grrm.astormofswords-第84节

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s　she　would　be　wise　to　blood　them　early。　There　are　many　small　cities　between　here　and　there；　cities　ripe　for　sacking。　Whatever　plunder　she　takes　will　be　hers　alone。　Unsullied　have　no　lust　for　gold　or　gems。　And　should　she　take　captives；　a　few　guards　will　suffice　to　march　them　back　to　Astapor。　We'll　buy　the　healthy　ones；　and　for　a　good　price。　And　who　knows？　In　ten　years；　some　of　the　boys　she　sends　us　may　be　Unsullied　in　their　turn。　Thus　all　shall　prosper。〃
　Finally　there　were　no　more　trade　goods　to　add　to　the　pile。　Her　Dothraki　mounted　their　horses　once　more；　and　Dany　said；　〃This　was　all　we　could　carry。　The　rest　awaits　you　on　the　ships；　a　great　quantity　of　amber　and　wine　and　black　rice。　And　you　have　the　ships　themselves。　So　all　that　remains　is　。　。　。〃
　〃　。　。　。　the　dragon；〃　finished　the　Grazdan　with　the　spiked　beard；　who　spoke　the　mon　Tongue　so　thickly。
　〃And　here　he　waits。〃　Ser　Jorah　and　Belwas　walked　beside　her　to　the　litter；　where　Drogon　and　his　brothers　lay　basking　in　the　sun。　Jhiqui　unfastened　one　end　of　the　chain；　and　handed　it　down　to　her。　When　she　gave　a　yank；　the　black　dragon　raised　his　head；　hissing；　and　unfolded　wings　of　night　and　scarlet。　Kraznys　mo　Nakloz　smiled　broadly　as　their　shadow　fell　across　him。
　Dany　handed　the　slaver　the　end　of　Drogon's　chain。　In　return　he　presented　her　with　the　whip。　The　handle　was　black　dragonbone；　elaborately　carved　and　inlaid　with　gold。　Nine　long　thin　leather　lashes　trailed　from　it；　each　one　tipped　by　a　gilded　claw。　The　gold　pommel　was　a　woman's　head；　with　pointed　ivory　teeth。　〃The　harpy's　fingers；〃　Kraznys　named　the　scourge。
　Dany　turned　the　whip　in　her　hand。　Such　a　light　thing；　to　bear　such　weight。　〃Is　it　done；　then？　Do　they　belong　to　me？〃
　〃It　is　done；〃　he　agreed；　giving　the　chain　a　sharp　pull　to　bring　Drogon　down　from　the　litter。
　Dany　mounted　her　silver。　She　could　feel　her　heart　thumping　in　her　chest。　She　felt　desperately　afraid。　Was　this　what　my　brother　would　have　done？　She　wondered　if　Prince　Rhaegar　had　been　this　anxious　when　he　saw　the　Usurper's　host　formed　up　across　the　Trident　with　all　their　banners　floating　on　the　wind。
　She　stood　in　her　stirrups　and　raised　the　harpy's　fingers　above　her　head　for　all　the　Unsullied　to　see。　〃IT　IS　DONE！〃　she　cried　at　the　top　of　her　lungs。　〃YOU　ARE　MINE！〃　She　gave　the　mare　her　heels　and　galloped　along　the　first　rank；　holding　the　fingers　high。　〃YOU　ARE　THE　DRAGON'S　NOW！　YOU'RE　BOUGHT　AND　PAID　FOR！　IT　IS　DONE！　IT　IS　DONE！〃
　She　glimpsed　old　Grazdan　turn　his　grey　head　sharply。　He　hears　me　speak　Valyrian。　The　other　slavers　were　not　listening。　They　crowded　around　Kraznys　and　the　dragon；　shouting　advice。　Though　the　Astapori　yanked　and　tugged；　Drogon　would　not　budge　off　the　litter。　Smoke　rose　grey　from　his　open　jaws；　and　his　long　neck　curled　and　straightened　as　he　snapped　at　the　slaver's　face。
　It　is　time　to　cross　the　Trident；　Dany　thought；　as　she　wheeled　and　rode　her　silver　back。　Her　bloodriders　moved　in　close　around　her。　〃You　are　in　difficulty；〃　she　observed。
　〃He　will　not　e；〃　Kraznys　said。
