grrm.astormofswords-第95章

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close　your　mouth；　and　between　your　legs　were　a　girl's　privates　as　well　as　a　boy's。〃
　〃Life　would　be　much　simpler　if　men　could　fuck　themselves；　don't　you　agree？　And　I　can　think　of　a　few　times　when　claws　and　teeth　might　have　proved　useful。　Even　so；　I　begin　to　see　the　nature　of　your　plaint。〃
　Brorm　gave　out　with　a　chuckle；　but　Oberyn　only　smiled。　〃We　might　never　have　seen　you　at　all　but　for　your　sweet　sister。　You　were　never　seen　at　table　or　hall；　though　sometimes　at　night　we　could　hear　a　baby　howling　down　in　the　depths　of　the　Rock。　You　did　have　a　monstrous　great　voice；　I　must　grant　you　that。　You　would　wail　for　hours；　and　nothing　would　quiet　you　but　a　woman's　teat。〃
　〃Still　true；　as　it　happens。〃
　This　time　Prince　Oberyn　did　laugh。　〃A　taste　we　share。　Lord　Gargalen　once　told　me　he　hoped　to　die　with　a　sword　in　his　hand；　to　which　I　replied　that　I　would　sooner　go　with　a　breast　in　mine。〃
　Tyrion　had　to　grin。　〃You　were　speaking　of　my　sister？〃
　〃Cersei　promised　Elia　to　show　you　to　us。　The　day　before　we　were　to　sail；　whilst　my　mother　and　your　father　were　closeted　together；　she　and　Jaime　took　us　down　to　your　nursery。　Your　wet　nurse　tried　to　send　us　off；　but　your　sister　was　having　none　of　that。　'He's　mine/　she　said；　'and　you're　just　a　milk　cow；　you　can't　tell　me　what　to　do。　Be　quiet　or　I'll　have　my　father　cut　your　tongue　out。　A　cow　doesn't　need　a　tongue；　only　udders。〃'
　〃Her　Grace　learned　charm　at　an　early　age；〃　said　Tyrion；　amused　by　the　notion　of　his　sister　claiming　him　as　hers。　She's　never　been　in　any　rush　to　claim　me　since；　the　gods　know。
　〃Cersei　even　undid　your　swaddling　clothes　to　give　us　a　better　look；〃　the　Dornish　prince　continued。　〃You　did　have　one　evil　eye；　and　some　black　fuzz　on　your　scalp。　Perhaps　your　head　was　larger　than　most　。　。　。　but　there　was　no　tail；　no　beard；　neither　teeth　nor　claws；　and　nothing　between　your　legs　but　a　tiny　pink　cock。　After　all　the　wonderful　whispers；　Lord　Tywin's　Doom　turned　out　to　be　just　a　hideous　red　infant　with　stunted　legs。　Elia　even　made　the　noise　that　young　girls　make　at　the　sight　of　infants；　I'm　sure　you've　heard　it。　The　same　noise　they　make　over　cute　kittens　and　playful　puppies。　I　believe　she　wanted　to　nurse　you　herself；　ugly　as　you　were。　When　I　mented　that　you　seemed　a　poor　sort　of　monster；　your　sister　said；　'He　killed　my　mother/　and　twisted　your　little　cock　so　hard　I　thought　she　was　like　to　pull　it　off。　You　shrieked；　but　it　was　only　when　your　brother　Jaime　said；　'Leave　him　be；　you're　hurting　him/　that　Cersei　let　go　of　you。　'It　doesn't　matter/　she　told　us。　'Everyone　says　he's　like　to　die　soon。　He　shouldn't　even　have　lived　this　long。〃'
