grrm.astormofswords-第143章

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　of　his　spacious　apartments　atop　the　Kitchen　Keep。　And　splendid　apartments　they　were　too；　with　a　large　bedchamber　and　adequate　solar；　a　bath　and　dressing　room　for　his　wife；　and　small　adjoining　chambers　for　Pod　and　Sansa's　maids。　Even　Bronn's　cell　by　the　stair　had　a　window　of　sorts。　Well；　more　an　arrow　slit；　but　it　lets　in　light。　The　castle's　main　kitchen　was　just　across　the　courtyard；　true；　but　Tyrion　found　those　sounds　and　smells　infinitely　preferable　to　sharing　Maegor's　with　his　sister。　The　less　he　had　to　see　of　Cersei　the　happier　he　was　like　to　be。
　Tyrion　could　hear　Brella's　snoring　as　he　passed　her　cell。　Shae　plained　of　that；　but　it　seemed　a　small　enough　price　to　pay。　Varys　had　suggested　the　woman　to　him；　in　former　days；　she　had　run　Lord　Renly's　household　in　the　city；　which　had　given　her　a　deal　of　practice　at　being　blind；　deaf；　and　mute。
　Lighting　a　taper；　he　made　his　way　back　to　the　servants'　steps　and　descended。　The　floors　below　his　own　were　still；　and　he　heard　no　footsteps　but　his　own。　Down　he　went；　to　the　ground　floor　and　beyond；　to　emerge　in　a　gloomy　cellar　with　a　vaulted　stone　ceiling。　Much　of　the　castle　was　connected　underground；　and　the　Kitchen　Keep　was　no　exception。　Tyrion　waddled　along　a　long　dark　passageway　until　he　found　the　door　he　wanted；　and　pushed　through。
　Within；　the　dragon　skulls　were　waiting；　and　so　was　Shae。　〃I　thought　m'lord　had　forgotten　me。〃　Her　dress　was　draped　over　a　black　tooth　near　as　tall　as　she　was；　and　she　stood　within　the　dragon's　jaws；　nude。　Balerion；　he　thought。　Or　was　it　Vhagar？　One　dragon　skull　looked　much　like　another。　just　the　sight　of　her　made　him　hard。　〃e　out　of　there。〃
　〃I　won't。〃　She　smiled　her　wickedest　smile。　〃M'Iord　will　pluck　me　from　the　dragon's　jaws；　I　know。〃　But　when　he　waddled　closer　she　leaned　forward　and　blew　out　the　taper。
　〃Shae　。　。　。　〃　He　reached；　but　she　spun　and　slipped　free。
　〃You　have　to　catch　me。〃　Her　voice　came　from　his　left。　〃M'Iord　must　have　played　monsters　and　maidens　when　he　was　little。〃
　〃Are　you　calling　me　a　monster？〃
　〃No　more　than　I'm　a　maiden。〃　She　was　behind　him；　her　steps　soft　against　the　floor。　〃You　need　to　catch　me　all　the　same。〃
　He　did；　finally；　but　only　because　she　let　herself　be　caught。　By　the　time　she　slipped　into　his　arms；　he　was　flushed　and　out　of　breath　from　stumbling　into　dragon　skulls。　All　that　was　forgotten　in　an　instant　when　he　felt　her　small　breasts　pressed　against　his　face　in　the　dark；　her　stiff　little　nipples　brushing　lightly　over　his　lips　and　the　scar　where　his　nose　had　been。　Tyrion　pulled　her　down　onto　the　floor。　〃My　giant；〃　she　breathed　as　he　entered　her。　〃My　giant's　e　to　save　me。〃
　After；　as　they　lay　entwined　amongst　the　dragon　skulls；　he　rested　his　head　against　her；　inhaling　the　smooth　clean　smell　of　her　hair。　〃We　should　go　back；〃　he　said　reluctantly。　〃It　must　be　near　dawn。　Sansa　will　be　waking。〃
