grrm.astormofswords-第184节

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the　remains　of　a　great　galley　that　had　gone　aground　there　and　burned。　Dontos　limped　up　to　him；　puffing。　〃Oswell？〃
　〃No　names；〃　the　man　said。　〃In　the　boat。〃　He　sat　hunched　over　his　oars；　an　old　man；　tall　and　gangling；　with　long　white　hair　and　a　great　hooked　nose；　with　eyes　shaded　by　a　cowl。　〃Get　in；　be　quick　about　it；〃　he　muttered。　〃We　need　to　be　away。〃
　When　both　of　them　were　safe　aboard；　the　cowled　man　slid　the　blades　into　the　water　and　put　his　back　into　the　oars；　rowing　them　out　toward　the　channel。　Behind　them　the　bells　were　still　tolling　the　boy　king's　death。　They　had　the　dark　river　all　to　themselves。
　With　slow；　steady；　rhythmic　strokes；　they　threaded　their　way　downstream；　sliding　above　the　sunken　galleys；　past　broken　masts；　burned　hulls；　and　torn　sails。　The　oarlocks　had　been　muffled；　so　they　moved　almost　soundlessly。　A　mist　was　rising　over　the　water。　Sansa　saw　the　embattled　ramparts　of　one　of　the　Imp's　winch　towers　looming　above；　but　the　great　chain　had　been　lowered；　and　they　rowed　unimpeded　past　the　spot　where　a　thousand　men　had　burned。　The　shore　fell　away；　the　fog　grew　thicker；　the　sound　of　the　bells　began　to　fade。　Finally　even　the　lights　were　gone；　lost　somewhere　behind　them。　They　were　out　in　Blackwater　Bay；　and　the　world　shrank　to　dark　water；　blowing　mist；　and　their　silent　panion　stooped　over　the　oars。　〃How　far　must　we　go？〃　she　asked。
　〃No　talk。〃　The　oarsman　was　old；　but　stronger　than　he　looked；　and　his　voice　was　fierce。　There　was　something　oddly　familiar　about　his　face；　though　Sansa　could　not　say　what　it　was。
　〃Not　far。〃　Ser　Dontos　took　her　hand　in　his　own　and　rubbed　it　gently。　〃Your　friend　is　near；　waiting　for　you。〃
　〃No　talk！〃　the　oarsman　growled　again。　〃Sound　carries　over　water；　Ser　Fool。〃
　Abashed；　Sansa　bit　her　lip　and　huddled　down　in　silence。　The　rest　was　rowing；　rowing；　rowing。
　The　eastern　sky　was　vague　with　the　first　hint　of　dawn　when　Sansa　finally　saw　a　ghostly　shape　in　the　darkness　ahead；　a　trading　galley；　her　sails　furled；　moving　slowly　on　a　single　bank　of　oars。　As　they　drew　closer；　she　saw　the　ship's　figurehead；　a　merman　with　a　golden　crown　blowing　on　a　great　seashell　horn。　She　heard　a　voice　cry　out；　and　the　galley　swung　slowly　about。
　As　they　came　alongside；　the　galley　dropped　a　rope　ladder　over　the　rail。　The　rower　shipped　the　oars　and　helped　Sansa　to　her　feet。　〃Up　now。　Go　on；　girl；　I　got　you。〃　Sansa　thanked　him　for　his　kindness；　but　received　no　answer　but　a　grunt。　It　was　much　easier　going　up　the　rope　ladder　than　it　had　been　ing　down　the　cliff。　The　oarsman　Oswell　followed　close　behind　her；　while　Ser　Dontos　remained　in　the　boat。
　Two　sailors　were　waiting　by　the　rail　to　help　her　onto　the　deck。　Sansa　was　trembling。　〃She's　cold；〃　she　heard　someone　say。　He　took　off　his　cloak　and　put　it　around　her　shoulders。　〃There；　is　that　better；　my　lady？　Rest　easy；　the　worst　is　past　and　done。〃
　She　knew　the　voice。　But　he's　in　the　Vale；　she　thought。　Ser　Lothor　Brune　stood　beside　him　with　a　torch。
　〃Lord　Petyr；〃　Dontos　called　from　the　boat。　〃I　must　needs　row　back；　before　they　think　to　look　for　me。〃
