grrm.astormofswords-第90章

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hed　to　give　you　to　R'hllor。〃　He　smiled　thinly。　〃Does　that　surprise　you？〃
　〃Yes。　She　knows　I　am　no　friend　to　her　or　her　red　god。〃
　〃But　you　are　a　friend　to　me。　She　knows　that　as　well。〃　He　beckoned　Davos　closer。　〃The　boy　is　sick。　Maester　Pylos　has　been　leeching　him。〃
　〃The　boy？〃　His　thoughts　went　to　his　Devan；　the　king's　squire。　〃My　son；　sire？〃
　〃Devan？　A　good　boy。　He　has　much　of　you　in　him。　It　is　Robert's　bastard　who　is　sick；　the　boy　we　took　at　Storm's　End。〃
　Edric　Storm。　〃I　spoke　with　him　in　Aegon's　Garden。〃
　〃As　she　wished。　As　she　saw。〃　Stannis　sighed。　〃Did　the　boy　charm　you？　He　has　that　gift。　He　got　it　from　his　father；　with　the　blood。　He　knows　he　is　a　king's　son；　but　chooses　to　forget　that　he　is　bastard…born。　And　he　worships　Robert；　as　Renly　did　when　he　was　young。　My　royal　brother　played　the　fond　father　on　his　visits　to　Storm's　End；　and　there　were　gifts　。　。　。　swords　and　ponies　and　fur…trimmed　cloaks。　The　eunuch's　work；　every　one。　The　boy　would　write　the　Red　Keep　full　of　thanks；　and　Robert　would　laugh　and　ask　Varys　what　he'd　sent　this　year。　Renly　was　no　better。　He　left　the　boy's　upbringing　to　castellans　and　maesters；　and　every　one　fell　victim　to　his　charm。　Penrose　chose　to　die　rather　than　give　him　up。〃　The　king　ground　his　teeth　together。　〃It　still　angers　me。　How　could　he　think　I　would　hurt　the　boy？　I　chose　Robert；　did　I　not？　When　that　hard　day　came。　I　chose　blood　over　honor。〃
　He　does　not　use　the　boy's　name。　That　made　Davos　very　uneasy。　hope　young　Edric　will　recover　soon。〃
　Stannis　waved　a　hand；　dismissing　his　concern。　〃It　is　a　chill；　no　more。　He　coughs；　he　shivers；　he　has　a　fever。　Maester　Pylos　will　soon　set　him　right。　By　himself　the　boy　is　nought；　you　understand；　but　in　his　veins　flows　my　brother's　blood。　There　is　power　in　a　king's　blood；　she　says。〃
　Davos　did　not　have　to　ask　who　she　was。
　Stannis　touched　the　Painted　Table。　〃Look　at　it；　onion　knight。　My　realm；　by　rights。　My　Westeros。〃　He　swept　a　hand　across　it。　〃This　talk　of　Seven　Kingdoms　is　a　folly。　Aegon　saw　that　three　hundred　years　ago　when　he　stood　where　we　are　standing。　They　painted　this　table　at　his　mand。　Rivers　and　bays　they　painted；　hills　and　mountains；　castles　and　cities　and　market　towns；　lakes　and　swamps　and　forests　。　。　。　but　no　borders。　It　is　all　one。　One　realm；　for　one　king　to　rule　alone。〃
　〃One　king〃　agreed　Davos。　〃One　king　means　peace。〃
　〃I　shall　bring　justice　to　Westeros。　A　thing　Ser　Axell　understands　as　little　as　he　does　war。　Claw　Isle　would　gain　me　naught　。　。　。　and　it　was　evil；　just　as　you　said。　Celtigar　must　pay　the　traitor's　price　himself；　in　his　own　person。　And　when　I　e　into　my　kingdom；　he　shall。　Every　man　shall　reap　what　he　has　sown；　from　the　highest　lord　to　the　lowest　gutter　rat。　And　some　will　lose　more　than　the　tips　off　their　fingers；　I　promise　you。　They　have　made　my　kingdom　bleed；　and　I　do　not　forget　that。〃　King　Stannis　turned　from　the　table。　〃On　your　knees；　Onion　Knight。〃
