grrm.astormofswords-第26节

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　Irri　had　been　sleeping　at　the　foot　of　her　bunk　（it　was　too　narrow　for　three；　and　tonight　was　Jhiqui's　turn　to　share　the　soft　featherbed　with　her　khaleesi）；　but　the　handmaid　roused　at　the　knock　and　went　to　the　door。　Dany　pulled　up　a　coverlet　and　tucked　it　in　under　her　arms。　She　was　naked；　and　had　not　expected　a　caller　at　this　hour。　〃e；〃　she　said　when　she　saw　Ser　Jorah　standing　without；　beneath　a　swaying　lantern。
　The　exile　knight　ducked　his　head　as　he　entered。　〃Your　Grace。　I　am　sorry　to　disturb　your　sleep。〃
　〃I　was　not　sleeping；　ser。　e　and　watch。〃　She　took　a　chunk　of　salt　pork　out　of　the　bowl　in　her　lap　and　held　it　up　for　her　dragons　to　see。　All　three　of　them　eyed　it　hungrily。　Rhaegal　spread　green　wings　and　stirred　the　air；　and　Viserion's　neck　swayed　back　and　forth　like　a　long　pale　snake's　as　he　followed　the　movement　of　her　hand。　〃Drogon；〃　Dany　said　softly；　〃dracarys。〃　And　she　tossed　the　pork　in　the　air。
　Drogon　moved　quicker　than　a　striking　cobra。　Flame　roared　from　his　mouth；　orange　and　scarlet　and　black；　searing　the　meat　before　it　began　to　fall。　As　his　sharp　black　teeth　snapped　shut　around　it；　Rhaegal's　head　darted　close；　as　if　to　steal　the　prize　from　his　brother's　jaws；　but　Drogon　swallowed　and　screamed；　and　the　smaller　green　dragon　could　only　hiss　in　frustration。
　〃Stop　that；　Rhaegal；〃　Dany　said　in　annoyance；　giving　his　head　a　swat。　〃You　had　the　last　one。　I'll　have　no　greedy　dragons。〃　She　smiled　at　Ser　Jorah。　〃I　won't　need　to　char　their　meat　over　a　brazier　any　longer。〃
　〃So　I　see。　Dracarys？〃
　All　three　dragons　turned　their　heads　at　the　sound　of　that　word　'　and　Viserion　let　loose　with　a　blast　of　pale　gold　flame　that　made　Ser　Jorah　take　a　hasty　step　backward。　Dany　giggled。　〃Be　careful　with　that　word；　ser；　or　they're　like　to　singe　your　beard　off。　It　means　'dragonfire'　in　High　Valyrian。　I　wanted　to　choose　a　mand　that　no　one　was　like　to　utter　by　chance。〃
　Mormont　nodded。　〃Your　Grace；〃　he　said；　〃I　wonder　if　I　might　have　a　few　private　words？〃
　〃Of　course。　Irri；　leave　us　for　a　bit。〃　She　put　a　hand　on　Jhiqui's　bare　shoulder　and　shook　the　other　handmaid　awake。　〃You　as　well；　sweetling。　Ser　Jorah　needs　to　talk　to　me。〃
　〃Yes；　Khaleesi。〃　Jhiqui　tumbled　from　the　bunk；　naked　and　yawning；　her　thick　black　hair　tumbled　about　her　head。　She　dressed　quickly　and　left　with　Irri；　closing　the　door　behind　them。
　Dany　gave　the　dragons　the　rest　of　the　salt　pork　to　squabble　over；　and　patted　the　bed　beside　her。　〃Sit；　goodser；　and　tell　mewhat　is　troublingyou。〃
　〃Three　things。〃　Ser　Jorah　sat。　〃Strong　Belwas。　This　Arstan　Whitebeard。　And　Illyrio　Mopatis；　who　sent　them。〃
　Again？　Dany　pulled　the　coverlet　higher　and　tugged　one　end　over　her　shoulder。　〃And　why　is　that？〃
　〃The　warlocks　in　Qarth　told　you　that　you　would　be　betrayed　three　times；〃　the　exile　knight　reminded　her；　as　Viserion　and　Rhaegal　began　to　snap　and　claw　at　each　other。
　IlOnce　for　blood　and　once　for　gold　and　once　for　love。〃　Dany　was　not　like　to　forget。　〃Mirri　Maz　Duur　was　the　first。〃
