grrm.astormofswords-第57节

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Losses　were　heavy　on　both　sides；　but　in　the　end　our　loyal　men　prevailed。　Ser　Helman　Tallhart　is　reported　dead；　with　a　thousand　others。　Robett　Glover　leads　the　survivors　back　toward　Harrenhal　in　bloody　disarray；　little　dreaming　he　will　find　valiant　Ser　Gregor　and　his　stalwarts　athwart　his　path。〃
　〃Gods　be　praised！〃　said　Paxter　Redwyne。　〃A　great　victory　for　King　Joffrey！〃
　What　did　Joffrey　have　to　do　with　it？　thought　Tyrion。
　〃And　a　terrible　defeat　for　the　north；　certainly；〃　observed　Littlefinger；　〃yet　one　in　which　Robb　Stark　played　no　part。　The　Young　Wolf　remains　unbeaten　in　the　field。〃
　〃What　do　we　know　of　Stark's　plans　and　movements？〃　asked　Mathis　Rowan；　ever　blunt　and　to　the　point。
　〃He　has　run　back　to　Riverrun　with　his　plunder；　abandoning　the　castles　he　took　in　the　west；〃　announced　Lord　Tywin。　〃Our　cousin　Ser　Daven　is　reforming　the　remnants　of　his　late　father's　army　at　Lannisport。　When　they　are　ready　he　shall　join　Ser　Forley　Prester　at　the　Golden　Tooth。　As　soon　as　the　Stark　boy　starts　north；　Ser　Forley　and　Ser　Daven　will　descend　on　Riverrun。〃
　〃You　are　certain　Lord　Stark　means　to　go　north？〃　Lord　Rowan　asked。　〃Even　with　the　ironmen　at　Moat　Cailin？〃
　Mace　Tyrell　spoke　up。　〃Is　there　anything　as　pointless　as　a　king　without　a　kingdom？　No；　it's　plain；　the　boy　must　abandon　the　riverlands；　join　his　forces　to　Roose　Bolton's　once　more；　and　throw　all　his　strength　against　Moat　Cailin。　That　is　what　I　would　do。〃
　Tyrion　had　to　bite　his　tongue　at　that。　Robb　Stark　had　won　more　battles　in　a　year　than　the　Lord　of　Highgarden　had　in　twenty。　Tyrell's　reputation　rested　on　one　indecisive　victory　over　Robert　Baratheon　at　Ashford；　in　a　battle　largely　won　by　Lord　Tarly's　van　before　the　main　host　had　even　arrived。　The　siege　of　Storm's　End；　where　Mace　Tyrell　actually　did　hold　the　mand；　had　dragged　on　a　year　to　no　result；　and　after　the　Trident　was　fought；　the　Lord　of　Highgarden　had　meekly　dipped　his　banners　to　Eddard　Stark。
　〃I　ought　to　write　Robb　Stark　a　stern　letter；〃　Littlefinger　was　saying。　〃I　understand　his　man　Bolton　is　stabling　goats　in　my　high　hall；　it's　really　quite　unconscionable。〃
　Ser　Kevan　Lannister　cleared　his　throat。　〃As　regards　the　Starks　。　。　。　Balon　Greyjoy；　who　now　styles　himself　King　of　the　Isles　and　the　North；　has　written　to　us　offering　terms　of　alliance。〃
　〃He　ought　to　be　offering　fealty；〃　snapped　Cersei。　〃By　what　right　does　he　call　himself　king？〃
　〃By　right　of　conquest；〃　Lord　Tywin　said。　〃King　Balon　has　strangler's　fingers　round　the　Neck。　Robb　Stark's　heirs　are　dead；　Winterfell　is　fallen；　and　the　ironmen　hold　Moat　Cailin；　Deepwood　Motte；　and　most　of　the　Stony　Shore。　King　Balon's　longships　mand　the　sunset　sea；　and　are　well　placed　to　menace　Lannisport；　Fair　Isle；　and　even　Highgarden；　should　we　provoke　him。〃
　〃And　if　we　accept　this　alliance？〃　inquired　Lord　Mathis　Rowan。　〃What　terms　does　he　propose？〃
　〃That　we　recognize　his　kingship　and　grant　him　everything　north　of　the　Neck。〃
　Lord　Redwyne　laughed。　〃What　is　there　north　of　the　Neck　that　any　sane　man　would　want？　If　Greyjoy　will　trade　swords　and　sails　for　stone　and　snow；　I　say　do　it；　and　count　ourselves　lucky。〃
