grrm.astormofswords-第173节

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e　city。　Even　so；　she　could　feel　Meereen　at　her　back；　mocking　her。　When　she　looked　over　one　shoulder；　there　it　stood；　the　afternoon　sun　blazing　off　the　bronze　harpy　atop　the　Great　Pyramid。　Inside　Meereen　the　slavers　would　soon　be　reclining　in　their　fringed　tokars　to　feast　on　lamb　and　olives；　unborn　puppies；　honeyed　dormice　and　other　such　delicacies；　whilst　outside　her　children　went　hungry。　A　sudden　wild　anger　filled　her。　I　will　bring　you　down；　she　swore。
　As　they　rode　past　the　stakes　and　pits　that　surrounded　the　eunuch　encampment；　Dany　could　hear　Grey　Worm　and　his　sergeants　running　one　pany　through　a　series　of　drills　with　shield；　shortsword；　and　heavy　spear。　Another　pany　was　bathing　in　the　sea；　clad　only　in　white　linen　breechclouts。　The　eunuchs　were　very　clean；　she　had　noticed。　Some　of　her　sellswords　smelled　as　if　they　had　not　washed　or　changed　their　clothes　since　her　father　lost　the　Iron　Throne；　but　the　Unsullied　bathed　each　evening；　even　if　they'd　marched　all　day。　When　no　water　was　available　they　cleansed　themselves　with　sand；　the　Dothraki　way。
　The　eunuchs　knelt　as　she　passed；　raising　clenched　fists　to　their　breasts。　Dany　returned　the　salute。　The　tide　was　ing　in；　and　the　surf　foamed　about　the　feet　of　her　silver。　She　could　see　her　ships　standing　out　to　sea。　Balerion　floated　nearest；　the　great　cog　once　known　as　Saduleon；　her　sails　furled。　Further　out　were　the　galleys　Meraxes　and　Vhagar；　formerly　joso's　Prank　and　Summer　Sun。　They　were　Magister　Illyrio's　ships；　in　truth；　not　hers　at　all；　and　yet　she　had　given　them　new　names　with　hardly　a　thought。　Dragon　names；　and　more；　in　old　Valyria　before　the　Doom；　Balerion；　Men　axes；　and　Vhagar　had　been　gods。
　South　of　the　ordered　realm　of　stakes；　pits；　drills；　and　bathing　eunuchs　lay　the　encampments　of　her　freedmen；　a　far　noisier　and　more　chaotic　place。　Dany　had　armed　the　former　slaves　as　best　she　could　with　weapons　from　Astapor　and　Yunkai；　and　Ser　Jorah　had　organized　the　fighting　men　into　four　strong　panies；　yet　she　saw　no　one　drilling　here。　They　passed　a　driftwood　fire　where　a　hundred　people　had　gathered　to　roast　the　carcass　of　a　horse。　She　could　smell　the　meat　and　hear　the　fat　sizzling　as　the　spit　boys　turned；　but　the　sight　only　made　her　frown。
　Children　ran　behind　their　horses；　skipping　and　laughing。　Instead　of　salutes；　voices　called　to　her　on　every　side　in　a　babble　of　tongues。　Some　of　the　freedmen　greeted　her　as　〃Mother；〃　while　others　begged　for　boons　or　favors。　Some　prayed　for　strange　gods　to　bless　her；　and　some　asked　her　to　bless　them　instead。　She　smiled　at　them；　turning　right　and　left；　touching　their　hands　when　they　raised　them；　letting　those　who　knelt　reach　up　to　touch　her　stirrup　or　her　leg。　Many　of　the　freedmen　believed　there　was　good　fortune　in　her　touch。　If　it　helps　give　them　courage；　let　them　touch　me；　she　thought。　There　are　hard　trials　yet　ahead　。　。　。
