grrm.astormofswords-第220节

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　〃Then　tell　him　that！〃
　She　pulled　her　hands　away。　〃You　are　talking　madness　again。　Would　you　have　us　ripped　apart；　as　Mother　did　that　time　she　caught　us　playing？　Tommen　would　lose　the　throne；　Myrcella　her　marriage　。　。　。　I　want　to　be　your　wife；　we　belong　to　each　other；　but　it　can　never　be；　Jaime。　We　are　brother　and　sister。〃
　〃The　Targaryens　。　。　。
　〃We　are　not　Targaryens！〃
　〃Quiet；〃　he　said；　scornfully。　〃So　loud；　you'll　wake　my　Sworn　Brothers。　We　can't　have　that；　now；　can　we？　People　might　learn　that　you　had　e　to　see　me。〃
　〃Jaime；〃　she　sobbed；　〃don't　you　think　I　want　it　as　much　as　you　do？　it　makes　no　matter　who　they　wed　me　to；　I　want　you　at　my　side；　I　want　you　in　my　bed；　I　want　you　inside　me。　Nothing　has　changed　between　us。　Let　me　prove　it　to　you。〃　She　pushed　up　his　tunic　and　began　to　fumble　with　the　laces　of　his　breeches。
　Jaime　felt　himself　responding。　〃No；〃　he　said；　〃not　here。〃　They　had　never　done　it　in　White　Sword　Tower；　much　less　in　the　Lord　mander's　chambers。　〃Cersei；　this　is　not　the　place。〃
　〃You　took　me　in　the　sept。　This　is　no　different。〃　She　drew　out　his　cock　and　bent　her　head　over　it。
　Jaime　pushed　her　away　with　the　stump　of　his　right　hand。　〃No。　Not　here；　I　said。〃　He　forced　himself　to　stand。
　For　an　instant　he　could　see　confusion　in　her　bright　green　eyes；　and　fear　as　well。　Then　rage　replaced　it。　Cersei　gathered　herself　together；　got　to　her　feet；　straightened　her　skirts。　〃Was　it　your　hand　they　hacked　off　in　Harrenhal；　or　your　manhood？〃　As　she　shook　her　head；　her　hair　tumbled　around　her　bare　white　shoulders。　〃I　was　a　fool　to　e。　You　lacked　the　courage　to　avenge　Joffrey；　why　would　I　think　that　you'd　protect　Tommen？　Tell　me；　if　the　imp　had　killed　all　three　of　your　children；　would　that　have　made　you　wroth？〃
　〃Tyrion　is　not　going　to　harm　Tornmen　or　Myrcella。　I　am　still　not　certain　he　killed　Joffrey。〃
　Her　mouth　twisted　in　anger。　〃How　can　you　say　that？　After　all　his　threats…〃
　〃Threats　mean　nothing。　He　swears　he　did　not　do　it。〃
　〃Oh；　he　swears；　is　that　it？　And　dwarfs　don't　lie；　is　that　what　you　think？〃
　〃Not　to　me。　No　more　than　you　would。〃
　〃You　great　golden　fool。　He's　lied　to　you　a　thousand　times；　and　so　have　L〃　She　bound　up　her　hair　again；　and　scooped　up　the　hairnet　from　the　bedpost　where　she'd　hung　it。　〃Think　what　you　will。　The　little　monster　is　in　a　black　cell；　and　soon　Ser　Ilyn　will　have　his　head　off。　Perhaps　you'd　like　it　for　a　keepsake。〃　She　glanced　at　the　pillow。　〃He　can　watch　over　you　as　you　sleep　alone　in　that　cold　white　bed。　Until　his　eyes　rot　out；　that　is。〃
　〃You　had　best　go；　Cersei。　You're　making　me　angry。〃
　〃Oh；　an　angry　cripple。　How　terrifying。〃　She　laughed。　〃A　pity　Lord　Tywin　Lannister　never　had　a　son。　I　could　have　been　the　heir　he　wanted；　but　I　lacked　the　cock。　And　speaking　of　such；　best　tuck　yours　away；　brother。　it　looks　rather　sad　and　small；　hanging　from　your　breeches　like　that。〃
　When　she　was　gone　Jaime　took　her　advice；　fumbling　one…handed　at　his　laces。　He　felt　a　bone…deep　ache　in　his　phantom　fingers。　I've　lost　a　hand；　a　father；　a　son；　a　sister；　and　a　lover；　and　soon　enough　I　will　lose　a　brother。　And　yet　they　keep　telling　me　House　Lannister　won　this　war。
