grrm.astormofswords-第91章

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y。
　〃Not　so　hard；　wench；〃　he　called。　〃You'll　scrub　the　skin　off。〃　She　dropped　her　brush　and　covered　her　teats　with　hands　as　big　as　Gregor　Clegane's。　The　pointy　little　buds　she　was　so　intent　on　hiding　would　have　looked　more　natural　on　some　ten…year…old　than　they　did　on　her　thick　muscular　chest。
　〃What　are　you　doing　here？〃　she　demanded。
　〃Lord　Bolton　insists　I　sup　with　him；　but　he　neglected　to　invite　my　fleas。〃　Jaime　tugged　at　his　guard　with　his　left　hand。　〃Help　me　out　of　these　stinking　rags。〃　One…handed；　he　could　not　so　much　as　unlace　his　breeches。　The　man　obeyed　grudgingly；　but　he　obeyed。　〃Now　leave　us；〃　Jaime　said　when　his　clothes　lay　in　a　pile　on　the　wet　stone　floor。　〃My　lady　of　Tarth　doesn't　want　the　likes　of　you　scum　gaping　at　her　teats。〃　He　pointed　his　stump　at　the　hatchet…faced　woman　attending　Brienne。　〃You　too。　Wait　without。　There's　only　the　one　door；　and　the　wench　is　too　big　to　try　and　shinny　up　a　chimney。〃
　The　habit　of　obedience　went　deep。　The　woman　followed　his　guard　out；　leaving　the　bathhouse　to　the　two　of　them。　The　tubs　were　large　enough　to　hold　six　or　seven；　after　the　fashion　of　the　Free　Cities；　so　Jaime　climbed　in　with　the　wench；　awkward　and　slow。　Both　his　eyes　were　open；　though　the　right　remained　somewhat　swollen；　despite　Qybum's　leeches。　Jaime　felt　a　hundred　and　nine　years　old；　which　was　a　deal　better　than　he　had　been　feeling　when　he　came　to　Harrenhal。
　Brienne　shrunk　away　from　him。　〃There　are　other　tubs。〃
　〃This　one　suits　me　well　enough。〃　Gingerly；　he　immersed　himself　up　to　the　chin　in　the　steaming　water。　〃Have　no　fear；　wench。　Your　thighs　are　purple　and　green；　and　I'm　not　interested　in　what　you've　got　between　them。〃　He　had　to　rest　his　right　arm　on　the　rim；　since　Qyburn　had　warned　him　to　keep　the　linen　dry。　He　could　feel　the　tension　drain　from　his　legs；　but　his　head　spun。　〃if　I　faint；　pull　me　out。　No　Lannister　has　ever　drowned　in　his　bath　and　I　don't　mean　to　be　the　first。〃
　〃Why　should　I　care　how　you　die？〃
　〃You　swore　a　solemn　vow。〃　He　smiled　as　a　red　flush　crept　up　the　thick　white　column　of　her　neck。　She　turned　her　back　to　him。　〃Still　the　shy　maiden？　What　is　it　that　you　think　I　haven't　seen？〃　He　groped　for　the　brush　she　had　dropped；　caught　it　with　his　fingers；　and　began　to　scrub　himself　desultorily。　Even　that　was　difficult；　awkward。　My　left　hand　is　good　for　nothing。
　Still；　the　water　darkened　as　the　caked　dirt　dissolved　off　his　skin。　The　wench　kept　her　back　to　him；　the　muscles　in　her　great　shoulders　hunched　and　hard。
　〃Does　the　sight　of　my　stump　distress　you　so？〃　Jaime　asked。　〃You　ought　to　be　pleased。　I've　lost　the　hand　I　killed　the　king　with。　The　hand　that　flung　the　Stark　boy　from　that　tower。　The　hand　I'd　slide　between　my　sister's　thighs　to　make　her　wet。〃　He　thrust　his　stump　at　her　face。　〃No　wonder　Renly　died；　with　you　guarding　him。〃