　Dany　had　stopped　to　speak　to　a　pregnant　woman　who　wanted　the　Mother　of　Dragons　to　name　her　baby　when　someone　reached　up　and　grabbed　her　left　wrist。　Turning；　she　glimpsed　a　tall　ragged　man　with　a　shaved　head　and　a　sunburnt　face。　〃Not　so　hard；〃　she　started　to　say；　but　before　she　could　finish　he'd　yanked　her　bodily　from　the　saddle。　The　ground　came　up　and　knocked　the　breath　from　her；　as　her　silver　whinnied　and　backed　away。　Stunned；　Dany　rolled　to　her　side　and　pushed　herself　onto　one　elbow　。　。　。
　　。　。　。　and　then　she　saw　the　sword。
　〃There's　the　treacherous　sow；〃　he　said。　〃I　knew　you'd　e　to　get　your　feet　kissed　one　day。〃　His　head　was　bald　as　a　melon；　his　nose　red　and　peeling；　but　she　knew　that　voice　and　those　pale　green　eyes。　〃I'm　going　to　start　by　cutting　off　your　teats。〃　Dany　was　dimly　aware　of　Missandei　shouting　for　help。　A　freedman　edged　forward；　but　only　a　step。　One　quick　slash；　and　he　was　on　his　knees；　blood　running　down　his　face。　Mero　wiped　his　sword　on　his　breeches。　〃Who's　next？〃
　〃I　am。〃　Arstan　Whitebeard　leapt　from　his　horse　and　stood　over　her；　the　salt　wind　riffling　through　his　snowy　hair；　both　hands　on　his　tall　hardwood　staff。
　〃Grandfather；〃　Mero　said；　〃run　off　before　I　break　your　stick　in　two　and　bugger　you　with…〃
　The　old　man　feinted　with　one　end　of　the　staff；　pulled　it　back；　and　whipped　the　other　end　about　faster　than　Dany　would　have　believed。　The　Titan's　Bastard　staggered　back　into　the　surf；　spitting　blood　and　broken　teeth　from　the　ruin　of　his　mouth。　Whitebeard　put　Dany　behind　him。　Mero　slashed　at　his　face。　The　old　man　jerked　back；　cat…quick。　The　staff　thumped　Mero's　ribs；　sending　him　reeling。　Arstan　splashed　sideways；　parried　a　looping　cut；　danced　away　from　a　second；　checked　a　third　mid…swing。　The　moves　were　so　fast　she　could　hardly　follow。　Missandei　was　pulling　Dany　to　her　feet　when　she　heard　a　crack。　She　thought　Arstan's　staff　had　snapped　until　she　saw　the　jagged　bone　jutting　from　Mero's　calf。　As　he　fell；　the　Titan's　Bastard　twisted　and　lunged；　sending　his　point　straight　at　the　old　man's　chest。　Whitebeard　swept　the　blade　aside　almost　contemptuously　and　smashed　the　other　end　of　his　staff　against　the　big　man's　temple。　Mero　went　sprawling；　blood　bubbling　from　his　mouth　as　the　waves　washed　over　him。　A　moment　later　the　freedmen　washed　over　him　too；　knives　and　stones　and　angry　fists　rising　and　falling　in　a　frenzy。
　Dany　turned　away；　sickened。　She　was　more　frightened　now　than　when　it　had　been　happening。　He　would　have　killed　me。
　〃Your　Grace。〃　Arstan　knelt。　〃I　am　an　old　man；　and　shamed。　He　should　never　have　gotten　close　enough　to　seize　you。　I　was　lax。　I　did　not　know　him　without　his　beard　and　hair。〃
　〃No　more　than　I　did。〃　Dany　took　a　deep　breath　to　stop　her　shaking。　Enemies　everywhere。　〃Take　me　back　to　my　tent。　Please。〃
　By　the　time　Mormont　arrived；　she　was　huddled　in　her　lion　pelt；　drinking　a　cup　of　spice　wine。　〃I　had　a　look　at　the　river　wall；〃　Ser　Jorah　started。　〃It's　a　few　feet　higher　than　the　others；　and　just　as　strong。　And　the　Meereenese　have　a　dozen　fire　hulks　tied　up　beneath　the　ramparts…〃
　She　cut　him　off。　〃You　might　have　warned　me　that　the　Titan's　Bastard　had　escaped。〃
　He　frowned。　〃I　saw　no　need　to　frighten　you；　Your　Grace。　I　have　offered　a　reward　for　his　head…〃