　〃You　should　give　her　dreamwine；〃　Shae　said；　〃like　Lady　Tanda　does　with　Lollys。　A　cup　before　she　goes　to　sleep；　and　we　could　fuck　in　bed　beside　her　without　her　waking。〃　She　giggled。　〃Maybe　we　should；　some　night。　Would　m'lord　like　that？　〃　Her　hand　found　his　shoulder；　and　began　to　knead　the　muscles　there。　〃Your　neck　is　hard　as　stone。　What　troubles　you？〃
　Tyrion　could　not　see　his　fingers　in　front　of　his　face；　but　he　ticked　his　woes　off　on　them　all　the　same。　〃My　wife。　My　sister。　My　nephew。　My　father。　The　Tyrells。〃　He　had　to　move　to　his　other　hand。　〃Varys。　Pycelle。　Littlefinger。　The　Red　Viper　of　Dome。〃　He　had　e　to　his　last　finger。　〃The　face　that　stares　back　out　of　the　water　when　I　wash。〃
　Shae　kissed　his　maimed　scarred　nose。　〃A　brave　face。　A　kind　and　good　face。　I　wish　I　could　see　it　now。〃
　All　the　sweet　innocence　of　the　world　was　in　her　voice。　Innocence？　Fool；　she's　a　whore；　all　she　knows　of　men　is　the　bit　between　their　legs。　Fool；　fool。　〃Better　you　than　me。〃　Tyrion　sat。　〃We　have　a　long　day　before　us；　both　of　us。　You　shouldn't　have　blown　out　that　taper。　How　are　we　to　find　our　clothing？〃
　She　laughed。　〃Maybe　we'll　have　to　go　naked。〃
　And　if　we're　seen；　my　lord　father　will　hang　you。　Hiring　Shae　as　one　of　Sansa's　maids　had　given　him　an　excuse　to　be　seen　talking　with　her；　but　Tyrion　did　not　delude　himself　that　they　were　safe。　Varys　had　warned　him。　〃I　gave　Shae　a　false　history；　but　it　was　meant　for　Lollys　and　Lady　Tanda。　Your　sister　is　of　a　more　suspicious　mind。　If　she　should　ask　me　what　I　know　。　。　。〃
　〃You　will　tell　her　some　clever　lie。〃
　〃No。　I　will　tell　her　that　the　girl　is　a　mon　camp　follower　that　you　acquired　before　the　battle　on　the　Green　Fork　and　brought　to　King's　Landing　against　your　lord　father's　express　mand。　I　will　not　lie　to　the　queen。〃
　〃You　have　lied　to　her　before。　Shall　I　tell　her　that？〃
　The　eunuch　sighed。　〃That　cuts　more　deeply　than　a　knife；　my　lord。　I　have　served　you　loyally；　but　I　must　also　serve　your　sister　when　I　can。　How　long　do　you　think　she　would　let　me　live　if　I　were　of　no　further　use　to　her　whatsoever？　I　have　no　fierce　sellsword　to　protect　me；　no　valiant　brother　to　avenge　me；　only　some　little　birds　who　whisper　in　my　ear。　With　those　whisperings　I　must　buy　my　life　anew　each　day。〃
　〃Pardon　me　if　I　do　not　weep　for　you。〃
　〃I　shall；　but　you　must　pardon　me　if　I　do　not　weep　for　Shae。　I　confess；　I　do　not　understand　what　there　is　in　her　to　make　a　clever　man　like　you　act　such　a　fool。〃
　〃You　might；　if　you　were　not　a　eunuch。〃
　〃Is　that　the　way　of　it？　A　man　may　have　wits；　or　a　bit　of　meat　between　his　legs；　but　not　both？〃　Varys　tittered。　〃Perhaps　I　should　be　grateful　I　was　cut；　then。〃
