grrm.astormofswords-第234节

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　ascent。　Thirty…nine　forty　forty…one。　By　fifty；　his　legs　burned。　The　ladder　was　endless；　numbing。　Sixty…eight　sixty…nine　seventy。　By　eighty；　his　back　was　a　dull　agony。　Yet　still　he　climbed。　He　could　not　have　said　why。　One　thirteen　one　fourteen　one　fifteen。
　At　two　hundred　and　thirty；　the　shaft　was　black　as　pitch；　but　he　could　feel　the　warm　air　flowing　from　the　tunnel　to　his　left；　like　the　breath　of　some　great　beast。　He　poked　about　awkwardly　with　a　foot　and　edged　off　the　ladder。　The　tunnel　was　even　more　cramped　than　the　shaft。　Any　man　of　normal　size　would　have　had　to　crawl　on　hands　and　knees；　but　Tyrion　was　short　enough　to　walk　upright。　At　last；　a　place　made　for　dwarfs。　His　boots　scuffed　softly　against　the　stone。　He　walked　slowly；　counting　steps；　feeling　for　gaps　in　the　walls。　Soon　he　began　to　hear　voices；　muffled　and　indistinct　at　first；　then　clearer。　He　listened　more　closely。　Two　of　his　father's　guardsmen　were　joking　about　the　Imp's　whore；　saying　how　sweet　it　would　be　to　fuck　her；　and　how　bad　she　must　want　a　real　cock　in　place　of　the　dwarf's　stunted　little　thing。　〃Most　like　it's　got　a　crook　in　it；〃　said　Lum。　That　led　him　into　a　discussion　of　how　Tyrion　would　die　on　the　morrow。　〃He'll　weep　like　a　woman　and　beg　for　mercy；　you'll　see；〃　Lum　insisted。　Lester　figured　he'd　face　the　axe　brave　as　a　lion；　being　a　Lannister；　and　he　was　willing　to　bet　his　new　boots　on　it。　〃Ah；　shit　in　your　boots；〃　said　Lum；　〃you　know　they'd　never　fit　these　feet　Wmine。　Tell　you　what；　if　I　win　you　can　scour　my　bloody　mail　for　a　fortnight。〃
　For　the　space　of　a　few　feet；　Tyrion　could　hear　every　word　of　their　haggling；　but　when　he　moved　on；　the　voices　faded　quickly。　Small　wonder　Varys　did　not　want　me　to　climb　the　bloody　ladder；　Tyrion　thought；　smiling　in　the　dark。　Little　birds　indeed。
　He　came　to　the　third　door　and　fumbled　about　for　a　long　time　before　his　fingers　brushed　a　small　iron　hook　set　between　two　stones。　When　he　pulled　down　on　it；　there　was　a　soft　rumble　that　sounded　loud　as　an　avalanche　in　the　stillness；　and　a　square　of　dull　orange　light　opened　a　foot　to　his　left。
　The　hearth！　He　almost　laughed。　The　fireplace　was　full　of　hot　ash；　and　a　black　log　with　a　hot　orange　heart　burning　within。　He　edged　past　gingerly；　taking　quick　steps　so　as　not　to　burn　his　boots；　the　warm　cinders　crunching　softly　under　his　heels。　When　he　found　himself　in　what　had　once　been　his　bedchamber；　he　stood　a　long　moment；　breathing　the　silence。　Had　his　father　heard？　Would　he　reach　for　his　sword；　raise　the　hue　and　cry？
　〃M'lord？〃　a　woman's　voice　called。
　That　might　have　hurt　me　once；　when　I　still　felt　pain。　The　first　step　was　the　hardest。　When　he　reached　the　bed　Tyrion　pulled　the　draperies　aside　and　there　she　was；　turning　toward　him　with　a　sleepy　smile　on　her　lips。　It　died　when　she　saw　him。　She　pulled　the　blankets　up　to　her　chin；　as　if　that　would　protect　her。
　〃Were　you　expecting　someone　taller；　sweetling？〃
