grrm.astormofswords-第176章

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　〃No　doubt　you're　right。〃　She　knows　me　better　than　I　thought。　〃Though　the　sound　of　rustling　leaves　might　be　a　pleasant　change　from　some　septon　droning　on　about　the　seven　aspects　of　grace。〃　Tyrion　waved　her　off。　〃I　won't　intrude。　Dress　warmly；　my　lady；　the　wind　is　brisk　out　there。〃　He　was　tempted　to　ask　what　she　prayed　for；　but　Sansa　was　so　dutiful　she　might　actually　tell　him；　and　he　didn't　think　he　wanted　to　know。
　He　went　back　to　work　after　she　left；　trying　to　track　some　golden　dragons　through　the　labyrinth　of　Littlefinger's　ledgers。　Petyr　Baelish　had　not　believed　in　letting　gold　sit　about　and　grow　dusty；　that　was　for　certain；　but　the　more　Tyrion　tried　to　make　sense　of　his　accounts　the　more　his　head　hurt。　it　was　all　very　well　to　talk　of　breeding　dragons　instead　of　locking　them　up　in　the　treasury；　but　some　of　these　ventures　smelled　worse　than　week…old　fish。　I　wouldn't　have　been　so　quick　to　let　Joffrey　fling　the　Antler　Men　over　the　walls　if　I'd　known　how　many　of　the　bloody　bastards　had　taken　loans　from　the　crown。　He　would　have　to　send　Bronn　to　find　their　heirs；　but　he　feared　that　would　prove　as　fruitful　as　trying　to　squeeze　silver　from　a　silverfish。
　When　the　summons　from　his　lord　father　arrived；　it　was　the　first　time　Tyrion　could　ever　recall　being　pleased　to　see　Ser　Boros　Blount。　He　closed　the　ledgers　gratefully；　blew　out　the　oil　lamp；　tied　a　cloak　around　his　shoulders；　and　waddled　across　the　castle　to　the　Tower　of　the　Hand。　The　wind　was　brisk；　just　as　he'd　warned　Sansa；　and　there　was　a　smell　of　rain　in　the　air。　Perhaps　when　Lord　Tywin　was　done　with　him　he　should　go　to　the　godswood　and　fetch　her　home　before　she　got　soaked。
　But　all　that　went　straight　out　of　his　head　when　he　entered　the　Hand's　solar　to　find　Cersei；　Ser　Kevan；　and　Grand　Maester　Pycelle　gathered　about　Lord　Tywin　and　the　king。　Joffrey　was　almost　bouncing；　and　Cersei　was　savoring　a　smug　little　smile；　though　Lord　Tywin　looked　as　grim　as　ever。　I　wonder　if　he　could　smile　even　if　he　wanted　to。　〃What's　happened？〃　Tyrion　asked。
　His　father　offered　him　a　roll　of　parchment。　Someone　had　flattened　it；　but　it　still　wanted　to　curl。　〃Roslin　caught　a　fine　fat　trout；〃　the　message　read。　〃Her　brothers　gave　her　a　pair　of　wolf　pelts　for　her　wedding。〃　Tyrion　turned　it　over　to　inspect　the　broken　seal。　The　wax　was　silvery…grey；　and　pressed　into　it　were　the　twin　towers　of　House　Frey。　〃Does　the　Lord　of　the　Crossing　imagine　he's　being　poetic？　Or　is　this　meant　to　confound　us？　〃　Tyrion　snorted。　〃The　trout　would　be　Edmure　Tully；　the　pelts　。　。　。〃
　〃He's　dead！〃　Joffrey　sounded　so　proud　and　happy　you　might　have　thought　he'd　skinned　Robb　Stark　himself。
