grrm.astormofswords-第88章

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his　struggle。　It　would　put　his　noble　heart　at　peace　if　he　could　see　his　dear　Roslin　safely　wed　before　the　gods　take　him；　so　he　might　die　with　the　knowledge　that　the　girl　had　a　strong　husband　to　cherish　and　protect　her。〃
　We　all　want　Lord　Walder　to　die　happy。　Catelyn　was　growing　less　and　less　fortable　with　this　arrangement。　〃My　brother　has　just　lost　his　own　father。　He　needs　time　to　mourn。〃
　〃Roslin　is　a　cheerful　girl；〃　said　Lothar。　〃She　may　be　the　very　thing　Lord　Edmure　needs　to　help　him　through　his　grief。〃
　〃And　my　grandfather　has　e　to　mislike　lengthy　betrothals；〃　the　bastard　Walder　Rivers　added。　〃I　cannot　imagine　why。〃
　Robb　gave　him　a　chilly　look。　〃I　take　your　meaning；　Rivers。　Pray　excuse　us。〃
　〃As　Your　Grace　mands。〃　Lame　Lothar　rose；　and　his　bastard　brother　helped　him　hobble　from　the　room。
　Edmure　was　seething。　〃They're　as　much　as　saying　that　my　promise　is　worthless。　Why　should　I　let　that　old　weasel　choose　my　bride？　Lord　Walder　has　other　daughters　besides　this　Roslin。　Granddaughters　as　well。　I　should　be　offered　the　same　choice　you　were。　I'm　his　liege　lord；　he　should　be　overjoyed　that　I'm　willing　to　wed　any　of　them。〃
　〃He　is　a　proud　man；　and　we've　wounded　him；〃　said　Catelyn。
　〃The　Others　take　his　pride！　I　will　not　be　shamed　in　my　own　hall。　My　answer　is　no。〃
　Robb　gave　him　a　weary　look。　〃I　will　not　mand　you。　Not　in　this。　But　if　you　refuse；　Lord　Frey　will　take　it　for　another　slight；　and　any　hope　of　putting　this　arights　will　be　gone。〃
　〃You　cannot　know　that；〃　Edmure　insisted。　〃Frey　has　wanted　me　for　one　of　his　daughters　since　the　day　I　was　born。　He　will　not　let　a　chance　like　this　slip　between　those　grasping　fingers　of　his。　When　Lothar　brings　him　our　answer；　he'll　e　wheedling　back　and　accept　a　betrothal　。　。　。　and　to　a　daughter　of　my　choosing。〃
　〃Perhaps；　in　time；〃　said　Brynden　Blackfish。　〃But　can　we　wait；　while　Lothar　rides　back　and　forth　with　offers　and　counters？〃
　Robb's　hands　curled　into　fists。　〃I　must　get　back　to　the　north。　My　brothers　dead；　Winterfell　burned；　my　smallfolk　put　to　the　sword　。　。　。　the　gods　only　know　what　this　bastard　of　Bolton's　is　about；　or　whether　Theon　is　still　alive　and　on　the　loose。　I　can't　sit　here　waiting　for　a　wedding　that　might　or　might　not　happen。〃
　〃It　must　happen；〃　said　Catelyn；　though　not　gladly。　〃I　have　no　more　wish　to　suffer　Walder　Frey's　insults　and　plaints　than　you　do；　Brother；　but　I　see　little　choice　here。　Without　this　wedding；　Robb's　cause　is　lost。　Edmure；　we　must　accept。〃
　〃We　must　accept？〃　he　echoed　peevishly。　〃I　don't　see　you　offering　to　bee　the　ninth　Lady　Frey；　Cat。〃
　〃The　eighth　Lady　Frey　is　still　alive　and　well；　so　far　as　I　know；〃　she　replied。　Thankfully。　Otherwise　it　might　well　have　e　to　that；　knowing　Lord　Walder。