　〃Which　means　two　traitors　yet　remain　。　。　。　and　now　these　two　appear。　I　find　that　troubling；　yes。　Never　forget；　Robert　offered　a　lordship　to　the　man　who　slays　you。〃
　Dany　leaned　forward　and　yanked　Viserion's　tail；　to　pull　him　off　his　green　brother。　Her　blanket　fell　away　from　her　chest　as　she　moved。　She　grabbed　it　hastily　and　covered　herself　again。　〃The　Usurper　is　dead；〃　she　said。
　〃But　his　son　rules　in　his　place。〃　Ser　Jorah　lifted　his　gaze；　and　his　dark　eyes　met　her　own。　〃A　dutiful　son　pays　his　father's　debts。　Even　blood　debts。〃
　〃This　boy　Joffrey　might　want　me　dead　。　。　。　if　he　recalls　that　I'm　alive。　What　has　that　to　do　with　Belwas　and　Arstan　Whitebeard？　The　old　man　does　not　even　wear　a　sword。　You've　seen　that。〃
　〃Aye。　And　I　have　seen　how　deftly　he　handles　that　staff　of　his。　Recall　how　he　killed　that　manticore　in　Qarth？　It　might　as　easily　have　been　your　throat　he　crushed。〃
　〃Might　have　been；　but　was　not；〃　she　pointed　out。　〃It　was　a　stinging　manticore　meant　to　slay　me。　He　saved　my　life。〃
　〃Khaleesi；　has　it　occurred　to　you　that　Whitebeard　and　Belwas　might　have　been　in　league　with　the　assassin？　It　might　all　have　been　a　ploy　to　win　your　trust。〃
　Her　sudden　laughter　made　Drogon　hiss；　and　sent　Viserion　flapping　to　his　perch　above　the　porthole。　〃The　ploy　worked　well。〃
　The　exile　knight　did　not　return　her　smile。　〃These　are　Illyrio's　ships；　Illyrio's　captains；　Illyrio's　sailors　。　。　。　and　Strong　Belwas　and　Arstan　are　his　men　as　well；　not　yours。〃
　〃Magister　Illyrio　has　protected　me　in　the　past。　Strong　Belwas　says　that　he　wept　when　he　heard　my　brother　was　dead。〃
　〃Yes；〃　said　Mormont；　〃but　did　he　weep　for　Viserys；　or　for　the　plans　he　had　made　with　him？〃
　〃His　plans　need　not　change。　Magister　Illyrio　is　a　friend　to　House　Targaryen；　and　wealthy　。　。　。
　〃He　was　not　born　wealthy。　In　the　world　as　I　have　seen　it；　no　man　grows　rich　by　kindness。　The　warlocks　said　the　second　treason　would　be　for　gold。　What　does　Illyrio　Mopatis　love　more　than　gold？〃
　〃His　skin。〃　Across　the　cabin　Drogon　stirred　restlessly；　steam　rising　from　his　snout。　〃Mirri　Maz　Duur　betrayed　me。　I　burned　her　for　it。〃
　〃Mirri　Maz　Duur　was　in　your　power。　In　Pentos；　you　shall　be　in　Illyrio's　power。　It　is　not　the　same。　I　know　the　magister　as　well　as　you。　He　is　a　devious　man；　and　clever…〃
　〃I　need　clever　men　about　me　if　I　am　to　win　the　Iron　Throne。〃
　Ser　Jorah　snorted。　〃That　wineseller　who　tried　to　poison　you　was　a　clever　man　as　well。　Clever　men　hatch　ambitious　schemes。〃
　Dany　drew　her　legs　up　beneath　the　blanket。　〃You　will　protect　me。　You；　and　my　bloodriders。〃
　〃Four　men？　Khaleesi；　you　believe　you　know　Illyrio　Mopatis；　very　well。　Yet　you　insist　on　surrounding　yourself　with　men　you　do　not　know；　like　this　puffed…up　eunuch　and　the　world's　oldest　squire。　Take　a　lesson　from　Pyat　Free　and　Xaro　Xhoan　Daxos。〃
　He　means　well；　Dany　reminded　herself。　He　does　all　he　does　for　love。　〃It　seems　to　me　that　a　queen　who　trusts　no　one　is　as　foolish　as　a　queen　who　trusts　everyone。　Every　man　I　take　into　my　service　is　a　risk；　I　understand　that；　but　how　am　I　to　win　the　Seven　Kingdoms　without　such　risks？　Am　I　to　conquer　Westeros　with　one　exile　knight　and　three　Dothraki　bloodriders？〃