　〃There　is　a　reason。　A　dragon　is　no　slave。〃　And　Dany　swept　the　lash　down　as　hard　as　she　could　across　the　slaver's　face。　Kraznys　screamed　and　staggered　back；　the　blood　running　red　down　his　cheeks　into　his　perfumed　beard。　The　harpy's　fingers　had　tom　his　features　half　to　pieces　with　one　slash；　but　she　did　not　pause　to　contemplate　the　ruin。　〃Drogon；〃　she　sang　out　loudly；　sweetly；　all　her　fear　forgotten。　〃Dracarys。〃
　The　black　dragon　spread　his　wings　and　roared。
　A　lance　of　swirling　dark　flame　took　Kraznys　full　in　the　face。　His　eyes　melted　and　ran　down　his　cheeks；　and　the　oil　in　his　hair　and　beard　burst　so　fiercely　into　fire　that　for　an　instant　the　slaver　wore　a　burning　crown　twice　as　tall　as　his　head。　The　sudden　stench　of　charred　meat　overwhelmed　even　his　perfume；　and　his　wail　seemed　to　drown　all　other　sound。
　Then　the　Plaza　of　Punishment　blew　apart　into　blood　and　chaos。　The　Good　Masters　were　shrieking；　stumbling；　shoving　one　another　aside　and　tripping　over　the　fringes　of　their　tokars　in　their　haste。　Drogon　flew　almost　lazily　at　Kraznys；　black　wings　beating。　As　he　gave　the　slaver　another　taste　of　fire；　Irri　and　Jhiqui　unchained　Viserion　and　Rhaegal；　and　suddenly　there　were　three　dragons　in　the　air。　When　Dany　turned　to　look；　a　third　of　Astapor's　proud　demon…homed　warriors　were　fighting　to　stay　atop　their　terrified　mounts；　and　another　third　were　fleeing　in　a　bright　blaze　of　shiny　copper。　One　man　kept　his　saddle　long　enough　to　draw　a　sword；　but　Jhogo's　whip　coiled　about　his　neck　and　cut　off　his　shout。　Another　lost　a　hand　to　Rakharo's　arakh　and　rode　off　reeling　and　spurting　blood。　Aggo　sat　calmly　notching　arrows　to　his　bowstring　and　sending　them　at　tokars。　Silver；　gold；　or　plain；　he　cared　nothing　for　the　fringe。　Strong　Belwas　had　his　arakh　out　as　well；　and　he　spun　it　as　he　charged。
　〃Spears！〃　Dany　heard　one　Astapori　shout。　It　was　Grazdan；　old　Grazdan　in　his　tokar　heavy　with　pearls。　〃　Unsullied！　Defend　us；　stop　them；　defend　your　masters！　Spears！　Swords！〃
　When　Rakharo　put　an　arrow　through　his　mouth；　the　slaves　holding　his　sedan　chair　broke　and　ran；　dumping　him　unceremoniously　on　the　ground。　The　old　man　crawled　to　the　first　rank　of　eunuchs；　his　blood　pooling　on　the　bricks。　The　Unsullied　did　not　so　much　as　look　down　to　watch　him　die。　Rank　on　rank　on　rank；　they　stood。
　And　did　not　move。　The　gods　have　heard　my　prayer。
　〃Unsullied！〃　Dany　galloped　before　them；　her　silver…gold　braid　flying　behind　her；　her　bell　chiming　with　every　stride。　〃Slay　the　Good　Masters；　slay　the　soldiers；　slay　every　man　who　wears　a　tokar　or　holds　a　whip；　but　harm　no　child　under　twelve；　and　strike　the　chains　off　every　slave　you　see。〃　She　raised　the　harpy's　fingers　in　the　air　。　。　。　and　then　she　flung　the　scourge　aside。　〃Freedom！〃　she　sang　out。　〃Dracarys！　Dracarys！〃
　〃Dracarys！〃　they　shouted　back；　the　sweetest　word　she'd　ever　heard。　〃Dracarys！　Dracarys！〃　And　all　around　them　slavers　ran　and　sobbed　and　begged　and　died；　and　the　dusty　air　was　filled　with　spears　and　fire。
　
　CHAPTER　28
　SANSA
　