　The　sun　was　shining　bright　above　them；　and　the　day　was　pleasantly　warm　for　autumn；　but　Tyrion　Lannister　went　cold　all　over　when　he　heard　that。　My　sweet　sister。　He　scratched　at　the　scar　of　his　nose　and　gave　the　Dornishman　a　taste　of　his　〃evil　eye。〃　Now　why　would　he　tell　such　a　tale？　Is　he　testing　me；　or　simply　twisting　my　cock　as　Cersei　did；　so　he　can　hear　me　scream？　〃Be　sure　and　tell　that　story　to　my　father。　It　will　delight　him　as　much　as　it　did　me。　The　part　about　my　tail；　especially。　I　did　have　one；　but　he　had　it　lopped　off。〃
　Prince　Oberyn　had　a　chuckle。　〃You've　grown　more　amusing　since　last　we　met。〃
　〃Yes；　but　I　meant　to　grow　taller。〃
　〃While　we　are　speaking　of　amusement；　I　heard　a　curious　tale　from　Lord　Buckler's　steward。　He　claimed　that　you　had　put　a　tax　on　women's　privy　purses。〃
　〃It　is　a　tax　on　whoring；〃　said　Tyrion；　irritated　all　over　again。　And　it　was　my　bloody　father's　notion。　〃Only　a　penny　for　each；　ah　。　。　。　act。　The　King's　Hand　felt　it　might　help　improve　the　morals　of　the　city。〃　And　pay　for　Joffrey's　wedding　besides。　Needless　to　say；　as　master　of　coin；　Tyrion　had　gotten　all　the　blame　for　it。　Brorm　said　they　were　calling　it　the　dwarf's　penny　inthestreets。　〃Spread　your　legs　for　the　Halfman；　now；〃　they　were　shouting　in　the　brothels　and　wine　sinks；　if　the　sellsword　could　be　believed。
　〃I　will　make　certain　to　keep　my　pouch　full　of　pennies。　Even　a　prince　must　pay　his　taxes。〃
　〃Why　should　you　need　to　go　whoring？〃　He　glanced　back　to　where　Ellaria　Sand　rode　among　the　other　women。　〃Did　you　tire　of　your　paramour　on　the　road？〃
　〃Never。　We　share　too　much。〃　Prince　Oberyn　shrugged。　〃We　have　never　shared　a　beautiful　blonde　woman；　however；　and　Ellaria　is　curious。　Do　you　know　of　such　a　creature？〃
　〃I　am　a　man　wedded。〃　Though　not　yet　bedded。　〃I　no　longer　frequent　whores。〃　Unless　I　want　to　see　them　hanged。
　Oberyn　abruptly　changed　the　subject。　〃It's　said　there　are　to　be　seventyseven　dishes　served　at　the　king's　wedding　feast。〃
　〃Are　you　hungry；　my　prince？〃
　〃I　have　hungered　for　a　long　time。　Though　not　for　food。　Pray　tell　me；　when　will　the　iustice　be　served？〃
　〃Justice。〃　Yes；　that　is　why　he's　here；　I　should　have　seen　that　at　once。　〃You　were　close　to　your　sister？〃
　〃As　children　Elia　and　I　were　inseparable；　much　like　your　own　brother　and　sister。〃
　Gods；　I　hope　not。　〃Wars　and　weddings　have　kept　us　well　occupied；　Prince　Oberyn。　I　fear　no　one　has　yet　had　the　time　to　look　into　murders　sixteen　years　stale；　dreadful　as　they　were。　We　shall；　of　course；　just　as　soon　as　we　may。　Any　help　that　Dome　might　be　able　to　provide　to　restore　the　king's　peace　would　only　hasten　the　beginning　of　my　lord　father's　inquiry…〃
