grrm.astormofswords-第127节

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　〃If　you　bring　the　Second　Sons　over　to　my　side；　I　might　not　have　you　gelded。〃
　The　big　man　laughed。　〃Little　girl；　another　woman　once　tried　to　geld　me　with　her　teeth。　She　has　no　teeth　now；　but　my　sword　is　as　long　and　thick　as　ever。　Shall　I　take　it　out　and　show　you？〃
　〃No　need。　After　my　eunuchs　cut　it　off；　I　can　examine　it　at　my　leisure。〃　Dany　took　a　sip　of　wine。　〃It　is　true　that　I　am　only　a　young　girl；　and　do　not　know　the　ways　of　war。　Explain　to　me　how　you　propose　to　defeat　ten　thousand　Unsullied　with　your　five　hundred。　innocent　as　I　am；　these　odds　seem　poor　to　me。〃
　〃The　Second　Sons　have　faced　worse　odds　and　won。〃
　〃The　Second　Sons　have　faced　worse　odds　and　run。　At　Qohor；　when　the　Three　Thousand　made　their　stand。　Or　do　you　deny　it？〃
　〃That　was　many　and　more　years　ago；　before　the　Second　Sons　were　led　by　the　Titan's　Bastard。〃
　〃So　it　is　from　you　they　get　their　courage？〃　Dany　turned　to　Ser　Jorah。　〃When　the　battle　is　joined；　kill　this　one　first。〃
　The　exile　knight　smiled。　〃Gladly；　Your　Grace。〃
　〃Of　course；〃　she　said　to　Mero；　〃you　could　run　again。　We　will　not　stop　you。　Take　your　Yunkish　gold　and　go。〃
　〃Had　you　ever　seen　the　Titan　of　Braavos；　foolish　girl；　you　would　know　that　it　has　no　tail　to　turn。〃
　〃Then　stay；　and　fight　for　me。〃
　〃You　are　worth　fighting　for；　it　is　true；〃　the　Braavosi　said；　〃and　I　would　gladly　let　you　kiss　my　sword；　if　I　were　free。　But　I　have　taken　Yunkai's　coin　and　pledged　my　holy　word。〃
　〃Coins　can　be　returned；〃　she　said。　〃I　will　pay　you　as　much　and　more。　I　have　other　cities　to　conquer；　and　a　whole　kingdom　awaiting　me　half　a　world　away。　Serve　me　faithfully；　and　the　Second　Sons　need　never　seek　hire　again。〃
　The　Braavosi　tugged　on　his　thick　red　beard。　〃As　much　and　more；　and　perhaps　a　kiss　besides；　eh？　Or　more　than　a　kiss？　For　a　man　as　magnificent　as　me？〃
　〃Perhaps。〃
　〃I　will　like　the　taste　of　your　tongue；　I　think。〃
　She　could　sense　Ser　Jorah's　anger。　My　black　bear　does　not　like　this　talk　of　kissing。　〃Think　on　what　I've　said　tonight。　Can　I　have　your　answer　on　the　morrow？〃
　〃You　can。〃　The　Titan's　Bastard　grinned。　〃Can　I　have　a　flagon　of　this　fine　wine　to　take　back　to　my　captains？〃
　〃You　may　have　a　tun。　It　is　from　the　cellars　of　the　Good　Masters　of　Astapor；　and　I　have　wagons　full　of　it。〃
　〃Then　give　me　a　wagon。　A　token　of　your　good　regard。〃
　〃You　have　a　big　thirst。〃
　〃I　am　big　all　over。　And　I　have　many　brothers。　The　Titan's　Bastard　does　not　drink　alone；　Khaleesi。〃
　〃A　wagon　it　is；　if　you　promise　to　drink　to　my　health。〃
　〃Done！〃　he　boomed。　〃And　done；　and　done！　Three　toasts　we'll　drink　you；　and　bring　you　an　answer　when　the　sun　es　up。〃
　But　when　Mero　was　gone；　Arstan　Whitebeard　said；　〃That　one　has　an　evil　reputation；　even　in　Westeros。　Do　not　be　misled　by　his　manner；　Your　Grace。　He　will　drink　three　toasts　to　your　health　tonight；　and　rape　you　on　the　morrow。〃
　〃The　old　man's　right　for　once；〃　Ser　Jorah　said。　〃The　Second　Sons　are　an　old　pany；　and　not　without　valor；　but　under　Mero　they've　turned　near　as　bad　as　the　Brave　panions。　The　man　is　as　dangerous　to　his　employers　as　to　his　foes。　That's　why　you　find　him　out　here。　None　of　the　Free　Cities　will　hire　him　any　longer。〃
