grrm.astormofswords-第235节

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　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　I　saw　your　banners　from　the　Wall；　I　knew　the　realm　was　saved。　'There　es　a　man　who　neer　forgets　his　duty/　I　said　to　good　Ser　Alliser。　'A　strong　man；　and　a　true　king。'　May　I　congratulate　you　on　your　victory　over　the　savages？　The　singers　will　make　much　of　it；　I　know…〃
　〃The　singers　may　do　as　they　like；〃　Stannis　snapped。　〃Spare　me　your　fawning；　Janos；　it　will　not　serve　you。〃　He　rose　to　his　feet　and　frowned　at　them　all。　〃Lady　Melisandre　tells　me　that　you　have　not　yet　chosen　a　Lord　mander。　I　am　displeased。　How　much　longer　must　this　folly　last？〃
　〃Sire；〃　said　Bowen　Marsh　in　a　defensive　tone；　〃no　one　has　achieved　two…thirds　of　the　vote　yet。　It　has　only　been　ten　days。〃
　〃Nine　days　too　long。　I　have　captives　to　dispose　of；　a　realm　to　order；　a　war　to　fight。　Choices　must　be　made；　decisions　that　involve　the　Wall　and　the　Night's　Watch。　By　rights　your　Lord　mander　should　have　a　voice　in　those　decisions。〃
　〃He　should；　yes；〃　said　Janos　Slynt。　〃But　it　must　be　said。　We　brothers　are　only　simple　soldiers。　Soldiers；　yes！　And　Your　Grace　will　know　that　soldiers　are　most　fortable　taking　orders。　They　would　benefit　from　your　royal　guidance；　it　seems　to　me。　For　the　good　of　the　realm。　To　help　them　choose　wisely。〃
　The　suggestion　outraged　some　of　the　others。　〃Do　you　want　the　king　to　wipe　our　arses　for　us　too？〃　said　Cotter　Pyke　angrily。　〃The　choice　of　a　Lord　mander　belongs　to　the　Sworn　Brothers；　and　to　them　alone；〃　insisted　Ser　Denys　Mallister。　〃If　they　choose　wisely　they　won't　be　choosing　me；〃　moaned　Dolorous　Edd。　Maester　Aemon；　calm　as　always；　said；　〃Your　Grace；　the　Night's　Watch　has　been　choosing　its　own　leader　since　Brandon　the　Builder　raised　the　Wall。　Through　Jeor　Mormont　we　have　had　nine　hundred　and　ninety…seven　Lords　mander　in　unbroken　succession；　each　chosen　by　the　men　he　would　lead；　a　tradition　many　thousands　of　years　old。〃
　Stannis　ground　his　teeth。　〃It　is　not　my　wish　to　tamper　with　your　rights　and　traditions。　As　to　royal　guidance；　Janos；　if　you　mean　that　I　ought　to　tell　your　brothers　to　choose　you；　have　the　courage　to　say　so。〃
　That　took　Lord　Janos　aback。　He　smiled　uncertainly　and　began　to　sweat；　but　Bowen　Marsh　beside　him　said；　〃Who　better　to　mand　the　black　cloaks　than　a　man　who　once　manded　the　gold；　sire？〃
　〃Any　of　you；　I　would　think。　Even　the　cook。〃　The　look　the　king　gave　Slynt　was　cold。　〃Janos　was　hardly　the　first　gold　cloak　ever　to　take　a　bribe；　I　grant　you；　but　he　may　have　been　the　first　mander　to　fatten　his　purse　by　selling　places　and　promotions。　By　the　end　he　must　have　had　half　the　officers　in　the　City　Watch　paying　him　part　of　their　wages。　Isn't　that　so；　Janos？〃
　Slynt's　neck　was　purpling。　〃Lies；　all　lies！　A　strong　man　makes　enemies；　Your　Grace　knows　that；　they　whisper　lies　behind　your　back。　Naught　was　ever　proven；　not　a　man　came　forward　。　。　。〃
