grrm.astormofswords-第194部分
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〃Which King Aegon？〃 Dany asked。 〃Five Aegons have ruled in Westeros。〃 Her brother's son would have been the sixth； but the Usurper's men had dashed his head against a wall。
〃Five； were there？ Well； that's a confusion。 I could not give you a number； my queen。 This old Plumm was a lord； though； must have been a famous fellow in his day； the talk of all the land。 The thing was； begging your royal pardon； he had himself a cock six foot long。〃
The three bells in Dany's braid tinkled when she laughed。 〃You mean inches； I think。〃
〃Feet；〃 Brown Ben said firmly。 〃If it was inches； who'd want to talk about it； now？ Your Grace。〃
Dany giggled like a little girl。 〃Did your grandmother claim she'd actually seen this prodigy？〃
〃That the old crone never did。 She was half…Ibbenese and half…Qohorik； never been to Westeros； my grandfather must have told her。 Some Dothraki killed him before I was born。〃
〃And where did your grandfather's knowledge e from？〃
〃One of them tales told at the teat； I'd guess。〃 Brown Ben shrugged。 〃That's all I know about Aegon the Unnumbered or old Lord Plumm's mighty manhood； I fear。 I best see to my Sons。〃
〃Go do that；〃 Dany told him。
When Brown Ben left； she lay back on her cushions。 〃If you were grown；〃 she told Drogon； scratching him between the horns； 〃I'd fly you over the walls and melt that harpy down to slag。〃 But it would be years before her dragons were large enough to ride。 And when they are； who shall ride them？ The dragon has three heads； but I have only one。 She thought of Daario。 If ever there was a man who could rape a woman with his eyes 。 。 。
To be sure； she was just as guilty。 Dany found herself stealing looks at the Tyroshi when her captains came to council； and sometimes at night she remembered the way his gold tooth glittered when he smiled。 That； and his eyes。 His bright blue eyes。 On the road from Yunkai； Daario had brought her a flower or a sprig of some plant every evening when he made his report 。 。 。 to help her learn the land； he said。 Waspwillow； dusky roses； wild mint； lady's lace； daggerleaf； broom； prickly ben； harpy's gold 。 。 。 He tried to spare me the sight of the dead children too。 He should not have done that； but he meant it kindly。 And Daario Naharis made her laugh； which Ser Jorah never did。
Dany tried to imagine what it would be like if she allowed Daario to kiss her； the way Jorah had kissed her on the ship。 The thought was exciting and disturbing； both at once。 It is too great a risk。 The Tyroshi sellsword was not a good man； no one needed to tell her that。 Under the smiles and the jests he was dangerous； even cruel。 Sallor and Prendahl had woken one morning as his partners； that very night he'd given her their heads。 Khal Drogo could be cruel as well； and there was never a man more dangerous。 She had e to love him all the same。 Could I love Daario？ What would it mean； if I took him into my bed？ Would that make him one of the heads of the dragon？ Ser Jorah would be angry； she knew； but he was the one who'd said she had to take two husbands。 Perhaps I should marry them both and be done with it。
But these were foolish thoughts。 She had a city to take； and dreaming of kisses and some sellsword's bright blue eyes would not help her breach the walls of Meereen。 I am the blood of the dragon； Dany reminded herself。 Her thoughts were spinning in circles； like a rat chasing its tail。 Suddenly she could not stand the close confines of the pavilion another moment。 I want to feel the wind on my face； and smell the sea。 〃Missandei；〃 she called； 〃have my silver saddled。 Your own mount as well。〃
The little scribe bowed。 〃As Your Grace mands。 Shall I summon your bloodriders to guard you？〃
〃We'll take Arstan。 I do not mean to leave the camps。〃 She had no enemies among her children。 And the old squire would not talk too much as Belwas would； or look at her like Daario。