　〃Dwarf；〃　said　the　Red　Viper；　in　a　tone　grown　markedly　less　cordial；　〃spare　me　your　Lannister　lies。　Is　it　sheep　you　take　us　for；　or　fools？　My　brother　is　not　a　bloodthirsty　man；　but　neither　has　he　been　asleep　for　sixteen　years。　Jon　Arryn　came　to　Sunspear　the　year　after　Robert　took　the　throne；　and　you　can　be　sure　that　he　was　questioned　closely。　Him；　and　a　hundred　more。　I　did　not　e　for　some　mummer's　show　of　an　inquiry。　I　came　for　justice　for　Elia　and　her　children；　and　I　will　have　it。　Starting　with　this　lummox　Gregor　Clegane　。　。　。　but　not；　I　think；　ending　there。　Before　he　dies；　the　Enormity　That　Rides　will　tell　me　whence　came　his　orders；　please　assure　your　lord　father　of　that。〃　He　smiled。　〃An　old　septon　once　claimed　I　was　living　proof　of　the　goodness　of　the　gods。　Do　you　know　why　that　is；　Imp？〃
　〃No；〃　Tyrion　admitted　warily。
　〃Why；　if　the　gods　were　cruel；　they　would　have　made　me　my　mother's　firstborn；　and　Doran　her　third。　I　am　a　bloodthirsty　man；　you　see。　And　it　is　me　you　must　contend　with　now；　not　my　patient；　prudent；　and　gouty　brother。〃
　Tyrion　could　see　the　sun　shining　on　the　Blackwater　Rush　half　a　mile　ahead；　and　on　the　walls　and　towers　and　hills　of　King's　Landing　beyond。
　He　glanced　over　his　shoulder；　at　the　glittering　column　following　them　up　the　kingsroad。　〃You　speak　like　a　man　with　a　great　host　at　his　back；〃　he　said；　〃yet　all　I　see　are　three　hundred。　Do　you　spy　that　city　there；　north　of　the　river？〃
　〃The　midden　heap　you　call　King's　Landing？〃
　〃That's　the　very　one。〃
　〃Not　only　do　I　see　it；　I　believe　I　smell　it　now。〃
　〃Then　take　a　good　sniff；　my　lord。　Fill　up　your　nose。　Half　a　million　people　stink　more　than　three　hundred；　you'll　find。　Do　you　smell　the　gold　cloaks？　There　are　near　five　thousand　of　them。　My　father's　own　swom　swords　must　account　for　another　twenty　thousand。　And　then　there　are　the　roses。　Roses　smell　so　sweet；　don't　they？　Especially　when　there　are　so　many　of　them。　Fifty；　sixty；　seventy　thousand　roses；　in　the　city　or　camped　outside　it；　I　can't　really　say　how　many　are　left；　but　there's　more　than　I　care　to　count；　anyway。〃
　Martell　gave　a　shrug。　〃In　Dome　of　old　before　we　married　Dacron；　it　was　said　that　all　flowers　bow　before　the　sun。　Should　the　roses　seek　to　hinder　me　I'll　gladly　trample　them　underfoot。〃
　〃As　you　trampled　Willas　Tyrell？〃
　The　Domishman　did　not　react　as　expected。　〃I　had　a　letter　from　Willas　not　half　a　year　past。　We　share　an　interest　in　fine　horseflesh。　He　has　never　borne　me　any　ill　will　for　what　happened　in　the　lists。　I　struck　his　breastplate　clean；　but　his　foot　caught　in　a　stirrup　as　he　fell　and　his　horse　came　down　on　top　of　him。　I　sent　a　maester　to　him　afterward；　but　it　was　all　he　could　do　to　save　the　boy's　leg。　The　knee　was　far　past　mending。　If　any　were　to　blame；　it　was　his　fool　of　a　father。　Willas　Tyrell　was　green　as　his　surcoat　and　had　no　business　riding　in　such　pany。　The　Fat　Flower　thrust　him　into　tourneys　at　too　tender　an　age；　just　as　he　did　with　the　other　two。　He　wanted　another　Leo　Longthom；　and　made　himself　a　cripple。〃
　〃There　are　those　who　say　Ser　Loras　is　better　than　Leo　Longthom。　ever　was；〃　said　Tyrion。
　〃Renly's　little　rose？　I　doubt　that。〃