　〃Two　men　who　were　prepared　to　e　forward　died　suddenly　on　their　rounds。〃　Stannis　narrowed　his　eyes。　〃Do　not　trifle　with　me；　my　lord。　I　saw　the　proof　Jon　Arryn　laid　before　the　small　council。　If　I　had　been　king　you　would　have　lost　more　than　your　office；　I　promise　you；　but　Robert　shrugged　away　your　little　lapses。　'They　all　steal/　I　recall　him　saying。　'Better　a　thief　we　know　than　one　we　don't；　the　next　man　might　be　worse。'　Lord　Petyr's　words　in　my　brother's　mouth；　I'll　warrant。　Littlefinger　had　a　nose　for　gold；　and　I'm　certain　he　arranged　matters　so　the　crown　profited　as　much　from　your　corruption　as　you　did　yourself。〃
　Lord　Slynt's　jowls　were　quivering；　but　before　he　could　frame　a　further　protest　Maester　Aemon　said；　〃Your　Grace；　by　law　a　man's　past　crimes　and　transgressions　are　wiped　clean　when　he　says　his　words　and　bees　a　Sworn　Brother　of　the　Night's　Watch。〃
　〃I　am　aware　of　that。　If　it　happens　that　Lord　Janos　here　is　the　best　the　Night's　Watch　can　offer；　I　shall　grit　my　teeth　and　choke　him　down。　It　is　naught　to　me　which　man　of　you　is　chosen；　so　long　as　you　make　a　choice。　We　have　a　war　to　fight。〃
　〃Your　Grace；〃　said　Ser　Denys　Mallister；　in　tones　of　wary　courtesy。　〃If　you　are　speaking　of　the　wildlings　。　。　。〃
　〃I　am　not。　And　you　know　that；　ser。〃
　〃And　you　must　know　that　whilst　we　are　thankful　for　the　aid　you　rendered　us　against　Mance　Rayder；　we　can　offer　you　no　help　in　your　contest　for　the　throne。　The　Night's　Watch　takes　no　part　in　the　wars　of　the　Seven　Kingdoms。　For　eight　thousand　years…〃
　〃I　know　your　history；　Ser　Denys；〃　the　king　said　brusquely。　〃I　give　you　my　word；　I　shall　not　ask　you　to　lift　your　swords　against　any　of　the　rebels　and　usurpers　who　plague　me。　I　do　expect　that　you　will　continue　to　defend　the　Wall　as　you　always　have。〃
　〃We'll　defend　the　Wall　to　the　last　man；〃　said　Cotter　Pyke。
　〃Probably　me；〃　said　Dolorous　Edd；　in　a　resigned　tone。
　Stannis　crossed　his　arms。　〃I　shall　require　a　few　other　things　from　you　as　well。　Things　that　you　may　not　be　so　quick　to　give。　I　want　your　castles。　And　I　want　the　Gift。〃
　Those　blunt　words　burst　among　the　black　brothers　like　a　pot　of　wildfire　tossed　onto　a　brazier。　Marsh；　Mallister；　and　Pyke　all　tried　to　speak　at　once。　King　Stannis　let　them　talk。　When　they　were　done；　he　said；　〃I　have　three　times　the　men　you　do。　I　can　take　the　lands　if　I　wish；　but　I　would　prefer　to　do　this　legally；　with　your　consent。〃
　〃The　Gift　was　given　to　the　Night's　Watch　in　perpetuity；　Your　Grace；〃　Bowen　Marsh　insisted。
　〃Which　means　it　cannot　be　lawfully　seized；　attainted；　or　taken　from　you。　But　what　was　given　once　can　be　given　again。〃
　〃What　will　you　do　with　the　Gift？〃　demanded　Cotter　Pyke。
　〃Make　better　use　of　it　than　you　have。　As　to　the　castles；　Eastwatch；　Castle　Black；　and　the　Shadow　Tower　shall　remain　yours。　Garrison　them　as　you　always　have；　but　I　must　take　the　others　for　my　garrisons　if　we　are　to　hold　the　Wall。〃
　〃You　do　not　have　the　men；〃　objected　Bowen　Marsh。
　〃Some　of　the　abandoned　castles　are　scarce　more　than　ruins；〃　said　Othell　Yarwyck；　the　First　Builder。
　〃Ruins　can　be　rebuilt。〃
　〃Rebuilt？〃　Yarwyck　said。　〃But　who　will　do　the　work？〃
