grrm.astormofswords-第115节

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eded　from　his　brow　in　a　widow's　peak　as　sharply　pointed　as　his　nose。　A　salty　Dornishmen　for　certain。　〃Prince　Doran　has　sent　me　to　join　King　Joffrey's　council　in　his　stead；　as　it　please　His　Grace。〃
　〃His　Grace　will　be　most　honored　to　have　the　counsel　of　a　warrior　as　renowned　as　Prince　Oberyn　of　Dome；〃　said　Tyrion；　thinking；　This　will　mean　blood　in　the　gutters。　〃And　your　noble　panions　are　most　wele　as　well。〃
　〃Permit　me　to　acquaint　you　with　them；　my　lord　of　Lannister。　Ser　Deziel　Dalt；　of　Lemonwood。　Lord　Tremond　Gargalen。　Lord　Harmen　Uller　and　his　brother　Ser　Ulwyck。　Ser　Ryon　Allyrion　and　his　natural　son　Ser　Daemon　Sand；　the　Bastard　of　Godsgrace。　Lord　Dagos　Manwoody；　his　brother　Ser　Myles；　his　sons　Mors　and　Dickon。　Ser　Arron　Qorgyle。　And　never　let　it　be　thought　that　I　would　neglect　the　ladies。　Myria　Jordayne；　heir　to　the　Tor。　Lady　Larra　Blackmont；　her　daughter　Jynessa；　her　son　Perros。〃　He　raised　a　slender　hand　toward　a　black…haired　woman　to　the　rear；　beckoning　her　forward。　〃And　this　is　Ellaria　Sand；　mine　own　paramour。〃
　Tyrion　swallowed　a　groan。　His　paramour；　and　bastard…born；　Cersei　will　pitch　a　holy　fit　if　he　wants　her　at　the　wedding。　If　she　consigned　the　woman　to　some　dark　corner　below　the　salt；　his　sister　would　risk　the　Red　Viper's　wrath。　Seat　her　beside　him　at　the　high　table；　and　every　other　lady　on　the　dais　was　like　to　take　offense。　Did　Prince　Doran　mean　to　provoke　a　quarrel？
　Prince　Oberyn　wheeled　his　horse　about　to　face　his　fellow　Domishmen。　〃Ellaria；　lords　and　ladies；　sers；　see　how　well　King　Joffrey　loves　us。　His　Grace　has　been　so　kind　as　to　send　his　own　Uncle　Imp　to　bring　us　to　his　court。〃
　Bronn　snorted　back　laughter；　and　Tyrion　perforce　must　feign　amusement　as　well。　〃Not　alone；　my　lords。　That　would　be　too　enormous　a　task　for　a　little　man　like　me。〃　His　own　party　had　e　up　on　them；　so　it　was　his　turn　to　name　the　names。　〃Let　me　present　Ser　Flement　Brax；　heir　to　Homvale。　Lord　Gyles　of　Rosby。　Ser　Addam　Marbrand；　Lord　mander　of　the　City　Watch。　jalabhar　Xho；　Prince　of　the　Red　Flower　Vale。　Ser　Harys　Swyft；　my　uncle　Kevan's　good　father　by　marriage。　Ser　Merlon　Crakehall。　Ser　Philip　Foote　and　Ser　Bronn　of　the　Blackwater；　two　heroes　of　our　recent　battle　against　the　rebel　Stannis　Baratheon。　And　mine　own　squire；　young　Podrick　of　House　Payne。〃　The　names　had　a　nice　ringing　sound　as　Tyrion　reeled　them　off；　but　the　bearers　were　nowise　near　as　distinguished　nor　formidable　a　pany　as　those　who　acpanied　Prince　Oberyn；　as　both　of　them　knew　full　well。
　〃My　lord　of　Lannister；〃　said　Lady　Blackmont；　〃we　have　e　a　long　dusty　way；　and　rest　and　refreshment　would　be　most　wele。　Might　we　continue　on　to　the　city？〃
　〃At　once；　my　lady。〃　Tyrion　turned　his　horse's　head；　and　called　to　Ser　Addam　Marbrand。　The　mounted　gold　cloaks　who　formed　the　greatest　part　of　his　honor　guard　turned　their　horses　crisply　at　Ser　Addam's　mand；　and　the　column　set　off　for　the　river　and　King's　Landing　beyond。
　Oberyn　Nymeros　Martell；　Tyrion　muttered　under　his　breath　as　he　fell　in　beside　the　man。　The　Red　Viper　of　Dorne。　And　what　in　the　seven　hells　am　I　supposed　to　do　with　him？
　He　knew　the　man　only　by　reputation；　to　be　sure　。　。　。　but　the　reputation　was　fearsome。　When　he　was　no　more　than　sixteen；　Prince　Oberyn　had　been　found　abed　with　the　paramour　of　old　Lord　Yronwood；　a　huge　man　of　fierce　repute　and　short　temper。　A　duel　ensued；　though　in　view　of　the　prince's　youth　and　high　birth；　it　was　only　to　first　blood。　Both　men　took　cuts；　and　honor　was　satisfied。　Yet　Prince　Oberyn　soon　recovered；　while　Lord　Yronwood's　wounds　festered　and　killed　him。　Afterward　men　whispered　that　Oberyn　had　fought　with　a　poisoned　sword；　and　ever　thereafter　friends　and　foes　alike　called　him　the　Red　Viper。
　That　was　many　years　ago；　to　be　sure。　The　boy　of　sixteen　was　a　man　past　forty　now；　and　his　legend　had　grown　a　deal　darker。　He　had　traveled　in　the　Free　Cities；　leaming　the　poisoner's　trade　and　perhaps　arts　darker　still；　if　rumors　could　be　believed。　He　had　studied　at　the　Citadel；　going　so　far　as　to　forge　six　links　of　a　maester's　chain　before　he　grew　bored。　He　had　soldiered　in　the　Disputed　Lands　across　the　narrow　sea；　riding　with　the　Second　Sons　for　a　time　before　forming　his　own　pany。　His　tourneys；　his　battles；　his　duels；　his　horses；　his　carnality　。　。　。　it　was　said　that　he　bedded　men　and　women　both；　and　had　begotten　bastard　girls　all　over　Dome。　The　sand　snakes；　men　called　his　daughters。　So　far　as　Tyrion　had　heard；　Prince　Oberyn　had　never　fathered　a　son。