　The　Blackfish　said；　〃I　am　the　last　man　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms　to　tell　anyone　who　they　must　wed；　Nephew。　Nonetheless；　you　did　say　something　of　making　amends　for　your　Battle　of　the　Fords。〃
　〃I　had　in　mind　a　different　sort　of　amends。　Single　bat　with　the　Kingslayer。　Seven　years　of　penace　as　a　begging　brother。　Swimming　the　sunset　sea　with　my　legs　tied。〃　When　he　saw　that　no　one　was　smiling；　Edmure　threw　up　his　hands。　〃The　Others　take　you　all！　Very　well；　I'll　wed　the　wench。　As　amends。〃
　
　CHAPTER　36
　DAVOS
　
　Lord　Alester　looked　up　sharply。　〃Voices；〃　he　said。　〃Do　you　hear；　Davos？　Someone　is　ing　for　us。〃
　〃Lamprey；〃　said　Davos。　〃It's　time　for　our　supper；　or　near　enough。〃　Last　night　Lamprey　had　brought　them　half　a　beef…and…bacon　pie；　and　a　flagon　of　mead　as　well。　just　the　thought　of　it　made　his　belly　start　to　rumble。
　〃No；　there's　more　than　one。〃
　He's　right。　Davos　heard　two　voices　at　least；　and　footsteps；　growing　louder。　He　got　to　his　feet　and　moved　to　the　bars。
　Lord　Alester　brushed　the　straw　from　his　clothes。　〃The　king　has　sent　for　me。　Or　the　queen；　yes；　Selyse　would　never　let　me　rot　here；　her　own　blood。〃
　Outside　the　cell；　Lamprey　appeared　with　a　ring　of　keys　in　hand。　Ser　Axell　Florent　and　four　guardsmen　followed　close　behind　him。　They　waited　beneath　the　torch　while　Lamprey　searched　for　the　correct　key。
　〃Axell；〃　Lord　Alester　said。　〃Gods　be　good。　Is　it　the　king　who　sends　for　me；　or　the　queen？〃
　〃No　one　has　sent　for　you；　traitor；〃　Ser　Axell　said。
　Lord　Alester　recoiled　as　if　he'd　been　slapped。　〃No；　I　swear　to　you；　I　mitted　no　treason。　Why　won't　you　listen？　If　His　Grace　would　only　let　me　explain…〃
　Lamprey　thrust　a　great　iron　key　into　the　lock；　turned　it；　and　pulled　open　the　cell。　The　rusted　hinges　screamed　in　protest。　〃You；〃　he　said　to　Davos。　〃e。〃
　〃Where？〃　Davos　looked　to　Ser　Axell。　〃Tell　me　true；　ser；　do　you　mean　to　burn　me？〃
　〃You　are　sent　for。　Can　you　walk？〃
　〃I　can　walk。〃　Davos　stepped　from　the　cell。　Lord　Alester　gave　a　cry　of　dismay　as　Lamprey　slammed　the　door　shut　once　more。　
　〃Take　the　torch；〃　Ser　Axell　manded　the　gaoler。　〃Leave　the　traitor　to　the　darkness。〃
　〃No；〃　his　brother　said。　〃Axell；　please；　don't　take　the　light　gods　have　mercy　。　。　。〃
　〃Gods？　There　is　only　R'hllor；　and　the　Other。〃　Ser　Axell　gestured　sharply；　and　one　of　his　guardsmen　pulled　the　torch　from　its　sconce　and　led　the　way　to　the　stair。
　〃Are　you　taking　me　to　Melisandre？〃　Davos　asked。
　〃She　will　be　there；〃　Ser　Axell　said。　〃She　is　never　far　from　the　king。　But　it　is　His　Grace　himself　who　asked　for　you。〃
　Davos　lifted　his　hand　to　his　chest；　where　once　his　luck　had　hung　in　a　leather　bag　on　a　thong。　Gone　now；　he　remembered；　and　the　ends　of　four　fingers　as　well。　But　his　hands　were　still　long　enough　to　wrap　about　a　woman's　throat；　he　thought；　especially　a　slender　throat　like　hers。
