grrm.astormofswords-第272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！


　〃Those　are　only　stories；〃　she　said；　and　left　him　there。
　Back　in　her　bedchamber；　Sansa　took　off　her　cloak　and　her　wet　boots　and　sat　beside　the　fire。　She　had　no　doubt　that　she　would　be　made　to　answer　for　Lord　Robert's　fit。　Perhaps　Lady　Lysa　Mll　send　me　away。　Her　aunt　was　quick　to　banish　anyone　who　displeased　her；　and　nothing　displeased　her　quite　so　much　as　people　she　suspected　of　mistreating　her　son。
　Sansa　would　have　weled　banishment。　The　Gates　of　the　Moon　was　much　larger　than　the　Eyrie；　and　livelier　as　well。　Lord　Nestor　Royce　seemed　gruff　and　stem；　but　his　daughter　Myranda　kept　his　castle　for　him；　and　everyone　said　how　frolicsome　she　was。　Even　Sansa's　supposed　bastardy　might　not　count　too　much　against　her　below。　One　of　King　Robert's　baseborn　daughters　was　in　service　to　Lord　Nestor；　and　she　and　the　Lady　Myranda　were　said　to　be　fast　friends；　as　close　as　sisters。
　I　will　tell　my　aunt　that　I　don't　want　to　marry　Robert。　Not　even　the　High　Septon　himself　could　declare　a　woman　married　if　she　refused　to　say　the　vows。　She　wasn't　a　beggar；　no　matter　what　her　aunt　said。　She　was　thirteen；　a　woman　flowered　and　wed；　the　heir　to　Winterfell。　Sansa　felt　sorry　for　her　little　cousin　sometimes；　but　she　could　not　imagine　ever　wanting　to　be　his　wife。　I　would　sooner　be　married　to　Tyrion　again。　If　Lady　Lysa　knew　that；　surely　she'd　send　her　away　。　。　。　away　from　Robert's　pouts　and　shakes　and　runny　eyes；　away　from　Marillion's　lingering　looks；　away　from　Petyr's　kisses。　I　will　tell　her。　I　will！
　It　was　late　that　afternoon　when　Lady　Lysa　summoned　her。　Sansa　had　been　marshaling　her　courage　all　day；　but　no　sooner　did　Marillion　appear　at　her　door　than　all　her　doubts　returned。　〃Lady　Lysa　requires　your　presence　in　the　High　Hall。〃　The　singer's　eyes　undressed　her　as　he　spoke；　but　she　was　used　to　that。
　Marillion　was　ely；　there　was　no　denying　it；　boyish　and　slender；　with　smooth　skin；　sandy　hair；　a　charming　smile。　But　he　had　made　himself　well　hated　in　the　Vale；　by　everyone　but　her　aunt　and　little　Lord　Robert。　To　hear　the　servants　talk；　Sansa　was　not　the　first　maid　to　suffer　his　advances；　and　the　others　had　not　had　Lothor　Brune　to　defend　them。　But　Lady　Lysa　would　hear　no　plaints　against　him。　Since　ing　to　the　Eyrie；　the　singer　had　bee　her　favorite。　He　sang　Lord　Robert　to　sleep　every　night；　and　tweaked　the　noses　of　Lady　Lysa's　suitors　with　verses　that　made　mock　of　their　foibles。　Her　aunt　had　showered　him　with　gold　and　gifts；　costly　clothes；　a　gold　arm　ring；　a　belt　studded　with　moonstones；　a　fine　horse。　She　had　even　given　him　her　late　husband's　favorite　falcon。　It　all　served　to　make　Marillion　unfailingly　courteous　in　Lady　Lysa's　presence；　and　unfailingly　arrogant　outside　it。
　〃Thank　you；〃　Sansa　told　him　stiffly。　〃I　know　the　way。〃
　He　would　not　leave。　〃My　lady　said　to　bring　you。〃
　Bring　me？　She　did　not　like　the　sound　of　that。　〃Are　you　a　guardsman　now？〃　Littlefinger　had　dismissed　the　Eyrie's　captain　of　guards　and　put　Ser　Lothor　Brune　in　his　place。
　〃Do　you　require　guarding？〃　Marillion　said　lightly。　〃I　am　posing　a　new　song；　you　should　know。　A　song　so　sweet　and　sad　it　will　melt　even　your　frozen　heart。　'The　Roadside　Rose'　I　mean　to　call　it。　About　a　baseborn　girl　so　beautiful　she　bewitched　every　man　who　laid　eyes　upon　her。〃
　I　am　a　Stark　of　Winterfell；　she　longed　to　tell　him。　Instead　she　nodded；　and　let　him　escort　her　down　the　tower　steps　and　along　a　bridge。　The　High　Hall　had　been　closed　as　long　as　she'd　been　at　the　Eyrie。　Sansa　wondered　why　her　aunt　had　opened　it。　Normally　she　preferred　the　fort　of　her　solar；　or　the　cozy　warmth　of　Lord　Arryn's　audience　chamber　with　its　view　of　the　waterfall。
　Two　guards　in　sky…blue　cloaks　flanked　the　carved　wooden　doors　of　the　High　Hall；　spears　in　hand。　〃No　one　is　to　enter　so　long　as　Alayne　is　with　Lady　Lysa；〃　Marillion　told　them。
　〃Aye。〃　The　men　let　them　pass；　then　crossed　their　spears。　Marillion　swung　the　doors　shut　and　barred　them　with　a　third　spear；　longer　and　thicker　than　those　the　guards　had　borne。
　Sansa　felt　a　prickle　of　unease。　〃Why　did　you　do　that？〃
　〃My　lady　awaits　you。〃