　Petyr　Baelish　put　a　hand　on　the　rail。　〃But　first　you'll　want　your　payment。　Ten　thousand　dragons；　was　it？〃
　〃Ten　thousand。〃　Dontos　rubbed　his　mouth　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　〃As　you　promised；　my　lord。'/
　〃Ser　Lothor；　the　reward。〃
　Lothor　Brune　dipped　his　torch。　Three　men　stepped　to　the　gunwale；　raised　crossbows；　fired。　One　bolt　took　Dontos　in　the　chest　as　he　looked　up；　punching　through　the　left　crown　on　his　surcoat。　The　others　ripped　into　throat　and　belly。　It　happened　so　quickly　neither　Dontos　nor　Sansa　had　time　to　cry　out。　When　it　was　done；　Lothor　Brune　tossed　the　torch　down　on　top　of　the　corpse。　The　little　boat　was　blazing　fiercely　as　the　galley　moved　away。
　〃You　killed　him。〃　Clutching　the　rail；　Sansa　turned　away　and　retched。　Had　she　escaped　the　Lannisters　to　tumble　into　worse？
　〃My　lady；〃　Littlefinger　murmured；　〃your　grief　is　wasted　on　such　a　man　as　that。　He　was　a　sot；　and　no　man's　friend。〃
　〃But　he　saved　me。〃
　〃He　sold　you　for　a　promise　of　ten　thousand　dragons。　Your　disappearance　will　make　them　suspect　you　in　Joffrey's　death。　The　gold　cloaks　will　hunt；　and　the　eunuch　will　jingle　his　purse。　Dontos　。　。　。　well；　you　heard　him。　He　sold　you　for　gold；　and　when　he'd　drunk　it　up　he　would　have　sold　you　again。　A　bag　of　dragons　buys　a　man's　silence　for　a　while；　but　a　well…placed　quarrel　buys　it　forever。〃　He　smiled　sadly。　〃All　he　did　he　did　at　my　behest。　I　dared　not　befriend　you　openly。　When　I　heard　how　you　saved　his　life　at　Joff　's　tourney；　I　knew　he　would　be　the　perfect　catspaw。
　Sansa　felt　sick。　〃He　said　he　was　my　Florian。〃
　〃Do　you　perchance　recall　what　I　said　to　you　that　day　your　father　sat　the　Iron　Throne？〃
　The　moment　came　back　to　her　vividly。　〃You　told　me　that　life　was　not　a　song。　That　I　would　learn　that　one　day；　to　my　sorrow。〃　She　felt　tears　in　her　eyes；　but　whether　she　wept　for　Ser　Dontos　Hollard；　for　Joff；　for　Tyrion；　or　for　herself；　Sansa　could　not　say。　〃Is　it　all　lies；　forever　and　ever；　everyone　and　everything？〃
　〃Almost　everyone。　Save　you　and　I；　of　course。〃　He　smiled。　〃e　to　the　godswood　tonight　if　you　want　to　go　home。〃
　〃The　note　。　。　。　it　was　you？〃
　；'It　had　to　be　the　godswood。　No　other　place　in　the　Red　Keep　is　safe　from　the　eunuch's　little　birds　。　。　。　or　little　rats；　as　I　call　them。　There　are　trees　in　the　godswood　instead　of　walls。　Sky　above　instead　of　ceiling。　Roots　and　dirt　and　rock　in　place　of　floor。　The　rats　have　no　place　to　scurry。　Rats　need　to　hide；　lest　men　skewer　them　with　swords。〃　Lord　Petyr　took　her　arm。　〃Let　me　show　you　to　your　cabin。　You　have　had　a　long　and　trying　day；　I　know。　You　must　be　weary。〃
　Already　the　little　boat　was　no　more　than　a　swirl　of　smoke　and　fire　behind　them；　almost　lost　in　the　immensity　of　the　dawn　sea。　There　was　no　going　back；　her　only　road　was　forward。　〃Very　weary；〃　she　admitted。
　As　he　led　her　below；　he　said；　〃Tell　me　of　the　feast。　The　queen　took　such　pains。　The　singers；　the　jugglers；　the　dancing　bear　。　。　。　did　your　little　lord　husband　enjoy　my　jousting　dwarfs？〃
　〃Yours？〃