　The　Spider　was　right。　Tyrion　groped　through　the　dragon…haunted　darkness　for　his　smallclothes；　feeling　wretched。　The　risk　he　was　taking　left　him　tight　as　a　drumhead；　and　there　was　guilt　as　well。　The　Others　can　take　my　guilt；　he　thought　as　he　slipped　his　tunic　over　his　head。　Why　should　I　be　guilty？　My　wife　wants　no　part　of　me；　and　most　especially　not　the　part　that　seems　to　want　her。　Perhaps　he　ought　to　tell　her　about　Shae。　It　was　not　as　though　he　was　the　first　man　ever　to　keep　a　concubine。　Sansa's　own　oh…so…honorable　father　had　given　her　a　bastard　brother。　For　all　he　knew；　his　wife　might　be　thrilled　to　learn　that　he　was　fucking　Shae；　so　long　as　it　spared　her　his　unwele　touch。
　No；　I　dare　not。　Vows　or　no；　his　wife　could　not　be　trusted。　She　might　be　maiden　between　the　legs；　but　she　was　hardly　innocent　of　betrayal；　she　had　once　spilled　her　own　father's　plans　to　Cersei。　And　girls　her　age　were　not　known　for　keeping　secrets。
　The　only　safe　course　was　to　rid　himself　of　Shae。　I　might　send　her　to　Chataya；　Tyrion　reflected；　reluctantly。　In　Chataya's　brothel；　Shae　would　have　all　the　silks　and　gems　she　could　wish　for；　and　the　gentlest　highborn　patrons。　it　would　be　a　better　life　by　far　than　the　one　she　had　been　living　when　he'd　found　her。
　Or；　if　she　was　tired　of　earning　her　bread　on　her　back；　he　might　arrange　a　marriage　for　her。　Bronn；　perhaps？　The　sellsword　had　never　balked　at　eating　off　his　master's　plate；　and　he　was　a　knight　now；　a　better　match　than　she　could　elsewise　hope　for。　Or　Ser　Tallad？　Tyrion　had　noticed　that　one　gazing　wistfully　at　Shae　more　than　once。　Why　not？　He's　tall；　strong；　not　hard　to　look　upon；　every　inch　the　gifted　young　knight。　Of　course；　Tallad　knew　Shae　only　as　a　pretty　young　lady's　maid　in　service　at　the　castle。　If　he　wed　her　and　then　learned　she　was　a　whore　。　。　。
　〃M'lord；　where　are　you？　Did　the　dragons　eat　you　up？〃
　〃No。　Here。〃　He　groped　at　a　dragon　skull。　〃I　have　found　a　shoe；　but　I　believe　it's　yours。〃
　〃M'lord　sounds　very　solemn。　Have　I　displeased　you？〃
　〃No；〃　he　said；　too　curtly。　〃You　always　please　me。〃　And　therein　is　our　danger。　He　might　dream　of　sending　her　away　at　times　like　this；　but　that　never　lasted　long。　Tyrion　saw　her　dimly　through　the　gloom；　pulling　a　woolen　sock　up　a　slender　leg。　I　can　see。　A　vague　light　was　leaking　through　the　row　of　long　narrow　windows　set　high　in　the　cellar　wall。　The　skulls　of　the　Targaryen　dragons　were　emerging　from　the　darkness　around　them；　black　amidst　grey。　〃Day　es　too　soon。〃　A　new　day。　A　new　year。　A　new　century。　I　survived　the　Green　Fork　and　the　Blackwater；　I　can　bloody　well　survive　King　Joffrey's　wedding。
　Shae　snatched　her　dress　down　off　the　dragon's　tooth　and　slipped　it　over　her　head。　〃I'll　go　up　first。　Brella　will　want　help　with　the　bathwater。〃　She　bent　over　to　give　him　one　last　kiss；　upon　the　brow。　〃My　giant　of　Lannister。　I　love　you　so。〃
　And　I　love　you　as　well；　sweetling。　A　whore　she　might　well　be；　but　she　deserved　better　than　what　he　had　to　give　her。　I　will　wed　her　to　Ser　Tallad。　He　seems　a　decent　man。　And　tall　。　。　。
