grrm.astormofswords-第264部分
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re。〃
〃On her way where？〃
〃Wherever whores go。〃
Tyrion's finger clenched。 The crossbow whanged just as Lord Tywin started to rise。 The bolt slammed into him above the groin and he sat back down with a grunt。 The quarrel had sunk deep； right to the fletching。 Blood seeped out around the shaft； dripping down into his pubic hair and over his bare thighs。 〃You shot me；〃 he said incredulously； his eyes glassy with shock。
〃You always were quick to grasp a situation； my lord；〃 Tyrion said。 〃That must be why you're the Hand of the King。〃
〃You 。 。 。 you are no 。 。 。 no son of mine。〃
〃Now that's where you're wrong； Father。 Why； I believe I'm you writ small。 Do me a kindness now； and die quickly。 I have a ship to catch。〃
For once； his father did what Tyrion asked him。 The proof was the sudden stench； as his bowels loosened in the moment of death。 Well； he was in the right place for it； Tyrion thought。 But the stink that filled the privy gave ample evidence that the oft…repeated jape about his father was just another lie。
Lord Tywin Lannister did not； in the end； shit gold。
CHAPTER 78
SAMWELL
The king was angry。 Sam saw that at once。
As the black brothers entered one by one and knelt before him； Stannis shoved away his breakfast of hardbread； salt beef； and boiled eggs； and eyed them coldly。 Beside him； the red woman Melisandre looked as if she found the scene amusing。
I have no place here； Sam thought anxiously； when her red eyes fell upon him。 Someone had to help Maester Aemon up the steps。 Don't look at me； I'm just the maester's steward。 The others were contenders for the Old Bear's mand； all but Bowen Marsh； who had withdrawn from the contest but remained castellan and Lord Steward。 Sam did not understand why Melisandre should seem so interested in him。
King Stannis kept the black brothers on their knees for an extraordinarily long time。 〃Rise；〃 he said at last。 Sam gave Maester Aemon his shoulder to help him back up。
The sound of Lord Janos Slynt clearing his throat broke the strained silence。 〃Your Grace； let me say how pleased we are to be summoned here。 When I saw your banners from the Wall； I knew the realm was saved。 'There es a man who neer forgets his duty/ I said to good Ser Alliser。 'A strong man； and a true king。' May I congratulate you on your victory over the savages？ The singers will make much of it； I know…〃
〃The singers may do as they like；〃 Stannis snapped。 〃Spare me your fawning； Janos； it will not serve you。〃 He rose to his feet and frowned at them all。 〃Lady Melisandre tells me that you have not yet chosen a Lord mander。 I am displeased。 How much longer must this folly last？〃
〃Sire；〃 said Bowen Marsh in a defensive tone； 〃no one has achieved two…thirds of the vote yet。 It has only been ten days。〃
〃Nine days too long。 I have captives to dispose of； a realm to order； a war to fight。 Choices must be made； decisions that involve the Wall and the Night's Watch。 By rights your Lord mander should have a voice in those decisions。〃
〃He should； yes；〃 said Janos Slynt。 〃But it must be said。 We brothers are only simple soldiers。 Soldiers； yes！ And Your Grace will know that soldiers are most fortable taking orders。 They would benefit from your royal guidance； it seems to me。 For the good of the realm。 To help them choose wisely。〃
The suggestion outraged some of the others。 〃Do you want the king to wipe our arses for us too？〃 said Cotter Pyke angrily。 〃The choice of a Lord mander belongs to the Sworn Brothers； and to them alone；〃 insisted Ser Denys Mallister。 〃If they choose wisely they won't be choosing me；〃 moaned Dolorous Edd。 Maester Aemon； calm as always； said； 〃Your Grace； the Night's Watch has been choosing its own leader since Brandon the Builder raised the Wall。 Through Jeor Mormont we have had nine hundred and ninety…seven Lords mander in unbroken succession； each chosen by the men he would lead； a tradition many thousands of years old。〃
Stannis ground his teeth。 〃It is not my wish to tamper with your rights and traditions。 As to royal guidance； Janos； if you mean that I ought to tell your brothers to choose you； have the courage to say so。〃
