grrm.astormofswords-第106章

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　far　as　to　tell　Viserys　that　it　was　his　fault　for　not　being　born　a　girl。　He　beat　her　cruelly　for　that　insolence。　〃If　I　had　been　born　more　timely；　he　said；　Rhaegar　would　have　married　me　instead　of　Elia；　and　it　would　all　have　e　out　different。　If　Rhaegar　had　been　happy　in　his　wife；　he　would　not　have　needed　the　Stark　girl。〃
　〃Perhaps　so；　Your　Grace。〃　Whitebeard　paused　a　moment。　〃But　I　am　not　certain　it　was　in　Rhaegar　to　be　happy。〃
　〃You　make　him　sound　so　sour；〃　Dany　protested。
　〃Not　sour；　no；　but　。　。　。　there　was　a　melancholy　to　Prince　Rhaegar；　a　sense　。　。　。　〃　The　old　man　hesitated　again。
　〃Say　it；〃　she　urged。　〃A　sense　。　。　。　？〃
　〃　。　。　。　of　doom。　He　was　born　in　grief；　my　queen；　and　that　shadow　hung　over　him　all　his　days。〃
　Viserys　had　spoken　of　Rhaegar's　birth　only　once。　Perhaps　the　tale　saddened　him　too　much。　〃It　was　the　shadow　of　Surnmerhall　that　haunted　him；　was　it　not？〃
　〃Yes。　And　yet　Surnmerhall　was　the　place　the　prince　loved　best。　He　would　go　there　from　time　to　time；　with　only　his　harp　for　pany。　Even　the　knights　of　the　Kingsguard　did　not　attend　him　there。　He　liked　to　sleep　in　the　ruined　hall；　beneath　the　moon　and　stars；　and　whenever　he　came　back　he　would　bring　a　song。　When　you　heard　him　play　his　high　harp　with　the　silver　strings　and　sing　of　twilights　and　tears　and　the　death　of　kings；　you　could　not　but　feel　that　he　was　singing　of　himself　and　those　he　loved。〃
　〃What　of　the　Usurper？　Did　he　play　sad　songs　as　well？〃
　Arstan　chuckled。　〃Robert？　Robert　liked　songs　that　made　him　laugh；　the　bawdier　the　better。　He　only　sang　when　he　was　drunk；　and　then　it　was　like　to　be　'A　Cask　of　Ale'　or　'Fifty…Four　Tuns'　or　'The　Bear　and　the　Maiden　Fair。'　Robert　was　much…〃
　As　one；　her　dragons　lifted　their　heads　and　roared。
　〃Horses！〃　Dany　leapt　to　her　feet；　clutching　the　lion　pelt。　Outside；　she　heard　Strong　Belwas　bellow　something；　and　then　other　voices；　and　the　sounds　of　many　horses。　〃Irri；　go　see　who。。　。〃
　The　tent　flap　pushed　open；　and　Ser　Jorah　Mormont　entered。　He　was　dusty；　and　spattered　with　blood；　but　otherwise　none　the　worse　for　battle。　The　exile　knight　went　to　one　knee　before　Dany　and　said；　〃Your　Grace；　I　bring　you　victory。　The　Stormcrows　turned　their　cloaks；　the　slaves　broke；　and　the　Second　Sons　were　too　drunk　to　fight；　just　as　you　said。　Two　hundred　dead；　Yunkai'i　for　the　most　part。　Their　slaves　threw　down　their　spears　and　ran；　and　their　sellswords　yielded。　We　have　several　thousand　captives。〃
　〃Our　own　losses？〃
　〃A　dozen。　If　that　many。〃
　Only　then　did　she　allow　herself　to　smile。　〃Rise；　my　good　brave　bear。　Was　Grazdan　taken？　Or　the　Titan's　Bastard？〃
　〃Grazdan　went　to　Yunkai　to　deliver　your　terms。〃　Ser　Jorah　got　to　his　feet。　〃Mero　fled；　once　he　realized　the　Stormcrows　had　turned。　I　have　men　hunting　him。　He　shouldn't　escape　us　long。〃