　She　jerked　to　her　feet　as　if　he'd　struck　her；　sending　a　wash　of　hot　water　across　the　tub。　Jaime　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　thick　blonde　bush　at　the　juncture　of　her　thighs　as　she　climbed　out。　She　was　much　hairier　than　his　sister。　Absurdly；　he　felt　his　cock　stir　beneath　the　bathwater。　Now　I　know　I　have　been　too　long　away　from　Cersei。　He　averted　his　eyes；　troubled　by　his　body's　response。　〃That　was　unworthy；〃　he　mumbled。　〃I'm　a　maimed　man；　and　bitter。　Forgive　me；　wench。　You　protected　me　as　well　as　any　man　could　have；　and　better　than　most。〃
　She　wrapped　her　nakedness　in　a　towel。　〃Do　you　mock　me？〃
　That　pricked　him　back　to　anger。　〃Are　you　as　thick　as　a　castle　wall？　That　was　an　apology。　I　am　tired　of　fighting　with　you。　What　say　we　make　a　truce？
　〃Truces　are　built　on　trust。　Would　you　have　me　trust…〃
　〃The　Kingslayer；　yes。　The　oathbreaker　who　murdered　poor　sad　Aerys　Targaryen。　〃　Jaime　snorted。　〃It's　not　Aerys　I　rue；　it's　Robert。　'I　hear　they've　named　you　Kingslayer'　he　said　to　me　at　his　coronation　feast。　'Just　don't　think　to　make　it　a　habit。'　And　he　laughed。　Why　is　it　that　no　one　names　Robert　oathbreaker？　He　tore　the　realm　apart；　yet　I　am　the　one　with　shit　for　honor。〃
　〃Robert　did　all　he　did　for　love。〃　Water　ran　down　Brienne's　legs　and　pooled　beneath　her　feet。
　〃Robert　did　all　he　did　for　pride；　a　cunt；　and　a　pretty　face。〃　He　made　a　fist　。　。　。　or　would　have；　if　he'd　had　a　hand。　Pain　lanced　up　his　arm；　cruel　as　laughter。
　〃He　rode　to　save　the　realm；〃　she　insisted。
　To　save　the　realm。　〃Did　you　know　that　my　brother　set　the　Blackwater　Rush　afire？　Wildfire　will　burn　on　water。　Aerys　would　have　bathed　in　it　if　he'd　dared。　The　Targaryens　were　all　mad　for　fire。〃　Jaime　felt　lightheaded。　It　is　the　heat　in　here；　the　poison　in　my　blood；　the　last　of　my　fever。　I　am　not　myself。　He　eased　himself　down　until　the　water　reached　his　chin。　〃Soiled　my　white　cloak　。　。　。　I　wore　my　gold　armor　that　day；　but　。　。　。〃
　〃Gold　armor？〃　Her　voice　sounded　far　off；　faint。
　He　floated　in　heat；　in　memory。　〃After　dancing　griffins　lost　the　Battle　of　the　Bells；　Aerys　exiled　him。〃　Why　am　I　telling　this　absurd　ugly　child？　〃He　had　finally　realized　that　Robert　was　no　mere　outlaw　lord　to　be　crushed　at　whim；　but　the　greatest　threat　House　Targaryen　had　faced　since　Daemon　Blackfyre。　The　king　reminded　Lewyn　Martell　gracelessly　that　he　held　Elia　and　sent　him　to　take　mand　of　the　ten　thousand　Domishmen　ing　up　the　kingsroad。　Jon　Darry　and　Barristan　Selmy　rode　to　Stoney　Sept　to　rally　what　they　could　of　griffins'　men；　and　Prince　Rhaegar　returned　from　the　south　and　persuaded　his　father　to　swallow　his　pride　and　summon　my　father。　But　no　raven　returned　from　Casterly　Rock；　and　that　made　the　king　even　more　afraid。　He　saw　traitors　everywhere；　and　Varys　was　always　there　to　point　out　any　he　might　have　missed。　So　His　Grace　manded　his　alchemists　to　place　caches　of　wildfire　all　over　King's　Landing。　Beneath　Baelor's　Sept　and　the　hovels　of　Flea　Bottom；　under　stables　and　storehouses；　at　all　seven　gates；　even　in　the　cellars　of　the　Red　Keep　itself。
