grrm.astormofswords-第94部分
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nishment； fronting on Astapor's main gate； so they might be marched directly from the city once Daenerys had taken them in hand。 There were no bronze statues here； only a wooden platform where rebellious slaves were racked； and flayed； and hanged。 〃The Good Masters place them so they will be the first thing a new slave sees upon entering the city；〃 Missandei told her as they came to the plaza。
At first glimpse； Dany thought their skin was striped like the zorses of the jogos Nhai。 Then she rode her silver nearer and saw the raw red flesh beneath the crawling black stripes。 Flies。 Flies and maggots。 The rebellious slaves had been peeled like a man might peel an apple； in a long curling strip。 One man had an arm black with flies from fingers to elbow； and red and white beneath。 Dany reined in beneath him。 〃What did this one do？〃
〃He raised a hand against his owner。〃
Her stomach roiling； Dany wheeled her silver about and trotted toward the center of the plaza； and the army she had bought so dear。 Rank on rank on rank they stood； her stone halfmen with their hearts of brick； eight thousand and six hundred in the spiked bronze caps of fully trained Unsullied； and five thousand odd behind them； bareheaded； yet armed with spears and shortswords。 The ones farthest to the back were only boys； she saw； but they stood as straight and still as all the rest。
Kraznys mo Nakloz and his fellows were all there to greet her。 Other well…born Astapori stood in knots behind them； sipping wine from silver flutes as slaves circulated among them with trays of olives and cherries and figs。 The elder Grazdan sat in a sedan chair supported by four huge copper…skinned slaves。 Half a dozen mounted lancers rode along the edges of the plaza； keeping back the crowds who had e to watch。 The sun flashed blinding bright off the polished copper disks sewn to their cloaks； but she could not help but notice how nervous their horses seemed。 They fear the dragons。 And well they might。
Kraznys had a slave help her from her saddle。 His own hands were full； one clutched his tokar； while the other held an omate whip。 〃Here they are。〃 He looked at Missandei。 〃Tell her they are hers 。 。 。 if she can pay。〃
〃She can；〃 the girl said。
Ser Jorah barked a mand； and the trade goods were brought forward。 Six bales of tiger skins； three hundred bolts of fine silk。 jars of saffron； jars of myrrh； jars of pepper and curry and cardamom； an onyx mask； twelve jade monkeys； casks of ink in red and black and green； a box of rare black amethysts； a box of pearls； a cask of pitted olives stuffed with maggots； a dozen casks of pickled cave fish； a great brass gong and a hammer to beat it with； seventeen ivory eyes； and a huge chest full of books written in tongues that Dany could not read。 And more； and more； and more。 Her people stacked it all before the slavers。
While the payment was being made； Kraznys mo Nakloz favored her with a few final words on the handling of her troops。 〃They are green as yet；〃 he said through Missandei。 〃Tell the whore of Westeros she would be wise to blood them early。 There are many small cities between here and there； cities ripe for sacking。 Whatever plunder she takes will be hers alone。 Unsullied have no lust for gold or gems。 And should she take captives； a few guards will suffice to march them back to Astapor。 We'll buy the healthy ones； and for a good price。 And who knows？ In ten years； some of the boys she sends us may be Unsullied in their turn。 Thus all shall prosper。〃
Finally there were no more trade goods to add to the pile。 Her Dothraki mounted their horses once more； and Dany said； 〃This was all we could carry。 The rest awaits you on the ships； a great quantity of amber and wine and black rice。 And you have the ships themselves。 So all that remains is 。 。 。〃
〃 。 。 。 the dragon；〃 finished the Grazdan with the spiked beard； who spoke the mon Tongue so thickly。