　Up　they　went；　climbing　the　turnpike　stair　in　single　file。　The　walls　were　rough　dark　stone；　cool　to　the　touch。　The　light　of　the　torches　went　before　them；　and　their　shadows　marched　beside　them　on　the　walls。　At　the　third　turn　they　passed　an　iron　gate　that　opened　on　blackness；　and　another　at　the　fifth　turn。　Davos　guessed　that　they　were　near　the　surface　by　then；　perhaps　even　above　it。　The　next　door　they　came　to　was　made　of　wood；　but　still　they　climbed。　Now　the　walls　were　broken　by　arrow　slits；　but　no　shafts　of　sunlight　pried　their　way　through　the　thickness　of　the　stone。　It　was　night　outside。
　His　legs　were　aching　by　the　time　Ser　Axell　thrust　open　a　heavy　door　and　gestured　him　through。　Beyond；　a　high　stone　bridge　arched　over　emptiness　to　the　massive　central　tower　called　the　Stone　Drum。　A　sea　wind　blew　restlessly　through　the　arches　that　supported　the　roof；　and　Davos　could　smell　the　salt　water　as　they　crossed。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　filling　his　lungs　with　the　clean　cold　air。　Wind　and　water；　give　me　strength；　he　prayed。　A　huge　nightfire　burned　in　the　yard　below；　to　keep　the　terrors　of　the　dark　at　bay；　and　the　queen's　men　were　gathered　around　it；　singing　praises　to　their　new　red　god。
　They　were　in　the　center　of　the　bridge　when　Ser　Axell　stopped　suddenly。　He　made　a　brusque　gesture　with　his　hand；　and　his　men　moved　out　of　earshot。　〃Were　it　my　choice；　I　would　burn　you　with　my　brother　Alester；　he　told　Davos。　〃You　are　both　traitors。〃
　〃Say　what　you　will。　I　would　never　betray　King　Stannis。〃
　〃You　would。　You　will。　I　see　it　in　your　face。　And　I　have　seen　it　in　the　flames　as　well。　R'hllor　has　blessed　me　with　that　gift。　Like　Lady　Melisandre；　he　shows　me　the　future　in　the　fire。　Stannis　Baratheon　will　sit　the　Iron　Throne。　I　have　seen　it。　And　I　know　what　must　be　done。　His　Grace　must　make　me　his　Hand；　in　place　of　my　traitor　brother。　And　you　will　tell　him　so。〃
　Will　I？　Davos　said　nothing。
　〃The　queen　has　urged　my　appointment；〃　Ser　Axell　went　on。　〃Even　your　old　friend　from　Lys；　the　pirate　Saan；　he　says　the　same。　We　have　made　a　plan　together；　him　and　me。　Yet　His　Grace　does　not　act。　The　defeat　gnaws　inside　him；　a　black　worm　in　his　soul。　it　is　up　to　us　who　love　him　to　show　him　what　to　do。　If　you　are　as　devoted　to　his　cause　as　you　claim；　smuggler；　you　will　join　your　voice　to　ours。　Tell　him　that　I　am　the　only　Hand　he　needs。　Tell　him；　and　when　we　sail　I　shall　see　that　you　have　a　new　ship。〃
　A　ship。　Davos　studied　the　other　man's　face。　Ser　Axell　had　big　Florent　ears；　much　like　the　queen's。　Coarse　hair　grew　from　them；　as　from　his　nostrils；　more　sprouted　in　tufts　and　patches　beneath　his　double　chin。　His　nose　was　broad；　his　brow　beetled；　his　eyes　close…set　and　hostile。　He　would　sooner　give　me　a　pyre　than　a　ship；　he　said　as　much；　but　if　I　do　him　this　favor　。　。　。
