grrm.astormofswords-第58节

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　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　Casterly　Rock。　What　was　it　he　said？　Some　battles　are　won　with　swords　and　spears；　others　with　quills　and　ravens　。　。　。　He　wondered　who　the　〃better　option〃　was；　and　what　sort　of　price　he　was　demanding。
　〃Perhaps　we　ought　move　on　to　the　wedding；〃　Ser　Kevan　said。
　The　High　Septon　spoke　of　the　preparations　being　made　at　the　Great　Sept　of　Baelor；　and　Cersei　detailed　the　plans　she　had　been　making　for　the　feast。　They　would　feed　a　thousand　in　the　throne　room；　but　many　more　outside　in　the　yards。　The　outer　and　middle　wards　would　be　tented　in　silk；　with　tables　of　food　and　casks　of　ale　for　all　those　who　could　not　be　acmodated　within　the　hall。
　〃Your　Grace；〃　said　Grand　Maester　Pycelle；　〃in　regard　to　the　number　of　guests　。　。　。　we　have　had　a　raven　from　Sunspear。　Three　hundred　Domishmen　are　riding　toward　King's　Landing　as　we　speak；　and　hope　to　arrive　before　the　wedding。〃
　〃How　do　they　e？〃　asked　Mace　Tyrell　gruffly。　〃They　have　not　asked　leave　to　cross　my　lands。〃　His　thick　neck　had　turned　a　dark　red；　Tyrion　noted。　Dornishmen　and　Highgardeners　had　never　had　great　love　for　one　another；　over　the　centuries；　they　had　fought　border　wars　beyond　count；　and　raided　back　and　forth　across　mountains　and　marches　even　when　at　peace。　The　enmity　had　waned　a　bit　after　Dome　had　bee　part　of　the　Seven　Kingdoms　。　。　。　until　the　Domish　prince　they　called　the　Red　Viper　had　crippled　the　young　heir　of　Highgarden　in　a　tourney。　This　could　be　ticklish；　the　dwarf　thought；　waiting　to　see　how　his　father　would　handle　it。
　〃Prince　Doran　es　at　my　son's　invitation；〃　Lord　Tywin　said　calmly；　〃not　only　to　join　in　our　celebration；　but　to　claim　his　seat　on　this　council；　and　the　justice　Robert　denied　him　for　the　murder　of　his　sister　Elia　and　her　children。〃
　Tyrion　watched　the　faces　of　the　Lords　Tyrell；　Redwyne；　and　Rowan；　wondering　if　any　of　the　three　would　be　bold　enough　to　say；　〃But　Lord　Tywin；　wasn't　it　you　who　presented　the　bodies　to　Robert；　all　wrapped　up　in　Lannister　cloaks？〃　None　of　them　did；　but　it　was　there　on　their　faces　all　the　same。　Redwyne　does　not　give　a　fig；　he　thought；　but　Rowan　looks　fit　to　gag。
　〃When　the　king　is　wed　to　your　Margaery　and　Myrcella　to　Prince　Trystane；　we　shall　all　be　one　great　House；〃　Ser　Kevan　reminded　Mace　Tyrell。
　〃The　enmities　of　the　past　should　remain　there；　would　you　not　agree；　my　lord？〃
　〃This　is　my　daughter's　wedding　
　〃…and　my　grandson's；〃　said　Lord　Tywin　firmly。　〃No　place　for　old　quarrels；　surely？〃
　〃I　have　no　quarrel　with　Doran　Martell；〃　insisted　Lord　Tyrell；　though　his　tone　was　more　than　a　little　grudging。　〃If　he　wishes　to　cross　the　Reach　in　peace；　he　need　only　ask　my　leave。〃
　Small　chance　of　that；　thought　Tyrion。　He'll　climb　the　Boneway；　turn　east　near　Summerhall；　and　e　up　the　kingsroad。
　〃Three　hundred　Dornishmen　need　not　trouble　our　plans；〃　said　Cersei。　〃We　can　feed　the　men…at…arms　in　the　yard；　squeeze　some　extra　benches　into　the　throne　room　for　the　lordlings　and　highborn　knights；　and　find　Prince　Doran　a　place　of　honor　on　the　dais。〃