　〃Truly；〃　agreed　Mace　Tyrell。　〃That's　what　I　would　do。　Let　King　Balon　finish　the　northmen　whilst　we　finish　Stannis。〃
　Lord　Tywin's　face　gave　no　hint　as　to　his　feelings。　〃There　is　Lysa　Arryn　to　deal　with　as　well。　Jon　Arryn's　widow；　Hoster　Tully's　daughter；　Catelyn　Stark's　sister　。　。　。　whose　husband　was　conspiring　with　Stannis　Baratheon　at　the　time　of　his　death。〃
　〃Oh；〃　said　Mace　Tyrell　cheerfully；　〃women　have　no　stomach　for　war。　Let　her　be；　I　say；　she's　not　like　to　trouble　us。〃
　〃I　agree；〃　said　Redwyne。　〃The　Lady　Lysa　took　no　part　in　the　fighting；　nor　has　she　mitted　any　overt　acts　of　treason。〃
　Tyrionstirred。　〃She　did　throw　mein　a　cell　andputme　on　trial　for　mylife；〃　he　pointed　out；　with　a　certain　amount　of　rancor。　〃Nor　has　she　returned　to　King's　Landing　to　swear　fealty　to　Joff；　as　she　was　manded。　My　lords；　grant　me　the　men；　and　I　will　sort　out　Lysa　Arryn。〃　He　could　think　of　nothing　he　would　enjoy　more；　except　perhaps　strangling　Cersei。　Sometimes　he　still　dreamed　of　the　Eyrie's　sky　cells；　and　woke　drenched　in　cold　sweat。
　Mace　Tyrell's　smile　was　jovial；　but　behind　it　Tyrion　sensed　contempt。　〃Perhaps　you'd　best　leave　the　fighting　to　fighters；〃　said　the　Lord　of　Highgarden。　〃Better　men　than　you　have　lost　great　armies　in　the　Mountains　of　the　Moon；　or　shattered　them　against　the　Bloody　Gate。　We　know　your　worth；　my　lord；　no　need　to　tempt　fate。〃
　Tyrion　pushed　off　his　cushions；　bristling；　but　his　father　spoke　before　he　could　lash　back。　〃I　have　other　tasks　in　mind　for　Tyrion。　I　believe　Lord　Petyr　may　hold　the　key　to　the　Eyrie。〃
　〃Oh；　I　do；〃　said　Littleflnger；　〃I　have　it　here　between　my　legs。〃　There　was　mischief　in　his　grey…green　eyes。　〃My　lords；　with　your　leave；　I　propose　to　travel　to　the　Vale　and　there　woo　and　win　Lady　Lysa　Arryn。　Once　I　am　her　consort；　I　shall　deliver　you　the　Vale　of　Arryn　without　a　drop　of　blood　being　spilled。〃
　Lord　Rowan　looked　doubtful。　〃Would　Lady　Lysa　have　you？〃
　〃She's　had　me　a　few　times　before；　Lord　Mathis；　and　voiced　no　plaints。〃
　〃Bedding；〃　said　Cersei；　〃is　not　wedding。　Even　a　cow　like　Lysa　Arryn　might　be　able　to　grasp　the　difference。〃
　〃To　be　sure。　It　would　not　have　been　fitting　for　a　daughter　of　Riverrun　to　marry　one　so　far　below　her。〃　Littlefinger　spread　his　hands。　〃Now；　though　。　。　。　a　match　between　the　Lady　of　the　Eyrie　and　the　Lord　of　Harrenhal　is　not　so　unthinkable；　is　it？〃
　Tyrion　noted　the　look　that　passed　between　Paxter　Redwyne　and　Mace　Tyrell。　〃It　might　serve；〃　Lord　Rowan　said；　〃if　you　are　certain　that　you　can　keep　the　woman　loyal　to　the　King's　Grace。〃
　〃My　lords；〃　pronounced　the　High　Septon；　〃autumn　is　upon　us；　and　all　men　of　good　heart　are　weary　of　war。　If　Lord　Baelish　can　bring　the　Vale　back　into　the　king's　peace　without　more　shedding　of　blood；　the　gods　will　surely　bless　him。〃
　〃But　can　he？〃　asked　Lord　Redwyne。　〃Jon　Arryn's　son　is　Lord　of　the　Eyrie　now。　The　Lord　Robert。〃
　〃Only　a　boy；〃　said　Littleflnger。　〃I　will　see　that　he　grows　to　be　Joffrey's　most　loyal　subject；　and　a　fast　friend　to　us　all。〃