That took Lord Janos aback。 He smiled uncertainly and began to sweat； but Bowen Marsh beside him said； 〃Who better to mand the black cloaks than a man who once manded the gold； sire？〃
〃Any of you； I would think。 Even the cook。〃 The look the king gave Slynt was cold。 〃Janos was hardly the first gold cloak ever to take a bribe； I grant you； but he may have been the first mander to fatten his purse by selling places and promotions。 By the end he must have had half the officers in the City Watch paying him part of their wages。 Isn't that so； Janos？〃
Slynt's neck was purpling。 〃Lies； all lies！ A strong man makes enemies； Your Grace knows that； they whisper lies behind your back。 Naught was ever proven； not a man came forward 。 。 。〃
〃Two men who were prepared to e forward died suddenly on their rounds。〃 Stannis narrowed his eyes。 〃Do not trifle with me； my lord。 I saw the proof Jon Arryn laid before the small council。 If I had been king you would have lost more than your office； I promise you； but Robert shrugged away your little lapses。 'They all steal/ I recall him saying。 'Better a thief we know than one we don't； the next man might be worse。' Lord Petyr's words in my brother's mouth； I'll warrant。 Littlefinger had a nose for gold； and I'm certain he arranged matters so the crown profited as much from your corruption as you did yourself。〃
Lord Slynt's jowls were quivering； but before he could frame a further protest Maester Aemon said； 〃Your Grace； by law a man's past crimes and transgressions are wiped clean when he says his words and bees a Sworn Brother of the Night's Watch。〃
〃I am aware of that。 If it happens that Lord Janos here is the best the Night's Watch can offer； I shall grit my teeth and choke him down。 It is naught to me which man of you is chosen； so long as you make a choice。 We have a war to fight。〃
〃Your Grace；〃 said Ser Denys Mallister； in tones of wary courtesy。 〃If you are speaking of the wildlings 。 。 。〃
〃I am not。 And you know that； ser。〃
〃And you must know that whilst we are thankful for the aid you rendered us against Mance Rayder； we can offer you no help in your contest for the throne。 The Night's Watch takes no part in the wars of the Seven Kingdoms。 For eight thousand years…〃
〃I know your history； Ser Denys；〃 the king said brusquely。 〃I give you my word； I shall not ask you to lift your swords against any of the rebels and usurpers who plague me。 I do expect that you will continue to defend the Wall as you always have。〃
〃We'll defend the Wall to the last man；〃 said Cotter Pyke。
〃Probably me；〃 said Dolorous Edd； in a resigned tone。
Stannis crossed his arms。 〃I shall require a few other things from you as well。 Things that you may not be so quick to give。 I want your castles。 And I want the Gift。〃
Those blunt words burst among the black brothers like a pot of wildfire tossed onto a brazier。 Marsh； Mallister； and Pyke all tried to speak at once。 King Stannis let them talk。 When they were done； he said； 〃I have three times the men you do。 I can take the lands if I wish； but I would prefer to do this legally； with your consent。〃
〃The Gift was given to the Night's Watch in perpetuity； Your Grace；〃 Bowen Marsh insisted。
〃Which means it cannot be lawfully seized； attainted； or taken from you。 But what was given once can be given again。〃
〃What will you do with the Gift？〃 demanded Cotter Pyke。
〃Make better use of it than you have。 As to the castles； Eastwatch； Castle Black； and the Shadow Tower shall remain yours。 Garrison them as you always have； but I must take the others for my garrisons if we are to hold the Wall。〃
〃You do not have the men；〃 objected Bowen Marsh。
〃Some of the abandoned castles are scarce more than ruins；〃 said Othell Yarwyck； the First Builder。
〃Ruins can be rebuilt。〃
〃Rebuilt？〃 Yarwyck said。 〃But who will do the work？〃
〃That is my concern。 I shall require a list from you； detailing the present state of every castle and what might be required to restore it。 I mean to have them all garrisoned again within the year
