grrm.astormofswords-第144章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　It　took　an　hour　to　work　out　all　the　details。　Now　begins　the　most　dangerous　time；　Dany　thought　as　her　captains　departed　to　their　mands。　She　could　only　pray　that　the　gloom　of　the　night　would　hide　her　preparations　from　the　foe。
　Near　midnight；　she　got　a　scare　when　Ser　Jorah　bulled　his　way　past　Strong　Belwas。　〃The　Unsullied　caught　one　of　the　sellswords　trying　to　sneak　into　the　camp。〃
　〃A　spy？〃　That　frightened　her。　If　they'd　caught　one；　how　many　others　might　have　gotten　away？
　〃He　claims　to　e　bearing　gifts。　it's　the　yellow　fool　with　the　blue　hair。〃
　Daario　Naharis。　〃That　one。　I'll　hear　him；　then。〃
　When　the　exile　knight　delivered　him；　she　asked　herself　whether　two　men　had　ever　been　so　different。　The　Tyroshi　was　fair　where　Ser　Jorah　was　swarthy；　lithe　where　the　knight　was　brawny；　graced　with　flowing　locks　where　the　other　was　balding；　yet　smooth…skinned　where　Mormont　was　hairy。　And　her　knight　dressed　plainly　while　this　other　made　a　peacock　look　drab；　though　he　had　thrown　a　heavy　black　cloak　over　his　bright　yellow　finery　for　this　visit。　He　carried　a　heavy　canvas　sack　slung　over　one　shoulder。
　〃Khaleesi；〃　he　cried；　〃I　bring　gifts　and　glad　tidings。　The　Stormcrows　are　yours。〃　A　golden　tooth　gleamed　in　his　mouth　when　he　smiled。　〃And　so　is　Daario　Naharis！〃
　Dany　was　dubious。　If　this　Tyroshi　had　e　to　spy；　this　declaration　might　be　no　more　than　a　desperate　plot　to　save　his　head。　〃What　do　Prendahl　na　Ghezn　and　Sallor　say　of　this？〃
　〃Little。〃　Daario　upended　the　sack；　and　the　heads　of　Sallor　the　Bald　and　Prendahl　na　Ghezn　spilled　out　upon　her　carpets。　〃My　gifts　to　the　dragon　queen。〃
　Viserion　sniffed　the　blood　leaking　from　Prendahl's　neck；　and　let　loose　a　gout　of　flame　that　took　the　dead　man　full　in　the　face；　blackening　and　blistering　his　bloodless　cheeks。　Drogon　and　Rhaegal　stirred　at　the　smell　of　roasted　meat。
　〃You　did　this？〃　Dany　asked　queasily。
　〃None　other。〃　If　her　dragons　disfited　Daario　Naharis；　he　hid　it　well。　For　all　the　mind　he　paid　them；　they　might　have　been　three　kittens　playing　with　a　mouse。
　〃Why？〃　
　〃Because　you　are　so　beautiful。〃　His　hands　were　large　and　strong；　and　there　was　something　in　his　hard　blue　eyes　and　great　curving　nose　that　suggested　the　fierceness　of　some　splendid　bird　of　prey。　〃Prendahl　talked　too　much　and　said　too　little。〃　His　garb；　rich　as　it　was；　had　seen　hard　wear；　salt　stains　patterned　his　boots；　the　enamel　of　his　nails　was　chipped；　his　lace　was　soiled　by　sweat；　and　she　could　see　where　the　end　of　his　cloak　was　fraying。　〃And　Sallor　picked　his　nose　as　if　his　snot　was　gold。〃　He　stood　with　his　hands　crossed　at　the　wrists；　his　palms　resting　on　the　pornmels　of　his　blades；　a　curving　Dothraki　arakh　on　his　left　hip；　a　Myrish　stiletto　on　his　right。　Their　hilts　were　a　matched　pair　of　golden　women；　naked　and　wanton。
　〃Are　you　skilled　in　the　use　of　those　handsome　blades？〃　Dany　asked　him。
　〃Prendahl　and　Sallor　would　tell　you　so；　if　dead　men　could　talk。　I　count　no　day　as　lived　unless　I　have　loved　a　woman；　slain　a　foeman；　and　eaten　a　fine　meal　。　。　。　and　the　days　that　I　have　lived　are　as　numberless　as　the　stars　in　the　sky。　I　make　of　slaughter　a　thing　of　beauty；　and　many　a　tumbler　and　fire　dancer　has　wept　to　the　gods　that　they　might　be　half　so　quick；　a　quarter　so　graceful。　I　would　tell　you　the　names　of　all　the　men　I　have　slain；　but　before　I　could　finish　your　dragons　would　grow　large　as　castles；　the　walls　of　Yunkai　would　crumble　into　yellow　dust；　and　winter　would　e　and　go　and　e　again。〃
　Dany　laughed。　She　liked　the　swagger　she　saw　in　this　Daario　Naharis。　〃Draw　your　sword　and　swear　it　to　my　service。〃
　In　a　blink；　Daario's　arakh　was　free　of　its　sheath。　His　submission　was　as　outrageous　as　the　rest　of　him；　a　great　swoop　that　brought　his　face　down　to　her　toes。　〃My　sword　is　yours。　My　life　is　yours。　My　love　is　yours。　My　blood；　my　body；　my　songs；　you　own　them　all。　I　live　and　die　at　your　mand；　fair　queen。〃
　〃Then　live；〃　Dany　said；　〃and　fight　for　me　tonight。〃
　〃That　would　not　be　wise；　my　queen。〃　Ser　Jorah　gave　Daario　a　cold；　hard　stare。　〃Keep　this　one　here　under　guard　until　the　battle's　fought　and　won。〃