　〃It　is　not　his　reputation　that　I　want；　it's　his　five　hundred　horse。　What　of　the　Stormcrows；　is　there　any　hope　there？〃
　〃No；〃　Ser　Jorah　said　bluntly。　〃That　Prendahl　is　Ghiscari　by　blood。　Likely　he　had　kin　in　Astapor。〃
　〃A　pity。　Well；　perhaps　we　will　not　need　to　fight。　Let　us　wait　and　hear　what　the　Yunkai'i　have　to　say。〃
　The　envoys　from　Yunkai　arrived　as　the　sun　was　going　down；　fifty　men　on　magnificent　black　horses　and　one　on　a　great　white　camel。　Their　helms　were　twice　as　tall　as　their　heads；　so　as　not　to　crush　the　bizarre　twists　and　towers　and　shapes　of　their　oiled　hair　beneath。　They　dyed　their　linen　skirts　and　tunics　a　deep　yellow；　and　sewed　copper　disks　to　their　cloaks。
　The　man　on　the　white　camel　named　himself　Grazdan　mo　Eraz。　Lean　and　hard；　he　had　a　white　smile　such　as　Kraznys　had　worn　until　Drogon　burned　off　his　face。　His　hair　was　drawn　up　in　a　unicorn's　hom　that　jutted　from　his　brow；　and　his　tokar　was　fringed　with　golden　Myrish　lace。　〃Ancient　and　glorious　is　Yunkai；　the　queen　of　cities；〃　he　said　when　Dany　weled　him　to　her　tent。　〃Our　walls　are　strong；　our　nobles　proud　and　fierce；　our　mon　folk　without　fear。　Ours　is　the　blood　of　ancient　Ghis；　whose　empire　was　old　when　Valyria　was　yet　a　squalling　child。　You　were　wise　to　sit　and　speak；　Khaleesi。　You　shall　find　no　easy　conquest　here。〃
　〃Good。　My　Unsullied　will　relish　a　bit　of　a　fight。〃　She　looked　to　Grey　Worm；　who　nodded。
　Grazdan　shrugged　expansively。　〃If　blood　is　what　you　wish；　let　it　flow。　I　am　told　you　have　freed　your　eunuchs。　Freedom　means　as　much　to　an　Unsullied　as　a　hat　to　a　haddock。〃　He　smiled　at　Grey　Worm；　but　the　eunuch　might　have　been　made　of　stone。　〃Those　who　survive　we　shall　enslave　again；　and　use　to　retake　Astapor　from　the　rabble。　We　can　make　a　slave　of　you　as　well；　do　not　doubt　it。　There　are　pleasure　houses　in　Lys　and　Tyrosh　where　men　would　pay　handsomely　to　bed　the　last　Targaryen。
　〃It　is　good　to　see　you　know　who　I　am；〃　said　Dany　mildly。
　〃I　pride　myself　on　my　knowledge　of　the　savage　senseless　west。〃　Grazdan　spread　his　hands；　a　gesture　of　conciliation。　〃And　yet；　why　should　we　speak　thus　harshly　to　one　another？　It　is　true　that　you　mitted　savageries　in　Astapor；　but　we　Yunkai'i　are　a　most　forgiving　people。　Your　quarrel　is　not　with　us；　Your　Grace。　Why　squander　your　strength　against　our　mighty　walls　when　you　will　need　every　man　to　regain　your　father's　throne　in　far　Westeros？　Yunkai　wishes　you　only　well　in　that　endeavor。　And　to　prove　the　truth　of　that；　I　have　brought　you　a　gift。〃　He　clapped　his　hands；　and　two　of　his　escort　came　forward　bearing　a　heavy　cedar　chest　bound　in　bronze　and　gold。　They　set　it　at　her　feet。　〃Fifty　thousand　golden　marks；〃　Grazdan　said　smoothly。　〃Yours；　as　a　gesture　of　friendship　from　the　Wise　Masters　of　Yunkai。　Gold　given　freely　is　better　than　plunder　bought　with　blood；　surely？　So　I　say　to　you；　Daenerys　Targaryen；　take　this　chest；　and　go。〃