　His　jaw　set　stubbornly。　〃Your　path　is　dangerous；　I　will　not　deny　that。　But　if　you　blindly　trust　in　every　liar　and　schemer　who　crosses　it；　you　will　end　as　your　brothers　did。〃
　His　obstinacy　made　her　angry。　He　treats　me　like　some　child。　〃Strong　Belwas　could　not　scheme　his　way　to　breakfast。　And　what　lies　has　Arstan　Whitebeard　told　me？〃
　〃He　is　not　what　he　pretends　to　be。　He　speaks　to　you　more　boldly　than　any　squire　would　dare。〃
　〃He　spoke　frankly　at　my　mand。　He　knew　my　brother。〃
　〃A　great　many　men　knew　your　brother。　Your　Grace；　in　Westeros　the　Lord　mander　of　the　Kingsguard　sits　on　the　small　council；　and　serves　the　king　with　his　wits　as　well　as　his　steel。　If　I　am　the　first　of　your　Queensguard；　I　pray　you；　hear　me　out。　I　have　a　plan　to　put　to　YOU。〃
　〃What　plan？　Tell　me。〃
　〃Illyrio　Mopatis　wants　you　back　in　Pentos；　under　his　roof。　Very　well；　go　to　him　。　。　。　but　in　your　own　time；　and　not　alone。　Let　us　see　how　loyal　and　obedient　these　new　subjects　of　yours　truly　are。　mand　Groleo　to　change　course　for　Slaver's　Bay。〃
　Dany　was　not　certain　she　liked　the　sound　of　that　at　all。　Everything　she'd　ever　heard　of　the　flesh　marts　in　the　great　slave　cities　of　Yunkai；　Meereen；　and　Astapor　was　dire　and　frightening。　〃What　is　there　for　me　in　Slaver's　Bay？〃
　〃An　army；〃　said　Ser　Jorah。　〃If　Strong　Belwas　is　so　much　to　your　liking　you　can　buy　hundreds　more　like　him　out　of　the　fighting　pits　of　Meereen　。　。　。　but　it　is　Astapor　I'd　set　my　sails　for。　In　Astapor　you　can　buy　Unsullied。〃
　〃The　slaves　in　the　spiked　bronze　hats？〃　Dany　had　seen　Unsullied　guards　in　the　Free　Cities；　posted　at　the　gates　of　magisters；　archons；　and　dynasts。　〃Why　should　I　want　Unsullied？　They　don't　even　ride　horses；　and　most　of　them　are　fat。〃
　〃The　Unsullied　you　may　have　seen　in　Pentos　and　Myr　were　household　guards。　That's　soft　service；　and　eunuchs　tend　to　plumpness　in　any　case。　Food　is　the　only　vice　allowed　them。　To　judge　all　Unsullied　by　a　few　old　household　slaves　is　like　judging　all　squires　by　Arstan　Whitebeard；　Your　Grace。　Do　you　know　the　tale　of　the　Three　Thousand　of　Qohor？〃
　〃No。〃　The　coverlet　slipped　off　Dany's　shoulder；　and　she　tugged　it　back　into　place。
　〃It　was　four　hundred　years　ago　or　more；　when　the　Dothraki　first　rode　out　of　the　east；　sacking　and　burning　every　town　and　city　in　their　path。　The　khal　who　led　them　was　named　Temmo。　His　khalasar　was　not　so　big　as　Drogo's；　but　it　was　big　enough。　Fifty　thousand；　at　the　least。　Half　of　them　braided　warriors　with　bells　ringing　in　their　hair。
　〃The　Qohorik　knew　he　was　ing。　They　strengthened　their　walls；　doubled　the　size　of　their　own　guard；　and　hired　two　free　panies　besides；　the　Bright　Banners　and　the　Second　Sons。　And　almost　as　an　afterthought；　they　sent　a　man　to　Astapor　to　buy　three　thousand　Unsullied。　It　was　a　long　march　back　to　Qohor；　however；　and　as　they　approached　they　saw　the　smoke　and　dust　and　heard　the　distant　din　of　battle。
　〃By　the　time　the　Unsullied　reached　the　city　the　sun　had　set。　Crows　and　wolves　were　feasting　beneath　the　walls　on　what　remained　of　the　Qohorik　heavy　horse。　The　Bright　Banners　and　Second　Sons　had　fled；　as　sellswords　are　won