　Not　by　me；　was　the　message　Tyrion　saw　in　Mace　Tyrell's　eyes；　but　the　Lord　of　Highgarden　made　no　reply　but　a　curt　nod。
　〃Perhaps　we　can　move　to　a　more　pleasant　task；〃　said　Lord　Tywin。　〃The　fruits　of　victory　await　division。〃
　〃What　could　be　sweeter？〃　said　Littlefinger；　who　had　already　swallowed　his　own　fruit；　Harrenhal。
　Each　lord　had　his　own　demands；　this　castle　and　that　village；　tracts　of　lands；　a　small　river；　a　forest；　the　wardship　of　certain　minors　left　fatherless　by　the　battle。　Fortunately；　these　fruits　were　plentiful；　and　there　were　orphans　and　castles　for　all。　Varys　had　lists。　Forty…seven　lesser　lordlings　and　six　hundred　nineteen　knights　had　lost　their　lives　beneath　the　fiery　heart　of　Stannis　and　his　Lord　of　Light；　along　with　several　thousand　mon　men…at…arms。　Traitors　all；　their　heirs　were　disinherited；　their　lands　and　castles　granted　to　those　who　had　proved　more　loyal。
　Highgarden　reaped　the　richest　harvest。　Tyrion　eyed　Mace　Tyrell's　broad　belly　and　thought；　He　has　a　prodigious　appetite；　this　one。　Tyrell　demanded　the　lands　and　castles　of　Lord　Alester　Florent；　his　own　bannerman；　who'd　had　the　singular　ill　judgment　to　back　first　Renly　and　then　Stannis。　Lord　Tywin　was　pleased　to　oblige。　Brightwater　Keep　and　all　its　lands　and　ines　were　granted　to　Lord　Tyrell's　second　son；　Ser　Garlan；　transforming　him　into　a　great　lord　in　the　blink　of　an　eye。　His　elder　brother；　of　course；　stood　to　inherit　Highgarden　itself。
　Lesser　tracts　were　granted　to　Lord　Rowan；　and　set　aside　for　Lord　Tarly；　Lady　Oakheart；　Lord　Hightower；　and　other　worthies　not　present。　Lord　Redwyne　asked　only　for　thirty　years'　remission　of　the　taxes　that　Littlefinger　and　his　wine　factors　had　levied　on　certain　of　the　Arbor's　finest　vintages。　When　that　was　granted；　he　pronounced　himself　well　satisfied　and　suggested　that　they　send　for　a　cask　of　Arbor　gold；　to　toast　good　King　Joffrey　and　his　wise　and　benevolent　Hand。　At　that　Cersei　lost　patience。
　〃It's　swords　Joff　needs；　not　toasts；〃　she　snapped。　〃His　realm　is　still　plagued　with　would…be　usurpers　and　self…styled　kings。〃
　〃But　not　for　long；　I　think；〃　said　Varys　unctuously。
　〃A　few　more　items　remain；　my　lords。〃　Ser　Kevan　consulted　his　papers。　〃Ser　Addam　has　found　some　crystals　from　the　High　Septon's　crown。　It　appears　certain　now　that　the　thieves　broke　up　the　crystals　and　melted　down　the　gold。〃
　〃Our　Father　Above　knows　their　guilt　and　will　sit　in　judgment　on　them　all；〃　the　High　Septon　said　piously。
　〃No　doubt　he　will；〃　said　Lord　Tywin。　〃All　the　same；　you　must　be　crowned　at　the　king's　wedding。　Cersei；　summon　your　goldsmiths；　we　must　see　to　a　replacement。〃　He　did　not　wait　for　her　reply；　but　turned　at　once　to　Varys。　〃You　have　reports？〃
　The　eunuch　drew　a　parchment　from　his　sleeve。　〃A　kraken　has　been　seen　off　the　Fingers。〃　He　giggled。　〃Not　a　Greyjoy；　mind　you；　a　true　kraken。　It　attacked　an　Ibbenese　whaler　and　pulled　it　under。　There　is　fighting　on　the　Stepstones；　and　a　new　war　between　Tyrosh　and　Lys　seems　likely。　Both　hope　to　win　Myr　as　ally。　Sailors　back　from　the　jade　Sea　report　that　a　three…headed　dragon　has　hatched　in　Qarth；　and　is　the　wonder　of　that　city…〃