　〃Doubt　it　all　you　wish；〃　said　Tyrion；　〃but　Ser　Loras　has　defeated　many　good　knights；　including　my　brother　Jaime。〃
　〃By　defeated；　you　mean　unhorsed；　in　tourney。　Tell　me　who　he's　slain　in　battle　if　you　mean　to　frighten　me。〃
　〃Ser　Robar　Royce　and　Ser　Emmon　Cuy；　for　two。　And　men　say　he　performed　prodigious　feats　of　valor　on　the　Blackwater；　fighting　beside　Lord　Renly's　ghost。〃
　〃So　these　same　men　who　saw　the　prodigious　feats　saw　the　ghost　as　well；　yes？〃　The　Domishman　laughed　lightly。
　Tyrion　gave　him　a　long　look。　〃Chataya's　on　the　Street　of　Silk　has　several　girls　who　might　suit　your　needs。　Dancy　has　hair　the　color　of　honey。　Marei's　is　pale　white…gold。　I　would　advise　you　to　keep　one　or　the　other　by　your　side　at　all　times；　my　lord。〃
　〃At　all　times？〃　Prince　Oberyn　lifted　a　thin　black　eyebrow。　〃And　why　is　that；　my　good　imp？〃
　〃You　want　to　die　with　a　breast　in　hand；　you　said。〃　Tyrion　cantered　on　ahead　to　where　the　ferry　barges　waited　on　the　south　bank　of　the　Blackwater。　He　had　suffered　all　he　meant　to　suffer　of　what　passed　for　Dornish　wit。　Father　should　have　sent　Joffrey　after　all。　He　could　have　asked　Prince　Oberyn　if　he　knew　how　a　Dornishman　differed　from　a　cowflop。　That　made　him　grin　despite　himself。　He　would　have　to　make　a　point　of　being　on　hand　when　the　Red　Viper　was　presented　to　the　king。
　
　CHAPTER　39
　ARYA
　
　The　man　on　the　roof　was　the　first　to　die。　He　was　crouched　down　by　the　chimney　two　hundred　yards　away；　no　more　than　a　vague　shadow　in　the　predawn　gloom；　but　as　the　sky　began　to　lighten　he　stirred；　stretched；　and　stood。　Anguy's　arrow　took　him　in　the　chest。　He　tumbled　bonelessly　down　the　steep　slate　pitch；　and　fell　in　front　of　the　septry　door。
　The　Mummers　had　posted　two　guards　there；　but　their　torch　left　them　night　blind；　and　the　outlaws　had　crept　in　close。　Kyle　and　Notch　let　fly　together。　One　man　went　down　with　an　arrow　through　his　throat；　the　other　through　his　belly。　The　second　man　dropped　the　torch；　and　the　flames　licked　up　at　him。　He　screamed　as　his　clothes　took　fire；　and　that　was　the　end　of　stealth。　Thoros　gave　a　shout；　and　the　outlaws　attacked　in　earnest。
　Arya　watched　from　atop　her　horse；　on　the　crest　of　the　wooded　ridge　that　overlooked　the　septry；　mill；　brewhouse；　and　stables　and　the　desolation　of　weeds；　burnt　trees；　and　mud　that　surrounded　them。　The　trees　were　mostly　bare　now；　and　the　few　withered　brown　leaves　that　still　clung　to　the　branches　did　little　to　obstruct　her　view。　Lord　Beric　had　left　Beardless　Dick　and　Mudge　to　guard　them。　Arya　hated　being　left　behind　like　she　was　some　stupid　child；　but　at　least　Gendry　had　been　kept　back　as　well。　She　knew　better　than　to　try　and　argue。　This　was　battle；　and　in　battle　you　had　to　obey。
　The　eastern　horizon　glowed　gold　and　pink；　and　overhead　a　half　moon　peeked　out　through　low　scuttling　clouds。　The　wind　blew　cold；　and　Arya　could　hear　the　rush　of　water　and　the　creak　of　the　mill