grrm.astormofswords-第237章

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ter。〃
　Oswald　Kettleblack　was　the　first　to　laugh。　Boros　and　Meryn　joined　in；　then　Cersei；　Ser　Loras；　and　more　lords　and　ladies　than　he　could　count。　The　sudden　gale　of　mirth　made　the　rafters　ring　and　shook　the　Iron　Throne。　〃It's　true；〃　Shae　protested。　〃My　giant　of　Lannister。〃　The　laughter　swelled　twice　as　loud。　Their　mouths　were　twisted　in　merriment；　their　bellies　shook。　Some　laughed　so　hard　that　snot　flew　from　their　nostrils。
　I　saved　you　all；　Tyrion　thought。　I　saved　this　vile　city　and　all　your　worthless　lives。　There　were　hundreds　in　the　throne　room；　every　one　of　them　laughing　but　his　father。　Or　so　it　seemed。　Even　the　Red　Viper　chortled；　and　Mace　Tyrell　looked　like　to　bust　a　gut；　but　Lord　Tywin　Lannister　sat　between　them　as　if　made　of　stone；　his　fingers　steepled　beneath　his　chin。
　Tyrion　pushed　forward。　〃MY　LORDS！〃　he　shouted。　He　had　to　shout；　to　have　any　hope　of　being　heard。
　His　father　raised　a　hand。　Bit　by　bit；　the　hall　grew　silent。
　〃Get　this　lying　whore　out　of　my　sight；〃　said　Tyrion；　〃and　I　will　give　you　your　confession。〃
　Lord　Tywin　nodded；　gestured。　Shae　looked　half　in　terror　as　the　gold　cloaks　formed　up　around　her。　Her　eyes　met　Tyrion's　as　they　marched　her　from　the　wall。　Was　it　shame　he　saw　there；　or　fear？　He　wondered　what　Cersei　had　promised　her。　You　will　get　the　gold　or　jewels；　whatever　it　was　you　asked　for；　he　thought　as　he　watched　her　back　recede；　but　before　the　moon　has　turned　she'll　have　you　entertaining　the　gold　cloaks　in　their　barracks。
　Tyrion　stared　up　at　his　father's　hard　green　eyes　with　their　flecks　of　cold　bright　gold。　〃Guilty；〃　he　said；　〃so　guilty。　Is　that　what　you　wanted　to　hear？〃
　Lord　Tywin　said　nothing。　Mace　Tyrell　nodded。　Prince　Oberyn　looked　mildly　disappointed。　〃You　admit　you　poisoned　the　king？〃
　〃Nothing　of　the　sort；〃　said　Tyrion。　〃Of　Joffrey's　death　I　am　innocent。　I　am　guilty　of　a　more　monstrous　crime。〃　He　took　a　step　toward　his　father。　〃I　was　born。　I　lived。　I　am　guilty　of　being　a　dwarf；　I　confess　it。　And　no　matter　how　many　times　my　good　father　forgave　me；　I　have　persisted　in　my　infamy。〃
　〃This　is　folly；　Tyrion；〃　declared　Lord　Tywin。　〃Speak　to　the　matter　at　hand。　You　are　not　on　trial　for　being　a　dwarf。〃
　〃That　is　where　you　err；　my　lord。　I　have　been　on　trial　for　being　a　dwarf　my　entire　life。〃
　〃Have　you　nothing　to　say　in　your　defense？〃
　〃Nothing　but　this：　I　did　not　do　it。　Yet　now　I　wish　I　had。〃　He　turned　to　face　the　hall；　that　sea　of　pale　faces。　〃I　wish　I　had　enough　poison　for　you　all。　You　make　me　sorry　that　I　am　not　the　monster　you　would　have　me　be；　yet　there　it　is。　I　am　innocent；　but　I　will　get　no　justice　here。　You　leave　me　no　choice　but　to　appeal　to　the　gods。　I　demand　trial　by　battle。〃