　〃Dragons　and　krakens　do　not　interest　me；　regardless　of　the　number　of　their　heads；〃　said　Lord　Tywin。　〃Have　your　whisperers　perchance　found　some　trace　of　my　brother's　son？〃
　〃Alas；　our　beloved　Tyrek　has　quite　vanished；　the　poor　brave　lad。〃　Varys　sounded　close　to　tears。
　〃Tywin；〃　Ser　Kevan　said；　before　Lord　Tywin　could　vent　his　obvious　displeasure；　〃some　of　the　gold　cloaks　who　deserted　during　the　battle　have　drifted　back　to　barracks；　thinking　to　take　up　duty　once　again。　Ser　Addam　wishes　to　know　what　to　do　with　them。〃
　〃They　might　have　endangered　Joff　with　their　cowardice；〃　Cersei　said　at　once。　〃I　want　them　put　to　death。〃
　Varys　sighed。　〃They　have　surely　earned　death；　Your　Grace；　none　can　deny　it。　And　yet；　perhaps　we　might　be　wiser　to　send　them　to　the　Night's　Watch。　We　have　had　disturbing　messages　from　the　Wall　of　late。　Of　wildlings　astir　。　。　。〃
　〃Wildlings；　krakens；　and　dragons。〃　Mace　Tyrell　chuckled。　〃Why；　is　there　anyone　not　stirring？〃
　Lord　Tywin　ignored　that。　〃The　deserters　serve　us　best　as　a　lesson。　Break　their　knees　with　hammers。　They　will　not　run　again。　Nor　will　any　man　who　sees　them　begging　in　the　streets。〃　He　glanced　down　the　table　to　see　if　any　of　the　other　lords　disagreed。
　Tyrion　remembered　his　own　visit　to　the　Wall；　and　the　crabs　he'd　shared　with　old　Lord　Mormont　and　his　officers。　He　remembered　the　Old　Bear's　fears　as　well。　〃Perhaps　we　might　break　the　knees　of　a　few　to　make　our　point。　Those　who　killed　Ser　Jacelyn；　say。　The　rest　we　can　send　to　Marsh。　The　Watch　is　grievously　under　strength。　If　the　Wall　should　fail　。　。　。〃
　〃　。　。　。　the　wildlings　will　flood　the　north；〃　his　father　finished；　〃and　the　Starks　and　Greyjoys　will　have　another　enemy　to　contend　with。　They　no　longer　wish　to　be　subject　to　the　Iron　Throne；　it　would　seem；　so　by　what　right　do　they　look　to　the　Iron　Throne　for　aid？　King　Robb　and　King　Balon　both　claim　the　north。　Let　them　defend　it；　if　they　can。　And　if　not；　this　Mance　Rayder　might　even　prove　a　useful　ally。〃　Lord　Tywin　looked　to　his　brother。　〃Is　there　more？〃
　Ser　Kevan　shook　his　head。　〃We　are　done。　My　lords；　His　Grace　King　Joffrey　would　no　doubt　wish　to　thank　you　all　for　your　wisdom　and　good　counsel。〃
　〃I　should　like　private　words　with　my　children；〃　said　Lord　Tywin　as　the　others　rose　to　leave。　〃You　as　well；　Kevan。〃
　Obediently；　the　other　councillors　made　their　farewells；　Varys　the　first　to　depart　and　Tyrell　and　Redwyne　the　last。　When　the　chamber　was　empty　but　for　the　four　Lannisters；　Ser　Kevan　closed　the　door。
　〃Master　of　coin〃　said　Tyrion　in　a　thin　strained　voice。　〃Whose　notion　was　that；　pray？〃
　〃Lord　Petyr's；〃　his　father　said；　〃but　it　serves　us　well　to　have　the　treasury　in　the　hands　of　a　Lannister。　You　have　asked　for　important　work。　Do　you　fear　you　might　be　incapable　of　the　task？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Tyrion；　〃I　fear　a　trap。　Littlefinger　is　subtle　and　ambitious。　I　do　not　trust　him。　Nor　should　you。〃
　〃He　won　Highgarden　to　our　side　。　。　。〃　Cersei　began。
　〃　。　。　。　and　sold　you　Ned　Stark；　I　know。　He　will　sell　us　just