　Jaime　donned　his　cloak　and　went　downstairs；　where　he　found　Ser　Boros　Blount　having　a　cup　of　wine　in　the　mon　room。　〃When　you're　done　with　your　drink；　tell　Ser　Loras　I'm　ready　to　see　her。〃
　Ser　Boros　was　too　much　of　a　coward　to　do　much　more　than　glower。　〃You　are　ready　to　see　who？〃
　〃Just　tell　Loras。〃
　〃Aye。〃　Ser　Boros　drained　his　cup。　〃Aye；　Lord　mander。〃
　He　took　his　own　good　time　about　it；　though；　or　else　the　Knight　of　Flowers　proved　hard　to　find。　Several　hours　had　passed　by　the　time　they　arrived；　the　slim　handsome　youth　and　the　big　ugly　maid。　Jaime　was　sitting　alone　in　the　round　room；　leafing　idly　through　the　White　Book。　〃Lord　mander；〃　Ser　Loras　said；　〃you　wished　to　see　the　Maid　of　Tarth？〃
　〃I　did。〃　Jaime　waved　them　closer　with　his　left　hand。　〃You　have　talked　with　her；　I　take　it？〃
　〃As　you　manded；　my　lord。〃
　〃And？〃
　The　lad　tensed。　〃I　。　。　。　it　may　be　it　happened　as　she　says；　ser。　That　it　was　Stannis。　I　cannot　be　certain。〃
　〃Varys　tells　me　that　the　castellan　of　Storm's　End　perished　strangely　as　well；〃　said　Jaime。
　〃Ser　Cortnay　Penrose；〃　said　Brienne　sadly。　〃A　good　man。〃
　〃A　stubborn　man。　One　day　he　stood　square　in　the　way　of　the　King　of　Dragonstone。　The　next　he　leapt　from　a　tower。〃　Jaime　stood。　〃Ser　Loras；　we　will　talk　more　of　this　later。　You　may　leave　Brienne　with　me。〃
　The　wench　looked　as　ugly　and　awkward　as　ever；　he　decided　when　Tyrell　left　them。　Someone　had　dressed　her　in　woman's　clothes　again；　but　this　dress　fit　much　better　than　that　hideous　pink　rag　the　goat　had　made　her　wear。　〃Blue　is　a　good　color　on　you；　my　lady；〃　Jaime　observed。　〃It　goes　well　with　your　eyes。〃　She　does　have　astonishing　eyes。
　Brienne　glanced　down　at　herself；　flustered。　〃Septa　Donyse　padded　out　the　bodice；　to　give　it　that　shape。　She　said　you　sent　her　to　me。〃　She　lingered　by　the　door；　as　if　she　meant　to　flee　at　any　second。　〃You　look　。　。　。〃
　〃Different？〃　He　managed　a　half…smile。　〃More　meat　on　the　ribs　and　fewer　lice　in　my　hair；　that's　all。　The　stump's　the　same。　Close　the　door　and　e　here。〃
　She　did　as　he　bid　her。　〃The　white　cloak　。　。　。
　〃　。　。　。　is　new；　but　I'm　sure　I'll　soil　it　soon　enough。〃
　〃That　wasn't　。　。　。　I　was　about　to　say　that　it　bees　you。〃
　She　came　closer；　hesitant。　〃Jaime；　did　you　mean　what　you　told　Ser　Loras？　About　。　。　。　about　King　Renly；　and　the　shadow？〃
　Jaime　shrugged。　〃I　would　have　killed　Renly　myself　if　we'd　met　in　battle；　what　do　I　care　who　cut　his　throat？〃
　〃You　said　I　had　honor　。　。　。〃
　〃I'm　the　bloody　Kingslayer；　remember？　When　I　say　you　have　honor；　that's　like　a　whore　vouchsafing　your　maidenhood。〃　He　leaned　back　and　looked　up　at　her。　〃Steelshanks　is　on　his　way　back　north；　to　deliver　Arya　Stark　to　Roose　Bolton。〃
　〃You　gave　her　to　him？〃　she　cried；　dismayed。　〃You　swore　an　oath　to　Lady　Catelyn　。　。　。〃
　〃With　a　sword　at　my　throat；　but　never　mind。　Lady　Catelyn's　dead。　I　could　not　give　her　back　her　daughters　even　if　I　had　them。　And　the　girl　my　father　sent　with　Steelshanks　was　not　Arya　Stark。〃
　〃Not　Arya　Stark？〃