　〃Have　you　taken　leave　of　your　wits？〃　his　father　said。
　〃No；　I've　found　them。　I　demand　trial　by　battle！〃
　His　sweet　sister　could　not　have　been　more　pleased。　〃He　has　that　right；　my　lords；〃　she　reminded　the　judges。　〃Let　the　gods　judge。　Ser　Gregor　Clegane　will　stand　for　Joffrey。　He　returned　to　the　city　the　night　before　last；　to　put　his　sword　at　my　service。〃
　Lord　Tywin's　face　was　so　dark　that　for　half　a　heartbeat　Tyrion　wondered　if　he'd　drunk　some　poisoned　wine　as　well。　He　slammed　his　fist　down　on　the　table；　too　angry　to　speak。　It　was　Mace　Tyrell　who　turned　to　Tyrion　and　asked　the　question。　〃Do　you　have　a　champion　to　defend　your　innocence？〃
　〃He　does；　my　lord。〃　Prince　Oberyn　of　Dome　rose　to　his　feet。　〃The　dwarf　has　quite　convinced　me。〃
　The　uproar　was　deafening。　Tyrion　took　especial　pleasure　in　the　sudden　doubt　he　glimpsed　in　Cersei's　eyes。　It　took　a　hundred　gold　cloaks　pounding　the　butts　of　their　spears　against　the　floor　to　quiet　the　throne　room　again。　By　then　Lord　Tywin　Lannister　had　recovered　himself。　〃Let　the　issue　be　decided　on　the　morrow；〃　he　declared　in　iron　tones。　〃I　wash　my　hands　of　it。〃　He　gave　his　dwarf　son　a　cold　angry　look；　then　strode　from　the　hall；　out　the　king's　door　behind　the　Iron　Throne；　his　brother　Kevan　at　his　side。
　Later；　back　in　his　tower　cell；　Tyrion　poured　himself　a　cup　of　wine　and　sent　Podrick　Payne　off　for　cheese；　bread；　and　olives。　He　doubted　whether　he　could　keep　down　anything　heavier　just　now。　Did　you　think　I　would　go　meekly；　Father？　he　asked　the　shadow　his　candles　etched　upon　the　wall。　I　have　too　much　of　you　in　me　for　that。　He　felt　strangely　at　peace；　now　that　he　had　snatched　the　power　of　life　and　death　from　his　father's　hands　and　placed　it　in　the　hands　of　the　gods。　Assuming　there　are　gods；　and　they　give　a　mummer's　fart。　If　not；　then　I'm　in　Domish　hands。　No　matter　what　happened；　Tyrion　had　the　satisfaction　of　knowing　that　he'd　kicked　Lord　Tywin's　plans　to　splinters。　If　Prince　Oberyn　won；　it　would　further　inflame　Highgarden　against　the　Domish；　Mace　Tyrell　would　see　the　man　who　crippled　his　son　helping　the　dwarf　who　almost　poisoned　his　daughter　to　escape　his　rightful　punishment。　And　if　the　Mountain　triumphed；　Doran　Martell　might　well　demand　to　know　why　his　brother　had　been　served　with　death　instead　of　the　justice　Tyrion　had　promised　him。　Dome　might　crown　Myrcella　after　all。
　It　was　almost　worth　dying　to　know　all　the　trouble　he'd　made。　Will　you　e　to　see　the　end；　Shae？　Will　you　stand　there　with　the　rest；　watching　as　Ser　llyn　lops　my　ugly　head　off？　Will　you　miss　your　giant　of　Lannister　when　he's　dead？　He　drained　his　wine；　flung　the　cup　aside；　and　sang　lustily。
　He　rode　through　the　streets　of　the　city；　down　from　his　hill　on　high；
　O'er　the　wynds　and　the　steps　and　the　cobbles；　he　rode　to　a　woman's　sigh。
