grrm.astormofswords-第182节

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！


　Ser　Ilyn　bowed　before　the　king　and　queen；　reached　back　over　his　shoulder；　and　drew　forth　six　feet　of　ornate　silver　bright　with　runes。　He　knelt　to　offer　the　huge　blade　to　Joffrey；　hilt　first；　points　of　red　fire　winked　from　ruby　eyes　on　the　pommel；　a　chunk　of　dragonglass　carved　in　the　shape　of　a　grinning　skull。
　Sansa　stirred　in　her　seat。　〃What　sword　is　that？〃
　Tyrion's　eyes　still　stung　from　the　wine。　He　blinked　and　looked　again。　Ser　Ilyn's　greatsword　was　as　long　and　wide　as　Ice；　but　it　was　too　silverybright；　Valyrian　steel　had　a　darkness　to　it；　a　smokiness　in　its　soul。　Sansa　clutched　his　arm。　〃What　has　Ser　Ilyn　done　with　my　father's　sword？〃
　I　should　have　sent　Ice　back　to　Robb　Stark；　Tyrion　thought。　He　glanced　at　his　father；　but　Lord　Tywin　was　watching　the　king。
　Joffrey　and　Margaery　joined　hands　to　lift　the　greatsword　and　swung　it　down　together　in　a　silvery　arc。　When　the　piecrust　broke；　the　doves　burst　forth　in　a　swirl　of　white　feathers；　scattering　in　every　direction；　flapping　for　the　windows　and　the　rafters。　A　roar　of　delight　went　up　from　the　benches；　and　the　fiddlers　and　pipers　in　the　gallery　began　to　play　a　sprightly　tune。　Joff　took　his　bride　in　his　arms；　and　whirled　her　around　merrily。
　A　serving　man　placed　a　slice　of　hot　pigeon　pie　in　front　of　Tyrion　and　covered　it　with　a　spoon　of　lemon　cream。　The　pigeons　were　well　and　truly　cooked　in　this　pie；　but　he　found　them　no　more　appetizing　than　the　white　ones　fluttering　about　the　hall。　Sansa　was　not　eating　either。　〃You're　deathly　pale；　my　lady；〃　Tyrion　said。　〃You　need　a　breath　of　cool　air；　and　I　need　a　fresh　doublet。〃　He　stood　and　offered　her　his　hand。　〃e。〃
　But　before　they　could　make　their　retreat；　Joffrey　was　back。　〃Uncle；　where　are　you　going？　You're　my　cupbearer；　remember？〃
　〃I　need　to　change　into　fresh　garb；　Your　Grace。　May　I　have　your　leave？〃
　〃No。　I　like　the　look　of　you　this　way。　Serve　me　my　wine。〃
　The　king's　chalice　was　on　the　table　where　he'd　left　it。　Tyrion　had　to　climb　back　onto　his　chair　to　reach　it。　Joff　yanked　it　from　his　hands　and　drank　long　and　deep；　his　throat　working　as　the　wine　ran　purple　down　his　chin。　〃My　lord；〃　Margaery　said；　〃we　should　return　to　our　places。　Lord　Buckler　wants　to　toast　us。〃
　〃My　uncle　hasn't　eaten　his　pigeon　pie。〃　Holding　the　chalice　onehanded；　Joff　jammed　his　other　into　Tyrion's　pie。　〃It's　ill　luck　not　to　eat　the　pie；〃　he　scolded　as　he　filled　his　mouth　with　hot　spiced　pigeon。　〃See；　it's　good。〃　Spitting　out　flakes　of　crust；　he　coughed　and　helped　himself　to　another　fistful。　〃Dry；　though。　Needs　washing　down。〃　Joff　took　a　swallow　of　wine　and　coughed　again；　more　violently。　〃I　want　to　see；　kof；　see　you　ride　that；　kof　kof；　pig；　Uncle。　I　want。　。。〃　His　words　broke　up　in　a　fit　of　coughing。
　Margaery　looked　at　him　with　concern。　〃Your　Grace？〃
　〃It's；　kof；　the　pie；　noth…kof；　pie。〃　Joff　took　another　drink；　or　tried　to；　but　all　the　wine　came　spewing　back　out　when　another　spate　of　coughing　doubled　him　over。　His　face　was　turning　red。　〃I；　kof；　I　can't；　kof　kof　kof　kof　。　。　。　〃　The　chalice　slipped　from　his　hand　and　dark　red　wine　went　running　across　the　dais。