　〃Everything　was　done　in　the　utmost　secrecy　by　a　handful　of　master　pyromancers。　They　did　not　even　trust　their　own　acolytes　to　help。　The　queen's　eyes　had　been　closed　for　years；　and　Rhaegar　was　busy　marshaling　an　army。　But　Aerys's　new　mace…and…dagger　Hand　was　not　utterly　stupid；　and　with　Rossart；　Belis；　and　Garigus　ing　and　going　night　and　day；　he　became　suspicious。　Chelsted；　that　was　his　name；　Lord　Chelsted。〃　It　had　e　back　to　him　suddenly；　with　the　telling。　〃I'd　thought　the　man　craven；　but　the　day　he　confronted　Aerys　he　found　some　courage　somewhere。　He　did　all　he　could　to　dissuade　him。　He　reasoned；　he　jested；　he　threatened；　and　finally　he　begged。　When　that　failed　he　took　off　his　chain　of　office　and　flung　it　down　on　the　floor。　Aerys　burnt　him　alive　for　that；　and　hung　his　chain　about　the　neck　of　Rossart；　his　favorite　pyromancer。　The　man　who　had　cooked　Lord　Rickard　Stark　in　his　own　armor。　And　all　the　time；　I　stood　by　the　foot　of　the　iron　Throne　in　my　white　plate；　still　as　a　corpse；　guarding　my　liege　and　all　his　sweet　secrets。
　〃My　Sworn　Brothers　were　all　away；　you　see；　but　Aerys　liked　to　keep　me　close。　I　was　my　father's　son；　so　he　did　not　trust　me。　He　wanted　me　where　Varys　could　watch　me；　day　and　night。　So　I　heard　it　all。〃　He　remembered　how　Rossart's　eyes　would　shine　when　he　unrolled　his　maps　to　show　where　the　substance　must　be　placed。　Garigus　and　Belis　were　the　same。　〃Rhaegar　met　Robert　on　the　Trident；　and　you　know　what　happened　there。　When　the　word　reached　court；　Aerys　packed　the　queen　off　to　Dragonstone　with　Prince　Viserys。　Princess　Elia　would　have　gone　as　well；　but　he　forbade　it。　Somehow　he　had　gotten　it　in　his　head　that　Prince　Lewyn　must　have　betrayed　Rhaegar　on　the　Trident；　but　he　thought　he　could　keep　Dome　loyal　so　long　as　he　kept　Elia　and　Aegon　by　his　side。　The　traitors　want　my　city；　I　heard　him　tell　Rossart；　but　I'll　give　them　naught　but　ashes。　Let　Robert　be　king　over　charred　bones　and　cooked　meat。　The　Targaryens　never　bury　their　dead；　they　burn　them。　Aerys　meant　to　have　the　greatest　funeral　pyre　of　them　all。　Though　if　truth　be　told；　I　do　not　believe　he　truly　expected　to　die。　Like　Aerion　Brightfire　before　him；　Aerys　thought　the　fire　would　transform　him　。　。　。　that　he　would　rise　again；　reborn　as　a　dragon；　and　turn　all　his　enemies　to　ash。
　〃Ned　Stark　was　racing　south　with　Robert's　van；　but　my　father's　forces　reached　the　city　first。　Pycelle　convinced　the　king　that　his　Warden　of　the　West　had　e　to　defend　him；　so　he　opened　the　gates。　The　one　time　he　should　have　heeded　Varys；　and　he　ignored　him。　My　father　had　held　back　from　the　war；　brooding　on　all　the　wrongs　Aerys　had　done　him　and　determined　that　House　Lannister　should　be　on　the　winning　side。　The　Trident　decided　him。