　〃Your　Grace？〃
　〃For　your　onions　and　fish；　I　made　you　a　knight　once。　For　this；　I　am　of　a　mind　to　raise　you　to　lord。〃
　This？　Davos　was　lost。　〃I　am　content　to　be　your　knight；　Your　Grace。　I　would　not　know　how　to　begin　being　lordly。〃
　〃Good。　To　be　lordly　is　to　be　false。　I　have　learned　that　lesson　hard。　Now；　kneel。　Your　king　mands。〃
　Davos　knelt；　and　Stannis　drew　his　longsword。　Lightbringer；　Melisandre　had　named　it；　the　red　sword　of　heroes；　drawn　from　the　fires　where　the　seven　gods　were　consumed。　The　room　seemed　to　grow　brighter　as　the　blade　slid　from　its　scabbard。　The　steel　had　a　glow　to　it；　now　orange；　now　yellow；　now　red。　The　air　shimmered　around　it；　and　no　jewel　had　ever　sparkled　so　brilliantly。　But　when　Stannis　touched　it　to　Davos's　shoulder；　it　felt　no　different　than　any　other　longsword。　〃Ser　Davos　of　House　Seaworth；〃　the　king　said；　/are　you　my　true　and　honest　liege　man；　now　and　forever？〃
　〃I　am；　Your　Grace。〃
　〃And　do　you　swear　to　serve　me　loyally　all　your　days；　to　give　me　honest　counsel　and　swift　obedience；　to　defend　my　rights　and　my　realm　against　all　foes　in　battles　great　and　small；　to　protect　my　people　and　punish　my　enemies？〃
　〃I　do；　Your　Grace。〃
　〃Then　rise　again；　Davos　Seaworth；　and　rise　as　Lord　of　the　Rainwood；　Admiral　of　the　Narrow　Sea；　and　Hand　of　the　King。〃
　For　a　moment　Davos　was　too　stunned　to　move。　I　woke　this　morning　in　his　dungeon。　〃Your　Grace；　you　cannot　。　。　。　I　am　no　fit　man　to　be　a　King's　Hand。〃
　〃There　is　no　man　fitter。〃　Stannis　sheathed　Lightbringer；　gave　Davos　his　hand；　and　pulled　him　to　his　feet。
　〃I　am　lowborn；〃　Davos　reminded　him。　〃An　upjumped　smuggler。　Your　lords　will　never　obey　me。〃
　〃Then　we　will　make　new　lords。〃
　〃But　。　。　。　I　cannot　read　。　。　。　nor　write　。　。　。
　〃Maester　Pylos　can　read　for　you。　As　to　writing；　my　last　Hand　wrote　the　head　off　his　shoulders。　All　I　ask　of　you　are　the　things　you've　always　given　me。　Honesty。　Loyalty。　Service。〃
　〃Surely　there　is　someone　better　。　。　。　some　great　lord。　。
　Stannis　snorted。　〃Bar　Emmon；　that　boy？　My　faithless　grandfather？　Celtigar　has　abandoned　me；　the　new　Velaryon　is　six　years　old；　and　the　new　Sunglass　sailed　for　Volantis　after　I　burned　his　brother。〃　He　made　an　angry　gesture。　〃A　few　good　men　remain；　it's　true。　Ser　Gilbert　Farring　holds　Storm's　End　for　me　still；　with　two　hundred　loyal　men。　Lord　Morrigen；　the　Bastard　of　Nightsong；　young　Chyttering；　my　cousin　Andrew　。　。　。　but　I　trust　none　of　them　as　I　trust　you；　my　lord　of　Rainwood。　You　will　be　my　Hand。　It　is　you　I　want　beside　me　for　the　battle。〃
　Another　battle　will　be　the　end　of　all　of　us；　thought　Davos。　Lord　Alester　saw　that　much　true　enough。　〃Your　Grace　asked　for　honest　counsel。　In　honesty　then　。　。　。　we　lack　the　strength　for　another　battle　against　the　Lannisters。〃