　〃He's　choking；〃　Queen　Margaery　gasped。
　Her　grandmother　moved　to　her　side。　〃Help　the　poor　boy！〃　the　Queen　of　Thorns　screeched；　in　a　voice　ten　times　her　size。　〃Dolts！　Will　you　all　stand　about　gaping？　Help　your　king！〃
　Ser　Garlan　shoved　Tyrion　aside　and　began　to　pound　Joffrey　on　the　back。　Ser　Osmund　Kettleblack　ripped　open　the　king's　collar。　A　fearful　high　thin　sound　emerged　from　the　boy's　throat；　the　sound　of　a　man　trying　to　suck　a　river　through　a　reed；　then　it　stopped；　and　that　was　more　terrible　still。　〃Turn　him　over！〃　Mace　Tyrell　bellowed　at　everyone　and　no　one。　〃Turn　him　over；　shake　him　by　his　heels！〃　A　different　voice　was　calling；　〃Water；　give　him　some　water！〃　The　High　Septon　began　to　pray　loudly。　Grand　Maester　Pycelle　shouted　for　someone　to　help　him　back　to　his　chambers；　to　fetch　his　potions。　Joffrey　began　to　claw　at　his　throat；　his　nails　tearing　bloody　gouges　in　the　flesh。　Beneath　the　skin；　the　muscles　stood　out　hard　as　stone。　Prince　Tornmen　was　screaming　and　crying。
　He　is　going　to　die；　Tyrion　realized。　He　felt　curiously　calm；　though　pandemonium　raged　all　about　him。　They　were　pounding　Joff　on　the　back　again；　but　his　face　was　only　growing　darker。　Dogs　were　barking；　children　were　wailing；　men　were　shouting　useless　advice　at　each　other。　Half　the　wedding　guests　were　on　their　feet；　some　shoving　at　each　other　for　a　better　view；　others　rushing　for　the　doors　in　their　haste　to　get　away。
　Ser　Meryn　pried　the　king's　mouth　open　to　jam　a　spoon　down　his　throat。　As　he　did；　the　boy's　eyes　met　Tyrion's。　He　has　Jaime's　eyes。　Only　he　had　never　seen　Jaime　look　so　scared。　The　boy's　only　thirteen。　Joffrey　was　making　a　dry　clacking　noise；　trying　to　speak。　His　eyes　bulged　white　with　terror；　and　he　lifted　a　hand　。　。　。　reaching　for　his　uncle；　or　pointing　。　。　。　Is　he　begging　my　forgiveness；　or　does　he　think　I　can　save　him？　〃Noooo；〃　Cersei　wailed；　〃Father　help　him；　someone　help　him；　my　son；　my　son　。　。　。〃
　Tyrion　found　himself　thinking　of　Robb　Stark。　My　own　wedding　is　looking　much　better　in　hindsight。　He　looked　to　see　how　Sansa　was　taking　this；　but　there　was　so　much　confusion　in　the　hall　that　he　could　not　find　her。　But　his　eyes　fell　on　the　wedding　chalice；　forgotten　on　the　floor。　He　went　and　scooped　it　up。　There　was　still　a　half…inch　of　deep　purple　wine　in　the　bottom　of　it。　Tyrion　considered　it　a　moment；　then　poured　it　on　the　floor。
　Margaery　Tyrell　was　weeping　in　her　grandmother's　arms　as　the　old　lady　said；　〃Be　brave；　be　brave。〃　Most　of　the　musicians　had　fled；　but　one　last　flutist　in　the　gallery　was　blowing　a　dirge。　In　the　rear　of　the　throne　room　scuffling　had　broken　out　around　the　doors；　and　the　guests　were　trampling　on　each　other。　Ser　Addam's　gold　cloaks　moved　in　to　restore　order。　Guests　were　rushing　headlong　out　into　the　night；　some　weeping；　some　stumbling　and　retching；　others　white　with　fear。　It　occurred　to　Tyrion　belatedly　that　it　might　be　wise　to　leave　himself。
　When　he　heard　Cersei's　scream；　he　knew　that　it　was　over。
　I　should　leave。　Now。　Instead　he　waddled　toward　her。