　On　the　morning　her　new　gown　was　to　be　ready；　the　serving　maid　filled　Sansa's　tub　with　steaming　hot　water　and　scrubbed　her　head　to　toe　until　she　glowed　pink。　Cersei's　own　bedmaid　trimmed　her　nails　and　brushed　and　curled　her　auburn　hair　so　it　fell　down　her　back　in　soft　ringlets。　She　brought　a　dozen　of　the　queen's　favorite　scents　as　well。　Sansa　chose　a　sharp　sweet　fragrance　with　a　hint　of　lemon　in　it　under　the　smell　of　flowers。　The　maid　dabbed　some　on　her　finger　and　touched　Sansa　behind　each　ear；　and　under　her　chin；　and　then　lightly　on　her　nipples。
　Cersei　herself　arrived　with　the　seamstress；　and　watched　as　they　dressed　Sansa　in　her　new　clothes。　The　smallclothes　were　all　silk；　but　the　gown　itself　was　ivory　samite　and　cloth…of…silver；　and　lined　with　silvery　satin。　The　points　of　the　long　dagged　sleeves　almost　touched　the　ground　when　she　lowered　her　arms。　And　it　was　a　woman's　gown；　not　a　little　girl's；　there　was　no　doubt　of　that。　The　bodice　was　slashed　in　front　almost　to　her　belly；　the　deep　vee　covered　over　with　a　panel　of　ornate　Myrish　lace　in　dove…grey。　The　skirts　were　long　and　full；　the　waist　so　tight　that　Sansa　had　to　hold　her　breath　as　they　laced　her　into　it。　They　brought　her　new　shoes　as　well；　slippers　of　soft　grey　doeskin　that　hugged　her　feet　like　lovers。　〃You　are　very　beautiful；　my　lady；〃　the　seamstress　said　when　she　was　dressed。
　〃I　am；　aren't　I？〃　Sansa　giggled；　and　spun；　her　skirts　swirling　around　her。　〃Oh；　I　am。〃　She　could　not　wait　for　Willas　to　see　her　like　this。　He　will　love　me；　he　will；　he　must　。　。　。　he　will　forget　Winterfell　when　he　sees　me；　I'll　see　that　he　does。
　Queen　Cersei　studied　her　critically。　〃A　few　gems；　I　think。　The　moonstones　Joffrey　gave　her。〃
　〃At　once；　Your　Grace；〃　her　maid　replied。
　When　the　moonstones　hung　from　Sansa's　ears　and　about　her　neck；　the　queen　nodded。　〃Yes。　The　gods　have　been　kind　to　you；　Sansa。　You　are　a　lovely　girl。　It　seems　almost　obscene　to　squander　such　sweet　innocence　on　that　gargoyle。〃
　〃What　gargoyle？〃　Sansa　did　not　understand。　Did　she　mean　Willas？　How　could　she　know？　No　one　knew；　but　her　and　Margaery　and　the　Queen　of　Thorns　。　。　。　oh；　and　Dontos；　but　he　didn't　count。
　Cersei　Lannister　ignored　the　question。　〃The　cloak；〃　she　manded；　and　the　women　brought　it　out：　a　long　cloak　of　white　velvet　heavy　with　pearls。　A　flerce　direwolf　was　embroidered　upon　it　in　silver　thread。　Sansa　looked　at　it　with　sudden　dread。　〃Your　father's　colors；〃　said　Cersei；　as　they　fastened　it　about　her　neck　with　a　slender　silver　chain。
　A　maiden's　cloak。　Sansa's　hand　went　to　her　throat。　She　would　have　torn　the　thing　away　if　she　had　dared。
　〃You're　prettier　with　your　mouth　closed；　Sansa；〃　Cersei　told　her。　〃e　along　now；　the　septon　is　waiting。　And　the　wedding　guests　as　well。〃
　〃No；〃　Sansa　blurted。　〃No。〃
　〃Yes。　You　are　a　ward　of　the　crown。　The　king　stands　in　your　father's　place；　since　your　brother　is　an　attainted　traitor。　That　means　he　has　every　right　to　dispose　of　your　hand。　You　are　to　marry　my　brother　Tyrion。〃
　My　claim；　she　thought；　sickened。　Dontos　the　Fool　was　not　so　foolish　after　all；　he　had　seen　the　truth　of　it。　Sansa　backed　away　from　the　queen。　〃I　won't。〃　I'm　to　marry　Willas；　I'm　to　be　the　lady　of　Highgarden；　please　。　。　。
　〃I　understand　your　relucta