　And　of　course；　he　had　crippled　the　heir　to　Highgarden。
　There　is　no　man　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms　who　will　be　less　wele　at　a　7）7rell　wedding；　thought　Tyrion。　To　send　Prince　Oberyn　to　King's　Landing　while　the　city　still　hosted　Lord　Mace　Tyrell；　two　of　his　sons；　and　thousands　of　their　men…at…arms　was　a　provocation　as　dangerous　as　Prince　Oberyn　himself。　A　wrong　word；　an　ill…timed　jest；　a　look；　that's　all　it　will　take；　and　our　noble　allies　will　be　at　one　another's　throats。
　〃We　have　met　before；〃　the　Domish　prince　said　lightly　to　Tyrion　as　they　rode　side　by　side　along　the　kingsroad；　past　ashen　fields　and　the　skeletons　of　trees。　〃I　would　not　expect　you　to　remember；　though。　You　were　even　smaller　than　you　are　now。〃
　There　was　a　mocking　edge　to　his　voice　that　Tyrion　misliked；　but　he　was　not　about　to　let　the　Dornishman　provoke　him。　〃When　was　this；　my　lord？〃　he　asked　in　tones　of　polite　interest。
　〃Oh；　many　and　many　a　year　ago；　when　my　mother　ruled　in　Dome　and　your　lord　father　was　Hand　to　a　different　king。〃
　Not　so　different　as　you　might　think；　reflected　Tyrion。
　〃It　was　when　I　visited　Casterly　Rock　with　my　mother；　her　consort；　and　my　sister　Elia。　I　was；　oh；　fourteen；　fifteen；　thereabouts；　Elia　a　year　older。　Your　brother　and　sister　were　eight　or　nine；　as　I　recall；　and　you　had　just　been　born。〃
　A　queer　time　to　e　visiting。　His　mother　had　died　giving　him　birth；　so　the　Martells　would　have　found　the　Rock　deep　in　mouming。　His　father　especially。　Lord　Tywin　seldom　spoke　of　his　wife；　but　Tyrion　had　heard　his　uncles　talk　of　the　love　between　them。　In　those　days；　his　father　had　been　Aerys's　Hand；　and　many　people　said　that　Lord　Tywin　Lannister　ruled　the　Seven　Kingdoms；　but　Lady　Joanna　ruled　Lord　Tywin。　〃He　was　not　the　same　man　after　she　died；　imp；〃　his　Uncle　Gery　told　him　once。　〃The　best　part　of　him　died　with　her。〃　Gerion　had　been　the　youngest　of　Lord　Tytos　Lannister's　four　sons；　and　the　uncle　Tyrion　liked　best。
　But　he　was　gone　now；　lost　beyond　the　seas；　and　Tyrion　himself　had　put　Lady　Joanna　in　her　grave。　〃Did　you　find　Casterly　Rock　to　your　liking；　my　lord？〃
　〃Scarcely。　Your　father　ignored　us　the　whole　time　we　were　there；　after　manding　Ser　Kevan　to　see　to　our　entertainment。　The　cell　they　gave　me　had　a　featherbed　to　sleep　in　and　Myrish　carpets　on　the　floor；　but　it　was　dark　and　windowless；　much　like　a　dungeon　when　you　e　down　to　it；　as　I　told　Elia　at　the　time。　Your　skies　were　too　grey；　your　wines　too　sweet；　your　women　too　chaste；　your　food　too　bland　。　。　。　and　you　yourself　were　the　greatest　disappointment　of　all。〃
　〃I　had　just　been　born。　What　did　you　expect　of　me？〃
　〃Enormity；〃　the　black…haired　prince　replied。　〃You　were　small；　but　far…famed。　We　were　in　Oldtown　at　your　birth；　and　all　the　city　talked　of　was　the　monster　that　had　been　born　to　the　King's　Hand；　and　what　such　an　omen　might　foretell　for　the　realm。〃
　〃Famine；　plague；　and　war；　no　doubt。〃　Tyrion　gave　a　sour　smile。　〃It's　always　famine；　plague；　and　war。　Oh；　and　winter；　and　the　long　night　that　never　ends。〃
　〃All　that；〃　said　Prince　Oberyn；　〃and　your　father's　fall　as　well。　Lord　Tywin　had　made　himself　greater　than　King　Aerys；　I　heard　one　begging　brother　preach；　but　only　a　god　is　meant　to　stand　above　a　king。　You　were　his　curse；　a　punishment　sent　by　the　gods　to　teach　him　that　he　was　no　better　than　any　other　man。〃
　〃I　try；　but　he　refuses　to　learn。〃　Tyrion　gave　a　sigh。　〃But　do　go　on；　I　pray　you。　I　love　a　good　tale。〃
　〃And　well　you　might；　since　you　were　said　to　have　one；　a　stiff　curly　tail　like　a　swine's。　Your　head　was　monstrous　huge；　we　heard；　half　again　the　size　of　your　body；　and　you　had　been　born　with　thick　black　hair　and　a　beard　besides；　an　evil　eye；　and　lion's　claws。　Your　teeth　were　so　long　you　could　not　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