grrm.astormofswords-第14节

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　Maegor's　Holdfast　was　the　strongest　place　in　the　Red　Keep；　a　castle　within　the　castle；　surrounded　by　a　deep　dry　moat　lined　with　spikes。　The　drawbridge　was　up　for　the　night　when　they　reached　the　door。　Ser　Meryn　Trant　stood　before　it　in　his　pale　armor　and　white　cloak。　〃Lower　the　bridge；〃　Tyrion　manded　him。
　〃The　queen's　orders　are　to　raise　the　bridge　at　night。〃　Ser　Meryn　had　always　been　Cersei's　creature。
　〃The　queen's　asleep；　and　I　have　business　with　my　father。〃
　There　was　magic　in　the　name　of　Lord　Tywin　Lannister。　Grumbling；　Ser　Meryn　Trant　gave　the　mand；　and　the　drawbridge　was　lowered。　A　second　Kingsguard　knight　stood　sentry　across　the　moat。　Ser　Osmund　Kettleblack　managed　a　smile　when　he　saw　Tyrion　waddling　toward　him。　〃Feeling　stronger；　m'lord？〃
　〃Much。　When's　the　next　battle？　I　can　scarcely　wait。〃
　When　Pod　and　he　reached　the　serpentine　steps；　however；　Tyrion　could　only　gape　at　them　in　dismay。　I　will　never　climb　those　by　myself；　he　confessed　to　himself。　Swallowing　his　dignity；　he　asked　Brorm　to　carry　him；　hoping　against　hope　that　at　this　hour　there　would　be　no　one　to　see　and　smile；　no　one　to　tell　the　tale　of　the　dwarf　being　carried　up　the　steps　like　a　babe　in　arms。
　The　outer　ward　was　crowded　with　tents　and　pavilions；　dozens　of　them。　〃Tyrell　men；〃　Podrick　Payne　explained　as　they　threaded　their　way　through　a　maze　of　silk　and　canvas。　〃Lord　Rowan's　too；　and　Lord　Redwyne's。　There　wasn't　room　enough　for　all。　In　the　castle；　I　mean。　Some　took　rooms。　Rooms　in　the　city。　In　inns　and　all。　They're　here　for　the　wedding。　The　king's　wedding；　King　Joffrey's。　Will　you　be　strong　enough　to　attend；　my　lord？〃
　〃Ravening　weasels　could　not　keep　me　away。〃　There　was　this　to　be　said　for　weddings　over　battles；　at　least；　it　was　less　likely　that　someone　would　cut　off　your　nose。
　Lights　still　burned　dimly　behind　shuttered　windows　in　the　Tower　of　the　Hand。　The　men　on　the　door　wore　the　crimson　cloaks　and　lion…crested　helms　of　his　father's　household　guard。　Tyrion　knew　them　both；　and　they　admitted　him　on　sight　。　。　。　though　neither　could　bear　to　look　long　at　his　face；　he　noted。
　Within　they　came　upon　Ser　Addam　Marbrand；　descending　the　turnpike　stair　in　the　ornate　black　breastplate　and　clothof　…gold　cloak　of　an　officer　in　the　City　Watch。　〃My　lord；〃　he　said；　〃how　good　to　see　you　on　your　feet。　I'd　heard…〃
　〃…rumors　of　a　small　grave　being　dug？　Me　too。　Under　the　circumstances　it　seemed　best　to　get　up。　I　hear　you're　mander　of　the　City　Watch。　Shall　I　offer　congratulations　or　condolences？〃
　〃Both；　I　fear。〃　Ser　Addam　smiled。　〃Death　and　desertion　have　left　me　with　some　forty…four　hundred。　Only　the　gods　and　Littlefinger　know　how　we　are　to　go　on　paying　wages　for　so　many；　but　your　sister　forbids　me　to　dismiss　any。〃
　Still　anxious；　Cersei？　The　battle's　done；　the　gold　cloaks　won't　help　you　now　〃Do　you　e　from　my　father？〃　he　asked。
　〃Aye。　I　fear　I　did　not　leave　him　in　the　best　of　moods。　Lord　Tywin　feels　forty…four　hundred　guardsmen　more　than　sufficient　to　find　one　lost　squire；　but　your　cousin　Tyrek　remains　missing。〃