　Dany　pushed　open　the　lid　of　the　chest　with　a　small　slippered　foot。　It　was　full　of　gold　coins；　just　as　the　envoy　said。　She　grabbed　a　handful　and　let　them　run　through　her　fingers。　They　shone　brightly　as　they　tumbled　and　fell；　new　minted；　most　of　them；　stamped　with　a　stepped　pyramid　on　one　face　and　the　harpy　of　Ghis　on　the　other。　〃Very　pretty。　I　wonder　how　many　chests　like　this　I　shall　find　when　I　take　your　city？〃
　He　chuckled。　〃None；　for　that　you　shall　never　do。〃
　〃I　have　a　gift　for　you　as　well。〃　She　slammed　the　chest　shut。　〃Three　days。　On　the　morning　of　the　third　day；　send　out　your　slaves。　All　of　them。　Every　man；　woman；　and　child　shall　be　given　a　weapon；　and　as　much　food；　clothing；　coin；　and　goods　as　he　or　she　can　carry。　These　they　shall　be　allowed　to　choose　freely　from　among　their　masters'　possessions；　as　payment　for　their　years　of　servitude。　When　all　the　slaves　have　departed；　you　will　open　your　gates　and　allow　my　Unsullied　to　enter　and　search　your　city；　to　make　certain　none　remain　in　bondage。　If　you　do　this；　Yunkai　will　not　be　burned　or　plundered；　and　none　of　your　people　shall　be　molested。　The　Wise　Masters　will　have　the　peace　they　desire；　and　will　have　proved　themselves　wise　indeed。　What　say　you？〃
　〃I　say；　you　are　mad。〃
　〃Am　I？〃　Dany　shrugged；　and　said；　〃Dracarys。〃
　The　dragons　answered。　Rhaegal　hissed　and　smoked；　Viserion　snapped；　and　Drogon　spat　swirling　red…black　flame。　It　touched　the　drape　of　Grazdan's　tokar；　and　the　silk　caught　in　half　a　heartbeat。　Golden　marks　spilled　across　the　carpets　as　the　envoy　stumbled　over　the　chest；　shouting　curses　and　beating　at　his　arm　until　Whitebeard　flung　a　flagon　of　water　over　him　to　douse　the　flames。　〃You　swore　I　should　have　safe　conduct！　〃　the　Yunkish　envoy　wailed。
　〃Do　all　the　Yunkai'i　whine　so　over　a　singed　tokar？　I　shall　buy　you　a　new　one　。　。　。　if　you　deliver　up　your　slaves　within　three　days。　Elsewise；　Drogon　shall　give　you　a　warmer　kiss。〃　She　wrinkled　her　nose。　〃You've　soiled　yourself。　Take　your　gold　and　go；　and　see　that　the　Wise　Masters　hear　my　message。〃
　Grazdan　mo　Eraz　pointed　a　finger。　〃You　shall　rue　this　arrogance；　whore。　These　little　lizards　will　not　keep　you　safe；　I　promise　you。　We　will　fill　the　air　with　arrows　if　they　e　within　a　league　of　Yunkai。　Do　you　think　it　is　so　hard　to　kill　a　dragon？〃
　〃Harder　than　to　kill　a　slaver。　Three　days；　Grazdan。　Tell　them。　By　the　end　of　the　third　day；　I　will　be　in　Yunkai；　whether　you　open　your　gates　for　me　or　no。〃
　Full　dark　had　fallen　by　the　time　the　Yunkai'i　departed　from　her　camp。　It　promised　to　be　a　gloomy　night；　moonless；　starless；　with　a　chill　wet　wind　blowing　from　the　west。　A　fine　black　night；　thought　Dany。　The　fires　burned　all　around　her；　small　orange　stars　strewn　across　hill　and　field。　〃Ser　Jorah；〃　she　said；　〃summon　my　bloodriders。〃　Dany　seated　herself　on　a　mound　of　cushions　to　await　them；　her　dragons　all　about　her。　When　they　were　assembled；　she　said；　〃An　hour　past　midnight　should　be　time　enough。〃
　〃Yes；　Khaleesi；〃　said　Rakharo。　〃Time　for　what？〃
　〃To　mount　our　attack。〃
　Ser　Jorah　Mormont　scowled。　〃You　told　the　sellswords　…
　〃…that　I　wanted　their　answers　on　the　morrow。　I　made　no　promises　about　tonight。　The　Stormcrows　will　be　arguing　about　my　offer。　The　Second　Sons　will