　〃Pay　it　to　Whitebeard。　Mero　has　been　with　us　all　the　way　from　Yunkai。　He　shaved　his　beard　off　and　lost　himself　amongst　the　freedmen；　waiting　for　a　chance　for　vengeance。　Arstan　killed　him。〃
　Ser　Jorah　gave　the　old　man　a　long　look。　〃A　squire　with　a　stick　slew　Mero　of　Braavos；　is　that　the　way　of　it？〃
　〃A　stick；〃　Dany　confirmed；　〃but　no　longer　a　squire。　Ser　Jorah；　it's　my　wish　that　Arstan　be　knighted。〃
　〃No。〃
　The　loud　refusal　was　surprise　enough。　Stranger　still；　it　came　from　both　men　at　once。
　Ser　Jorah　drew　his　sword。　〃The　Titan's　Bastard　was　a　nasty　piece　of　work。　And　good　at　killing。　Who　are　you；　old　man？〃
　〃A　better　knight　than　you；　ser；〃　Arstan　said　coldly。
　Knight？　Dany　was　confused。　〃You　said　you　were　a　squire。〃
　〃I　was；　Your　Grace。〃　He　dropped　to　one　knee。　〃I　squired　for　Lord　Swann　in　my　youth；　and　at　Magister　Illyrio's　behest　I　have　served　Strong　Belwas　as　well。　But　during　the　years　between；　I　was　a　knight　in　Westeros。　I　have　told　you　no　lies；　my　queen。　Yet　there　are　truths　I　have　withheld；　and　for　that　and　all　my　other　sins　I　can　only　beg　your　forgiveness。〃
　〃What　truths　have　you　withheld？〃　Dany　did　not　like　this。　〃You　will　tell　me。　Now。〃
　He　bowed　his　head。　〃At　Qarth；　when　you　asked　my　name；　I　said　I　was　called　Arstan。　That　much　was　true。　Many　men　had　called　me　by　that　name　while　Belwas　and　I　were　making　our　way　east　to　find　you。　But　it　is　not　my　true　name。〃
　She　was　more　confused　than　angry。　He　has　played　me　false；　just　as　Jorah　warned　me；　yet　he　saved　my　life　just　now　。　。　。
　Ser　Jorah　flushed　red。　〃Mero　shaved　his　beard；　but　you　grew　one；　didn't　you？　No　wonder　you　looked　so　bloody　familiar　。　。　。〃
　〃You　know　him？〃　Dany　asked　the　exile　knight；　lost。
　〃I　saw　him　perhaps　a　dozen　times　。　。　。　from　afar　most　often；　standing　with　his　brothers　or　riding　in　some　tourney。　But　every　man　in　the　Seven　Kingdoms　knew　Barristan　the　Bold。〃　He　laid　the　point　of　his　sword　against　the　old　man's　neck。　〃Khaleesi；　before　you　kneels　Ser　Barristan　Selmy；　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard；　who　betrayed　your　House　to　serve　the　Usurper　Robert　Baratheon。〃
　The　old　knight　did　not　so　much　as　blink。　〃The　crow　calls　the　raven　black；　and　you　speak　of　betrayal。〃
　〃Why　are　you　here？〃　Dany　demanded　of　him。　〃If　Robert　sent　you　to　kill　me；　why　did　you　save　my　life？〃　He　served　the　Usurper。　He　betrayed　Rhaegar's　memory；　and　abandoned　Viserys　to　live　and　die　in　exile。　Yet　if　he　wanted　me　dead；　he　need　only　have　stood　aside　。　。　。　〃I　want　the　whole　truth　now；　on　your　honor　as　a　knight。　Are　you　the　Usurper's　man；　or　mine？〃
　〃Yours；　if　you　will　have　me。〃　Ser　Barristan　had　tears　in　his　eyes。　〃I　took　Robert's　pardon；　aye。　I　served　him　in　Kingsguard　and　council。　Served　with　the　Kingslayer　and　others　near　as　bad；　who　soiled　the　white　cloak　I　wore。　Nothing　will　excuse　that。　I　might　be　serving　in　King's　Landing　still　if　the　vile　boy　upon　the　Iron　Throne　had　not　cast　me　aside；　it　shames　me　to　admit。　But　when　he　took　the　cloak　that　the　White　Bull　had　draped　about　my　shoulders；　and　sent　men　to　kill　me　that　selfsame　day；　it　was　as　though　he'd　ripped　a　caul　off　my　eyes。　That　was　when　I　knew　I　must　find　my　true　king；　and　die　in　his　service…〃
　〃I　can