　She　looked　about　uncertainly。　Lady　Lysa　sat　on　the　dais　in　a　highbacked　chair　of　carved　weirwood；　alone。　To　her　right　was　a　second　chair；　taller　than　her　own；　with　a　stack　of　blue　cushions　piled　on　the　seat；　but　Lord　Robert　was　not　in　it。　Sansa　hoped　he'd　recovered。　Marillion　was　not　like　to　tell　her；　though。
　Sansa　walked　down　the　blue　silk　carpet　between　rows　of　fluted　pillars　slim　as　lances。　The　floors　and　walls　of　the　High　Hall　were　made　of　milk…white　marble　veined　with　blue。　Shafts　of　pale　daylight　slanted　down　through　narrow　arched　windows　along　the　eastern　wall。　Between　the　windows　were　torches；　mounted　in　high　iron　sconces；　but　none　of　them　was　lit。　Her　footsteps　fell　softly　on　the　carpet。　Outside　the　wind　blew　cold　and　lonely。
　Amidst　so　much　white　marble　even　the　sunlight　looked　chilly；　somehow　。　。　。　though　not　half　so　chilly　as　her　aunt。　Lady　Lysa　had　dressed　in　a　gown　of　cream…colored　velvet　and　a　necklace　of　sapphires　and　moonstones。　Her　auburn　hair　had　been　done　up　in　a　thick　braid；　and　fell　across　one　shoulder。　She　sat　in　the　high　seat　watching　her　niece　approach；　her　face　red　and　puffy　beneath　the　paint　and　powder。　On　the　wall　behind　her　hung　a　huge　banner；　the　moon…and…falcon　of　House　Arryn　in　cream　and　blue。
　Sansa　stopped　before　the　dais；　and　curtsied。　〃My　lady。　You　sent　for　me。〃　She　could　still　hear　the　sound　of　the　wind；　and　the　soft　chords　Marillion　was　playing　at　the　foot　of　the　hall。
　〃I　saw　what　you　did；〃　the　Lady　Lysa　said。
　Sansa　smoothed　down　the　folds　of　her　skirt。　〃I　trust　Lord　Robert　is　better？　I　never　meant　to　rip　his　doll。　He　was　smashing　my　snow　castle；　I　only　。　。　。〃
　〃Will　you　play　the　coy　deceiver　with　me？〃　her　aunt　said。　〃I　was　not　speaking　of　Robert's　doll。　I　saw　you　kissing　him。〃
　The　High　Hall　seemed　to　grow　a　little　colder。　The　walls　and　floor　and　columns　might　have　turned　to　ice。　〃He　kissed　me。〃
　Lysa's　nostrils　flared。　〃And　why　would　he　do　that？　He　has　a　wife　who　loves　him。　A　woman　grown；　not　a　little　girl。　He　has　no　need　for　the　likes　of　you。　Confess；　child。　You　threw　yourself　at　him。　That　was　the　way　of　it。〃
　Sansa　took　a　step　backward。　〃That's　not　true。〃
　〃Where　are　you　going？　Are　you　afraid？　Such　wanton　behavior　must　be　punished；　but　I　will　not　be　hard　on　you。　We　keep　a　whipping　boy　for　Robert；　as　is　the　custom　in　the　Free　Cities。　His　health　is　too　delicate　for　him　to　bear　the　rod　himself。　I　shall　find　some　mon　girl　to　take　your　whipping；　but　first　you　must　own　up　to　what　you've　done。　I　cannot　abide　a　liar；　Alayne。〃
　〃I　was　building　a　snow　castle；〃　Sansa　said。　〃Lord　Petyr　was　helping　me；　and　then　he　kissed　me。　That's　what　you　saw。〃
　〃Have　you　no　honor？〃　her　aunt　said　sharply。　〃Or　do　you　take　me　for　a　fool？　You　do；　don't　you？　You　take　me　for　a　fool。　Yes　'　I　see　that　now。　I　am　not　a　fool。　You　think　you　can　have　any　man　you　want　because　you're　young　and　beautiful。　Don't　think　I　haven't　seen　the　looks　you　give　Marillion。　I　know　everything　that　happens　in　the　Eyrie；　little　lady。　And　I　have　known　your　like　before；　too。　But　you　are　mistaken　if　you　think　big　eyes　and　strumpet's　smiles　will　win　you　Petyr。　He　is　mine。〃　She　rose　to　her　feet。　〃They　all　tried　to　take　him　from　me。　My　lord　father；　my　husband；　your　mother　。　。　。　Catelyn　most　of　all。　She　liked　to　kiss　my　Petyr　too；　oh　yes　she　did。〃
　Sansa　retreated　another　step。　〃My　mother？〃
　〃Yes；　your　mother；　your　precious　mother；　my　own　sweet　sister　Catelyn。　Don't　you　think　to　play　the　innocent　with　me；　you　vile　little　liar。　All　those　years　in　Riverrun；　she　played　with　Petyr　as　if　he　were　her　little　toy。　She　teased　him　with　smiles　and　soft　words　and　wanton　looks；　and　made　his　nights　a　torment。〃
　〃No。〃　My　mother　is　dead；　she　wanted　to　shriek。　She　was　your　own　sister；　and　she's　dead。　〃She　didn't。　She　wouldn't。〃
　〃How　would　you　know？　Were　you　there？〃　Lysa　descended　from　the　high　seat；　her　skirts　swirling。　〃Did　you　e　with　Lord　Bracken　and　Lord　Blackwood；　the　time　they　visited　to　lay　their　feud　before　my　father？　Lord　Bracken's　singer　played　for　us；　and　Catelyn　danced　six　dances　with　Petyr　that　night；　six；　I　counted。　When　the　lords　began　to　argue　my　father　took　them　up　to　his　audience　chamber；　so　there　was　no　one　to　stop　us　drinkin