grrm.astormofswords-第106部分
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tle birds were to blame。
What difference did it make？ They were laughing at him all the same。 The only person in the Red Keep who didn't seem to find his marriage a source of amusement was his lady wife。
Sansa's misery was deepening every day。 Tyrion would gladly have broken through her courtesy to give her what solace he might； but it was no good。 No words would ever make him fair in her eyes。 Or any less a Lannister。 This was the wife they had given him； for all the rest of his life； and she hated him。
And their nights together in the great bed were another source of torment。 He could no longer bear to sleep naked； as had been his custom。 His wife was too well trained ever to say an unkind word； but the revulsion in her eyes whenever she looked on his body was more than he could bear。 Tyrion had manded Sansa to wear a sleeping shift as well。 I want her； he realized。 I want Winterfell； yes； but I want her as well； child or woman or whatever she is。 I want to fort her。 I want to hear her laugh。 I want her to e to me willingly； to bring me her joys and her sorrows and her lust。 His mouth twisted in a bitter smile。 Yes； and I want to be tall as Jaime and as strong as Ser Gregor the Mountain too； for all the bloody good it does。
Unbidden； his thoughts went to Shae。 Tyrion had not wanted her to hear the news from any lips but his own； so he had manded Varys to bring her to him the night before his wedding。 They met again in the eunuch's chambers； and when Shae began to undo the laces of his jerkin； he'd caught her by the wrist and pushed her away。 〃Wait；〃 he said； 〃there is something you must hear。 On the morrow I am to be wed 。 。 。
〃 。 。 。 to Sansa Stark。 I know。〃
He was speechless for an instant。 Even Sansa did not know； not then。 〃How could you know？ Did Varys tell you？〃
〃Some page was telling Ser Tallad about it when I took Lollys to the sept。 He had it from this serving girl who heard Ser Kevan talking to your father。〃 She wriggled free of his grasp and pulled her dress up over her head。 As ever； she was naked underneath。 〃I don't care。 She's only a little girl。 You'll give her a big belly and e back to me。〃
Some part of him had hoped for less indifference。 Had hoped； he jeered bitterly； but now you know better； dwarf。 Shae is all the love you're ever like to have。
Muddy Way was crowded； but soldiers and townfolk alike made way for the Imp and his escort。 Hollow…eyed children swarmed underfoot； some looking up in silent appeal whilst others begged noisily。 Tyrion pulled a big fistful of coppers from his purse and tossed them in the air； and the children went running for them； shoving and shouting。 The lucky ones might be able to buy a heel of stale bread tonight。 He had never seen markets so crowded； and for all the food the Tyrells were bringing in； prices remained shockingly high。 Six coppers for a melon； a silver stag for a bushel of corn； a dragon for a side of beef or six skinny piglets。 Yet there seemed no lack of buyers。 Gaunt men and haggard women crowded around every wagon and stall； while others even more ragged looked on sullenly from the mouths of alleys。
〃This way；〃 Bronn said； when they reached the foot of the Hook。 〃If you still mean to 。 。 。 ？〃
〃I do。〃 The riverfront had made a convenient excuse； but Tyrion had another purpose today。 It was not a task he relished； but it must be done。
They turned away from Aegon's High Hill； into the maze of smaller streets that clustered around the foot of Visenya's。 Bronn led the way。 Once or twice Tyrion glanced back over his shoulder to see if they were being followed； but there was nothing to be seen except the usual rabble： a carter beating his horse； an old woman throwing nightsoil from her window； two little boys fighting with sticks； three gold cloaks escorting a captive 。 。 。 they all looked innocent； but any one of them could be his undoing。 Varys had informers everywhere。
They turned at a corner； and again at the next； and rode slowly through a crowd of women at a well。 Bronn led him along a curving wynd； through an alley； under a broken archway。 They cut through the rubble where a house had burned and walked their horses up a shallow flight of stone steps。 The buildings were close and poor。 Brorm halted at the mouth of a crooked alley； too narrow for two to ride abreast。 〃There's two jags and then a dead end。 The sink is in the cellar of the last building。〃
Tyrion swung down off his horse。 〃See that no one enters or leaves till I return。 This won't take long。〃 His hand went into his cloak； to make certain the gold was still there in the hidden pocket。 Thirty dragons。 A bloody fortune； for a man like him。 He waddled up the alley quickly； anxious to be done with this。
The wine sink was a dismal place； dark and damp； walls pale with niter； the ceiling so low that Bronn would have had to duck to keep from hitting his head on the beams。 Tyrion Lannister had no such problem。 At this hour； the front room was empty but for a dead…eyed woman who sat on a stool behind a rough plank bar。 She handed him a cup of sour wine and said； 〃In the back。〃
The back room was even darker。 A flickering candle burned on a low table； beside a flagon of wine。 The man behind it scarce looked a danger； a short man…though all men were tall to Tyrion…with thinning brown hair； pink cheeks； and a little pot pushing at the bone buttons of his doeskin jerkin。 In his soft hands he held a twelve…stringed woodharp more deadly than a longsword。
Tyrion sat across from him。 〃Symon Silver Tongue。〃
The man inclined his head。 He was bald on top。 〃My lord Hand；〃 he said。
〃You mistake me。 My father is the King's Hand。 I am no longer even a finger； I fear。〃
〃You shall rise again； I am sure。 A man like you。 My sweet lady Shae tells me you are newly wed。 Would that you had sent for me earlier。 I should have been honored to sing at your feast。〃
〃The last thing my wife needs is more songs；〃 said Tyrion。 〃As for Shae； we both know she is no lady； and I would thank you never to speak her name aloud。〃
〃As the Hand mands；〃 Symon said。
The last time Tyrion had seen the man； a sharp word had been enough to set him sweating； but it seemed the singer had found some courage somewhere。 Most like in that flagon。 Or perhaps Tyrion himself was to blame for this new boldness。 I threatened him； but nothing ever came of the threat； so now he believes me toothless。 He sighed。 〃I am told you are a very gifted singer。〃
〃You are most kind to say so； my lord。〃
Tyrion gave him a smile。 〃I think it is time you brought your music to the Free Cities。 They are great lovers of song in Braavos and Pentos and Lys； and generous with those who please them。〃 He took a sip of wine。 It was foul stuff； but strong。 〃A tour of all nine cities would be best。 You wouldn't want to deny anyone the joy of hearing you sing。 A year in each should suffice。〃 He reached inside his cloak； to where the gold was hidden。 〃With the port closed； you will need to go to Duskendale to take ship； but my man Brorm will find a horse for you； and I would be honored if you would let me pay your passage 。 。 。〃
〃But my lord；〃 the man objected； 〃you have never heard me sing。 Pray listen a moment。〃 His fingers moved deftly over the strings of the woodharp； and soft music filled the cellar。 Symon began to sing。
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。
〃There's more；〃 the man said as he broke off； 〃Oh； a good deal more。 The refrain is especially nice； I think。 For hands of gold are always cold； but a woman's hands are warm 。 。 。〃
〃Enough。〃 Tyrion slid his fingers from his cloak； empty。 〃That's not a song I would care to hear again。 Ever。〃
〃No？〃 Symon Silver Tongue put his harp aside and took a sip of wine。 〃A pity。 Still； each man has his song； as my old master used to say when he was teaching me to play。 Others might like my tune better。 The queen； perhaps。 Or your lord father。〃
Tyrion rubbed the scar over his nose； and said； 〃My father has no time for singers； an