　〃It　is　the　great　battle　His　Grace　is　speaking　of；〃　said　a　woman's　voice；　rich　with　the　accents　of　the　east。　Melisandre　stood　at　the　door　in　her　red　silks　and　shimmering　satins；　holding　a　covered　silver　dish　in　her　hands。　〃These　little　wars　are　no　more　than　a　scuffle　of　children　before　what　is　to　e。　The　one　whose　name　may　not　be　spoken　is　marshaling　his　power；　Davos　Seaworth；　a　power　fell　and　evil　and　strong　beyond　measure。
　Soon　es　the　cold；　and　the　night　that　never　ends。〃　She　placed　the　silver　dish　on　the　Painted　Table。　〃Unless　true　men　find　the　courage　to　fight　it。　Men　whose　hearts　are　fire。〃
　Stannis　stared　at　the　silver　dish。　〃She　has　shown　it　to　me；　Lord　Davos。　In　the　flames。〃
　〃You　saw　it；　sire？〃　It　was　not　like　Stannis　Baratheon　to　lie　about　such　a　thing。
　〃With　mine　own　eyes。　After　the　battle；　when　I　was　lost　to　despair；　the　Lady　Melisandre　bid　me　gaze　into　the　hearthfire。　The　chimney　was　drawing　strongly；　and　bits　of　ash　were　rising　from　the　fire。　I　stared　at　them；　feeling　half　a　fool；　but　she　bid　me　look　deeper；　and　。　。　。　the　ashes　were　white；　rising　in　the　updraft；　yet　all　at　once　it　seemed　as　if　they　were　falling。　Snow；　I　thought。　Then　the　sparks　in　the　air　seemed　to　circle；　to　bee　a　ring　of　torches；　and　I　was　looking　through　the　fire　down　on　some　high　hill　in　a　forest。　The　cinders　had　bee　men　in　black　behind　the　torches；　and　there　were　shapes　moving　through　the　snow。　For　all　the　heat　of　the　fire；　I　felt　a　cold　so　terrible　I　shivered；　and　when　I　did　the　sight　was　gone；　the　fire　but　a　fire　once　again。　But　what　I　saw　was　real；　I'd　stake　my　kingdom　on　it。〃
　〃And　have；〃　said　Melisandre。
　The　conviction　in　the　king's　voice　frightened　Davos　to　the　core。　〃A　hill　in　a　forest　。　。　。　shapes　in　the　snow　。　。　。　I　don't　。　。　。〃
　〃It　means　that　the　battle　is　begun；〃　said　Melisandre。　〃The　sand　is　running　through　the　glass　more　quickly　now；　and　man's　hour　on　earth　is　almost　done。　We　must　act　boldly；　or　all　hope　is　lost。　Westeros　must　unite　beneath　her　one　true　king；　the　prince　that　was　promised；　Lord　of　Dragonstone　and　chosen　of　R'hllor。〃
　〃R'hllor　chooses　queerly；　then。〃　The　king　grimaced；　as　if　he'd　tasted　something　foul。　〃Why　me；　and　not　my　brothers？　Renly　and　his　peach。　in　my　dreams　I　see　the　juice　running　from　his　mouth；　the　blood　from　his　throat。　If　he　had　done　his　duty　by　his　brother；　we　would　have　smashed　Lord　Tywin。　A　victory　even　Robert　could　be　proud　of。　Robert　。　。　。　〃　His　teeth　ground　side　to　side。　〃He　is　in　my　dreams　as　well。　Laughing。　Drinking。　Boasting。　Those　were　the　things　he　was　best　at。　Those；　and　fighting。　I　never　bested　him　at　anything。　The　Lord　of　Light　should　have　made　Robert　his　champion。　Why　me？〃
　〃Because　you　are　a　righteous　man；〃　said　Melisandre。