　First　Greyjoy　and　now　Stark。　Tyrion　thought　of　his　child　wife；　praying　in　the　godswood　even　now。　Praying　to　her　father's　gods　to　bring　her　brother　victory　and　keep　her　mother　safe；　no　doubt。　The　old　gods　paid　no　more　heed　to　prayer　than　the　new　ones；　it　would　seem。　Perhaps　he　should　take　fort　in　that。　〃Kings　are　falling　like　leaves　this　autumn；〃　he　said。　〃It　would　seem　our　little　war　is　winning　itself。〃
　〃Wars　do　not　win　themselves；　Tyrion；〃　Cersei　said　with　poisonous　sweetness。　〃Our　lord　father　won　this　war。〃
　〃Nothing　is　won　so　long　as　we　have　enemies　in　the　field；〃　Lord　Tywin　warned　them。
　〃The　river　lords　are　no　fools；〃　the　queen　argued。　〃Without　the　northmen　they　cannot　hope　to　stand　against　the　bined　power　of　Highgarden；　Casterly　Rock；　and　Dome。　Surely　they　will　choose　submission　rather　than　destruction。〃
　〃Most；〃　agreed　Lord　Tywin。　〃Riverrun　remains；　but　so　long　as　Walder　Frey　holds　Edmure　Tully　hostage；　the　Blackfish　dare　not　mount　a　threat。　Jason　Mallister　and　Tytos　Blackwood　will　fight　on　for　honor's　sake；　but　the　Freys　can　keep　the　Mallisters　penned　up　at　Seagard；　and　with　the　right　inducement　Jonos　Bracken　can　be　persuaded　to　change　his　allegiance　and　attack　the　Blackwoods。　In　the　end　they　will　bend　the　knee；　yes。　I　mean　to　offer　generous　terms。　Any　castle　that　yields　to　us　will　be　spared；　save　one。〃
　〃Harrenhal？〃　said　Tyrion；　who　knew　his　sire。
　〃The　realm　is　best　rid　of　these　Brave　panions。　I　have　manded　Ser　Gregor　to　put　the　castle　to　the　sword。〃
　Gregor　Clegane。　It　appeared　as　if　his　lord　father　meant　to　mine　the　Mountain　for　every　last　nugget　of　ore　before　turning　him　over　to　Domish　justice。　The　Brave　panions　would　end　as　heads　on　spikes；　and　Littlefinger　would　stroll　into　Harrenhal　without　so　much　as　a　spot　of　blood　on　those　fine　clothes　of　his。　He　wondered　if　Petyr　Baelish　had　reached　the　Vale　yet。　lf　the　gods　are　good；　he　ran　into　a　storm　at　sea　and　sank。　But　when　had　the　gods　ever　been　especially　good？
　〃They　should　all　be　put　to　the　sword；〃　Joffrey　declared　suddenly。　〃The　Mallisters　and　Blackwoods　and　Brackens　。　。　。　all　of　them。　They're　traitors。
　I　want　them　killed；　Grandfather。　I　won't　have　any　generous　terms。〃　The　king　turned　to　Grand　Maester　Pycelle。　〃And　I　want　Robb　Stark's　head　too。　Write　to　Lord　Frey　and　tell　him。　The　king　mands。　I'm　going　to　have　it　served　to　Sansa　at　my　wedding　feast。〃
　〃Sire；〃　Ser　Kevan　said；　in　a　shocked　voice；　〃the　lady　is　now　your　aunt　by　marriage。〃
　〃A　jest。〃　Cersei　smiled。　〃Joff　did　not　mean　it。〃
　〃Yes　I　did；〃　Joffrey　insisted。　〃He　was　a　traitor；　and　I　want　his　stupid　head。　I'm　going　to　make　Sansa　kiss　it。〃
　〃No。〃　Tyrion's　voice　was　hoarse。　〃Sansa　is　no　longer　yours　to　torment。　Understand　that；　monster。〃
　Joffrey　sneered。　〃You're　the　monster；　Uncle。〃