　For　she　was　his　secret　treasure；　she　was　his　shame　and　his　bliss。
　And　a　chain　and　a　keep　are　nothing；　pared　to　a　woman's　kiss。
　Ser　Kevan　did　not　visit　him　that　night。　He　was　probably　with　Lord　Tywin；　trying　to　placate　the　Tyrells。　I　have　seen　the　last　of　that　uncle；　I　fear。　He　poured　another　cup　of　wine。　A　pity　he'd　had　Symon　Silver　Tongue　killed　before　learning　all　the　words　of　that　song。　It　wasn't　a　bad　song；　if　truth　be　told。　Especially　pared　to　the　ones　that　would　be　written　about　him　henceforth。　〃For　hands　of　gold　are　always　cold；　but　a　woman's　hands　are　warm；〃　he　sang。　Perhaps　he　should　write　the　other　verses　himself。　If　he　lived　so　long。
　That　night；　surprisingly；　Tyrion　Larmister　slept　long　and　deep。　He　rose　at　first　light；　well　rested　and　with　a　hearty　appetite；　and　broke　his　fast　on　fried　bread；　blood　sausage；　applecakes；　and　a　double　helping　of　eggs　cooked　with　onions　and　fiery　Dornish　peppers。　Then　he　begged　leave　of　his　guards　to　attend　his　champion。　Ser　Addam　gave　his　consent。
　Tyrion　found　Prince　Oberyn　drinking　a　cup　of　red　wine　as　he　donned　his　armor。　He　was　attended　by　four　of　his　younger　Dornish　lordlings。　〃Good　morrow　to　you；　my　lord；〃　the　prince　said。　〃Will　you　take　a　cup　of　wine？〃
　〃Should　you　be　drinking　before　battle？〃
　〃I　always　drink　before　battle。〃
　〃That　could　get　you　killed。　Worse；　it　could　get　me　killed。〃
　Prince　Oberyn　laughed。　〃The　gods　defend　the　innocent。　You　are　innocent；　I　trust？〃
　〃Only　of　killing　Joffrey；〃　Tyrion　admitted。　〃I　do　hope　you　know　what　you　are　about　to　face。　Gregor　Clegane　is　…
　〃…large？　So　I　have　heard。〃
　〃He　is　almost　eight　feet　tall　and　must　weigh　thirty　stone；　all　of　it　muscle。　He　fights　with　a　two…handed　greatsword；　but　needs　only　one　hand　to　wield　it。　He　has　been　known　to　cut　men　in　half　with　a　single　blow。　His　armor　is　so　heavy　that　no　lesser　man　could　bear　the　weight；　let　alone　move　in　it。〃
　Prince　Oberyn　was　unimpressed。　〃I　have　killed　large　men　before。　The　trick　is　to　get　them　off　their　feet。　Once　they　go　down；　they're　dead。〃　The　Domishman　sounded　so　blithely　confident　that　Tyrion　felt　almost　reassured；　until　he　turned　and　said；　〃Daemon；　my　spear！〃　Ser　Daemon　tossed　it　to　him；　and　the　Red　Viper　snatched　it　from　the　air。
　〃You　mean　to　face　the　Mountain　with　a　spear？〃　That　made　Tyrion　uneasy　all　over　again。　In　battle；　ranks　of　massed　spears　made　for　a　formidable　front；　but　single　bat　against　a　skilled　swordsman　was　a　very　different　matter。
　〃We　are　fond　of　spears　in　Dome。　Besides；　it　is　the　only　way　to　counter　his　reach。　Have　a　look；　Lord　Imp；　but　see　you　do　not　touch。〃　The　spear　was　turned　ash　eight　feet　long；　the　shaft　smooth；　thick；　and　heavy。　The　last　two　feet　of　that　was　steel：　a　slender　leaf…shaped　spearhead　narrowing　to　a　wicked　spike。　The　edges　looked　sharp