　〃Very　well；〃　Dany　said。　〃Sellsword　or　slave；　spare　all　those　who　will　pledge　me　their　faith。　If　enough　of　the　Second　Sons　will　join　us；　keep　the　pany　intact。〃
　The　next　day　they　marched　the　last　three　leagues　to　Yunkai。　The　city　was　built　of　yellow　bricks　instead　of　red；　elsewise　it　was　Astapor　all　over　again；　with　the　same　crumbling　walls　and　high　stepped　pyramids；　and　a　great　harpy　mounted　above　its　gates。　The　wall　and　towers　swarmed　with　crossbowmen　and　slingers。　Ser　Jorah　and　Grey　Worm　deployed　her　men；　Irri　and　Jhiqui　raised　her　pavilion；　and　Dany　sat　down　to　wait。
　On　the　morning　of　the　third　day；　the　city　gates　swung　open　and　a　line　of　slaves　began　to　emerge。　Dany　mounted　her　silver　to　greet　them。　As　they　passed；　little　Missandei　told　them　that　they　owed　their　freedom　to　Daenerys　Stormborn；　the　Unburnt；　Queen　of　the　Seven　Kingdoms　of　Westeros　and　Mother　of　Dragons。
　〃Mhysa！〃　a　brown…skinned　man　shouted　out　at　her。　He　had　a　child　on　his　shoulder；　a　little　girl；　and　she　screamed　the　same　word　in　her　thin　voice。　〃Mhysa！　Mhysa！〃
　Dany　looked　at　Missandei。　〃What　are　they　shouting？〃
　〃It　is　Ghiscari；　the　old　pure　tongue。　It　means　'Mother。〃'
　Dany　felt　a　lightness　in　her　chest。　I　will　never　bear　a　living　child；　she　remembered。　Her　hand　trembled　as　she　raised　it。　Perhaps　she　smiled。　She　must　have；　because　the　man　grinned　and　shouted　again；　and　others　took　up　the　cry。　〃Mhysa！〃　they　called。　〃Mhysa！　MHYSA！〃　They　were　all　smiling　at　her；　reaching　for　her；　kneeling　before　her。　〃Maela；〃　some　called　her　while　others　cried　〃Aelalla〃　or　〃Qathei〃　or　〃Tato；〃　but　whatever　the　tongue　it　all　meant　the　same　thing。　Mother。　They　are　calling　me　Mother。
　The　chant　grew；　spread；　swelled。　it　swelled　so　loud　that　it　frightened　her　horse；　and　the　mare　backed　and　shook　her　head　and　lashed　her　silver…grey　tail。　It　swelled　until　it　seemed　to　shake　the　yellow　walls　of　Yunkai。　More　slaves　were　streaming　from　the　gates　every　moment；　and　as　they　came　they　took　up　the　call。　They　were　running　toward　her　now；　pushing；　stumbling；　wanting　to　touch　her　hand；　to　stroke　her　horse's　mane；　to　kiss　her　feet。　Her　poor　bloodriders　could　not　keep　them　all　away；　and　even　Strong　Belwas　grunted　and　growled　in　dismay。
　Ser　Jorah　urged　her　to　go；　but　Dany　remembered　a　dream　she　had　dreamed　in　the　House　of　the　Undying。　〃They　will　not　hurt　me；〃　she　told　him。　〃They　are　my　children；　Jorah。〃　She　laughed；　put　her　heels　into　her　horse；　and　rode　to　them；　the　bells　in　her　hair　ringing　sweet　victory。　She　trotted；　then　cantered；　then　broke　into　a　gallop；　her　braid　streaming　behind。　The　freed　slaves　parted　before　her。　〃Mother；〃　they　called　from　a　hundred　throats；　a　thousand；　ten　thousand。　〃Mother；〃　they　sang；　their　fingers　brushing　her　legs　as　she　flew　by。　〃Mother；　Mother；　Mother！〃
　
　CHAPTER　43
　ARYA
　