The grove of burnt olive trees in which she'd raised her pavilion stood beside the sea； between the Dothraki camp and that of the Unsullied。 When the horses had been saddled； Dany and her panions set out along the shoreline； away from the city。 Even so； she could feel Meereen at her back； mocking her。 When she looked over one shoulder； there it stood； the afternoon sun blazing off the bronze harpy atop the Great Pyramid。 Inside Meereen the slavers would soon be reclining in their fringed tokars to feast on lamb and olives； unborn puppies； honeyed dormice and other such delicacies； whilst outside her children went hungry。 A sudden wild anger filled her。 I will bring you down； she swore。
As they rode past the stakes and pits that surrounded the eunuch encampment； Dany could hear Grey Worm and his sergeants running one pany through a series of drills with shield； shortsword； and heavy spear。 Another pany was bathing in the sea； clad only in white linen breechclouts。 The eunuchs were very clean； she had noticed。 Some of her sellswords smelled as if they had not washed or changed their clothes since her father lost the Iron Throne； but the Unsullied bathed each evening； even if they'd marched all day。 When no water was available they cleansed themselves with sand； the Dothraki way。
The eunuchs knelt as she passed； raising clenched fists to their breasts。 Dany returned the salute。 The tide was ing in； and the surf foamed about the feet of her silver。 She could see her ships standing out to sea。 Balerion floated nearest； the great cog once known as Saduleon； her sails furled。 Further out were the galleys Meraxes and Vhagar； formerly joso's Prank and Summer Sun。 They were Magister Illyrio's ships； in truth； not hers at all； and yet she had given them new names with hardly a thought。 Dragon names； and more； in old Valyria before the Doom； Balerion； Men axes； and Vhagar had been gods。
South of the ordered realm of stakes； pits； drills； and bathing eunuchs lay the encampments of her freedmen； a far noisier and more chaotic place。 Dany had armed the former slaves as best she could with weapons from Astapor and Yunkai； and Ser Jorah had organized the fighting men into four strong panies； yet she saw no one drilling here。 They passed a driftwood fire where a hundred people had gathered to roast the carcass of a horse。 She could smell the meat and hear the fat sizzling as the spit boys turned； but the sight only made her frown。
Children ran behind their horses； skipping and laughing。 Instead of salutes； voices called to her on every side in a babble of tongues。 Some of the freedmen greeted her as 〃Mother；〃 while others begged for boons or favors。 Some prayed for strange gods to bless her； and some asked her to bless them instead。 She smiled at them； turning right and left； touching their hands when they raised them； letting those who knelt reach up to touch her stirrup or her leg。 Many of the freedmen believed there was good fortune in her touch。 If it helps give them courage； let them touch me； she thought。 There are hard trials yet ahead 。 。 。
Dany had stopped to speak to a pregnant woman who wanted the Mother of Dragons to name her baby when someone reached up and grabbed her left wrist。 Turning； she glimpsed a tall ragged man with a shaved head and a sunburnt face。 〃Not so hard；〃 she started to say； but before she could finish he'd yanked her bodily from the saddle。 The ground came up and knocked the breath from her； as her silver whinnied and backed away。 Stunned； Dany rolled to her side and pushed herself onto one elbow 。 。 。
。 。 。 and then she saw the sword。
〃There's the treacherous sow；〃 he said。 〃I knew you'd e to get your feet kissed one day。〃 His head was bald as a melon； his nose red and peeling； but she knew that voice and those pale green eyes。 〃I'm going to start by cutting off your teats。〃 Dany was dimly aware of Missandei shouting for help。 A freedman edged forward； but only a step。 One quick slash； and he was on his knees； blood running down his face。 Mero wiped his sword on his breeches。 〃Who's next？〃
〃I am。〃 Arstan Whitebeard leapt from his horse and stood over her； the salt wind riffling through his snowy hair； both hands on his tall hardwood staff。
〃Grandfather；〃 Mero said； 〃run off before I break your stick in two and bugger you with…〃
The old man fein