　〃A　righteous　man。〃　Stannis　touched　the　covered　silver　platter　with　a　finger。　〃With　leeches。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Melisandre；　〃but　I　must　tell　you　once　more；　this　is　not　the　way。〃
　〃You　swore　it　would　work。〃　The　king　looked　angry。
　〃It　will　。　。　。　and　it　will　not。〃
　〃Which？〃
　〃Both。〃
　〃Speak　sense　to　me；　woman。〃
　〃When　the　fires　speak　more　plainly；　so　shall　I。　There　is　truth　in　the　flames；　but　it　is　not　always　easy　to　see。〃　The　great　ruby　at　her　throat　drank　fire　from　the　glow　of　the　brazier。　〃Give　me　the　boy；　Your　Grace。　It　is　the　surer　way。　The　better　way。　Give　me　the　boy　and　I　shall　wake　the　stone　dragon。〃
　〃I　have　told　you；　no。〃
　〃He　is　only　one　baseborn　boy；　against　all　the　boys　of　Westeros；　and　all　the　girls　as　well。　Against　all　the　children　that　might　ever　be　born；　in　all　the　kingdoms　of　the　world。〃
　〃The　boy　is　innocent。〃
　〃The　boy　defiled　your　marriage　bed；　else　you　would　surely　have　sons　of　your　own。　He　shamed　you。〃
　〃Robert　did　that。　Not　the　boy。　My　daughter　has　grown　fond　of　him。　And　he　is　mine　own　blood。〃
　〃Your　brother's　blood；〃　Melisandre　said。　〃A　king's　blood。　Only　a　king's　blood　can　wake　the　stone　dragon。〃
　Stannis　ground　his　teeth。　〃I'll　hear　no　more　of　this。　The　dragons　are　done。　The　Targaryens　tried　to　bring　them　back　half　a　dozen　times。　And　made　fools　of　themselves；　or　corpses。　Patchface　is　the　only　fool　we　need　on　this　godsforsaken　rock。　You　have　the　leeches。　Do　your　work。〃
　Melisandre　bowed　her　head　stiffly；　and　said；　〃As　my　king　mands。〃　Reaching　up　her　left　sleeve　with　her　right　hand；　she　flung　a　handful　of　powder　into　the　brazier。　The　coals　roared。　As　pale　flames　writhed　atop　them；　the　red　woman　retrieved　the　silver　dish　and　brought　it　to　the　king。　Davos　watched　her　lift　the　lid。　Beneath　were　three　large　black　leeches；　fat　with　blood。
　The　boy's　blood；　Davos　knew。　A　king's　blood。
　Stannis　stretched　forth　a　hand；　and　his　fingers　closed　around　one　of　the　leeches。
　〃Say　the　name；〃　Melisandre　manded。
　The　leech　was　twisting　in　the　king's　grip；　trying　to　attach　itself　to　one　of　his　fingers。　〃The　usurper；〃　he　said。　〃Joffrey　Baratheon。〃　When　he　tossed　the　leech　into　the　fire；　it　curled　up　like　an　autumn　leaf　amidst　the　coals；　and　burned。
　Stannis　grasped　the　second。　〃The　usurper；〃　he　declared；　louder　this　time。　〃Balon　Greyjoy。〃　He　flipped　it　lightly　onto　the　brazier；　and　its　flesh　split　and　cracked。　The　blood　burst　from　it；　hissing　and　smoking。
　The　last　was　in　the　king's　hand。　This　one　he　studied　a　moment　as　it　writhed　between　his　fingers。　〃The　usurper；〃　he　said　at　last。　〃Robb　Stark。〃　And　he　threw　it　on　the　flames。
　
　CHAPTER　37
　JAIME
　
　Harrenhal's　bathhouse　was　a　dim；　steamy；　low…ceilinged　room　filled　with　great　stone　tubs。　When　they　led　Jaime　in；　they　found　Brienne　seated　in　one　of　them；　scrubbing　her　arm　almost　angrily。
　〃Not　so　hard；　wench；〃　he　called。　〃You'll　scrub　the　skin　off。〃　She　dropped　her　brush　and　covere