grrm.astormofswords-第238章
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that was steel： a slender leaf…shaped spearhead narrowing to a wicked spike。 The edges looked sharp enough to shave with。 When Oberyn spun the haft between the palms of his hand； they glistened black。 Oil？ Or poison？ Tyrion decided that he would sooner not know。 〃I hope you are good with that；〃 he said doubtfully。
〃You will have no cause for plaint。 Though Ser Gregor may。 However thick his plate； there will be gaps at the joints。 Inside the elbow and knee； beneath the arms 。 。 。 I will find a place to tickle him； I promise you。〃 He set the spear aside。 〃It is said that a Lannister always pays his debts。 Perhaps you will return to Sunspear with me when the day's bloodletting is done。 My brother Doran would be most pleased to meet the rightful heir to Casterly Rock 。 。 。 especially if he brought his lovely wife； the Lady of Winterfell。〃
Does the snake think I have Sansa squirreled away somewhere； like a nut I'm hoarding for winter？ If so； Tyrion was not about to disabuse him。 〃A trip to Dome might be very pleasant； now that I reflect on it。〃
〃Plan on a lengthy visit。〃 Prince Oberyn sipped his wine。 〃You and Doran have many matters of mutual interest to discuss。 Music； trade； history； wine； the dwarf's penny 。 。 。 the laws of inheritance and succession。 No doubt an uncle's counsel would be of benefit to Queen Myrcella in the trying times ahead。〃
If Varys had his little birds listening； Oberyn was giving them a ripe earful。 〃I believe I will have that cup of wine；〃 said Tyrion。 Queen Myrcella？ It would have been more tempting if only he did have Sansa tucked beneath his cloak。 If she declared for Myrcella over Tommen； would the north follow？ What the Red Viper was hinting at was treason。 Could Tyrion truly take up arms against Tommen； against his own father？ Cersei would spit blood。 It might be worth it for that alone。
〃Do you recall the tale I told you of our first meeting； Imp？〃 Prince Oberyn asked； as the Bastard of Godsgrace knelt before him to fasten his greaves。 〃It was not for your tail alone that my sister and I came to Casterly Rock。 We were on a quest of sorts。 A quest that took us to Starfall； the Arbor； Oldtown； the Shield Islands； Crakehall； and finally Casterly Rock 。 。 。 but our true destination was marriage。 Doran was betrothed to Lady Mellario of Norvos； so he had been left behind as castellan of Sunspear。 My sister and I were yet unpromised。
〃Elia found it all exciting。 She was of that age； and her delicate health had never permitted her much travel。 I preferred to amuse myself by mocking my sister's suitors。 There was Little Lord Lazyeye； Squire Squishlips； one I named the Whale That Walks； that sort of thing。 The only one who was even halfway presentable was young Baelor Hightower。 A pretty lad； and my sister was half in love with him until he had the misfortune to fart once in our presence。 I promptly named him Baelor Breakwind； and after that Elia couldn't look at him without laughing。 I was a monstrous young fellow； someone should have sliced out my vile tongue。〃
Yes； Tyrion agreed silently。 Baelor Hightower was no longer young； but he remained Lord Leyton's heir； wealthy； handsome； and a knight of splendid repute。 Baelor Brightsmile； they called him now。 Had Elia wed him in place of Rhaegar Targaryen； she might be in Oldtown with her children growing tall around her。 He wondered how many lives had been snuffed out by that fart。
〃Lannisport was the end of our voyage；〃 Prince Oberyn went on； as Ser Arron Qorgyle helped him into a padded leather tunic and began lacing it up the back。 〃Were you aware that our mothers knew each other of old？〃
〃They had been at court together as girls； I seem to recall。 panions to Princess Rhaella？〃
〃Just so。 It was my belief that the mothers had cooked up this plot between them。 Squire Squishlips and his ilk and the various pimply young maidens who'd been paraded before me were the almonds before the feast； meant only to whet our appetites。 The main course was to be served at Casterly Rock。〃
〃Cersei and Jaime。〃