　When　Arya　saw　the　shape　of　a　great　hill　looming　in　the　distance；　golden　in　the　afternoon　sun；　she　knew　it　at　once。　They　had　e　all　the　way　back　to　High　Heart。
　By　sunset　they　were　at　the　top；　making　camp　where　no　harm　could　e　to　them。　Arya　walked　around　the　circle　of　weirwood　stumps　with　Lord　Beric's　squire　Ned；　and　they　stood　on　top　of　one　watching　the　last　light　fade　in　the　west。　From　up　here　she　could　see　a　storm　raging　to　the　north；　but　High　Heart　stood　above　the　rain。　It　wasn't　above　the　wind；　though；　the　gusts　were　blowing　so　strongly　that　it　felt　like　someone　was　behind　her；　yanking　on　her　cloak。　Only　when　she　turned；　no　one　was　there。
　Ghosts；　she　remembered。　High　Heart　is　haunted。
　They　built　a　great　fire　atop　the　hill；　and　Thoros　of　Myr　sat　crosslegged　beside　it；　gazing　deep　into　the　flames　as　if　there　was　nothing　else　in　all　the　world。
　〃What　is　he　doing？〃　Arya　asked　Ned。
　〃Sometimes　he　sees　things　in　the　flames；〃　the　squire　told　her。　〃The　past。　The　future。　Things　happening　far　away。〃
　Arya　squinted　at　the　fire　to　see　if　she　could　see　what　the　red　priest　was　seeing；　but　it　only　made　her　eyes　water　and　before　long　she　turned　away。　Gendry　was　watching　the　red　priest　as　well。　〃Can　you　truly　see　the　future　there？〃　he　asked　suddenly。
　Thoros　turned　from　the　fire；　sighing。　〃Not　here。　Not　now。　But　some　days；　yes；　the　Lord　of　Light　grants　me　visions。〃
　Gendry　looked　dubious。　〃My　master　said　you　were　a　sot　and　a　fraud；　as　bad　a　priest　as　there　ever　was。〃
　〃That　was　unkind。〃　Thoros　chuckled。　〃True；　but　unkind。　Who　was　this　master　of　yours？　Did　I　know　you；　boy？〃
　〃I　was　'prenticed　to　the　master　armorer　Tobho　Mott；　on　the　Street　of　Steel。　You　used　to　buy　your　swords　from　him。〃
　〃Just　so。　He　charged　me　twice　what　they　were　worth；　then　scolded　me　for　setting　them　afire。〃　Thoros　laughed。　〃Your　master　had　it　right。　I　was　no　very　holy　priest。　I　was　born　youngest　of　eight；　so　my　father　gave　me　over　to　the　Red　Temple；　but　it　was　not　the　path　I　would　have　chosen。　I　prayed　the　prayers　and　I　spoke　the　spells；　but　I　would　also　lead　raids　on　the　kitchens；　and　from　time　to　time　they　found　girls　in　my　bed。　Such　wicked　girls；　I　never　knew　how　they　got　there。
　〃I　had　a　gift　for　tongues；　though。　And　when　I　gazed　into　the　flames；　well；　from　time　to　time　I　saw　things。　Even　so；　I　was　more　bother　than　I　was　worth；　so　they　sent　me　finally　to　King's　Landing　to　bring　the　Lord's　light　to　seven…besotted　Westeros。　King　Aerys　so　loved　fire　it　was　thought　he　might　make　a　convert。　Alas；　his　pyromancers　knew　better　tricks　than　I　did。
　〃King　Robert　was　fond　of　me；　though；　The　first　time　I　rode　into　a　melee　with　a　flaming　sword；　Kevan　Lannister's　horse　reared　and　threw　him　and　His　Grace　laughed　so　hard　I　thought　he　might　rupture。〃　The　red　priest　smiled　at　the　memory。　〃It　was　no　way　to　treat　a　blade；　though；　your　master　had　the　right　of　that　too。〃