　Big　wet　tears　filled　her　eyes。　〃I　never　meant　those　things　I　said；　the　queen　made　me。　Please。　Your　father　frightens　me　so。〃　She　sat　up；　letting　the　blanket　slide　down　to　her　lap。　Beneath　it　she　was　naked；　but　for　the　chain　about　her　throat。　A　chain　of　linked　golden　hands；　each　holding　the　next。
　〃My　lady　Shae；〃　Tyrion　said　softly。　〃All　the　time　I　sat　in　the　black　cell　waiting　to　die；　I　kept　remembering　how　beautiful　you　were。　in　silk　or　roughspun　or　nothing　at　all　。　。　。〃
　〃M'lord　will　be　back　soon。　You　should　go；　or　。　。　。　did　you　e　to　take　me　away？〃
　〃Did　you　ever　like　it？〃　He　cupped　her　cheek；　remembering　all　the　times　he　had　done　this　before。　All　the　times　he'd　slid　his　hands　around　her　waist；　squeezed　her　small　firm　breasts；　stroked　her　short　dark　hair；　touched　her　lips；　her　cheeks；　her　ears。　All　the　times　he　had　opened　her　with　a　finger　to　probe　her　secret　sweetness　and　make　her　moan。　〃Did　you　ever　like　my　touch？〃
　〃More　than　anything；〃　she　said；　〃my　giant　of　Lannister。〃
　That　was　the　worst　thing　you　could　have　said；　sweetling。
　Tyrion　slid　a　hand　under　his　father's　chain；　and　twisted。　The　links　tightened；　digging　into　her　neck。　〃For　hands　of　gold　are　always　cold；　but　a　woman's　hands　are　warm；〃　he　said。　He　gave　cold　hands　another　twist　as　the　warm　ones　beat　away　his　tears。
　Afterward　he　found　Lord　Tywin's　dagger　on　the　bedside　table　and　shoved　it　through　his　belt。　A　lion…headed　mace；　a　poleaxe；　and　a　crossbow　had　been　hung　on　the　walls。　The　poleaxe　would　be　clumsy　to　wield　inside　a　castle；　and　the　mace　was　too　high　to　reach；　but　a　large　wood…and…iron　chest　had　been　placed　against　the　wall　directly　under　the　crossbow。　He　climbed　up；　pulled　down　the　bow　and　a　leather　quiver　packed　with　quarrels；　jammed　a　foot　into　the　stirrup；　and　pushed　down　until　the　bowstring　cocked。　Then　he　slipped　a　bolt　into　the　notch。
　Jaime　had　lectured　him　more　than　once　on　the　drawbacks　of　crossbows。　If　Lum　and　Lester　emerged　from　wherever　they　were　talking；　he'd　never　have　time　to　reload；　but　at　least　he'd　take　one　down　to　hell　with　him。　Lum；　if　he　had　a　choice。　You'll　have　to　clean　your　own　mail；　Lum。　You　lose。
　Waddling　to　the　door；　he　listened　a　moment；　then　eased　it　open　slowly。　A　lamp　burned　in　a　stone　niche；　casting　wan　yellow　light　over　the　empty　hallway。　Only　the　flame　was　moving。　Tyrion　slid　out；　holding　the　crossbow　down　against　his　leg。
　He　found　his　father　where　he　knew　he'd　find　him；　seated　in　the　dimness　of　the　privy　tower；　bedrobe　hiked　up　around　his　hips。　At　the　sound　of　steps；　Lord　Tywin　raised　his　eyes。
　Tyrion　gave　him　a　mocking　half　bow。　〃My　lord。〃
　〃Tyrion。〃　If　he　was　afraid；　Tywin　Lannister　gave　no　hint　of　it。　〃Who　released　you　from　your　cell？〃
　〃I'd　love　to　tell　you；　but　I　swore　a　holy　oath。〃
　〃The　eunuch；〃　his　father　decided。　〃I'll　have　his　head　for　this。　Is　that　my　crossbow？　Put　it　down。〃
　〃Will　you　punish　me　if　I　refuse；　Father？〃
　〃This　escape　is　folly。　You　are　not　to　be　killed；　if　that　is　what　you　fear。　It's　still　my　intent　to　send　you　to　the　Wall；　but　I　could　not　do　it　without　Lord　Tyrell's　consent。　Put　down　the　crossbow　and　we　will　go　back　to　my　chambers　and　talk　of　it。〃