　〃if　you　think　to　betray　me；〃　Ser　Axell　said；　〃pray　remember　that　I　have　been　castellan　of　Dragonstone　a　good　long　time。　The　garrison　is　mine。　Perhaps　I　cannot　burn　you　without　the　king's　consent；　but　who　is　to　say　you　might　not　suffer　a　fall。〃　He　laid　a　meaty　hand　on　the　back　of　Davos's　neck　and　shoved　him　bodily　against　the　waist…high　side　of　the　bridge；　then　shoved　a　little　harder　to　force　his　face　out　over　the　yard。　〃Do　you　hear　me？〃
　〃I　hear；〃　said　Davos。　And　you　dare　name　me　traitor？
　Ser　Axell　released　him。　〃Good。〃　He　smiled。　〃His　Grace　awaits。　Best　we　do　not　keep　him。〃
　At　the　very　top　of　Stone　Drum；　within　the　great　round　room　called　the　Chamber　of　the　Painted　Table；　they　found　Stannis　Baratheon　standing　behind　the　artifact　that　gave　the　hall　its　name；　a　massive　slab　of　wood　carved　and　painted　in　the　shape　of　Westeros　as　it　had　been　in　the　time　of　Aegon　the　Conqueror。　An　iron　brazier　stood　beside　the　king；　its　coals　glowing　a　ruddy　orange。　Four　tall　pointed　windows　looked　out　to　north；　south；　east；　and　west。　Beyond　was　the　night　and　the　starry　sky。　Davos　could　hear　the　wind　moving；　and　fainter；　the　sounds　of　the　sea。
　〃Your　Grace；〃　Ser　Axell　said；　〃as　it　please　you；　I　have　brought　the　onion　knight。〃
　〃So　I　see。〃　Stannis　wore　a　grey　wool　tunic；　a　dark　red　mantle；　and　a　plain　black　leather　belt　from　which　his　sword　and　dagger　hung。　A　red…gold　crown　with　flame…shaped　points　encircled　his　brows。　The　look　of　him　was　a　shock。　He　seemed　ten　years　older　than　the　man　that　Davos　had　left　at　Storm's　End　when　he　set　sail　for　the　Blackwater　and　the　battle　that　would　be　their　undoing。　The　king's　close…cropped　beard　was　spiderwebbed　with　grey　hairs；　and　he　had　dropped　two　stone　or　more　of　weight。　He　had　never　been　a　fleshy　man；　but　now　the　bones　moved　beneath　his　skin　like　spears；　fighting　to　cut　free。　Even　his　crown　seemed　too　large　for　his　head。　His　eyes　were　blue　pits　lost　in　deep　hollows；　and　the　shape　of　a　skull　could　be　seen　beneath　his　face。
　Yet　when　he　saw　Davos；　a　faint　smile　brushed　his　lips。　〃So　the　sea　has　returned　me　my　knight　of　the　fish　and　onions。〃
　〃It　did；　Your　Grace。〃　Does　he　know　that　he　had　me　in　his　dungeon？　Davos　went　to　one　knee。
　〃Rise；　Ser　Davos；〃　Stannis　manded。　〃I　have　missed　you；　ser。　I　have　need　of　good　counsel；　and　you　never　gave　me　less。　So　tell　me　true…what　is　the　penalty　for　treason？〃
　The　word　hung　in　the　air。　A　frightful　word；　thought　Davos。　Was　he　being　asked　to　condemn　his　cellmate？　Or　himself；　perchance？　Kings　know　the　penalty　for　treason　better　than　any　man。　〃Treason？〃　he　finally　managed；　weakly。
　〃What　else　would　you　call　it；　to　deny　your　king　and　seek　to　steal　his　rightful　throne。　I　ask　you　again…what　is　the　penalty　for　treason　under　the　law？〃
　Davos　had　no　choice　but　to　answer。　〃Death；〃　he　said。　〃The　penalty　is　death；　Your　Grace。〃
　〃It　has　always　been　so。　I　am　not　。　。　。　I　am　not　a　cruel　man；　Ser　Davos。　You　know　me。　Have　known　me　long。　This　is　not　my　decree。　It　has　always　been　so；　s