　She　considered　a　moment；　then　shook　her　head。　〃If　he　can　give　us　the　Stormcrows；　surprise　is　certain。〃
　〃And　if　he　betrays　you；　surprise　is　lost。〃
　Dany　looked　down　at　the　sellsword　again。　He　gave　her　such　a　smile　that　she　flushed　and　turned　away。　〃He　won't。〃
　〃How　can　you　know　that？〃
　She　pointed　to　the　lumps　of　blackened　flesh　the　dragons　were　consuming；　bite　by　bloody　bite。　〃I　would　call　that　proof　of　his　sincerity。　Daario　Naharis；　have　your　Stormcrows　ready　to　strike　the　Yunkish　rear　when　my　attack　begins。　Can　you　get　back　safely？〃
　〃If　they　stop　me；　I　will　say　I　have　been　scouting；　and　saw　nothing。〃　The　Tyroshi　rose　to　his　feet；　bowed；　and　swept　out。
　Ser　Jorah　Mormont　lingered。　〃Your　Grace；〃　he　said；　too　bluntly；　〃that　was　a　mistake。　We　know　nothing　of　this　man　…
　〃We　know　that　he　is　a　great　fighter。〃
　〃A　great　talker；　you　mean。〃
　〃He　brings　us　the　Stormcrows。〃　And　he　has　blue　eyes。
　〃Five　hundred　sellswords　of　uncertain　loyalty。〃
　〃All　loyalties　are　uncertain　in　such　times　as　these；〃　Dany　reminded　him。　And　I　shall　be　betrayed　twice　more；　once　for　gold　and　once　for　love。
　〃Dacnerys；　I　am　thrice　your　age；〃　Ser　Jorah　said。　〃I　have　seen　how　false　men　are。　Very　few　are　worthy　of　trust；　and　Daario　Naharis　is　not　one　of　them。　Even　his　beard　wears　false　colors。〃
　That　angered　her。　〃Whilst　you　have　an　honest　beard；　is　that　what　you　are　telling　me？　You　are　the　only　man　I　should　ever　trust？〃
　He　stiffened。　〃I　did　not　say　that。〃
　〃You　say　it　every　day。　Pyat　Pree's　a　liar；　Xaro's　a　schemer；　Belwas　a　braggart；　Arstan　an　assassin　。　。　。　do　you　think　I'm　still　some　virgin　girl；　that　I　cannot　hear　the　words　behind　the　words？〃
　〃Your　Grace…〃
　She　bulled　over　him。　〃You　have　been　a　better　friend　to　me　than　any　I　have　known；　a　better　brother　than　Viserys　ever　was。　You　are　the　first　of　my　Queensguard；　the　mander　of　my　army；　my　most　valued　counselor；　my　good　right　hand。　I　honor　and　respect　and　cherish　you…but　I　do　not　desire　you；　Jorah　Mormont；　and　I　am　weary　of　your　trying　to　push　every　other　man　in　the　world　away　from　me；　so　I　must　needs　rely　on　you　and　you　alone。　It　will　not　serve；　and　it　will　not　make　me　love　you　any　better。〃
　Mormont　had　flushed　red　when　she　first　began；　but　by　the　time　Dany　was　done　his　face　was　pale　again。　He　stood　still　as　stone。　〃If　my　queen　mands；〃　he　said；　curt　and　cold。
　Dany　was　warm　enough　for　both　of　them。　〃She　does；〃　she　said。　〃She　mands。　Now　go　see　to　your　Unsullied；　ser。　You　have　a　battle　to　fight　and　win。〃
　When　he　was　gone；　Dany　threw　herself　down　on　her　pillows　beside　her　dragons。　She　had　not　meant　to　be　so　sharp　with　Ser　Jorah；　but　his　endless　suspicion　had　finally　woken　her　dragon。
　He　will　forgive　me；　she　told　herself。　I　am　his　liege。　Dany　found　herself　wondering　whether　he　was　right　about　Daario。　She　felt　very　lonely　all　of　a　sudden。　Mirri　Maz　Duur　had　promised　that　she　would　never　bear　a　living　child。　House　Targaryen　will　end　with　me。　That　made　her　sad。　〃You　must　be　my　children；〃　she　told　the　dragons；　〃my　three　fierce　children。　Arstan　says　dragons　live　longer　than　men；　so　you　will　go　on　after　I　am　dead。〃
　Drogon　looped　his　neck　around　to　nip　at　her　hand。　His　teeth　were　very　sharp；　but　he　never　broke　her　skin　when　they　played　like　this。　Dany　laughed；　and　rolled　him　back　and　forth　until　he　roared；　his　tail　lashing　like　a　whip。　It　is　longer　than　it　was；　she　saw；　and　tomorrow　it　will　be　longer　still。　They　grow　quickly　now；　and　when　they　are　grown　I　shall　have　my　wings。　Mounted　on　a　dragon；　she　could　lead　her　own　men　into　battle；　as　she　had　in　Astapor；　but　as　yet　they　were　still　too　small　to　bear　her　weight。
　A　stillness　settled　over　her　camp　when　midnight　came　and　went。　Dany　remained　in　her　pavilion　with　her　maids；　while　Arstan　Whitebeard　and　Strong　Belwas　kept　the　guard。　The　waiting　is　the　hardest　part。　To　sit　in　her　tent　with　idle　hands　while　her　battle　was　being　fought　without　her　made　Dany　feel　half　a　child　again。
　The　hours　crept　by　on　turtle　feet。　Even　after　Jhiqui　rubbed　the　knots　from　her　shoulders；　Dany　was　too　restless　for　sleep。　Missandei　offered　to　sing　her　a　lullaby　of　the　Peaceful　People；　but　Dany　shook　her　head。　〃Bring　me