　onion　knight。　Those　were　no　fires　of　mine。　Had　I　been　with　you；　your　battle　would　have　had　a　different　ending。　But　His　Grace　was　surrounded　by　unbelievers；　and　his　pride　proved　stronger　than　his　faith。　His　punishment　was　grievous；　but　he　has　learned　from　his　mistake。〃
　Were　my　sons　no　more　than　a　lesson　for　a　king；　then？　Davos　felt　his　mouth　tighten。
　〃It　is　night　in　your　Seven　Kingdoms　now；〃　the　red　woman　went　on；　〃but　soon　the　sun　will　rise　again。　The　war　continues；　Davos　Seaworth；　and　some　will　soon　learn　that　even　an　ember　in　the　ashes　can　still　ignite　a　great　blaze。　The　old　maester　looked　at　Stannis　and　saw　only　a　man。　You　see　a　king。　You　are　both　wrong。　He　is　the　Lord's　chosen；　the　warrior　of　fire。　I　have　seen　him　leading　the　fight　against　the　dark；　I　have　seen　it　in　the　flames。　The　flames　do　not　lie；　else　you　would　not　be　here。　It　is　written　in　prophecy　as　well。　When　the　red　star　bleeds　and　the　darkness　gathers；　Azor　Ahai　shall　be　born　again　amidst　smoke　and　salt　to　wake　dragons　out　of　stone。　The　bleeding　star　has　e　and　gone；　and　Dragonstone　is　the　place　of　smoke　and　salt。　Stannis　Baratheon　is　Azor　Ahai　reborn！〃　Her　red　eyes　blazed　like　twin　fires；　and　seemed　to　stare　deep　into　his　soul。　〃You　do　not　believe　me。　You　doubt　the　truth　of　R'hllor　even　now　。　。　。　yet　have　served　him　all　the　same；　and　will　serve　him　again。　I　shall　leave　you　here　to　think　on　all　that　I　have　told　you。　And　because　R'hllor　is　the　source　of　all　good；　I　shall　leave　the　torch　as　well。〃
　With　a　smile　and　swirl　of　scarlet　skirts；　she　was　gone。　Only　her　scent　lingered　after。　That；　and　the　torch。　Davos　lowered　himself　to　the　floor　of　the　cell　and　wrapped　his　arms　about　his　knees。　The　shifting　torchlight　washed　over　him。　Once　Melisandre's　footsteps　faded　away；　the　only　sound　was　the　scrabbling　of　rats。　Ice　and　fire；　he　thought。　Black　and　white。　Dark　and　light。　Davos　could　not　deny　the　power　of　her　god。　He　had　seen　the　shadow　crawling　from　Melisandre's　womb；　and　the　priestess　knew　things　she　had　no　way　of　knowing。　She　saw　my　purpose　in　her　flames。　it　was　good　to　learn　that　Salla　had　not　sold　him；　but　the　thought　of　the　red　woman　spying　out　his　secrets　with　her　fires　disquieted　him　more　than　he　could　say。　And　what　did　she　mean　when　she　said　that　I　had　served　her　god　and　would　serve　him　again？　He　did　not　like　that　either。
　He　lifted　his　eyes　to　stare　up　at　the　torch。　He　looked　for　a　long　time；　never　blinking；　watching　the　flames　shift　and　shimmer。　He　tried　to　see　beyond　them；　to　peer　through　the　fiery　curtain　and　glimpse　whatever　lived　back　there　。　。　。　but　there　was　nothing；　only　fire；　and　after　a　time　his　eyes　began　to　water。
　God…blind　and　tired；　Davos　curled　up　on　the　straw　and　gave　himself　to　sleep。
　Three　days　later…well；　Porridge　had　e　thrice；　and　Lamprey　twice…Davos　heard　voices　outside　his　cell。　He　sat　up　at　once；　his　back　to　the　stone　wall；　listening　to　the　sounds　of　struggle。　This　was　new；　a　change　in　his　unchanging　world。　The　noise　was　ing　from　the　left；　where　the　steps　led　up　to　daylight。　He　could　hear　a　man's　voice；　pleading　and　shouting。
　〃。　。　。　madness！〃　the　man　was　saying　as　he　came　into　view；　dragged　along　between　two　guardsmen　with　fiery　hearts　on　their　breasts。　Porridge　went　before　them；　jangling　a　ring　of　keys；　and　Ser　Axell　Florent　walked　behind。　〃Axell；〃　the　prisoner　said　desperately；　〃for　the　love　you　bear　me；　unhand　me！　You　cannot　do　this；　I'm　no　traitor。〃　He　was　an　older　man；　tall　and　slender；　with　silvery　grey　hair；　a　pointed　beard；　and　a　long　elegant　face　twisted　in　fear。　〃Where　is　Selyse；　where　is　the　queen？　I　demand　to　see　her。　The　Others　take　you　all！　Release　me！〃
　The　guards　paid　no　mind　to　his　outcries。　〃Here？〃　Porridge　asked　in　front　of　the　cell。　Davos　got　to　his　feet。　For　an　instant　he　considered　trying　to　rush　them　when　the　door　was　opened；　but　that　was　madness。　There　were　too　many；　the　guards　wore　swords；　and　Porridge　was　strong　as　a　bull。
　Ser　Axell　gave　the　gaoler　a　curt　nod。　〃Let　the　traitors　enjoy　each　other's　pany。〃
　〃I　am　no　traitor！〃　screeched　the　prisoner　as　Porridge　was　unlocking　the　door。　Though　he　was　plainly　dressed；　in　grey　wool　doublet　and　black　breeches；　his　speech　marked　him　as　highborn。　His　birth　will　not　serve　him　here；　thought　Davos。
　Porridge　swung　the　b