　His　sister　sat　in　a　puddle　of　wine；　cradling　her　son's　body。　Her　gown　was　tom　and　stained；　her　face　white　as　chalk。　A　thin　black　dog　crept　up　beside　her；　sniffing　at　Joffrey's　corpse。　〃The　boy　is　gone；　Cersei；〃　Lord　Tywin　said。　He　put　his　gloved　hand　on　his　daughter's　shoulder　as　one　of　his　guardsmen　shooed　away　the　dog。　〃Unhand　him　now。　Let　him　go。〃　She　did　not　hear。　It　took　two　Kingsguard　to　pry　loose　her　fingers；　so　the　body　of　King　Joffrey　Baratheon　could　slide　limp　and　lifeless　to　the　floor。
　The　High　Septon　knelt　beside　him。　〃Father　Above；　judge　our　good　King　Joffrey　justly；〃　he　intoned；　beginning　the　prayer　for　the　dead。　Margaery　Tyrell　began　to　sob；　and　Tyrion　heard　her　mother　Lady　Alerie　saying；　〃He　choked；　sweetling。　He　choked　on　the　pie。　It　was　naught　to　do　with　you。　He　choked。　We　all　saw。〃
　〃He　did　not　choke。〃　Cersei's　voice　was　sharp　as　Ser　Ilyn's　sword。　〃My　son　was　poisoned。〃　She　looked　to　the　white　knights　standing　helplessly　around　her。　〃Kingsguard；　do　your　duty。〃
　〃My　lady？〃　said　Ser　Loras　Tyrell；　uncertain。
　〃Arrest　my　brother；〃　she　manded　him。　〃He　did　this；　the　dwarf。　Him　and　his　little　wife。　They　killed　my　son。　Your　king。　Take　them！　Take　them　both！〃
　
　CHAPTER　61　
　SANSA
　
　Far　across　the　city；　a　bell　began　to　toll。
　Sansa　felt　as　though　she　were　in　a　dream。　〃Joffrey　is　dead；〃　she　told　the　trees；　to　see　if　that　would　wake　her。
　He　had　not　been　dead　when　she　left　the　throne　room。　He　had　been　on　his　knees；　though；　clawing　at　his　throat；　tearing　at　his　own　skin　as　he　fought　to　breathe。　The　sight　of　it　had　been　too　terrible　to　watch；　and　she　had　turned　and　fled；　sobbing。　Lady　Tanda　had　been　fleeing　as　well。　〃You　have　a　good　heart；　my　lady；〃　she　said　to　Sansa。　〃Not　every　maid　would　weep　so　for　a　man　who　set　her　aside　and　wed　her　to　a　dwarf。〃
　A　good　heart。　I　have　a　good　heart。　Hysterical　laughter　rose　up　her　gullet；　but　Sansa　choked　it　back　down。　The　bells　were　ringing；　slow　and　mournful。　Ringing；　ringing；　ringing。　They　had　rung　for　King　Robert　the　same　way。　Joffrey　was　dead；　he　was　dead；　he　was　dead；　dead；　dead。　Why　was　she　crying；　when　she　wanted　to　dance？　Were　they　tears　of　joy？
　She　found　her　clothes　where　she　had　hidden　them；　the　night　before　last。　With　no　maids　to　help　her；　it　took　her　longer　than　it　should　have　to　undo　the　laces　of　her　gown。　Her　hands　were　strangely　clumsy；　though　she　was　not　as　frightened　as　she　ought　to　have　been。　〃The　gods　are　cruel　to　take　him　so　young　and　handsome；　at　his　own　wedding　feast；〃　Lady　Tanda　had　said　to　her。
　The　gods　are　just；　thought　Sansa。　Robb　had　died　at　a　wedding　feast　as　well。　It　was　Robb　she　wept　for。　Him　and　Margaery。　Poor　Margaery；　twice　wed　and　twice　widowed。　Sansa　slid　her　arm　from　a　sleeve；　pushed　down　the　gown；　and　wriggled　out　of　it。　She　balled　it　up　and　shoved　it　into　the　bole　of　an　oak；　shook　out　the　clothing　she　had　hidden　there。　Dress　warmly；　Ser　Dontos　had　told　her；　and　dress　dark。　She　had　no　blacks；　so　she　chose　a　dress　of　thick　brown　wool。　The　bodice　was　decorated　with　freshwater　pearls；　though。　The　cloak　will　cover　them。　The　cloak　was　a　deep　green；　with　a　large　hood。　She　slipped　the　dress　over　her　head；　and　donned　the