〃And here he waits。〃 Ser Jorah and Belwas walked beside her to the litter； where Drogon and his brothers lay basking in the sun。 Jhiqui unfastened one end of the chain； and handed it down to her。 When she gave a yank； the black dragon raised his head； hissing； and unfolded wings of night and scarlet。 Kraznys mo Nakloz smiled broadly as their shadow fell across him。
Dany handed the slaver the end of Drogon's chain。 In return he presented her with the whip。 The handle was black dragonbone； elaborately carved and inlaid with gold。 Nine long thin leather lashes trailed from it； each one tipped by a gilded claw。 The gold pommel was a woman's head； with pointed ivory teeth。 〃The harpy's fingers；〃 Kraznys named the scourge。
Dany turned the whip in her hand。 Such a light thing； to bear such weight。 〃Is it done； then？ Do they belong to me？〃
〃It is done；〃 he agreed； giving the chain a sharp pull to bring Drogon down from the litter。
Dany mounted her silver。 She could feel her heart thumping in her chest。 She felt desperately afraid。 Was this what my brother would have done？ She wondered if Prince Rhaegar had been this anxious when he saw the Usurper's host formed up across the Trident with all their banners floating on the wind。
She stood in her stirrups and raised the harpy's fingers above her head for all the Unsullied to see。 〃IT IS DONE！〃 she cried at the top of her lungs。 〃YOU ARE MINE！〃 She gave the mare her heels and galloped along the first rank； holding the fingers high。 〃YOU ARE THE DRAGON'S NOW！ YOU'RE BOUGHT AND PAID FOR！ IT IS DONE！ IT IS DONE！〃
She glimpsed old Grazdan turn his grey head sharply。 He hears me speak Valyrian。 The other slavers were not listening。 They crowded around Kraznys and the dragon； shouting advice。 Though the Astapori yanked and tugged； Drogon would not budge off the litter。 Smoke rose grey from his open jaws； and his long neck curled and straightened as he snapped at the slaver's face。
It is time to cross the Trident； Dany thought； as she wheeled and rode her silver back。 Her bloodriders moved in close around her。 〃You are in difficulty；〃 she observed。
〃He will not e；〃 Kraznys said。
〃There is a reason。 A dragon is no slave。〃 And Dany swept the lash down as hard as she could across the slaver's face。 Kraznys screamed and staggered back； the blood running red down his cheeks into his perfumed beard。 The harpy's fingers had tom his features half to pieces with one slash； but she did not pause to contemplate the ruin。 〃Drogon；〃 she sang out loudly； sweetly； all her fear forgotten。 〃Dracarys。〃
The black dragon spread his wings and roared。
A lance of swirling dark flame took Kraznys full in the face。 His eyes melted and ran down his cheeks； and the oil in his hair and beard burst so fiercely into fire that for an instant the slaver wore a burning crown twice as tall as his head。 The sudden stench of charred meat overwhelmed even his perfume； and his wail seemed to drown all other sound。
Then the Plaza of Punishment blew apart into blood and chaos。 The Good Masters were shrieking； stumbling； shoving one another aside and tripping over the fringes of their tokars in their haste。 Drogon flew almost lazily at Kraznys； black wings beating。 As he gave the slaver another taste of fire； Irri and Jhiqui unchained Viserion and Rhaegal； and suddenly there were three dragons in the air。 When Dany turned to look； a third of Astapor's proud demon…homed warriors were fighting to stay atop their terrified mounts； and another third were fleeing in a bright blaze of shiny copper。 One man kept his saddle long enough to draw a sword； but Jhogo's whip coiled about his neck and cut off his shout。 Another lost a hand to Rakharo's arakh and rode off reeling and spurting blood。 Aggo sat calmly notching arrows to his bowstring and sending them at tokars。 Silver； gold； or plain； he cared nothing for the fringe。 Strong Belwas had his arakh out as well； and he spun it as he charged。
〃Spears！〃 Dany heard one Astapori shout。 It was Grazdan； old Grazdan in his tokar heavy with pearls。 〃 Unsullied！ Defend us； stop them； defend your masters！ Spears！ Swords！〃
When Rakharo put an arrow through his mouth； the slaves holding his sedan chair broke and ran； dumping him unceremoniously on the ground。 The old man crawled to the first rank of eunuchs