　Tyrek　was　the　son　of　his　late　Uncle　Tygett；　a　boy　of　thirteen。　He　had　vanished　in　the　riot；　not　long　after　wedding　the　Lady　Ermesande；　a　suckling　babe　who　happened　to　be　the　last　surviving　heir　of　House　Hayford。　And　likely　the　first　bride　in　the　history　of　the　Seven　Kingdoms　to　be　widowed　before　she　was　weaned。　〃I　couldn't　find　him　either；〃　confessed　Tyrion。
　〃He's　feeding　worms；〃　said　Bronn　with　his　usual　tact。　〃Ironhand　looked　for　him；　and　the　eunuch　rattled　a　nice　fat　purse。　They　had　no　more　luck　than　we　did。　Give　it　up；　ser。〃
　Ser　Addam　gazed　at　the　sellsword　with　distaste。　〃Lord　Tywin　is　stubborn　where　his　blood　is　concerned。　He　will　have　the　lad；　alive　or　dead；　and　I　mean　to　oblige　him。〃　He　looked　back　to　Tyrion。　〃You　will　find　your　father　in　his　solar。〃
　My　solar；　thought　Tyrion。　〃I　believe　I　know　the　way。〃
　The　way　was　up　more　steps；　but　this　time　he　climbed　under　his　own　power；　with　one　hand　on　Pod's　shoulder。　Bronn　opened　the　door　for　him。　Lord　Tywin　Lannister　was　seated　beneath　the　window；　writing　by　the　glow　of　an　oil　lamp。　He　raised　his　eyes　at　the　sound　of　the　latch。　〃Tyrion。〃　Calmly；　he　laid　his　quill　aside。
　〃I'm　pleased　you　remember　me；　my　lord。〃　Tyrion　released　his　grip　on　Pod；　leaned　his　weight　on　the　stick；　and　waddled　closer。　Something　is　wrong；　he　knew　at　once。
　〃Ser　Bronn；〃　Lord　Tywin　said；　〃Podrick。　Perhaps　you　had　best　wait　without　until　we　are　done。〃
　The　look　Bronn　gave　the　Hand　was　little　less　than　insolent；　nonetheless；　he　bowed　and　withdrew；　with　Pod　on　his　heels。　The　heavy　door　swung　shut　behind　them；　and　Tyrion　Lannister　was　alone　with　his　father。　Even　with　the　windows　of　the　solar　shuttered　against　the　night；　the　chill　in　the　room　was　palpable。　What　sort　of　lies　has　Cersei　been　telling　him？
　The　Lord　of　Casterly　Rock　was　as　lean　as　a　man　twenty　years　younger；　even　handsome　in　his　austere　way。　Stiff　blond　whiskers　covered　his　cheeks；　framing　a　stem　face；　a　bald　head；　a　hard　mouth。　About　his　throat　he　wore　a　chain　of　golden　hands；　the　fingers　of　each　clasping　the　wrist　of　the　next。　〃That's　a　handsome　chain；〃　Tyrion　said。　Though　it　looked　better　on　me。
　Lord　Tywin　ignored　the　sally。　〃You　had　best　be　seated。　Is　it　wise　for　you　to　be　out　of　your　sickbed？〃
　〃I　am　sick　of　my　sickbed。〃　Tyrion　knew　how　much　his　father　despised　weakness。　He　claimed　the　nearest　chair。　〃Such　pleasant　chambers　you　have。　Would　you　believe　it；　while　I　was　dying；　someone　moved　me　to　a　dark　little　cell　in　Maegor's？〃
　〃The　Red　Keep　is　overcrowded　with　wedding　guests。　Once　they　depart；　we　will　find　you　more　suitable　acmodations。〃
　〃I　rather　liked　these　acmodations。　Have　you　set　a　date　for　this　great　wedding？〃
　〃Joffrey　and　Margaery　shall　marry　on　the　first　day　of　the　new　year；　which　as　it　happens　is　also　the　first　day　of　the　new　century。　The　ceremony　will　herald　the　dawn　of　a　new　era。〃
　A　new　Lannister　era；　thought　Tyrion。　〃Oh；　bother；　I　fear　I've　made　other　plans　for　that　day。〃
　〃Did　you　e　here　just　to　plain　of　your　bedchamber　and　make　your　lame　japes？　I　have　important　letters　to　finish。〃
　〃Important　letters。　To　be　sure。〃