　Tyrion　studied　the　slender　man　with　the　pointed　beard　and　irreverent　grey…green　eyes。　Lord　of　Harrenhal　an　empty　honor？　Bugger　that；　Father。　Even　if　he　never　sets　foot　in　the　castle；　the　title　makes　this　match　possible；　as　he's　known　all　along。
　〃We　have　no　lack　of　foes；〃　said　Ser　Kevan　Lannister。　〃If　the　Eyrie　can　be　kept　out　of　the　war；　all　to　the　good。　I　am　of　a　mind　to　see　what　Lord　Petyr　can　acplish。〃
　Ser　Kevan　was　his　brother's　vanguard　in　council；　Tyrion　knew　from　long　experience；　he　never　had　a　thought　that　Lord　Tywin　had　not　had　first。　It　has　all　been　settled　beforehand；　he　concluded；　and　this　discussion's　no　more　than　show。
　The　sheep　were　bleating　their　agreement；　unaware　of　how　neatly　they'd　been　shorn；　so　it　fell　to　Tyrion　to　object。　〃How　will　the　crown　pay　its　debts　without　Lord　Petyr？　He　is　our　wizard　of　coin；　and　we　have　no　one　to　replace　him。〃
　Littlefinger　smiled。　〃My　little　friend　is　too　kind。　All　I　do　is　count　coppers；　as　King　Robert　used　to　say。　Any　clever　tradesman　could　do　as　well　。　。　。　and　a　Lannister；　blessed　with　the　golden　touch　of　Casterly　Rock；　will　no　doubt　far　surpass　me。〃
　〃A　Lannister？〃　Tyrion　had　a　bad　feeling　about　this。
　Lord　Tywin's　gold…flecked　eyes　met　his　son's　mismatched　ones。　〃You　are　admirably　suited　to　the　task；　I　believe。〃
　〃Indeed！〃　Ser　Kevan　said　heartily。　〃I've　no　doubt　you'll　make　a　splendid　master　of　coin；　Tyrion。〃
　Lord　Tywin　turned　back　to　Littlefinger。　〃If　Lysa　Arryn　will　take　you　for　a　husband　and　return　to　the　king's　peace；　we　shall　restore　the　Lord　Robert　to　the　honor　of　Warden　of　the　East。　How　soon　might　you　leave？〃
　〃On　the　morrow；　if　the　winds　permit。　There's　a　Braavosi　galley　standing　out　past　the　chain；　taking　on　cargo　by　boat。　The　Merling　King。　I'll　see　her　captain　about　a　berth。〃
　〃You　will　miss　the　king's　wedding；〃　said　Mace　Tyrell。
　Petyr　Baelish　gave　a　shrug。　〃Tides　and　brides　wait　on　no　man；　my　lord。　Once　the　autumn　storms　begin　the　voyage　will　be　much　more　hazardous。　Drowning　would　definitely　diminish　my　charms　as　a　bridegroom。〃
　Lord　Tyrell　chuckled。　〃True。　Best　you　do　not　linger。〃
　〃May　the　gods　speed　you　on　your　way；〃　the　High　Septon　said。　〃All　King's　Landing　shall　pray　for　your　success。〃
　Lord　Redwyne　pinched　at　his　nose。　〃May　we　return　to　the　matter　of　the　Greyjoy　alliance？　In　my　view；　there　is　much　to　be　said　for　it。　Greyjoy's　longships　will　augment　my　own　fleet　and　give　us　sufficient　strength　at　sea　to　assault　Dragonstone　and　end　Stannis　Baratheon's　pretensions。〃
　〃King　Balon's　longships　are　occupied　for　the　nonce；〃　Lord　Tywin　said　politely；　〃as　are　we。　Greyjoy　demands　half　the　kingdom　as　the　price　of　alliance；　but　what　will　he　do　to　earn　it？　Fight　the　Starks？　He　is　doing　that　already。　Why　should　we　pay　for　what　he　has　given　us　for　free？　The　best　thing　to　do　about　our　lord　of　Pyke　is　nothing；　in　my　view。　Granted　enough　time；　a　better　option　may　well　present　itself。　One　that　does　not　require　the　king　to　give　up　half　his　kingdom。〃
　Tyrion　watched　his　father　closely。　There's　something　he's　not　saying。　He　remembered　those　important　letters　Lord　Tywin　had　been　writing；　the　night　Tyrion　had　demanded　Casterl