　〃I　had　to　send　to　Braavos　for　them　and　hide　them　away　in　a　brothel　until　the　wedding。　The　expense　was　exceeded　only　by　the　bother。　It　is　surprisingly　difficult　to　hide　a　dwarf；　and　Joffrey　。　。　。　you　can　lead　a　king　to　water；　but　with　Joff　one　had　to　splash　it　about　before　he　realized　he　could　drink　it。　When　I　told　him　about　my　little　surprise；　His　Grace　said；　'Why　would　I　want　some　ugly　dwarfs　at　my　feast？　I　hate　dwarfs。'　I　had　to　take　him　by　the　shoulder　and　whisper；　'Not　as　much　as　your　uncle　will。'〃
　The　deck　rocked　beneath　her　feet；　and　Sansa　felt　as　if　the　world　itself　had　grown　unsteady。　〃They　think　Tyrion　poisoned　Joffrey。　Ser　Dontos　said　they　seized　him。〃
　Littlefinger　smiled。　〃Widowhood　will　bee　you；　Sansa。〃
　The　thought　made　her　tummy　flutter。　She　might　never　need　to　share　a　bed　with　Tyrion　again。　That　was　what　she'd　wanted　。　。　。　wasn't　it？
　The　cabin　was　low　and　cramped；　but　a　featherbed　had　been　laid　upon　the　narrow　sleeping　shelf　to　make　it　more　fortable；　and　thick　furs　piled　atop　it。　〃It　will　be　snug；　I　know；　but　you　shouldn't　be　too　unfortable。〃　Littlefinger　pointed　out　a　cedar　chest　under　the　porthole。　〃You'll　find　fresh　garb　within。　Dresses；　smallclothes；　warm　stockings；　a　cloak。　Wool　and　linen　only；　I　fear。　Unworthy　of　a　maid　so　beautiful；　but　they'll　serve　to　keep　you　dry　and　clean　until　we　can　find　you　something　finer。〃
　He　had　this　all　prepared　for　me。　〃My　lord；　I　。　。　。　I　do　not　understand　。　。　。　Joffrey　gave　you　Harrenhal；　made　you　Lord　Paramount　of　the　Trident　。　。　。　why　。　。　。〃
　〃Why　should　I　wish　him　dead？〃　Littlefinger　shrugged。　〃I　had　no　motive。　Besides；　I　am　a　thousand　leagues　away　in　the　Vale。　Always　keep　your　foes　confused。　If　they　are　never　certain　who　you　are　or　what　you　want；　they　cannot　know　what　you　are　like　to　do　next。　Sometimes　the　best　way　to　baffle　them　is　to　make　moves　that　have　no　purpose；　or　even　seem　to　work　against　you。　Remember　that；　Sansa；　when　you　e　to　play　the　game。〃
　〃What　。　。　。　what　game？〃
　〃The　only　game。　The　game　of　thrones。〃　He　brushed　back　a　strand　of　her　hair。　〃You　are　old　enough　to　know　that　your　mother　and　I　were　more　than　friends。　There　was　a　time　when　Cat　was　all　I　wanted　in　this　world。　I　dared　to　dream　of　the　life　we　might　make　and　the　children　she　would　give　me　。　。　。　but　she　was　a　daughter　of　Riverrun；　and　Hoster　Tully。　Family；　Duty；　Honor；　Sansa。　Family；　Duty；　Honor　meant　I　could　never　have　her　hand。　But　she　gave　me　something　finer；　a　gift　a　woman　can　give　but　once。　How　could　I　turn　my　back　upon　her　daughter？　In　a　better　world；　you　might　have　been　mine；　not　Eddard　Stark's。　My　loyal　loving　daughter　。　。　。　Put　Joffrey　from　your　mind；　sweetling。　Dontos；　Tyrion；　all　of　them。　They　will　never　trouble　you　again。　You　are　safe　now；　that's　all　that　matters。　You　are　safe　with　me；　and　sailing　home。〃
　
　CHAPTER　62
　JAIME
　
　The　king　is　dead；　they　told　him；　never　knowing　that　Joffrey　was　his　son　as　well　as　his　sovereign。
　〃The　Imp　opened　his　throat　with　a　dagger；〃　a　costermonger　declared　at　the　roadside　inn　where　they　spent　the　night。　〃He　drank　his　blood　from　a　big　gold　chalice。〃　The　man　did　not　recognize　the　bearded　one…handed　knight　with　the　big　bat　on　his　shield；　no　more　than　any　of　them；　so　he　said　th