　〃You　heard　me。　My　lord　father　found　some　skinny　northern　girl　more　or　less　the　same　age　with　more　or　less　the　same　coloring。　He　dressed　her　up　in　white　and　grey；　gave　her　a　silver　wolf　to　pin　her　cloak；　and　sent　her　off　to　wed　Bolton's　bastard。〃　He　lifted　his　stump　to　point　at　her。　〃I　wanted　to　tell　you　that　before　you　went　galloping　off　to　rescue　her　and　got　yourself　killed　for　no　good　purpose。　You're　not　half　bad　with　a　sword；　but　you're　not　good　enough　to　take　on　two　hundred　men　by　yourself。〃
　Brienne　shook　her　head。　〃When　Lord　Bolton　learns　that　your　father　paid　him　with　false　coin　。　。　。〃
　〃Oh；　he　knows。　Lannisters　lie；　remember？　It　makes　no　matter；　this　girl　serves　his　purpose　just　as　well。　Who　is　going　to　say　that　she　isn't　Arya　Stark？　Everyone　the　girl　was　close　to　is　dead　except　for　her　sister；　who　has　disappeared。〃
　〃Why　would　you　tell　me　all　this；　if　it's　true？　You　are　betraying　your　father's　secrets。〃
　The　Hand's　secrets；　he　thought。　I　no　longer　have　a　father。　〃l　pay　my　debts　like　every　good　little　lion。　I　did　promise　Lady　Stark　her　daughters　。　。　。　and　one　of　them　is　still　alive。　My　brother　may　know　where　she　is；　but　if　so　he　isn't　saying。　Cersei　is　convinced　that　Sansa　helped　him　murder　Joffrey。〃
　The　wench's　mouth　got　stubborn。　〃I　will　not　believe　that　gentle　girl　a　poisoner。　Lady　Catelyn　said　that　she　had　a　loving　heart。　It　was　your　brother。　There　was　a　trial；　Ser　Loras　said。〃
　〃Two　trials；　actually。　Words　and　swords　both　failed　him。　A　bloody　mess。　Did　you　watch　from　your　window？〃
　〃My　cell　faces　the　sea。　I　heard　the　shouting；　though。〃
　〃Prince　Oberyn　of　Dome　is　dead；　Ser　Gregor　Clegane　lies　dying；　and　Tyrion　stands　condemned　before　the　eyes　of　gods　and　men。　They're　keeping　him　in　a　black　cell　till　they　kill　him。
　Brienne　looked　at　him。　〃You　do　not　believe　he　did　it。〃
　Jaime　gave　her　a　hard　smile。　〃See；　wench？　We　know　each　other　too　well。　Tyrion's　wanted　to　be　me　since　he　took　his　first　step；　but　he'd　never　follow　me　in　kingslaying。　Sansa　Stark　killed　Joffrey。　My　brother's　kept　silent　to　protect　her。　He　gets　these　fits　of　gallantry　from　time　to　time。　The　last　one　cost　him　a　nose。　This　time　it　will　mean　his　head。〃
　〃No；〃　Brienne　said。　〃It　was　not　my　lady's　daughter。　It　could　not　have　been　her。〃
　〃There's　the　stubborn　stupid　wench　that　I　remember。〃
　She　reddened。　〃My　name　is　。　。　。〃
　〃Brienne　of　Tarth。〃　Jaime　sighed。　〃I　have　a　gift　for　you。〃　He　reached　down　under　the　Lord　mander's　chair　and　brought　it　out；　wrapped　in　folds　of　crimson　velvet。
　Brienne　approached　as　if　the　bundle　was　like　to　bite　her；　reached　out　a　huge　freckled　hand；　and　flipped　back　a　fold　of　cloth。　Rubies　glimmered　in　the　light。　She　picked　the　treasure　up　gingerly；　curled　her　fingers　around　the　leather　grip；　and　slowly　slid　the　sword　free　of　its　scabbard。　Blood　and　black　the　ripples　shone。　A　finger　of　reflected　light　ran　red　along　the　edge。　〃Is　this　Valyrian　steel？　I　have　never　seen　such　colors。〃
　〃Nor　I。　There　was　a　time　that　I　would　have　given　my　right　hand　to　wield　a　sword　like　that。　Now　it　appears　I　have；　so　the　blade　is　wasted　on　me。　Take　it。〃　Before　she　could　think　to　refuse；