　〃That　is　my　concern。　I　shall　require　a　list　from　you；　detailing　the　present　state　of　every　castle　and　what　might　be　required　to　restore　it。　I　mean　to　have　them　all　garrisoned　again　within　the　year；　and　nightfires　burning　before　their　gates。〃
　〃Nightfires？〃　Bowen　Marsh　gave　Melisandre　an　uncertain　look。　〃We're　to　light　nightfires　now？〃
　〃You　are。〃　The　woman　rose　in　a　swirl　of　scarlet　silk；　her　long　copperbright　hair　tumbling　about　her　shoulders。　〃Swords　alone　cannot　hold　this　darkness　back。　Only　the　light　of　the　Lord　can　do　that。　Make　no　mistake；　good　sers　and　valiant　brothers；　the　war　we've　e　to　fight　is　no　petty　squabble　over　lands　and　honors。　Ours　is　a　war　for　life　itself；　and　should　we　fail　the　world　dies　with　us。〃
　The　officers　did　not　know　how　to　take　that；　Sam　could　see。　Bowen　Marsh　and　Othell　Yarwyck　exchanged　a　doubtful　look；　Janos　Slynt　was　fuming；　and　Three…Finger　Hobb　looked　as　though　he　would　sooner　be　back　chopping　carrots。　But　all　of　them　seemed　surprised　to　hear　Maester　Aemon　murmur；　〃It　is　the　war　for　the　dawn　you　speak　of；　my　lady。　But　where　is　the　prince　that　was　promised？〃
　〃He　stands　before　you；〃　Melisandre　declared；　〃though　you　do　not　have　the　eyes　to　see。　Stannis　Baratheon　is　Azor　Ahai　e　again；　the　warrior　of　fire。　In　him　the　prophecies　are　fulfilled。　The　red　et　blazed　across　the　sky　to　herald　his　ing；　and　he　bears　Lightbringer；　the　red　sword　of　heroes。〃
　Her　words　seemed　to　make　the　king　desperately　unfortable；　Sam　saw。　Stannis　ground　his　teeth；　and　said；　〃You　called　and　I　came；　my　lords。　Now　you　must　live　with　me；　or　die　with　me。　Best　get　used　to　that。〃　He　made　a　brusque　gesture。　〃That's　all。　Maester；　stay　a　moment。　And　you；　Tarly。　The　rest　of　you　may　go。〃
　Me？　Sam　thought；　stricken；　as　his　brothers　were　bowing　and　making　their　way　out。　What　does　he　want　with　me？
　〃You　are　the　one　that　killed　the　creature　in　the　snow；〃　King　Stannis　said；　when　only　the　four　of　them　remained。
　〃Sam　the　Slayer。〃　Melisandre　smiled。
　Sam　felt　his　face　turning　red。　〃No；　my　lady。　Your　Grace。　I　mean；　I　am；　yes。　I'm　Samwell　Tarly；　yes。〃
　〃Your　father　is　an　able　soldier；〃　King　Stannis　said。　〃He　defeated　my　brother　once；　at　Ashford。　Mace　Tyrell　has　been　pleased　to　claim　the　honors　for　that　victory；　but　Lord　Randyll　had　decided　matters　before　Tyrell　ever　found　the　battlefield。　He　slew　Lord　Cafferen　with　that　great　Valyrian　sword　of　his　and　sent　his　head　to　Aerys。〃　The　king　rubbed　his　jaw　with　a　finger。　〃You　are　not　the　sort　of　son　I　would　expect　such　a　man　to　have。〃
　〃I　。　。　。　I　am　not　the　sort　of　son　he　wanted；　sire。〃
　〃if　you　had　not　taken　the　black；　you　would　make　a　useful　hostage；〃　Stannis　mused。
　〃He　has　taken　the　black；　sire；〃　Maester　Aemon　pointed　out。
　〃I　am　well　aware　of　that；〃　the　king　said。　〃I　am　aware　of　more　than　you　know；　Aemon　Targaryen。〃
　The　old　man　inclined　his　head。　〃I　am　only　Aemon；　sire。　We　give　up　our　House　names　when　we　forge　our　maester's　chains。〃
　The　king　gave　that　a　curt　nod；　as　if　to　say　he　knew　and　did　not　care。　〃You　slew　this　creature　with　an　obsidian　dagger；　I　am　told；〃　he　said　to　Sam。
　〃Y…yes；　Your　Grace。　Jon　Snow　gave　it　to　me。〃
　〃Dragonglass。〃　The　red　woman's　laugh　was　music。　〃Frozen　fire；　in　the　t