　〃Fire　consumes；〃　Lord　Beric　stood　behind　them；　and　there　was　something　in　his　voice　that　silenced　Thoros　at　once。　〃it　consumes；　and　when　it　is　done　there　is　nothing　left。　Nothing。〃
　〃Beric。　Sweet　friend。〃　The　priest　touched　the　lightning　lord　on　the　forearm。　〃What　are　you　saying？〃
　〃Nothing　I　have　not　said　before。　Six　times；　Thoros？　Six　times　is　too　many。〃　He　turned　away　abruptly。
　That　night　the　wind　was　howling　almost　like　a　wolf　and　there　were　some　real　wolves　off　to　the　west　giving　it　lessons。　Notch；　Anguy；　and　Merrit　oMoontown　had　the　watch。　Ned；　Gendry；　and　many　of　the　others　were　fast　asleep　when　Arya　spied　the　small　pale　shape　creeping　behind　the　horses；　thin　white　hair　flying　wild　as　she　leaned　upon　a　gnarled　cane。　The　woman　could　not　have　been　more　than　three　feet　tall。　The　firelight　made　her　eyes　gleam　as　red　as　the　eyes　of　Jon's　wolf。　He　was　a　ghost　too。　Arya　stole　closer；　and　knelt　to　watch。
　Thoros　and　Lem　were　with　Lord　Beric　when　the　dwarf　woman　sat　down　uninvited　by　the　fire。　She　squinted　at　them　with　eyes　like　hot　coals。　〃The　Ember　and　the　Lemon　e　to　honor　me　again；　and　His　Grace　the　Lord　of　Corpses。〃
　〃An　ill…omened　name。　I　have　asked　you　not　to　use　it。〃
　〃Aye；　you　have。　But　the　stink　of　death　is　fresh　on　you；　my　lord。〃　She　had　but　a　single　tooth　remaining。　〃Give　me　wine　or　I　will　go。　My　bones　are　old。　My　joints　ache　when　the　winds　do　blow；　and　up　here　the　winds　are　always　blowing。〃
　〃A　silver　stag　for　your　dreams；　my　lady；〃　Lord　Beric　said；　with　solemn　courtesy。　〃Another　if　you　have　news　for　us。〃
　〃I　cannot　eat　a　silver　stag；　nor　ride　one。　A　skin　of　wine　for　my　dreams；　and　for　my　news　a　kiss　from　the　great　oaf　in　the　yellow　cloak。〃　The　little　woman　cackled。　〃Aye；　a　sloppy　kiss；　a　bit　of　tongue。　It　has　been　too　long；　too　long。　His　mouth　will　taste　of　lemons；　and　mine　of　bones。　I　am　too　old。〃
　〃Aye；〃　Lem　plained。　〃Too　old　for　wine　and　kisses。　All　you'll　get　from　me　is　the　flat　of　my　sword；　crone。〃
　〃My　hair　es　out　in　handfuls　and　no　one　has　kissed　me　for　a　thousand　years。　It　is　hard　to　be　so　old。　Well；　I　will　have　a　song　then。　A　song　from　Tom　o'　Sevens；　for　my　news。〃
　〃You　will　have　your　song　from　Tom；〃　Lord　Beric　promised。　He　gave　her　the　wineskin　himself。
　The　dwarf　woman　drank　deep；　the　wine　running　down　her　chin。　When　she　lowered　the　skin；　she　wiped　her　mouth　with　the　back　of　a　wrinkled　hand　and　said；　〃Sour　wine　for　sour　tidings；　what　could　be　more　fitting？　The　king　is　dead；　is　that　sour　enough　for　you？〃
　Arya's　heart　caught　in　her　throat。
　〃Which　bloody　king　is　dead；　crone？〃　Lem　demanded。
　；'The　wet　one。　The　kraken　king；　m'lords。　I　dreamt　him　dead　and　he　died；　and　the　iron　squids　now　turn　on　one　another。　Oh；　and　Lord　Hoster　Tully's　died　too；　but　you　know　that；　don't　you？　In　the　hall　of　kings；　the　goat　sits　alone　and　fevered　as　the　great　dog　descend