　〃Some　battles　are　won　with　swords　and　spears；　others　with　quills　and　ravens。　Spare　me　these　coy　reproaches；　Tyrion。　I　visited　your　sickbed　as　often　as　Maester　Ballabar　would　allow　it；　when　you　seemed　like　to　die。〃　He　steepled　his　fingers　under　his　chin。　〃Why　did　you　dismiss　Ballabar？〃
　Tyrion　shrugged。　〃Maester　Frenken　is　not　so　determined　to　keep　me　insensate。〃
　〃Ballabar　came　to　the　city　in　Lord　Redwyne's　retinue。　A　gifted　healer；　it's　said。　It　was　kind　of　Cersei　to　ask　him　to　look　after　you。　She　feared　for　your　life。〃
　Feared　that　I　might　keep　it；　you　mean。　〃Doubtless　that's　why　she's　never　once　left　my　bedside。〃
　〃Don't　be　impertinent。　Cersei　has　a　royal　wedding　to　plan；　I　am　waging　a　war；　and　you　have　been　out　of　danger　for　at　least　a　fortnight。〃　Lord　Tywin　studied　his　son's　disfigured　face；　his　pale　green　eyes　unflinching。　〃Though　the　wound　is　ghastly　enough；　I'll　grant　you。　What　madness　possessed　you？〃
　〃The　foe　was　at　the　gates　with　a　battering　ram。　If　Jaime　had　led　the　sortie；　you'd　call　it　valor。〃
　〃Jaime　would　never　be　so　foolish　as　to　remove　his　helm　in　battle。　I　trust　you　killed　the　man　who　cut　you？〃
　〃Oh；　the　wretch　is　dead　enough。〃　Though　it　had　been　Podrick　Payne　who'd　killed　Ser　Mandon；　shoving　him　into　the　river　to　drown　beneath　the　weight　of　his　armor。　〃A　dead　enemy　is　a　joy　forever；〃　Tyrion　said　blithely；　though　Ser　Mandon　was　not　his　true　enemy。　The　man　had　no　reason　to　want　him　dead。　He　was　only　a　catspaw；　and　I　believe　I　know　the　cat。　She　told　him　to　make　certain　I　did　not　survive　the　battle。　But　without　proof　Lord　Tywin　would　never　listen　to　such　a　charge。　〃Why　are　you　here　in　the　city；　Father？〃　he　asked。　〃Shouldn't　you　be　off　fighting　Lord　Stannis　or　Robb　Stark　or　someone？〃　And　the　sooner　the　better。
　〃Until　Lord　Redwyne　brings　his　fleet　up；　we　lack　the　ships　to　assail　Dragonstone。　It　makes　no　matter。　Stannis　Baratheon's　sun　set　on　the　Blackwater。　As　for　Stark；　the　boy　is　still　in　the　west；　but　a　large　force　of　northmen　under　Helman　Tallhart　and　Robett　Glover　are　descending　toward　Duskendale。　I've　sent　Lord　Tarly　to　meet　them；　while　Ser　Gregor　drives　up　the　kingsroad　to　cut　off　their　retreat。　Tallhart　and　Glover　will　be　caught　between　them；　with　a　third　of　Stark's　strength。〃
　〃Duskendale？〃　There　was　nothing　at　Duskendale　worth　such　a　risk。　Had　the　Young　Wolf　finally　blundered？
　〃It's　nothing　you　need　trouble　yourself　with。　Your　face　is　pale　as　death；　and　there's　blood　seeping　through　your　dressings。　Say　what　you　want　and　take　yourself　back　to　bed。〃
　〃What　I　want　。　。　。　〃　His　throat　felt　raw　and　tight。　What　did　he　want？　More　than　you　can　ever　give　me；　Father。　〃Pod　tells　me　that　Littlefinger's　been　made　Lord　of　Harrenhal。〃
　〃An　empty　title；　so　long　as　Roose　Bolton　holds　the　castle　for　Robb　Stark；　yet　Lord　Baelish　was　desirous　of　the　honor。　He　did　us　good　service　in　the　matter　of　the　Tyrell　marriage。　A　Lannister　pays　his　debts。〃
　The　Tyrell　marriage　had　been　Tyrion's　notion；　in　point　of　fact；　but　it　would　seem　churlish　to　try　to　claim　that　now。　〃That　title　may　not　be　as　empty　as　you　think；〃　he　warned。　〃Littlefinger　does　nothing　without　good　reason。