〃Such a clever dwarf。 Elia and I were older； to be sure。 Your brother and sister could not have been more than eight or nine。 Still； a difference of five or six years is little enough。 And there was an empty cabin on our ship； a very nice cabin； such as might be kept for a person of high birth。 As if it were intended that we take someone back to Sunspear。 A young page； perhaps。 Or a panion for Elia。 Your lady mother meant to betroth Jaime to my sister； or Cersei to me。 Perhaps both。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Tyrion； 〃but my father…〃
〃…ruled the Seven Kingdoms； but was ruled at home by his lady wife； or so my mother always said。〃 Prince Oberyn raised his arms； so Lord Dagos Manwoody and the Bastard of Godsgrace could slip a chainmail bymie down over his head。 〃At Oldtown we learned of your mother's death； and the monstrous child she had borne。 We might have turned back there； but my mother chose to sail on。 I told you of the wele we found at Casterly Rock。
〃What I did not tell you was that my mother waited as long as was decent； and then broached your father about our purpose。 Years later； on her deathbed； she told me that Lord Tywin had refused us brusquely。 His daughter was meant for Prince Rhaegar； he informed her。 And when she asked for Jaime； to espouse Elia； he offered her you instead。〃
〃Which offer she took for an outrage。〃
〃It was。 Even you can see that； surely？〃
〃Oh； surely。〃 It all goes back and back； Tyrion thought； to our mothers and fathers and theirs before them。 We are puppets dancing on the strings of those who came before us； and one day our own children will take up our strings and dance on in our steads。 〃Well； Prince Rhaegar married Elia of Dome； not Cersei Lannister of Casterly Rock。 So it would seem your mother won that tilt。〃
〃She thought so；〃 Prince Oberyn agreed； 〃but your father is not a man to forget such slights。 He taught that lesson to Lord and Lady Tarbeck once； and to the Reynes of Castamere。 And at King's Landing； he taught it to my sister。 My helm； Dagos。〃 Manwoody handed it to him； a high golden helm with a copper disk mounted on the brow； the sun of Dome。 The visor had been removed； Tyrion saw。 〃Elia and her children have waited long for justice。〃 Prince Oberyn pulled on soft red leather gloves； and took up his spear again。 〃But this day they shall have it。〃
The outer ward had been chosen for the bat。 Tyrion had to skip and run to keep up with Prince Oberyn's long strides。 The snake is eager； he thought。 Let us hope he is venomous as well。 The day was grey and windy。 The sun was struggling to break through the clouds； but Tyrion could no more have said who was going to win that fight than the one on which his life depended。
It looked as though a thousand people had e to see if he would live or die。 They lined the castle wallwalks and elbowed one another on the steps of keeps and towers。 They watched from the stable doors； from windows and bridges； from balconies and roofs。 And the yard was packed with them； so many that the gold cloaks and the knights of the Kingsguard had to shove them back to make enough room for the fight。 Some had dragged out chairs to watch more fortably； while others perched on barrels。 We should have done this in the Dragonpit； Tyrion thought sourly。 We could have charged a penny a head and paid for Joffrey's wedding and funeral both。 Some of the onlookers even had small children sitting on their shoulders； to get a better view。 They shouted and pointed at the sight of Tyrion。
Cersei seemed half a child herself beside Ser Gregor。 In his armor； the Mountain looked bigger than any man had any right to be。 Beneath a long yellow surcoat bearing the three black dogs of Clegane； he wore heavy plate over chainmail； dull grey steel dinted and scarred in battle。 Beneath that would be boiled leather and a layer of quilting。 A flat…topped greathelm was bolted to his gorget； with breaths around the mouth and nose and a narrow slit for vision。 The crest atop it was a stone fist。
If Ser Gregor was suffering from wounds； Tyrion could see no sign of it from across the yard。 He looks as though he was chiseled out of rock； standing there。 His greatsword was planted in the ground