　
　CHAPTER　59
　SANSA
　
　That　was　such　a　sweet　dream；　Sansa　thought　drowsily。　She　had　been　back　in　Winterfell；　running　through　the　godswood　with　her　Lady。　Her　father　had　been　there；　and　her　brothers；　all　of　them　warm　and　safe。　If　only　dreaming　could　make　it　so　。　。　。
　She　threw　back　the　coverlets。　I　must　be　brave。　Her　torments　would　soon　be　ended；　one　way　or　the　other。　If　Lady　was　here；　I　would　not　be　afraid。　Lady　was　dead；　though；　Robb；　Bran；　Rickon；　Arya；　her　father；　her　mother；　even　Septa　Mordane。　All　of　them　are　dead　but　me。　She　was　alone　in　the　world　now。
　Her　lord　husband　was　not　beside　her；　but　she　was　used　to　that。　Tyrion　was　a　bad　sleeper　and　often　rose　before　the　dawn。　Usually　she　found　him　in　the　solar；　hunched　beside　a　candle；　lost　in　some　old　scroll　or　leatherbound　book。　Sometimes　the　smell　of　the　morning　bread　from　the　ovens　took　him　to　the　kitchens；　and　sometimes　he　would　climb　up　to　the　roof　garden　or　wander　all　alone　down　Traitor's　Walk。
　She　threw　back　the　shutters　and　shivered　as　gooseprickles　rose　along　her　arms。　There　were　clouds　massing　in　the　eastern　sky；　pierced　by　shafts　of　sunlight。　They　look　like　two　huge　castles　afloat　in　the　morning　sky。　Sansa　could　see　their　walls　of　tumbled　stone；　their　mighty　keeps　and　barbicans。　Wispy　banners　swirled　from　atop　their　towers　and　reached　for　the　fast…fading　stars。　The　sun　was　ing　up　behind　them；　and　she　watched　them　go　from　black　to　grey　to　a　thousand　shades　of　rose　and　gold　and　crimson。　Soon　the　wind　mushed　them　together；　and　there　was　only　one　castle　where　there　had　been　two。
　She　heard　the　door　open　as　her　maids　brought　the　hot　water　for　her　bath。　They　were　both　new　to　her　service；　Tyrion　said　the　women　who'd　tended　to　her　previously　had　all　been　Cersei's　spies；　just　as　Sansa　had　always　suspected。　〃e　see；〃　she　told　them。　〃There's　a　castle　in　the　sky。〃
　They　came　to　have　a　look。　〃It's　made　of　gold。〃　Shae　had　short　dark　hair　and　bold　eyes。　She　did　all　that　was　asked　of　her；　but　sometimes　she　gave　Sansa　the　most　insolent　looks。　〃A　castle　all　of　gold；　there's　a　sight　I'd　like　to　see。〃
　〃A　castle；　is　it？〃　Brella　had　to　squint。　〃That　tower's　tumbling　over；　looks　like。　It's　all　ruins；　that　is。〃
　Sansa　did　not　want　to　hear　about　falling　towers　and　ruined　castles。　She　closed　the　shutters　and　said；　〃We　are　expected　at　the　queen's　breakfast。　Is　my　lord　husband　in　the　solar？〃
　〃No；　m'lady；〃　said　Brella。　〃I　have　not　seen　him。〃
　〃Might　be　he　went　to　see　his　father；〃　Shae　declared。　〃Might　be　the　King's　Hand　had　need　of　his　counsel。〃
　Brella　gave　a　sniff。　〃Lady　Sansa；　you'll　be　wanting　to　get　into　the　tub　before　the　water　gets　too　cool。〃
　Sansa　let　Shae　pull　her　shift　up　over　her　head　and　climbed　into　the　big　wooden　tub。　She　was　tempted　to　ask　for　a　cup　of　wi