　〃It　fell　to　me　to　hold　the　Red　Keep；　but　I　knew　we　were　lost。　I　sent　to　Aerys　asking　his　leave　to　make　terms。　My　man　came　back　with　a　royal　mand。　'Bring　me　your　father's　head；　if　you　are　no　traitor。'　Aerys　would　have　no　yielding。　Lord　Rossart　was　with　him；　my　messenger　said。　I　knew　what　that　meant。
　〃When　I　came　on　Rossart；　he　was　dressed　as　a　mon　man…at…arms；　hurrying　to　a　postern　gate。　I　slew　him　first。　Then　I　slew　Aerys；　before　he　could　find　someone　else　to　carry　his　message　to　the　pyromancers。　Days　later；　I　hunted　down　the　others　and　slew　them　as　well。　Belis　offered　me　gold；　and　Garigus　wept　for　mercy。　Well；　a　sword's　more　merciful　than　fire；　but　I　don't　think　Garigus　much　appreciated　the　kindness　I　showed　him。〃
　The　water　had　grown　cool。　When　Jaime　opened　his　eyes；　he　found　himself　staring　at　the　stump　of　his　sword　hand。　The　hand　that　made　me　Kingslayer。　The　goat　had　robbed　him　of　his　glory　and　his　shame；　both　at　once。　Leaving　what？　Who　am　I　now？
　The　wench　looked　ridiculous；　clutching　her　towel　to　her　meager　teats　with　her　thick　white　legs　sticking　out　beneath。　〃Has　my　tale　turned　you　speechless？　e；　curse　me　or　kiss　me　or　call　me　a　liar。　Something。〃
　〃If　this　is　true；　how　is　it　no　one　knows？〃
　〃The　knights　of　the　Kingsguard　are　sworn　to　keep　the　king's　secrets。　Would　you　have　me　break　my　oath？〃　Jaime　laughed。　〃Do　you　think　the　noble　Lord　of　Winterfell　wanted　to　hear　my　feeble　explanations？　Such　an　honorable　man。　He　only　had　to　look　at　me　to　judge　me　guilty。〃　Jaime　lurched　to　his　feet；　the　water　running　cold　down　his　chest。　〃By　what　right　does　the　wolf　judge　the　lion？　By　what　right？〃　A　violent　shiver　took　him；　and　he　smashed　his　stump　against　the　rim　of　the　tub　as　he　tried　to　climb　out。
　Pain　shuddered　through　him　。　。　。　and　suddenly　the　bathhouse　was　spinning。　Brienne　caught　him　before　he　could　fall。　Her　arm　was　all　gooseflesh；　clammy　and　chilled；　but　she　was　strong；　and　gentler　than　he　would　have　thought。　Gentler　than　Cersei；　he　thought　as　she　helped　him　from　the　tub；　his　legs　wobbly　as　a　limp　cock。　〃Guards！〃　he　heard　the　wench　shout。　〃The　Kingslayer！〃
　Jaime；　he　thought；　my　name　is　Jaime。
　The　next　he　knew；　he　was　lying　on　the　damp　floor　with　the　guards　and　the　wench　and　Qybum　all　standing　over　him　looking　concerned。　Brienne　was　naked；　but　she　seemed　to　have　forgotten　that　for　the　moment。　〃The　heat　of　the　tubs　will　do　it；〃　Maester　Qyburn　was　telling　them。　No；　he's　not　a　maester；　they　took　his　chain。　〃There's　still　poison　in　his　blood　as　well；　and　he's　malnourished。　What　have　you　been　feeding　him？〃
　〃Worms　and　piss　and　grey　vomit；〃　offered　Jaime。
　〃Hardbread　and　water　and　oat　porridge；〃　insisted　the　guard。　〃He　don't　hardly　eat　it；　though。　What　should　we　do　with　him？〃
　〃Scrub　him　and　dress　him　and　carry