　〃Am　I？〃　Tyrion　cocked　his　head。　〃Perhaps　you　should　speak　more　softly　to　me；　then。　Monsters　are　dangerous　beasts；　and　just　now　kings　seem　to　be　dying　like　flies。〃
　〃I　could　have　your　tongue　out　for　saying　that；〃　the　boy　king　said；　reddening。　〃I'm　the　king。〃
　Cersei　put　a　protective　hand　on　her　son's　shoulder。　〃Let　the　dwarf　make　all　the　threats　he　likes；　Joff。　I　want　my　lord　father　and　my　uncle　to　see　what　he　is。〃
　Lord　Tywin　ignored　that；　it　was　Joffrey　he　addressed。　〃Aerys　also　felt　the　need　to　remind　men　that　he　was　king。　And　he　was　passing　fond　of　ripping　tongues　out　as　well。　You　could　ask　Ser　Ilyn　Payne　about　that；　though　you'll　get　no　reply。〃
　〃Ser　Ilyn　never　dared　provoke　Aerys　the　way　your　Imp　provokes　Joff；〃　said　Cersei。　〃You　heard　him。　'Monster'　he　said。　To　the　King's　Grace。
　And　he　threatened　him　。　。　。
　〃Be　quiet；　Cersei。　Joffrey；　when　your　enemies　defy　you；　you　must　serve　them　steel　and　fire。　When　they　go　to　their　knees；　however；　you　must　help　them　back　to　their　feet。　Elsewise　no　man　will　ever　bend　the　knee　to　you。　And　any　man　who　must　say　'I　am　the　king'　is　no　true　king　at　all。　Aerys　never　understood　that；　but　you　will。　When　I've　won　your　war　for　you；　we　will　restore　the　king's　peace　and　the　king's　justice。　The　only　head　that　need　concern　you　is　Margaery　Tyrell's　maidenhead。〃
　Joffrey　had　that　sullen；　sulky　look　he　got。　Cersei　had　him　firmly　by　the　shoulder；　but　perhaps　she　should　have　had　him　by　the　throat。　The　boy　surprised　them　all。　instead　of　scuttling　safely　back　under　his　rock；　Joff　drew　himself　up　defiantly　and　said；　〃You　talk　about　Aerys；　Grandfather；　but　you　were　scared　of　him。〃
　Oh；　my；　hasn't　this　gotten　interesting？　Tyrion　thought。
　Lord　Tywin　studied　his　grandchild　in　silence；　gold　flecks　shining　in　his　pale　green　eyes。　〃Joffrey；　apologize　to　your　grandfather；〃　said　Cersei。
　He　wrenched　free　of　her。　〃Why　should　I？　Everyone　knows　it's　true。　My　father　won　all　the　battles。　He　killed　Prince　Rhaegar　and　took　the　crown；　while　your　father　was　hiding　under　Casterly　Rock。　〃　The　boy　gave　his　grandfather　a　defiant　look。　〃A　strong　king　acts　boldly；　he　doesn't　just　talk。〃
　〃Thank　you　for　that　wisdom；　Your　Grace；〃　Lord　Tywin　said；　with　a　courtesy　so　cold　it　was　like　to　freeze　their　ears　off。　〃Ser　Kevan；　I　can　see　the　king　is　tired。　Please　see　him　safely　back　to　his　bedchamber。　Pycelle；　perhaps　some　gentle　potion　to　help　His　Grace　sleep　restfully？〃
　〃Dreamwine；　my　lord？〃
　〃I　don't　want　any　dreamwine；〃　Joffrey　insisted。
　Lord　Tywin　would　have　paid　more　heed　to　a　mouse　squeaking　in　the　corner。　〃Dreamwine　will　serve。　Cersei；　Tyrion；　remain。〃
　Ser　Kevan　took　Joffrey　firmly　by　the　arm　and　marched　him　out　the　door；　where　two　of　the　Kingsguard　were　waiting。　Grand　Maester　Pycelle　scurried　after　them　as　fast　as　his　shaky　old　legs　could　take　him。　Tyrion　remained　where　he　was。
　〃Fa