　〃We　can　talk　here　just　as　well。　Perhaps　I　don't　choose　to　go　to　the　Wall；　Father。　It's　bloody　cold　up　there；　and　I　believe　I've　had　enough　coldness　from　you。　So　just　tell　me　something；　and　I'll　be　on　my　way。　One　simple　question；　you　owe　me　that　much。〃
　〃I　owe　you　nothing。〃
　〃You've　given　me　less　than　that；　all　my　life；　but　you'll　give　me　this。　What　did　you　do　with　Tysha？〃
　〃Tysha？〃
　He　does　not　even　remember　her　name。　〃The　girl　I　married。〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　Your　first　whore。〃
　Tyrion　took　aim　at　his　father's　chest。　〃The　next　time　you　say　that　word；　I'll　kill　you。〃
　〃You　do　not　have　the　courage。〃
　〃Shall　we　find　out？　It's　a　short　word；　and　it　seems　to　e　so　easily　to　your　lips。〃　Tyrion　gestured　impatiently　with　the　bow。　〃Tysha。　What　did　you　do　with　her；　after　my　little　lesson？〃
　〃I　don't　recall。〃
　〃Try　harder。　Did　you　have　her　killed？〃
　His　father　pursed　his　lips。　〃There　was　no　reason　for　that；　she'd　learned　her　place　。　。　。　and　had　been　well　paid　for　her　day's　work；　I　seem　to　recall。　I　suppose　the　steward　sent　her　on　her　way。　I　never　thought　to　inquire。〃
　〃On　her　way　where？〃
　〃Wherever　whores　go。〃
　Tyrion's　finger　clenched。　The　crossbow　whanged　just　as　Lord　Tywin　started　to　rise。　The　bolt　slammed　into　him　above　the　groin　and　he　sat　back　down　with　a　grunt。　The　quarrel　had　sunk　deep；　right　to　the　fletching。　Blood　seeped　out　around　the　shaft；　dripping　down　into　his　pubic　hair　and　over　his　bare　thighs。　〃You　shot　me；〃　he　said　incredulously；　his　eyes　glassy　with　shock。
　〃You　always　were　quick　to　grasp　a　situation；　my　lord；〃　Tyrion　said。　〃That　must　be　why　you're　the　Hand　of　the　King。〃
　〃You　。　。　。　you　are　no　。　。　。　no　son　of　mine。〃
　〃Now　that's　where　you're　wrong；　Father。　Why；　I　believe　I'm　you　writ　small。　Do　me　a　kindness　now；　and　die　quickly。　I　have　a　ship　to　catch。〃
　For　once；　his　father　did　what　Tyrion　asked　him。　The　proof　was　the　sudden　stench；　as　his　bowels　loosened　in　the　moment　of　death。　Well；　he　was　in　the　right　place　for　it；　Tyrion　thought。　But　the　stink　that　filled　the　privy　gave　ample　evidence　that　the　oft…repeated　jape　about　his　father　was　just　another　lie。
　Lord　Tywin　Lannister　did　not；　in　the　end；　shit　gold。
　
　
　CHAPTER　78
　SAMWELL
　
　The　king　was　angry。　Sam　saw　that　at　once。
　As　the　black　brothers　entered　one　by　one　and　knelt　before　him；　Stannis　shoved　away　his　breakfast　of　hardbread；　salt　beef；　and　boiled　eggs；　and　eyed　them　coldly。　Beside　him；　the　red　woman　Melisandre　looked　as　if　she　found　the　scene　amusing。
　I　have　no　place　here；　Sam　thought　anxiously；　when　her　red　eyes　fell　upon　him。　Someone　had　to　help　Maester　Aemon　up　the　steps。　Don't　look　at　me；　I'm　just　the　maester's　steward。　The　others　were　contenders　for　the　Old　Bear's　mand；　all　but　Bowen　Marsh；　who　had　withdrawn　from　the　contest　but　remained　castellan　and　Lord　Steward。　Sam　did　not　understand　why　Melisandre　should　seem　so　interested　in　him。
　King　Stannis　kept　the　black　brothers　on　their　knees　for　an　extraordinarily　long　time。　〃Rise；〃　he　said　at　last。　Sam　gave　Maester　Aemon　his　shoulder　to　help　him　back　up。
　The　sound　of　Lord　Janos　Slynt　clearing　his　throat　broke　the　strained　silence。　〃Your　Grace；　let　me　say　how　pleased　we　are　to　be　summoned　here。　When